Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Carr.
Michelle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am Michelle Carr, the creative mind behind Taste and See Life. I am a native Houstonian who sees life as an abundance of opportunities! I created Taste & See Life in 2014 as a way to promote local businesses, inspire domestic and international travel, and encourage readers to design their own creative adventures. With authentic storytelling, captivating photography, and detailed outlines, I provide readers ideas and tips to apply their own lives. Through blogging, I’ve been able to encourage people to look beyond their circumstances, to dream big and to create a more meaningful life.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting over in a career path is never easy, especially in your mid-forties. Everyone including family thought I was crazy to leave a stable job and good income. However, my heart led me out of corporate life to pursue a new career. I enrolled in writing classes at Inprint Houston, studied photography with my brother, owner of Michael Carr Photography, and obtained a part-time communications job. These three elements allowed me to hone my blogging and marketing skills. I was able to explore and learn the ins and out of influencer marketing and social media management. From that point, I worked on freelance projects for local businesses including design work, photography, and marketing services. Things were going well up until Harvey. That’s when things took a turn and I lost a major account. I struggled with doubt and worried about my finances. At that moment, I had to make a decision to believe in myself and press on.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Taste & See Life story. Tell us more about the business.
I offer comprehensive marketing services for small businesses. From WordPress design to SEO strategies, I can help your small business thrive in a highly competitive digital market and set your business apart from your competition. With over 5 years of experience in marketing, photography, project management, writing, and graphic design, I offer freelance options for any sized project or task including writing blog, designing digital newsletters, creating flyers/brochures, or updating websites! I also use my blog, Taste and See Life, as a platform to expand my clients’ reach.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck, as I like to refer to as God’s blessing, is a major force in my life and business. So many doors and opportunities have been opened. For example, at the first blogger conference I attended, I sat next to the marketing director of a luxury bed and breakfast association. She wanted bloggers to visit her company’s properties and write about the amenities and experiences. I seized the opportunity and visited a few of the most beautiful bed and breakfasts in the United States. That exposure led to working with one of the B & B owners to photograph the interiors of their newly remodeled rooms for their website.
Another instance was shortly after a traumatic auto accident when I hit a dog dashing across the freeway. My insurance company totaled my car and gave me seven days to replace my damaged vehicle. It was an incredibly uncomfortable situation because I wasn’t prepared for a new car purchase. After a couple of days, I narrowed my search and found the perfect car for me. Through the process, I shared my car buying experience via social media and posted photos of my new ride. The engagement from the posts caught the eye of the dealership’s marketing team and they hired me for additional blogging services.
Pricing:
- Influencer Marketing Blogging with SEO starts at $200 per post.
- Design work for Facebook banners, social graphics, themed email templates are $3o an hour.
- Updates to WordPress or HTML website are $40 an hour.
- Photography is base on scope of work. Average range is $1,500 and up.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.tasteandseelife.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tasteandseelife/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tasteandseelife/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tasteandseelife
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleCarrMarketingSolutions/
