Community Highlights: Meet Betsy Ramsey of Natty Gal

Today we’d like to introduce you to Betsy Ramsey.

Hi Betsy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Sure! My love for both writing and travel emerged during my childhood. I can vividly remember typing up a neighborhood newsletter on my grandmother’s old typewriter and poring through my parents’ travel magazines and guidebooks as they planned their next adventure.

While I’ve always had a passion for both travel and creative pursuits, my early career did not take me in that direction. For over 25 years, I worked in healthcare, primarily healthcare consulting, as a data analyst, where my work was heavily centered around spreadsheets and PowerPoints.

I started blogging as a creative outlet for my highly analytical day job but didn’t really focus on promoting Natty Gal. In 2017, a friend found me organically and encouraged me to put myself out there and start promoting my blog.

While Natty Gal started with a mixture of fashion, lifestyle, and travel posts, in recent months I’ve narrowed my focus to travel and fashion as it pertains to travel, including capsule wardrobes, how to pack light, and how to style basics in multiple ways so that they don’t become boring.

Today, I love encouraging my followers to travel independently. I’ve personally traveled to five continents, 64 countries, and 34 US states to date. Nearly all these trips were planned and coordinated independently, without the use of a tour company or travel agent. Now, there’s nothing wrong with using either of those services, and there are situations when doing so can be logical; however, I believe that they can detract from the sense of wonder, discovery, and fulfillment that comes with independent travel.

I’ve met many people who are over 50 and in the empty-nest stage of life. They’re eager to travel but are fearful of venturing abroad on their own. I share useful tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years that help these hesitant adventurers travel with less logistical stress and more confidence.

Many people in the 50+ market fall outside the two typical niches for travel bloggers: budget or luxury. I love to cover the in-between! When I hit mid-life, comfort became more important. We typically stay in moderate to high-end lodgings and may book business class airline seats for longer trips or take part in the occasional Michelin-star meal. But it’s also important to me to have authentic connections with the people and culture of a region. This might entail participating in local community events and enjoying the street food so popular with a region’s everyday working folk.

I also share sample itineraries, destination guides, and reviews that help travelers make the most of their hard-earned vacation time in both popular and lesser-known destinations in the US and abroad. Cultural sites, historic properties, culinary events, and some outdoor/adventure pursuits are often featured in my stories.

Lastly, as a lifelong resident of Northeast Ohio, I’m an expert on the wide variety of attractions and dining destinations available. While my blog doesn’t focus heavily on these sights, I do often share them on social media.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but that is part of what attracted me to blogging and content creation on social media. There are just so many new things to learn! While I love the challenge, it also comes with a steep learning curve, and you need to be willing to wear many hats. I’m very thankful for my supportive spouse, who serves as my technical support, co-photographer, and editorial assistant.

It’s also an area where things are constantly evolving. In just the last year, blogging has changed from an SEO (search engine optimization) model to a GEO (generative engine optimization) model for discovery. Social media algorithms are always being tweaked and updated. I’ve spent many an hour pouring over YouTube “how-to” videos or reading Reddit threads to keep updated, but there always seems to be something new right around the corner.

There have also been personal issues that have made it a struggle to maintain my blog. Last summer my mother was in a rehab facility for a severely fractured hip, and more recently, I experienced a cancer recurrence that required immediate treatment. It was almost impossible to maintain focus while all this was going on. Thankfully, both my mom and I are doing much better now.

I recently attended TBEX, a popular travel blogging conference, and it really helped reignite my enthusiasm. In recent weeks, I’ve been creating content again, updating old posts and attempting to master those SEO to GEO changes mentioned earlier. It feels great to have my motivation back!

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
People may be surprised to learn that blogging and content creation can be a business! At Natty Gal, I provide my readers with content to help them travel independently, but I also offer 1:1 trip consultations or itinerary planning services.

DMOs (destination management organizations), hotels, attractions, and consumer product vendors represent another type of client for Natty Gal. An organization might contract with me for a sponsored post to be hosted on my blog or social media account, or they might contract for UGC (user-generated content). This is essentially when the organization uses my content, either photos, videos, or written subject matter, on their own site.

Obviously, my focus is on travel and capsule wardrobe content, but I’ve also dabbled with companies that highlight lifestyle products. Occasionally, I still share some lifestyle content via my newsletter or on social media.

As for what sets me apart and what I’m most proud of, I’d say my authenticity and genuine desire for readers to experience the trip of their dreams, whether spending a long weekend close to home or venturing halfway across the world. For brands, I’m proud of my reliability, ability to meet deadlines, and the fact that I communicate transparently throughout the course of a project.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Well, there’s that famous Augusten Burroughs quote: “When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all.” The past year has certainly emphasized how true that is. But assuming that’s universally true and that you are looking for a more personal answer, for me, I’d say it’s creating a life that feels both meaningful and fulfilling.

The path to achieving that looks a bit different for everyone. In my case, it comes from embracing lifelong learning, finding work I love, contributing to society through volunteerism, and cultivating relationships with family and friends that are built on openness, acceptance, and common interests and values.

Thank you so much for the opportunity and for taking the time to interview me! It’s been fun to reflect on Natty Gal’s journey these past years.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nattygal.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/nattygaldotcom
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/nattygaldotcom
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethramsey/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyGal
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=WGPMi0P40CwZ7ZBKJSB3yg
• Other: https://travmedia.com/elizabethramsey

Image Credits
Katie Krupa Creative