Every week we bring you a featured blogger who inspires us. This week we’re so excited to share with you Emily of Dear Serendipity! Originally from Phoenix, Arizona and now making a home in San Francisco, Emily loves all things related to style, interior design and blogging. Plus she has a bunny named Pancakes (how cute!). Read more about Emily here.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
Name: Emily Piskulick. Age: 23. Current city: San Francisco. Alma mater: Gonzaga (Go Zags!). Occupation: Social Media Manager. Side gig: managing Dear Serendipity, a San Francisco fashion blog. I’ve blogged for five years.
What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
Opinionated. Passionate. Sarcastic.
What profession other than yours would you love to attempt?
Something creative. I’ve always thought it would be so fun to be an interior or fashion designer; I just don’t have a crafty bone in my body.
What is your favorite quote?
“Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them.”
What inspired your blog?
My boyfriend! Five years ago I was complaining about not having a creative outlet, and he urged me to go for it and convinced me I’d be successful. Thanks, Josh!
What is your favorite social media platform and why?
Currently, Snapchat. It’s usually a tie between Twitter and Snapchat, because I get all of my news and information from Twitter, but Snapchat is just too fun. I love visual platforms and how you can really get to know a person or a brand on Snapchat in a new way.
Where do you find inspiration for blog posts?
My life! I’m always exploring a new area of San Francisco, traveling to different cities, shopping or reading books and magazines. I also love starting my day with a cup of coffee and Pinterest – I get great outfit inspiration from Pinterest and my favorite fashion blogs.
What do you think it is about your blog that keeps people coming back for more?
I’m real. I share personal information on my blog; it’s not just a sparkly, shiny, fake version of my life. Whether it’s my parents getting divorced or my grandpa dying, those are all real things that I’ve talked about on my blog. I think it’s unrealistic and deceitful to only share the perfect moments. Yes, outfits are fun and fashion is inspiring, but there are times where you have to get real and not be afraid to be personal. It’s your space, after all.
How does a brand get your attention for a feature?
It’s all in the approach. Most bloggers (if they’re anything like me) get so many emails each day, so two things matter: your subject line and being concise. The best brand emails I get are usually only three to four sentences but still manage to give me the basic info I need to know to pique my interest.
What do you love most about blogging?
There are no rules. My blog is my space to express myself, talk about what I love and what’s currently inspiring me. I love working for myself and owning every part of the blogging process from ideation to execution.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
It’s my dream to live in London, so hopefully I’ll be married to my boyfriend Josh, living in London with a baby or two. I also hope to start a company with Josh, and I would love to do that within the next five years.
In your opinion, what separates a great blog from an unsuccessful blog?
Everyone nowadays focuses on Instagram likes, but I value great content above all else. I still read blogs every day and prefer that to scrolling through someone’s Instagram feed. I can’t stand when I see blogs with a beautiful design and great images but everything is misspelled or there’s just one line of body copy. If I can’t form a connection with your content within a few seconds of being on your site, you’ve lost me. Pretty pictures only get you so far – it’s the meat of your blog that I think separates the great from the mediocre.
