Content creator, marketer, community builder, and international traveler, Cepee’s followed her true passions, starting as a freelancer, before growing her own community and running her own blog.

Hi Cepee! Tell us a little about yourself

I’m originally from Houston, Texas and have been living in Madrid, Spain for the past four years. I’ve been traveling internationally for over 20 years and haven’t found a place that is as close to perfect as Madrid. I love this vibrant city and the opportunities it has afforded me.

I freelance in social media marketing and content marketing, but my true passion is in community building! I run four communities in Madrid, one of which has become my side-hustle, She Hit Refresh - a community for women age 30 and over who want to break free from routine and start a life of travel.

How did the idea for Madrid Bloggers Group come about?

Shortly after moving to Madrid I started a blog, Wanderlicious, where I shared my vegetarian food discoveries. No one else was talking about vegetarian food so I thought I’d fill the gap! As I developed my blogging skills, I was interested in meeting other bloggers, like-minded people who “got me” and I could learn from.

While there were a lot of bloggers in Madrid, a group for bloggers didn’t exist. So I created one. I validated the idea in a post on Facebook asking if anyone would be interested in a bloggers group if I started one. The response was incredible! February 2017 we had our first official meet-up and have been meeting monthly ever since!

What aspect of being a community leader surprised you the most?

I think what surprised me the most was how community building exponentially expanded my network. By building a space for like-minded people to gather and consistently providing value, I’ve been able to connect with so many interesting and talented people! The Madrid Blogger Network has connected me to the creative community here in Madrid, it has provided sponsorship opportunities, and has led to cross-collaborations.

What has been the biggest challenge for you so far as a community leader?

As I run four communities, two of my own and two I co-lead, the biggest challenge has been time management. I like to be hyper-engaged in my communities, however, as all of the communities continue to grow I haven’t been able to be present and engaged in every post as I was in the early days. The solution has been to allow admins on board to help me. As much as I like to be involved in every aspect of my communities, it’s been a beneficial experience to learn to let go of control, delegate, and trust the judgement of others.

What advice would you give others who are just starting to build a community?

Keep the momentum up! Momentum is everything, especially at the beginning, and you’re responsible for maintaining it. Regarding online communities, no comment should go unnoticed, always make your members feel seen and heard by engaging with every post early on. Over time, the group will create its own momentum that you can nurture as you see fit. Consistent momentum builds value, and members who benefit from your group will spread the word with their like-minded friends.

What is one thing you’d like to accomplish by the end of the year?

It’s not related to community, but by the end of the year I’d like to do some SEO re-optimization on my top 5 blog posts. Most of my web traffic comes from my community and I’d like to start gaining more organic traffic. It’s been on my to-do list for months and I’m trying my best to check it off the list by the end of 2019.

And last but not least, tell us about your favorite Madrid Croissant Coworking space!

I love rent24 in the MItte district in Berlin. That cylinder shaped glass ceiling is everything!

Community Building and Blogging with Cepee