We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rochelle Knight. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rochelle below.
Rochelle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.
I began travel blogging in December 2016 as a hobby. I’ve always loved to write and have kept journals since childhood. When I began exploring my island home of Jamaica more, my natural thought was to journal the adventures in order to preserve my memories. That travel journal idea evolved into a blog so that my experiences could help other travelers. Thus, blogging began as a hobby and was never something I’d planned to monetize initially.
However, in 2019 I got an email from a marketing company that had stumbled across my blog, liked my style of writing, and wanted me to produce three articles for one of their local car rental clients. These articles were right up my alley- sharing travel itineraries which could be accomplished by renting a car. That was my first time ever earning from my blog, and after that, I decided that travel blogging and freelance writing could serve as a decent source of side income. I wouldn’t mind turning it into a full time career someday, but I celebrate each milestone and client as they come.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My brand Adventures from Elle is about inspiring more ordinary people to explore the world around them. Too many persons assume that travel has to be expensive, and I take delight in enlightening persons that there are always hidden gems closer to home which can satisfy wanderlust. I also utilize my platform to educate, and I believe that this sets me apart from the average blogger. I never write or share content to boast; I write to educate and inspire.
This passion to help both locals and foreigners explore Jamaica more thoroughly has led me to publish a guide book of all the hidden Jamaican gems worth visiting, compiled into a brief but handy checklist. When it comes to brand partnerships, I ensure that the brands with which I work are aligned in values to maintain my authenticity. Also, I always disclose which articles are sponsored to maintain my integrity.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Financial independence is a major goal driving my freelance writing and digital marketing side gig. My island Jamaica is currently plagued by braindrain, a term for when a country is rapidly losing its skilled and educated human resources for overseas countries. Jamaica has the second highest braindrain rate in the world because our cost of living is very high compared to our salaries. It’s well proven that one source of income in Jamaica cannot pay the bills. Therefore, I’m motivated to develop my creative journey for self actualization as well as to augment my government hospital salary, so that I can build a comfortable life in Jamaica without migration and remittances.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
My new clients usually come straight from my blog! I try to maintain a sleek and clean platform with well written articles so that my blog serves as my main writing portfolio. Thus, when people stumble across my blog and need a writer, they hit my ‘Hire Me’ or ‘Contact’ tab, and the rest is history.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://adventuresfromelle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresfromelle/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresfromelle/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochelle-knight-jamaica
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCbEKkObUi433bp30TrYP2GA