Conversations with Zan Turner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zan Turner.

Hi Zan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a first-time mom in 2011, I searched for baby “rearing” ideas and needed a slightly more casual connection than I found online. There were larger parenting websites with loads of information, but I desired a smaller space with real-life examples where other moms could glean, connect, and share experiences. I was not looking in the right places, or my search terms were too broad. Whatever it was, I needed to start my blog. I was no expert, but I thought, “What if I could share what I do at home to help other moms with new babies?” The products I used, where to find them, and the gear I use for my little one were all among the topics I thought about. My blog “Flourishing at Home” was born out of that desire. This was the original name; now it’s titled “athomewithzan.”

Little did I know the opportunities this little blog would open up for my family in later years. As a Caribbean girl living in the United States and a girl “of color,” I didn’t know how to fit into the blogging world. I wondered if others would think what made me feel I was an expert:) It did not matter to my blog. I lived here and did what I did, just like everyone else. My blog was welcomed, and every blogger was just here to help. That little blog sure thrived. I started by sharing simple ideas like baby gear, baby toys, diapering, and things I was using with my daughter then. I would take photos of the products or room with my little point-and-shoot camera, upload them to my blog, and then describe the meaning behind the photos to share with readers.

Eventually, as my family grew and included another baby and a toddler, so did my little blog. I started to share more lifestyle posts such as outdoor activities, local trips our family took together (think the parks, zoos, fruit & veggie farms, etc.), and other out-of-state travel we did. Home decor, general organizing, DIY projects, recipes, crafts, and activities for kids eventually became a large part of my content. Anything we did around the house that was worth sharing was shared. My blog had now turned into a family lifestyle blog, and I couldn’t be happier! My favorite shares were my family’s Weekend Adventures, recipes, and kids’ activities.

By the time our second daughter was born, I had connected and was networking with so many other moms in my blogging niche. At that time, a world of mommy bloggers had opened up right before my eyes. Some focused only on one niche, such as kids’ activities, some recipes, and others on a broader scale. We shared anything from ideas for our babies to house projects, cleaning hacks, recipes, kids’ activities, family travel, and a lifestyle of ideas – anything to help others manage their homes and raise their families. Networking brought me much joy and motivation to keep on sharing. I learned a ton from others, and my blog would not have made it as far as it did without the help and connection from others.

Moreover, this little blog I dreamed of starting was being featured on both small and large websites. I still remember one of our bathrooms being featured on Shutterfly and another bathroom makeover on Wayfair. This was done as an interview for Wayfair’s Vanity Lighting Guide with a featured spot among other bloggers on their Vanity Lighting page. It was always a joy to receive legit emails asking permission to feature my work.

Between 2014 and 2015, I started bringing in a small income through blogging. These monetization outlets came from directly contacting companies and others through third-party companies that worked with bloggers. I remember making several trips to Walmart, Target, Jewel Osco, etc., to find recommended products to share with my readers and then be paid for doing so:)

When Instagram became a popular social media outlet, it opened up more blogger connections and ways to collaborate with brands. By 2017, I worked with brands such as At Home Store, World Market, Wayfair, and Disney World! I even signed a contract with At Home Store to work as an Influencer on their Inspiration team to promote their products through my blog and on Instagram. That was a paid part-time job.

Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Blogging was a pure joy to me in my earlier years. I am still determining how I did it with a baby, eventually a toddler, and then with another baby, but I did. It was because blogging was simpler back then. I had an idea from what we did as a family at home: I took photos, wrote a coordinating story, and shared it. No one cared much about picture-perfect photos and well-put-together homes before sharing something valuable with their readers, at least not from the blogs I read or the bloggers I networked with at the time. In addition, my blog posts were short and drawn out, and my writing was fast. I could do a house project in one day and type up a post to share the next day or within a couple of days after, not weeks. Over time, though, things became a little more challenging.

Here are some factors that can pose a challenge to blogging as an influencer:
• seasons of life
• a new job
• a new baby
• a big move
• burnout
• competition
• people

I have experienced some of these factors through the years. But what do I mean by “people?” Not everyone may agree with what you share. People can be discouraged. Sometimes, even your networking friends in your small groups may not agree with you and vice versa, thus causing discouragement and lack of motivation. Thankfully, most of my networking groups were all motivating and helping each other along the way.

Moreover, as the world of blogging expanded, so did the demand for blogging perfection. Photos were made to be of a certain quality before anyone even looked at your blog. Therefore, the need for a DSL camera has become in high demand. The era of white background took over, creating the pressure to change one’s kitchen cabinets from brown to white. Living rooms with perfectly white furniture and decor were constantly showcased. I even wanted my countertops and backsplash to be “all white” so I could have nice, light background photos for my recipes. I was going with the trend. Moreover, high blog views became more and more of a priority for companies who were looking to collaborate with bloggers. Instagram was taking over, and then came TikTok, where more and more young adults and people of all ages are influencing the world.

Last year, I decided to give my blog a massive makeover and make it shop-friendly. I had wanted to do it for a while, so I hired a credible company to do it. Amid the makeover, my dad passed away, and that threw a huge curve ball in my way. Everything was put on hold for a few months – I was at a standstill. Eventually, once things felt settled, my blog makeover resumed and was at a place where the new look could be published. I still need to complete a few areas – I’ve been slowly working on them as time allows. Dad passing away amid my major blog makeover with a company was a challenge I was not expecting.

Despite the challenges and obstacles, I loved what I did and pushed forward. I enjoyed the late nights staying up to complete blog posts, especially on the Chicago winter nights, blogging during nap time, and knowing that I was helping someone else out there somehow.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
By career, I’m a Licensed Elementary Education Teacher with a Masters in Special Education also. However, I’ve stayed at home with my kids for around 12 years and have been a blogger influencer all through these years. I enjoyed these years at home with the kids, making simple everyday magic, having playdates with friends, homeschooling some, blogging, networking with other moms, and collaborating with notable companies all out of my home. As an online creative, I specialize in creating educational printables, routine charts, fun activity sheets for kids, and homemaking planners for moms and homeschoolers. I have owned an Esty shop for several years, but around 2016, I created some downloadable Fall and Christmas decor prints that could have done better. Most of it was caused by user error. However, in 2021, I took that shop to the next level when I began to make and sell printables. Thanks to the Printables by Number course I took with Suzi from Start a Mom blog:) I learned about this course through one of my blogging networking groups on Facebook. I’ve also created a printable shop linked to my blog and have a few listings on TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers). Most of these printables are priced at a low cost because of the competition and the nature of the prints.

What sets me apart is that I have a broad cultural experience and create mostly original printables, especially those homemaking and mommy planners I have used and found to be effective in my home. Also, as someone raised in the US, I understand the need and have the advantage of creating prints that can be used in other English-speaking countries, such as Australia. As an example, instead of naming a printable “Attendance Tracker or “Attendance Record Keeping,” I can also say “Attendance Log.” The same goes for spelling – favor is “Favour,” and color is “color” in some English-speaking countries. “Dates” and “days of the week” order are also among these cultural differences. I’ve also studied and taught in a Spanish-speaking country for a total of 7 years two and have a minor in Sign Language.

LTK (like to know it) and my Amazon Storefront are other outlets that allow me to link my favorite products to earn a commission. I mostly link what my family uses or what I think would be helpful to us or someone else. Further, the products I link are top-rated and trendy (not outdated). I don’t just link random items to make a sale. Between these outlets, I can make a consistent passive income online. Now, I work as a Preschool Special Ed TA (Teacher Assistant) for this school year. That was by choice. However, blogging as a paid influencer added credits toward my years of working experience and pay. I still have my blog, but having another full-time day job has made it hard to keep up. I have also been working on Instagram and my new-ish TikTok account to reach more people. I am grateful for this journey and all the opportunities it has brought me through the years.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
You don’t need to have everything figured out from the start; it is a learning process rather than a race. But here are some ways you can start on the right foot.

• In earlier years, I probably would have said, “Just start somewhere.” With so many influencers out there now, I would say, “Have a plan” for starting if you’d like to be an influencer. What do you want to talk about? Are you good with home organizing, decorating, cooking, hairstyling, crafting, etc? Those are ideas to get you started. Pick one area to focus on as you begin your new blogging journey. You can broaden your niche later. By this, you can start with home decor and later add home organizing and recipes, for example. Or you can stick to one thing, like a food blog that shares recipes only. Things may change later as you realize what is working and what is not, but knowing where you want to go with your blog is helpful.
• Decide if you want to make an income somewhere down the line, then have your blog set up that way from the start. Take your time chasing after the money. You’ll want to set it up with some content before you decide to make money. That way, your readers can know you are credible. As your blog grows, having a good setup will help. You would not have to go through the process of a makeover as your blog grows. That’s by choice, though. It’s also OK to start with a free theme and move on from there later or start with a paid theme and change it out for something fresh.
• Make sure the blog theme you get is responsive and easy to navigate. The one thing I did right was get a responsive blog theme early in blogging. Over time, I changed things and got blog makeovers, but having a blog that works is always good.
• Be sure to do some research on the best hosting companies. Your website needs to have a host (somewhere) to live. There are lots of companies who will keep your blog up and running by “hosting” it. Not all hosting plans are equal, so research and read reviews before choosing one.
• Have clear photos – As a blogger today, it’s no fun to visit websites that don’t have clear images. If you’re going to show something, then show it right. You don’t need the most expensive camera. If you can afford it, invest in a DSLR or other famous brand to take pretty, clear, and “professional-type” photos.
• Have a Social Media of two to share your work. If you are going to blog for others, you’ll have to find ways to let them know you are out there. Social media is a great place to share your blog links or posts; you can direct them back to your blog.
• Join a few blogging groups so you can have networks. They share advice, and as you learn and grow, you can share your advice, too. You can search for them on Google or Facebook.

In conclusion, your brand needs to stand out, or it will be challenging to reach people if it needs to be more precise and organized. Plus, with all the other social media outlets trending, you’ll want your blog to be somewhere people want to come. Remember, you don’t need to do everything right from the start; these are just ways you can help your blog get set up right from the beginning.

Pricing:

• Most Smaller Printables – $2.50 – $3.00
• Printables with more pages may be higher
• Bundles – Prices vary
• E-Books – Currently between $5:00 – $7:00
• Note: All prices are subject to change based on supply and demand and how much time they spend making them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://athomewithzan.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautifulfamilystyle/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/athomewithbeauty
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zan-turner-a1891b82/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/homewithbeauty
• Yelp: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.sparkle.mom
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CreatedWithBeauty