Passion to Profit: How Shaunda Necole Built her Multi-Blog Business
In this episode of The Ultimate Blog Podcast, Shaunda Necole is sharing how she went from running a brick and mortar cheerleading business to becoming a successful lifestyle blogger. She’s sharing how she got started in blogging, why niching down into multiple blogs was a game changer for her success, and how she has monetized those blogs without being salesy.
Meet Shaunda Necole
Author, podcast host, and digital creator Shaunda Necole is Las Vegas’s newest spokesperson as the writer behind 100 Things To Do in Las Vegas Before You Die, the ultimate insider’s guide to the City of Lights (publishing Spring 2025). She’s the creator of the travel site Vegas Right Now, dedicated to exploring “The Real Las Vegas” from a local’s perspective on the scene, and host of the Vegas Right Now! podcast. For Shaunda, the lasting beauty of Las Vegas lies in its balance between novelty and flash, soulfulness and wholesomeness, which all make up the exciting city she calls home!
From Cheerleading to Content Creation
Shaunda Necole’s entrepreneurial journey began in her brick and mortar cheerleading business, where she made countless cheerleading bows with her own hands. But as the market shifted, she felt a pull to explore something new.
Her story of how she got into blogging is a cool one. It started when she organized personal shopping trips to McKinsey-Childs’ annual barn sale. Her daughter created an Instagram account for her, and she really enjoyed connecting with people on it. The profits she made from this not only funded her travel but also laid the foundation for her online presence. Shaunda’s posts and updates from the sale helped her grow within a niche community on Instagram, and she decided to keep the account and grow it into her first blog.
The Power of Passion
For Shaunda Necole, the key to success was starting with what she loved. Her early blog content covered all of her interests, from lifestyle tips to creative projects.
Over time, Shaunda’s focus became more niched down. Today, her blogs include The Soul Food Pot, where she shares modern takes on Southern soul food recipes, and content centered around her Las Vegas adventures. She’s now able to target specific audiences looking for this specific content on each blog.
Pinterest: The Gateway to SEO
One of the turning points in Shaunda’s blogging journey was her discovery of Pinterest as a tool for growth. She describes it as her “gateway to SEO,” a platform that taught her the importance of keywords, search trends, and creating content that people are actively looking for.
By studying what worked on Pinterest, Shaunda learned how search engines operate. This knowledge helped her optimize her blog posts to attract organic traffic.
Finding Success Through Niching Down
Shaunda’s decision to split up her passions into niche blogs was a game-changer. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, she honed in on specific topics she was passionate about. By combining her love for Southern cuisine with her knack for storytelling in The Soul Food Pot, Shaunda has created a space that’s both personal and widely appealing.
Her Las Vegas blog is another example of the power of niches. From sharing hidden gems to tips for enjoying the city, Shaunda has built a community of readers who trust her recommendations.
Finding Unique Angles to Stand Out
In today’s saturated online space, it’s important to think outside the box to stand out. Shaunda suggests finding “uncharted territories” or niche aspects of a destination that major media outlets might overlook. For example, when Las Vegas introduced its cashless venue system at The Sphere, Shaunda wrote about it. Her insider knowledge as a local helped her stand out with information that travelers couldn’t find anywhere else – and it was truly helpful for people.
If you live in a popular city like Vegas, New York, or Los Angeles, tap into your unique perspective. Think like a first-time visitor and provide practical advice, like the best walking shoes for navigating the Las Vegas Strip or must-have items for dealing with the city’s summer heat.
Use Affiliate Links
Shaunda is a big advocate for using affiliate links in travel content. She recommends linking to products and services that make her readers’ lives easier, like the right suitcase, walking shoes, or sunscreen. For her, these links aren’t about being salesy—they’re about being helpful.
“If I’m recommending something, I’ll include an affiliate link,” Shaunda explains. “Readers want convenience, and affiliate links make it easy for them to get exactly what they need without extra searching.”
How Shaunda Monetizes Her Blogs
Beyond affiliate marketing, Shaunda has diversified her revenue streams to include a Shopify store for downloadable resources like travel planners. These products cater to overwhelmed visitors who need help organizing their trips. She also partners with travel experience platforms like Viator to provide guided tour recommendations.
Building a Blogging Support System
Running multiple blogs and managing diverse income streams requires help. Shaunda’s team includes virtual assistants, a graphic designer, and an SEO specialist she discovered on Fiverr.
Why Sharing Affiliate Links Isn’t Salesy
For bloggers hesitant to include affiliate links, Shaunda says that if you’re sharing things you genuinely recommend, it’s not salesy. It’s helpful. When your audience sees you as a guide who simplifies their trip planning, they’ll keep coming back for more.
In this episode, we covered:
- Shaunda Necole’s journey from owning a brick and mortar store to building multiple successful blogs
- How Shaunda utilized Pinterest early on, and how Pinterest helped her learn SEO basics
- Why niching down was important for Shaunda’s success
- How Shaunda stands out in a crowded online space
- How Shaunda monetizes her blog without being salesy
- What support Shaunda has to run her blogging business
H2: Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Connect with Shaunda on her blog and on Instagram
- Learn more about Tailwind for Pinterest (affiliate link)
- Use PinClicks to find your Pinterest keywords (affiliate link)
- Sign up for our newsletter
- Check out last week’s episode
We’re so glad Shaunda joined us to share how she built a successful blogging empire off of multiple passions! What did you think of this episode? Please leave us a comment and let us know your biggest takeaway from this episode!