Sometimes trying something new and creative can lead a person in a direction they weren’t expecting. Just ask Laura Yoder who randomly started something that she fell in love with - blogging and web design.
Yoder started her blog, Black Coffee Beautiful, as a way for her to cultivate her creative side in 2006. Since starting the blog, her interest grew into designing websites for other people. Yoder calls herself a life and style blogger, coffee lover, entrepreneur, and shoe collector.
“Once I started blogging, I decided that I really liked it. I liked creating, taking pictures, and designing, so I decided to expand it and work on growing it,” Yoder said. “Right now, it’s not where I want it to be and not perfect by any means, but it’s a work in progress.”
Originally, the blog started with a focus on fashion, but after the COVID-19 shutdown, it was no longer a focus. Yoder changed her blog to include a number of her interests: budget-friendly fashion, home decor, places to travel, beauty tips, recipes, and more. She also blogs about where you can find her favorite items, such as the latest lip gloss.
“I started thinking about everyday things and most things that women can identify with versus one kind of niche topic,” Yoder said. “I don’t know if I’m an inspiration to anyone, but I hope to come across as a positive influence in whatever capacity people are looking for. I want to be that everyday person that people can come to with whatever it is they need help with, whether it’s cooking, fitness, or fashion.”
Yoder enjoys reading several blogs, but she feels that some of their work is unrealistic. She used the example that other bloggers may be purchasing thousands of dollars in fashion, which just doesn’t fit most women’s budgets.
“It’s hard to identify with them,” Yoder said. “They are different from what my friends and I are looking for. You look at them and think they are beautiful and great, but it’s just not realistic.”
When she isn’t working, Yoder's current efforts are focused on redesigning her website, keeping her from blogging as often as she would like.
“I realized that I do a better job on other people’s websites than I do on mine. It was time to redesign,” Yoder said.
Yoder considers herself a self-taught website designer. She uses different platforms to design the sites and doesn’t code. Her designs have caught the attention of people worldwide, and she has designed sites for people from Australia and India.
“I like to use the left part of my brain and figure things out,” Yoder said. I like to see what looks good together. It’s a challenge for me, yet it’s fun for me at the same time.”
Yoder graduated from Valparaiso University (VU) with a degree in health and physical education. During her senior year in college, she realized it wasn’t the career path she wanted to take in life. Since then, she has worked in sales and advertising. Her health education background can be seen in her recipes and fitness blogging.
While Yoder was attending VU, she was part of the cheer and dance team. She graduated in 2000 but didn’t lose the connection with the university, and she soon became the cheer and dance coach in 2005.
“I feel that anyone who is involved in cheer or dance, it’s a passion that they have, and they love doing their respective thing. I missed it because it’s always something that I have been involved in,” Yoder said. “It was a natural thing for me to do.”
To find Yoder’s blog, visit https://www.blackcoffeebeautiful.com/.