Turning blogging into business...Career Do Over

"Saucy", the woman behind one of the most popular online sites for ALL Carnival related activities.

The car pulls up and a voice note is sent, “I’m outside”, three minutes later wearing a flowing floral pattern dress, six inch heels and accessories; a complementing clutch and most importantly her smart phone AND portable charger - the last two items are a pre-requisite walks out the social media guru known as “Saucy”. As the founder of one of the most popular social media forums about all things “Carnival”, Trinidad Carnival Diary’s (TCD) Saucy enters the vehicle and immediately goes online to update her various social media pages.

Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago in the 90’s, the internet was in its infancy stage of development. The incremental innovation and tools available online to chat, send emails and converse allowed persons to use the internet for frank, real discussions about areas that were passionate to them.

The individual behind the username Saucy was a part of one such online forum. As an avid lover of Carnival, its events, its costumes and everything in between she discussed her viewpoint about all Carnival related items.

Trinidad Carnival Diary website: www.trinidadcarnivaldiary.com

By 2006, Saucy took her passion for this online method of “blogging” and specifically developed her very own blog known as “Trinidad Carnival Diary”, there she discussed her views on all Carnival related topics. The blog’s founder pioneered TCD as an avenue where readers, especially women, who relied on her influence on costumes, fetes, do’s and don’ts, gossip and the exclusives on all key related carnival topics.

The evolution of the TCD brand as an essential component of Trinidad & Tobago’s Carnival for tourists, locals, masqueraders, veterans, newbies and carnival enthusiasts didn’t happen overnight. The efforts of Saucy and her TCD team continued to evolve with the methods to disseminate Carnival information.

TCD celebrates its 10th Anniversary

Flash forward to 2016 as TCD celebrates its 10^th Anniversary and its social media gold, its Facebook followers are over 200,000 and growing, its website provides Carnival and Events information about locations around the world. Its Instagram page, Snapchat, even YouTube pages have a cult following.

TCD Facebook page with over 200,000 followers

What started out as a “blog” grew into a business, as TCD services now include:

·        Masquerader advice and FAQs

·        Band Launch coverage

·        Fete coverage and reviews

·        Carnival Exclusives

·        Exclusive Interviews

·        Photography

·        Caribbean Carnival coverage

·        Event advertisement and promotions

TCD Snapchat

Saucy and by extension her brand TCD is living up to its mission: To be the premiere source for all things Carnival. How did she take this passion for blogging and turned it into a profitable business?

"Frontline" the TCD Carnival event on Carnival Wednesday each year.

Here are her top three tips:

Your number one motivation should be your passion for the craft and not to make money or be popular.

Always operate from a place of honesty, if you give criticism let it be constructive. Remember that and someone will always be offended, stand by your beliefs and defend them if you will but do not subject yourself to pleasing the masses so as not to ruffle a few feathers.

Find your niche, set yourself apart from what everyone else is doing by setting trends and not being a follower. Strive to be an innovative leader in your industry always.

To follow Saucy and TCD check them out on:

Website: www.trinidadcarnivaldiary.com

FB/IG: Trinidad Carnival Diary
Snapchat: carnivaldiary