Today we’d like to introduce you to Alina Zerpa.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started From A to Z Miami in February of 2018. I remember thinking I couldn’t find anything on Instagram that was honest about what to do in Miami. There are all these food places and most of the time, I feel like I don’t understand the picture I’m looking at because it’s so zoomed in. But Miami is so much more than food. It’s about where to drink and dance and work out and enjoy sports. Even then, it’s still so much more than just those categories. I felt like there weren’t any other blogs covering those topics – so From A to Z Miami was born.
The name came to me randomly one day because my name is Alina Zerpa, so I would name my blog From A to Z. It also encompassed my goal: to write and photograph everything in Miami, from a to z. I studied journalism and psychology at the University of Miami and I love to write. I’m constantly freelancing and wanted to write for myself and on topics that I like to cover for a change.
I’m still getting better at my photographs, but I’ve really enjoyed this hobby-turned-second-job. I work at Corporate Communications for Royal Caribbean Cruises every day and end up working on my blog, the second I get out. I’ve really had fun exploring new places, building new relationships, and learning the tricks of the trade at networking and panel events.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been a rocky road, more a few bumps along the way. Since I’m a brand new blog in a sphere of well-seasoned bloggers, it’s hard to be taken seriously. Why bother with someone who has only 1K followers when you can get someone with 20K followers who knows what they’re doing. I’ve been really grateful to the individuals that have put faith in me and let me pick their brain. It’s been more rewarding than I ever thought it would be.
From A to Z Miami – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As a writer, I focus on all things Miami and don’t discriminate for From A to Z Miami. If there’s a new place to eat, I’ll go take pictures. New play? I’ll go watch it. Newest yoga gym? I’ll go cover it as well. I am brutally honest about how I feel about the places I visit and provide pros/cons when I can. The honesty is what sets me apart from other bloggers.
I’m proud that I’ve been able to find my own voice in the blogging community and that my follower count isn’t just friends and family anymore. The day someone from New Jersey asked me to help plan her trip to Miami, I knew this wasn’t just me having fun on my own. I was really helping someone fall in love with Miami – which I do every day I’m here.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I don’t have a set-in-stone definition of success. It can be awards, money, recognition. It can be fulfilling a goal of yours, or just maintaining a balance of everything on your plate. Just getting the guts to start From A to Z felt, to me, already a success. Feeling like I’m doing something productive every day, when I work on it feels like a success. Even the days that I have more work and family to take care of and can’t work on my blog still feels like a success because I can still come back the next day ready to work more.
I think the day that I feel unmotivated is the day that I’ll feel like a failure. I never want to put my heart into something and one day has that feeling end.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fromatozmiami.com
- Phone: 3055090800
- Email: fromatoz1828@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fromatozmiami
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