Meet Laura Stone | Entrepreneur and Blogger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Stone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi laura, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I originally started losangelesblog.co in 2019 as a hobby because I genuinely love sharing topics in beauty, wellness, travel, key places/events etc. in Los Angeles with others. I wanted to have a space to share key finds I thought others would enjoy. With a blog, there is also the backend which includes web design, SEO, keyword research, app integrations, which I knew nothing about so I spent a lot of time teaching myself digital marketing while also coming up with content ideas and collaborating with businesses. I found resources for web design and digital marketing instruction on Youtube, Pinterest, Canva, online and through Squarespace help support! As I continued along and became consistent with creating, a lot of “luck” was involved as collaborations came to fruition. From each occurrence, the blog started to evolve into something more. I also had a mentor who encouraged me to create my own content ideas and videos on my social media which I love doing, this is where I began to learn how to work with others creatively and independently.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from others is that all my ideas come from me (when working with a photographer, there is a mutual creation). However, everything that someone sees on my social media or website comes directly from my unique life and experience, and it’s always interesting! There is a certain amount of risk involved when putting your own creations out there; you must be willing to “go first”, and there’s a certain amount of vulnerability there. As with many creatives, there becomes a threshold where you get so used to “going first” and standing out that you begin to stop caring what others think. A challenge for me has been keeping that boundary, unless, of course, you don’t want to, and many creative geniuses are the ones who just break all the boundaries. I have encountered many challenges where I have wanted to throw in the towel. In those situations, I take a step back, reflect on what happened, remember my “why” and think about what inspires me. I also think it is important to have a relationship with something outside of yourself, so I pray to God for wisdom and insight. A lesson I’ve learned is never to give up, and it’s ok to fall as long as you get back up again!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh yes! The thing I love about LA is the variety of events, restaurants, cities, stores, that you can explore! One of my first blog posts in 2019 on losangelesblog.co was “Day in the Life in L.A.: One Day/One Night in Los Angeles”. This was a relaxing yet stimulating itinerary when family visited. The itinerary included lunch overlooking the ocean at Dukes Malibu followed by a visit to the Getty Villa. After that we had a check-in at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and had dinner outside by the pool. I love their pizza and their cute Beverly Hilton pizza box! In the morning we had iced coffees by the pool. Downtown Beverly Hills with Rodeo Drive is walking distance away.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Most definitely. I wouldn’t be where I am without the help and support of others. Firstly, I’d like to shout out one of my mentors, Rachel McCallister. I’d like to shout out my advisors at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Rosemarie Konar and Alexandra Bruzzese, who connected me with Arali West, who assisted me in the creation of LosAngelesblog.co. I’d like to shout out the photographers who have worked with me to bring a vision to life.

Website: https://losangelesblog.co

Instagram: ooohlalastone

Facebook: Laura Stone

Youtube: @ooohlalastone

Image Credits
Kendal Bruce
Jose Maria
Michael Cornell
Kate