Category : Blogger Interviews
It’s Monday morning and that can only mean one thing – I need a strong cup of tea to kick start the week. Ok Ok, apart from that, it also means it’s time to post up an interview with another fantastic member of the London Bloggers Meetup community. This time I’ve picked someone who, as far as I can remember, has been coming to the London Bloggers Meetups pretty much since day one and that’s Chris Osburn (correct me if I’m wrong there Chris).
So why should I interview Tikichris then?
The answer actually comes in lots of parts. I’ll start with the fact that he is a Contributing Editor Food and Drink for Londonist which is probably one of the best multi-author blogs about London. Not only that, but Chris takes a mean photograph of London every single day and posts it up on his blog. He’s been doing this every day for a couple of years I believe, no mean feat. He has also featured in the lastminute.com top 50 blogs about good stuff chart (ok, I should point out, I have been involved in compiling this chart in the past, but there is absolutely no bias here).
I have also had the pleasure of working with Chris on various writing assignments and can genuinely say it’s been a pleasure. Anyway, enough of the usual rambling intro, it’s time to hand the post over to the interview. So Mr Tiki Chris, over to you…
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
My blog is Tikichris and the URL is http://tikichris.com
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
Basically, tikichris is about my (mis)adventures in London and beyond. Lots of art, food and drink, photography and travel.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
Summer of 2006. I thought it would be a fun way to share my writing and photography with the world. That has proven to be the case time and time again.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
tikichris.com is a WordPress blog. I also have a “tikichris to go” mobile blog via Tumblr. I dabble with Blogger for some projects and use Moveable Type as a contributing editor for Londonist.
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Blogging has helped me make friends and get work. It has allowed me access to lots of things that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to experience.
Recently, I was invited to the Bushmills Inn and Distillery in Ireland. I wasn’t representing any big name print publications or glossy mags – just my blog and some other websites I write for. I had a blast and was very well looked after. On a number of occasions, I’ve found myself interviewing celebrities, dining in some of London’s best restaurants and staying in hotel rooms that I’d personally never be able to afford. Sometimes I even get paid to have this kind of fun!
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
Photoshop Disasters, LAZERTITS and Murder Burger are always good for a chuckle. My friend (and contributing editor at Londonist) Hazel Tsoi-Wiles recently turned my attentions to Hungover Owls. Hilarious.
Check the links in my blog’s sidebar for a lengthy list of blogs that I regularly read.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
- Don’t do it as an end in itself but as a means to an end.
- Meet other bloggers (LBM is an ideal way to network).
- Make sure you have a singular voice and that you’re not just doing the same old thing.
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
I wish I had the time to post more. I use WordPress.com (not .org), which is free and for the most part awesome, but it would be great if I were able to tweak it just a little more.
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
- Longevity
- Lots of posts
- Quality content and
- Great images.
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
To see old friends and to network. The free food and drink that accompany many of the meetups doesn’t hurt either.
OK OK OK, so today is Tuesday and there hasn’t been an update to the weekly Blogger Interviews, but for those who aren’t aware it was a Bank Holiday yesterday in the UK. Anyway, I’m back up and running today with another cracking interview for you. This time we are taking a look into the world of blogging and PR with internet troublemaker Laurence Borel (known to most as Lolly).
Lolly’s an interesting character who I’ve got to know and like over a couple of years at the London Bloggers Meetup. I also worked with Lolly on freelance PR assignment we took on in late 2009 where Lolly taught me a great deal about digital PR, for which I am extremely grateful.
If you’re looking for some insight into digital PR it’s worth keeping tabs on Lolly’s blog. You might even be able to convince her to put up a guest post if you have something interesting to add to the conversation. It’s pretty clear Lolly has a passion for the internet and all things digital PR related, but if this isn’t really your thing, you might still get a few ideas about how to setup a great looking and working blog.
Well, enough of the rambling intro, let’s hear from Laurence herself. Enjoy…
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
My blog is called blog till you drop! and can be found at www.laurenceborel.com
2. What’s your blog all about (in 20 words or less)?
blog till you drop is a blog about internet culture in the UK and around the world
3. When and why did you start blogging?
I started blogging in February 2006 on MSN Live Space (back in the days when hotmail was very trendy!) where I kept a blog / diary of my expat life. It was all fun, very light in terms of the subjects I was covering but I quickly became addicted to blogging!
A few months later, a friend of mine suggested I start a ‘proper blog’ to enhance my career prospects and I created ‘blog till you drop’ in August 2006.
I can’t believe my blog is almost 4 years old!
4. Which blog platform do you use?
WordPress
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Blogging has changed my life in many ways. It has helped me and awful lot with my career as I now work in the digital space, but I’ve also been very lucky to meet some amazing bloggers from around the world (France, Italy, Switzerland USA…) and ended up creating myself a brand new network of friends!
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
There are a handful of Social Media blogs which I read on a daily basis to keep up with the latest social media trends including the Viral Garden, Digital Buzz Blog, Social Mouths, Social Media Explorer, and our very own Matt Churchill’s Seldom seen Kid but I also enjoy reading The Business Of Fashion, and I absolutely love street art blog Art of the State.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
A. Enjoy yourself – if you don’t feel like writing for a week, then don’t!
B. Engage with your community – always reply to comments, send thank you Tweets, engage in conversations with your readers – it’ll keep them coming back for more. And don’t forget to comment on other people’s blogs too!
C. Don’t be afraid to show some personality!
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
It took me 3 years to self-host my blog, and I lost all of my hard-earned back links. If you like blogging, then self-host as soon as you can! A friend of mine is designing my logo, and I can’t wait to get that too!
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
- Engage with your community,
- Create new fresh content, and
- Connect with people with similar interests on Twitter. Twitter is great tool (used in moderation) for sending traffic onto a site.
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
I’ve been coming to LBM for over 2 years now and some of the bloggers who attend have become close friends and I regularly meet new people too. Great choice of venues, great people. Love it!
It’s been an absolute pleasure so far interviewing all of the bloggers involved in our Blogger Interviews series. This week’s interviewee, the lovely Penny Golightly, is certainly no different.
I can’t quite remember when I first met Penny, but having worked with her on the lastminute.com blog recently I’ve come to realise Penny is actually a seriously good blogger. I suspect that is partly due to the fact she is a journalist by trade, but also because Penny blogs about something of real interest to her.
This is a theme that comes across in all of the blogger interviews I’ve conducted, write about something for which you have a genuine passion. I couldn’t agree more. It is impossible to write a blog on a topic which you aren’t very passionate about.
Correction, to write a good blog.
Penny is also a blogger who’s gone to the extra effort of creating a brand for herself, with a unique logo, look, feel and of course name. I wonder, is Penny your real name…
In any case, enough of the introduction, let’s cut to the chase. Penny Golightly, this is your blogger interview (said in a This is your Life style)…
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
The site’s called Penny Golightly, and the home page uses blog software, but there’s also a small forum and other things on there too. The URL is www.pennygolightly.com
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
The site’s dedicated to bargain hunting and getting maximum fun from your budget, whatever you have to spend.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
Confession time: I started blogging many years ago as part of a job whilst working on a website that shall remain nameless. It was a spoof blog, written in character and pretending to be a brainless socialite blundering about London. Looking back, it’s amazing that nobody sued us. *whistles and sidles away*
Since then I’ve done a few other paid blogs for people, mostly very straight laced and professional. Penny Golightly is more fun and personal, and it’s a break from other more serious things I might be getting up to with the day job. London is ridiculously expensive, but it’s also an amazing city, so it’s very enjoyable to be able to pass on some of the great things in it that are either free or represent good value for money.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
I’m using WordPress at the moment, which seems to be working out fine for the most part. It has days when it’s glitchy, but then who doesn’t?
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
The best part is meeting lots of other people who are all so fired up and enthusiastic, whether that’s in person or online.
I love it when people pass on rumours about sales or send in their favourite cocktail recipes, or tip me off about interesting events.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
More confessions: most of the ones I read regularly are geeky technical, scientific and educational ones. On the bargain side of things I like The Lean Times, FruGal, The Frugal Life, and many others. Have a look at my Mwah Mwah (favourites) list for the full rogues’ gallery.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
That’s a toughie… I’d say getting on with the writing/other content is the most important, because it usually takes time and practice before you really find your own style. You can always edit or delete entries later if you read them back and cringe. Don’t do it with the sole motivation of finding fame and fortune either, do it because it’s something you feel passionate about, or because it’s a subject area where you have some knowledge already and you’re continuing to learn. You’re writing in public, so make it an interesting read, and enjoy the conversations and contributions that follow.
Finally, I’d say be aware that some bloggers are being exploited at the moment – by all means do the occasional guest post for people you like, or support causes that you believe in, but don’t unquestioningly let people use your blog for product placement (your readers will start to question your integrity), and if you’re a good writer, set a limit on how much of your copy you’re prepared to give away for free each month to other publications (after a certain point, you should be getting a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work).
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
There’s a whole list of things that need changing…. oh, the guilt.
Most of the content is practical/factual so a search function should have been added months ago. Oops. Naughty.
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
I don’t know where half of my readers come from, truth be told. Maybe it’s word of mouth, but I don’t really have any active input into that, or control over it.
Some people drop by after social media comments, especially via @PennyGolightly on Twitter, and I run regular competitions which help too. Having said that, getting people to stick around and contribute is more enjoyable than concentrating on simply driving traffic.
That just made me look like a massive slacker, didn’t it?
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
Because you have the best canapes, darling. Oh, and the speakers are varied and excellent, and because it’s a friendly, unpretentious crowd who are lovely to meet.
I have no idea how it’s Monday again already, but it is, which an only mean one thing: time for another Blogger Interview. We’re into week four of our interviews and so far we’ve had three people who write largely about London, all be it from a very different viewpoint. This should hardly be surprising given they’re all members of the London Bloggers Meetup. Anyway, you can read the previous interviews here.
Next up we have the irrepressible Sian Meades. I suspect there is very little introduction required for Sian but I’m going to try anyway.
I first met Sian around two or so years ago at one of our Blogger meetups. I always thought Sian was one of the Londonist team, but until this interview I couldn’t say for sure. Perhaps this is because Sian tends to be one of the last drinkers standing at the end of a bloggers meetup, alongside some of the Londonist guys, or it could be because of the sheer volume of online content I know Sian is responsible for.
It’s been a pleasure getting to know Sian, both personally and professionally. I admire her tenacity when it comes to getting projects going, not least in her venture as head slut (I hope it’s OK to call you that Sian) for Domestic Sluttery, a new women’s lifestyle blog. Sian has also been one of the few bloggers to get heckled when speaking at a London Bloggers Meetup, when a friend cried out: “get your t*ts out Sian”. Thankfully she overcame this and carried on talking, great stuff.
Anyway, I won’t bleat on any longer. It’s time to hear from Sian about the ins and outs of her blogging and hopefully some useful tips along the way. Over to you Siany…
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
I’m all over the internet, but I blog personally at http://www.sianyland.com/ and run the lifestyle website Domestic Sluttery.
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
On my personal blog I write about things that make me smile, think, or angry. On Domestic Sluttery I write about interiors, shoes, cake and cocktails.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
I started three years ago, writing for Londonist, I wanted something to do, someone pointed out that they were looking for writers. My first piece was slating Pete Doherty. It was pretty popular.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
I use blogger, because it’s easy to set up (I am not friends with html and webby stuff), but I’m going to move to WordPress at some point. I don’t mind where I blog as long as the page looks nice and the software doesn’t crash.
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Well it pays me now. Can I say that? Erm, seriously… I think I’m happier. I need to write.
I’ve met some amazing people through blogging, done some really fun things, and even seen a little bit more of the world.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
I actually just wrote a blog post about this.
There are many more, but they’re the ones I kick off my day with.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
Set up a blog. Sounds crazy but so many people say they want to blog, without trying it first.
Read other blogs. Constantly. It’s the best way to improve.
Write about what you want, not what you think people want to read.
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
The Domestic Sluttery design is being tweaked as I type. But blogging-wise, I’m learning to think before I write. It’s easy to get excited about something, but my best posts are the ones I put some thought into, rather than going off on one.
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
Using Twitter helps.
Linking to other blogs.
Replying to comments. I hate it when people don’t reply to comments.
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
Free beer! Not really. OK, a little bit. But really, I want to hang out with my online friends. I want to meet the people who inspire me online. I listen to talks that interest me, and then have a giggle with some awesome people. And sometimes, even have a bit of a blogging spat.
They’re quite fun too. Bloggers are interesting, passionate people. There’s a common thread that links them, but the people at LBM all write about such different things. You always meet someone new.
The answer actually comes in lots of parts. I’ll start with the fact that he is a Contributing Editor Food and Drink for Londonist which is probably one of the best multi-author blogs about London. Not only that, but Chris takes a mean photograph of London every single day and posts it up on his blog. He’s been doing this every day for a couple of years I believe, no mean feat. He has also featured in the lastminute.com top 50 blogs about good stuff chart (ok, I should point out, I have been involved in compiling this chart in the past, but there is absolutely no bias here).
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