Cameron Rogers of Freckled Foodie Quit Her Job on Wall Street to Take a Gamble on Herself

As a certified health coach, SHE Media Partner Network’s Cameron Rogers, is on a steadfast mission to making healthy living approachable. After leaving corporate America, she turned her blog, Freckled Foodie, into a business. She’s been named one of Forbes’ Five Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing New York’s Wellness Scene and has worked with an impressive list of brands to develop transformative and engaging content, stemming from her professional expertise. Freckled Foodie is for lovers of food, the folks who could read restaurant menus five times over and who don’t understand how anyone ever, “accidentally misses a meal.” Cameron encourages her readers to envision a life that is wholesome and balanced in a way that is actually accessible. Learn more about Cameron below!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0GbirnJs9n/

Tell us a little about yourself and your blog!

Hi there! I’m Cameron; a very freckled 27-year-old living in NYC with a big appetite for all things food. After working on Wall Street for 5 years, I had a life altering moment and decided it was time to wave goodbye to the corporate world and pursue Freckled Foodie full-time. Since then, I’ve worked with notable companies on creating content, dozens of individuals to achieve a more healthy and balanced lifestyle, and developed my personality as a podcast host on Freckled Foodie & Friends. Whether I’m writing food blogs, testing recipes at home, or dining at some of my favorite restaurants in New York City, you can expect to see the real, the raw, and the reality. On my website and my Instagram, I make a conscious effort to show you the truth of my health journey, without a filtered lens. In a world that often feels too curated and inauthentic, I am challenging the status quo and setting the record straight: you don’t need a pristine kitchen or a perfect blowout with a full face of makeup to make a delicious meal. All you need is your precious time, fresh ingredients, and the determination to feed your body what it deserves. Never let intimidation or comparison cause you to compromise your goal of a healthy lifestyle! Follow my journey as I bop around NYC, experiment with new ingredients, and discover my place in the kitchen.

What factors did you take in to consideration when leaving the corporate world to pursue blogging full-time?

The main factors I took into consideration when leaving the corporate world to pursue my company full-time were financials (did I have enough saved, how would I make money, what would this new life look like), how to help others through my work, making a promise to stay true to myself, and assessing what there was a need for in this space that wasn’t already being done.

What 3 recommendations do you have for someone starting a podcast?

I would recommend that you focus on topics you are passionate about, find your own voice and stick to it – don’t try to imitate or copy someone else’s, and have fun with it. Podcasts are not meant to be perfect and beautifully manicured; you are going to make mistakes, that is part of the fun of it all!

What 3 things do newbies starting a website need to know?

Learning the ins and outs of the platform you are currently running your website off of, accepting that it is okay to outsource some things to professionals who are able to complete certain tasks way more efficiently than you, and to keep things organized; no one likes a scattered site!

What would you do differently if you were starting your website today?

I just re-did my website so I feel like I actually changed everything I would’ve done differently if I were starting today! The main piece I changed was organization and ease for the reader. I felt I had too much information in too many different places and it wasn’t as efficient for the reader as it should have been, so I improved it drastically, with the help of others, and brought it up to par with the rest of my company. 

Which tools for your website have you found most useful?

As a podcast host, I love that I now have a dedicated portion of my site to my show and that anyone can learn more about my podcast and listen to my episodes without any additional applications.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzfsufvpeDc/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BwJ9w2Gg7Yg/

What recommendations do you have for driving traffic to your website?

Personally, majority of my traffic comes from my main social platform: Instagram. I am constantly using the “swipe up” aspect of my Instagram Stories to direct my viewers to my site, whether it be different blog articles I’m referencing or new recipes I’m loving.

How do you determine how much to charge for sponsored posts?

This is something I’m continuously learning how to do and working on. For me, personally, a lot depends on what exactly the brand is asking for. There is no “one size fits all” rate in my world. If the brand is asking for the label in the photograph, exclusivity for a period of time, multiple stories in addition to a post, or something of those sorts, it changes the rate I provide. Also, not all brands are created equal. There are some brands that may be new to the scene that I believe in and want to be a part of their growth and will sometimes provide a discounted rate for. I would first recommend asking what type of budget the brand is working with and go from there.

How did you grow your Instagram following?

Quite honestly, by never focusing on it. I’ve never been one to obsess over the numbers aspect of this industry, mainly because it can very easily become a comparative trap and add an additional level of unnecessary stress. I stayed true to myself, showed the raw and real version of my life, and put my audience before the financial aspect of it all.

What are your favorite restaurants in New York right now?

This is an extremely difficult question for me as I not only love so many, but also feel I’m a bit out of the restaurant “scene” since I’m away most of the summer. Because of that, I’ll resort to some of my long standing loves: Bar Sardine, L’artusi, Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe, and ABCV. Recently, I’ve also been loving the addition of Roey’s, Banter, and Westbourne for more casual and affordable options.

What’s your secret to taking the best food pictures?

Lighting! The same shot can be two incredibly different photos given the lighting situation. It’s something I’ve recently come to terms with and no longer settle over “just to get the shot”. There is no better lighting than natural, so get near a window! 

How do you decide which restaurants to partner with?

I haven’t done many restaurant partnerships, per se, but I make an effort to showcase restaurants that I would personally spend my own money at, feel confident encouraging you to do the same, and that give me the full joy of a dining experience: inviting decor, welcoming people, and delicious food.  

How has partnering with the SHE Media Partner Network been beneficial?

It’s been beneficial from a financial perspective to have the SHE Media advertisements on my blog, but it has been so much more than that. The Network is continuously introducing me to other like-minded and badass females in this space and I leave each event feeling enthused and inspired.

Follow Cameron on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest and read her articles Tips for Handling Anxiety, My New “Sober-ish” Lifestyle, and My Health Journey.

Interested in our SHE Media Partner Network? Only SHE Media offers members the opportunity to earn through media, branded content and events. Learn more about opportunities for influencers and bloggers by clicking the button below!