Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Cisneros.
Hi Brenda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Monterrey, MX. I moved to Dallas, TX in 2005 when my husband got offered a job there. We moved to San Antonio last year. When we moved to Dallas I was on a visa that didn’t allow me to work. While my husband was working; I was at home with my two boys, in a new country with no friends, family, job, or social media…
I remember spending hours on the computer looking for things to do with my kids; there was a lack of information in Spanish.
After some time, I realized how many festivals and events were available in the cities around us. That’s when we started attending countless festivals in the area. Everything was new for us. I was happy taking pictures and enjoying the activities with my family.
Our new friends didn’t realize all the things the cities were offering at that time because they could not read in English. Most of them would spend all their time working without any time for family activities.
Around this time I would also call my grandma nearly every day, asking her about her special recipes to try and cook for my family. Not only would I try recreating her recipes, but I would also write them down to preserve them and later pass them down to my kids.
A few years after my daughter was born, a close friend encouraged me to begin writing a blog where I could post the recipes and talk about other activities, such as the piñata I had been making with my husband for my daughter’s birthday party.
That’s when I opened my lifestyle blog “Mejorando Mi Hogar” in 2009 in Spanish to connect with the Latino community in the US. Since then, I share Mexican recipes, crafts, things to do, and other family-related topics including our family adventures.
Blogs were so popular at that time and we were just a few of us writing in Spanish. In a couple of months, I started getting invites for media events, brand collaborations, and sponsor opportunities.
Just a few months after starting my blog I was able to go to Disneyland for the first time ever! Since then, I’ve been able to take my family with me on several media trips while sharing our adventures and building trust with my audience.
I have also had the opportunity to be on Disney press events and red carpets like COCO, Dr. Strange, The Incredibles with celebrities like Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Gael García Bernal, Tilda Swinton, and many more! I have also been invited to attend press junkets interviewing Hispanic actors like William Levy, Jamie Camil, Omar Chaparro, among others.
Blogging has been rewarding because I have been able to learn from and connect with a lot of people while working from home and being with my kids when they need me.
That is my story, how I have become a Latina lifestyle blogger and now a micro-influencer focused on Mexican recipes, travel, and family.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running a blog is hard work, especially in the beginning when the pay is little to none. In addition to this, I had to reject countless opportunities due to my work status early on. Despite this, I loved doing it and connecting with my community. It was in 2015 that I was finally able to work and earn with my blog and social media channels. Since then, I have worked with national leading brands like Disney, Verizon, Walmart, P&G, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Walmart, Aldi, Kroger, and several blogger networks.
Language has been one of the biggest obstacles throughout my career. Attending events and conferences where nearly everyone spoke English was difficult, as I could not hold conversations for long before running out of words. However, now that my English has improved, I have decided to begin making my blog bilingual to reach out to an even wider audience.
Also, with the evolution of technology and social media, I have to move forward and create content for all kinds of social media apps, not just my blog. So now you can find some of my recipes not only on my blog or YouTube but also on TikTok.
Moving to The Alamo City has been another challenge, I’m the new kid in the city and I’m still exploring San Antonio, there’s much to do here!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a Blogger and micro-Influencer, I wear many hats: I create recipes, crafts and write about them, I make and edit my videos, and share them on social media. I share about destinations and things to do. I have had many unique opportunities like appearances on Hispanic television making crafts and food recipes on Telemundo and Univision.
Sometimes I ghostwrite for brands, make translations, and do volunteer writing for some websites.
I specialize in content writing and freelance copywriting. However, I only publish content that resonates with my readers.
Reaching Latino moms in the US and encouraging them to enjoy life traveling and spending quality time with their families is what I’m known for.
What sets me apart from others is that I write about what I’m passionate about. I like to create original content that encourages others to experience new things.
My recipes are written only after I cook and take pictures. All my pictures are taken by me or with the help of my husband and kids. I write in my voice and engage with my followers.
What I am most proud about is that my blog has been a positive influence in the Hispanic community helping people learn new things. I love when a reader sends me a thank you note after making one of my recipes or when someone sends me a message saying they achieved a goal because they followed my tips. I love when kids send a message thanking me because they got a good homework note at school because they followed my crafts tips, and I love when people go to new places because they read about my travel adventures with my family.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Being persistent and passionate about creating content, learning skills like SEO, marketing, photo editing, and audience analysis. Knowing your audience. I’m overall constantly learning. I recently finished an SMU’s Digital Marketing Certificate program to update my skills on social media management, email marketing, Influencer marketing strategy, and developing a social media marketing campaign.
My husband and kids have been the greatest supporters during this time. Even my mom and mother-in-law have helped me come from Mexico to take care of my kids while I was attending a media trip or a social media conference.
Contact Info:
- Email: brenda@mejorandomihogar.com
- Website: https://www.mejorandomihogar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mejorandomihogar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mejorandomihogar/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mejoramihogar
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MejorandoMiHogarBlog
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mejorandomihogar
