Blogger to Business: Victoria with Vmac & Cheese

If you have never visited Victoria's blog vmac+cheese, you are missing out on one of the best bloggers out there (in my humble opinion).  I adore her authentic sense of humor, writing style, and fantastic features + ideas.

Vivaleur is a different type of creative services company.  Looking to take your blog or brand to the next level?  Victoria is your gal.  From Blogging 101 assistance to a complete re-branding project, she works daily with clients to review and teach them about editorial calendars, how to navigate social media, how to gain readers and how to best monetize their blog.  Essentially, Vivaleur helps you find your brand's groove...

I've personally worked with Victoria on learning a few Photoshop basics (can't recommend her enough!) and I've followed her on her journey... finding her success + general approach so inspiring.  I hope you will too!



How did Vivaleur begin?
I spent years dreaming about being my own boss. I dunno, I guess I'm just one of those people who was not wired to ever work in a traditional office environment! I started my blog, vmac+cheese, in 2008, and slowly over the years it's morphed into the lifestyle blog that it is today. Somewhere along the way, I realized I had picked up all these skills that I could share with other people. 

And the best part? It would also allow me to build a job that would never get boring. My work lets me to be creative, analytical, part of a community, and best of all, supportive of other women who are trying to leverage their interests and passions. It's pretty awesome, actually! I loosely came up with the idea for Vivaleur over Thanksgiving 2011, left my job in February of 2012, and haven't looked back since.

How has having a blog helped your business?
It's been everything. My blog is my marketing tool, my creative outlet, my support group, my portfolio, literally, everything. Vivaleur wouldn't exist without the blog, because the readership and online presence (thankfully!) provides a built in client base, and also, I would not have learned any of the skills I now use in my work if I hadn't started a blog. 

The other awesome thing about having a blog so deeply connected to my business is that I can experiment with new skills or approaches to content, and then incorporate what I learn from that into what my clients might need or be curious about.

What accomplishment are you most proud of since launching Vivaleur?
Probably paying back initial investments my family made in the business within 1 year. That was pretty cool.

What advice would you give to women looking to embark on their own business venture?

I always come back to this old quote from Ted Kennedy: "Have faith in yourself and in the future." It's so vital that you land upon an idea you are truly passionate about, but also, don't lose faith that you can make it happen. The Internet is such a huge place and these days, it's a brave new world out there. You can really do anything you put your mind to; the world is your oyster! 

For more of her story + great career advice, check out Victoria's interview in The Everygirl!

All that being said, it's important to plan and be realistic. Don't quit your job tomorrow to embark on some new business venture if you haven't done the necessary planning -- financial or otherwise -- to ensure that you have a shot at success. Getting from Point A to Point B rarely happens overnight. So, make plans, work hard, and most of all, be patient. If you keep putting lots of energy towards your goals, it's inevitable that you'll make them happen for yourself.

Thank you so much Victoria for sharing with us today!

xo - Marion

image credit: The Everygirl