Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Dobroski.
Hi Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been in love with the coast since I was a kid – I was the one going to swim lessons younger than everyone else because I had walked off the dock or into the neighbor’s pool one too many times before I knew how to swim. This love for the water led me to Washington College and Duke University to study how we manage our ocean’s resources. What I learned is that we have enough science to know what to do, but we need to work on how we communicate the need to protect these places to the public and businesses. Because the ocean is SO big, many of us think there’s no way we could really make an impact on it – but the science shows us this is not the case, and we DO have an impact on the ocean and our coasts every day.
We also know that people love what they have a connection to, and people protect what they love. This is why I encourage get-wet coastal activities, like snorkeling and paddle boarding. For example, if you’ve never seen a coral reef, how do we get you to care about protecting them? We have to get people to see these places, build a connection to these places, and encourage them to raise their voices to protect and celebrate these places. And that’s what I do at Coastal with Kelly.
Coastal with Kelly is a platform that shares coastal lifestyle and travel information to inspire more people to visit the coast, with the underlying mission of supporting ocean conservation efforts. At the end of the day, Coastal with Kelly is your one-stop for all things coastal: you’ll find inspiration for where you should take your next vacation, things to keep at your beach house, how to host a seafood boil, and coastal science made fun.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The most challenging part has been deciding to start. There’s a lot of fear that comes with putting yourself out there on the internet – hoping people will resonate with your message – and not taking it personally when your platform doesn’t grow as fast as you hoped you would.
I’ve known for a long time that I love connecting with people and spending time at the coast, but I hadn’t found a way to do both of those in a 9-5 role. So, launching Coastal with Kelly in January 2023 was the first step in creating my own path that will allow me to share everything I want to about the coast without being restricted to a certain topic or area of expertise.
The next biggest challenge will be growing Coastal with Kelly into a sustainable business model, to one day do this full time, instead of in my spare time.
As you know, we’re big fans of Coastal with Kelly. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Coastal with Kelly creates digital media to share waterfront places – including beach towns and coastal cities. My goal is to get more people to coastal places because we love what we connect with, and we protect what we love. I help people find their next coastal getaway by showcasing relaxing stays, the local fresh catch, and can’t-miss adventures in fabulous, sea-sprayed places. I also share products that make the travel experience better, prioritizing those that give back to coastal communities.
Coastal with Kelly creates digital media across social platforms to inform people about coastal destinations, activities, and products that make life at the coast and traveling there better. Services include content creation, content amplification, social media promotion, email campaign sponsorship, and more. I have worked with brands across industries, including skincare, luxury fragrance, small coffee roasters, and more.
Coastal with Kelly also has a book club, The Sweet & Salty Book Club, which is a great space for connecting with people over a good read – you can find us on Facebook.
What do you think about happiness?
I’m happiest when I’m outside, deep in conversation with people while sharing great food. Even better if we’re sharing a new experience, like learning how to shuck an oyster. There’s simply nothing better than creating immersive, fun memories like this because that’s what makes you feel like you’re really living.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.coastalwithkelly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastalwithkelly
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coastalwithkelly
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellydobroski
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOPZhefEVRa8tLXJA0OsTaA
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/coastalwithkelly/
Image Credits
Kelly Dobroski
