Blogger Spotlight: Jewel of Jewel Clicks

Last week, Rea of Blissful Snapshots graced our Blogger Spotlight episode. And for this week, we are proud to have someone who has captured the hearts of her readers with her buzz-worthy contents and eye-catching photos. This chick is totally rockin’ the scene in the blogosphere.

Without further adieu, meet Jewel Delgado, the wanderlust, the shutterbug and the award-winning blogger of Jewel Clicks.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU GOT INTO BLOGGING?

Jewel: Hello!! I’m Jewel Delgado. I grew up in Manila, born in Southern Leyte and now living in Cebu. You will hear me talking Tagalog most of the time, but I can also speak Cebuano, syempre!

I got into blogging back in college, when I wanted to document my life in Cebu and also I would like to practice my web designing subject that was part of my course.

WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA OF YOUR BLOG’S NAME?

Jewel: I love taking photos whenever I see interesting view or subjects and all I can think of was “click, click, click” and that’s when I come up with Jewel, my name and Clicks as verb = Jewel Clicks 😀

I don’t own an expensive camera right now, I am currently using my Samsung Note 3 phone and still thinking if I will buy a new camera or a Go Pro.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BLOGGING?

Jewel: What I love about blogging is that I can share stories behind the photos I posted on my social media accounts. I can always read my adventures last month and last year, it is like you are looking on your photo albums and reminisce memories and experiences and would be able capture the faces of the people you’ve met along your way because not all of them will be part of your life next day, next week, next month or next year. (No hugot, I swear…)

WHAT IS THE NICHE OF YOUR BLOG AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IT?

Jewel: The niche of my blog is a Photo Blog. It was started when my flickr account in 2011 was about to reached the 200th post and that time it was only 200 photos upload for free and unlimited uploads for $24/year, I think. So, I decided to create a blog and why not post all of the photos there with no limit and I can also add stories behind it. Captions are not enough, then after a year, Flickr offers 1TB size for photos upload for free. Tsk.

ARE YOU MONETIZING YOUR BLOG? HOW DO YOU MONETIZE YOUR BLOG’S TRAFFIC?

Jewel: Yes. I accept guest postings that are related to my niche. I am an SEO Analyst and I know how to manage monetizing my blog, the negotiations with online marketers or advertisers are easy for me. Tip: Know your blog’s worth, name it, take it or leave it.

TOP 5 SITES YOU VISIT (ALMOST) EVERYDAY

• Cebu Pacific Air
• Elite Daily
• Search Engine Watch
• Moz Blog
• INC.com

TOOLS YOU USE WITH YOUR BLOGGING

• GMail
• Blogger
• PicMonkey
• SpellCheckPlus

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR BLOG POSTS?

Jewel: When I visit other blogs, but we all have different stories to tell, so be yourself! I blog about my experiences like traveling with family, friends or solo. Whenever I have upcoming trip, I find inspiration with my feelings. How I am feeling about it and how I will share it to my blog. It takes sometime to blog about it because I have to keep it first (to myself) then if I am ready to blog about it, then I will write about it. It is always about how are you feeling during your adventure and it will results to a very good story telling. That’s why I love taking photos.

BESIDES BLOGGING, WHAT OTHER INTERESTS DO YOU HAVE?

Jewel: Planning my future solo trips (solo talaga?), I jog whenever I have time on weekdays, I go to Muay Thai Cebu session every Saturday with my friend Carissa, I love catching up with my Cebu friends over cup of coffee and desserts, I enjoy night life and roadtrip with Manila friend and I love reading books.

GIVE US 5 OF YOUR BEST BLOG POSTS

I will share you the posts for this year:

1. My complete Sagada Trip Stories 
2. My Ultimate Summer in Boracay
3. My Soul Surfing in Siargao
4. My Haler Baler Aurora as my first solo trip –  and my Fun Surfing in Baler
5. I left my heart in Palawan as my second solo trip, a post birthday. Where I enjoyed the Underground River but I had fun in El Nido, Palawan 

OMG! This is more than 5 best blog posts

HOW WAS YOUR BLOGGING SO FAR? HAVE YOU RECEIVED AWARDS AND RECOGNITION SINCE YOU STARTED?

Jewel: My blogging is so far so good! As long as I travel and gain new experiences that are worth to share to readers, friends and family, I blog about it.

Yes! I received an award last year 7th Best Cebu Blog Awards 2014. I was nominated for Photo Blog Category and Fashion Category by a friend, I thought that was just a joke, I didn’t take it seriously, not until the awards night, I won the Best Cebu Photo Blog 2014 and all I can say was “thank you, thank you, thank you to all the judges and friends!” I was speechless and stuttering that time.

Recently, I was one of the Top Finalist for Photo Blog Category in Bloggys Philippine Blogging Awards 2015 held in SMX Convention Center, SM Aura, Taguig and received a special award of People’s Choice – Photo Blog Category. Grabe! I didn’t expect to be part of the top finalists. Thank you to all of my family and friends who supported and voted my blog.

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO JUST STARTED BLOGGING

Jewel: Just be yourself and have fun sharing your stories and photographs or videos to your family and friends. Eventually you will expand your network meeting bloggers from different places online and offline. Blogging is a tool where we express our own opinions just be responsible.

LASTLY, WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR BLOG IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

Jewel: In the next five years, as long as I still have stories and photographs to share, I will blog about it. I see my blog as my reference on my experiences and how I enjoyed my life, what happened in the past, good or bad, happy or sad.

MY FAVORITES

• Author: C.S. Lewis
• Book: Chronicles of Narnia
• Band: A1 / NSYNC
• Song: Keane – Somewhere Only We Know
• Food: Blueberry Cheesecake

A LITTLE BIT OF MYSELF

• I am certainly a Rational type of person
• I am Optimistic
• I am both an Introvert and Extrovert!
• I am a Right Hemisphere
• I am a Leader

That’s it folks.  Thank you for dropping by.