Meet Leigh Powell Hines

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leigh Powell Hines. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 

I have a background in TV journalism, Public Relations, and Marketing. I had a colorful career before starting my website, HinesSightBlog.com, in 2011. My blog was started on a whim in January 2011 after watching the film “Julie and Julia.” The main character in that film started a blog. I was staying at home with my two children. I had turned 42 over the Christmas holiday, my youngest child was one, and I felt I needed something creative in my life to keep my writing portfolio active. I had no specific goals in mind. It was a great time. I wrote about things I wanted to write about in my life. I told stories, and I did not have the hassle of social media. Social Media was secondary, and writing was primary. Unfortunately, the blogging industry went a different direction with social media and the Instagram platform. 

In 2015, I started the #OutaboutNC hashtag and the handle of @OutaboutNC to share my love of North Carolina and connect with people. My website is a lifestyle blog that ages as I do. 

My children are now 15 and 11. I still work my blog/social media on a part-time basis and support it through affiliate marketing, advertising, and freelance writing. I’ve written for NC tourism bureaus, Forbes, local media, and Buick magazine in the past ten years. When my husband retires from engineering, and we’re empty-nesters with only a poodle in the house, I can still be part of this industry and be active because people travel, eat and live life to the fullest at every stage in life. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect? 

I have been blessed with a lot of creative energy through the years, but there is only so much one person can accomplish, especially on a part-time basis. When social media became primary in this industry, it added a new dimension to work behind owning a blog. Every blog post now needs graphics, a Pinterest pin, and marketing on social media. 

Each year, a new social media app tries to come to the forefront. But, at some point, you have to say, “no more,” and focus on a few things and not everything because it becomes impossible for one person. 

With the rise of social media was the rise of the  “influencer” as a job category.  That word has always been an uncomfortable “word” for me. I’m not fond of the word at all, and this whole new digital career has created a lot of “click and bait” content to get views and follows on these platforms. There is a lot of “noise” on these platforms with no real value to a person, but entertainment.  Being my age and relevant with content that people on these platforms are interested in seeing can be challenging for me.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on? 

I am a content creator, website owner, and YouTube host. 

What are your plans for the future? 

I put my website and social media on the backburner during COVID and dealt with some other transactions in my personal life in 2020 until now.  I am now ready to begin devoting more time to my blog.

Before COVID, I started a YouTube show called “The House Stalkers.” We halted everything during the pandemic. I miss it and am ready to stalk some houses again. I’m excited to announce that we are going back to filming this fall. I love my co-host, Heather Taylor Petrovich” and we have so much fun shooting these episodes.  We have a lot of fun.

Contact Info:

• Email: Leigh@HinesSightBlog.com
• Website: https://www.hinesightblog.com
• Instagram: @leighpowellhines and @outaboutnc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leighpowellhines
• Twitter: @hinessightblog
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHouseStalkers

Image Credits
Curious Notions Photography