Category : Blogger Interviews
As we kick off another week, it’s time for another blogger interview. This week we’ve been talking to Cristiano Betta, also known as @cbetta on Twitter. Cristiano has been coming to London Bloggers Meetup events for a couple of years and you’ll no doubt have seen him with his other half and fellow blogger / geek / technologist Melinda Seckington.
Cristiano is someone who says what he thinks in a fairly direct way, which is good because often he has something interesting to say. See one of his tips below on getting started in blogging: “just do it”. His blog is a place online where he shares thoughts and updates largely on his world and technology. If you’re in to code and web design, you’ll probably find his list of links pretty useful.
Well, without further ado I’ll hand you over to Cristiano.
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
Cristiano on Tech/Life
http://blog.cristianobetta.com
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
A resource of things I figured out and want to share, and a list of things that happened to me.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
I started in 2006, on a small group blog I wrote with 3 friends. We all finished Uni and started our “real” lives. The sire was called FourStarters.com and we wrote about the things that kept us busy.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
WordPress, self hosted, always have, always will
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
My blog has given me work opportunities, a better web presence, better recognition in the web community, and in general, a good place to vent any frustrations I might have.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
Most of the stuff I read is quite technical. I actually don’t read any of the mass media blogs, to me they are just as valuable as old media. Instead I read a lot of good old fashioned web-logs where people write about their work. Good examples are:
Dan W’s Scrapbook – Dan W likes to bookmark a lot of interesting stuff he finds online in his Tumblr and it’s often quite interesting.
MissGeeky.com – Melinda writes about anything geeky, often focussed on girls, but not at all inaccessible to guys.
Simon Willison’s Weblog – Simon is a developer extraordinaire and most of the stuff he writes about is very inspiring to anyone with a technical insight.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
- Just do it
- Don’t worry about SEO, just make sure you write something interesting and worth reading
- Don’t set up your own server, write your own HTML, and build your own design (all of which I did). Instead go with a hosted service (wordpress, blogger, tumblr) or have someone do it for you. Want a special design? Buy one. There are loads of sites out there that sell of the shelf designs.
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
I would write more on it. I aim to ADD a steady stream of posts but I rarely do. I have a lot of drafts that never get published.
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
I think the key to getting readers is simple: have something interesting to read. Marketing your blog might get you far but in the end it’s all about your content being relevant to your readers.”
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
To learn from others. To inspire others. And to relax.
There are lots of interesting people at the London Bloggers Meetups. There are also lots of very nice people, lots of talented people and plenty who I always think it would be nice to know better. This week’s interviewee fits into all of those categories. She’s been coming to the London Bloggers Meetup for a couple of years (I would guess) and normally comes along with sidekick and fashion blogger Shell.
This week we’ve been talking to Hayley Dunlop. Hayley, aka @hayjane, writes the funtastic Punlimited blog all about puns as they appear in the British press. I don’t think there’s a talent for puns quite like that which we are fortunate enough to enjoy in Britain. It’s quite right there is a blog to celebrate such creative writing and what better person is there to look after this heritage. Well, someone’s got to do it..
The interview with Hayley identified some common themes for how to be a better blogger. You can read below, but working out why you are blogging in the first place is certainly a simple and straightforward bit of advice.
Well, enough from me. Take it away Hayley… (I wish I could think of a pun to introduce you..)
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
My main blog is ‘Life as she knows it’ (http:www.hayleydunlop.blogspot.com) but I think my side blog-ject – Punlimited (http://www.punlimited.co.uk/) – is perhaps what people remember more when I introduce myself at meet-ups.
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
Life as she knows it: Random observations, quirky memories, amusing anecdotes, life in London and silly thoughts.
Punlimited: My own current puns for news stories, encouraging others to suggest their own.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
I started blogging when I moved to London as a way of keeping my creative juices flowing and giving me a reason to write, and also to keep my friends and family up to date on all of my London adventures. Punlimited followed on from that as a space where I can offload my regular need to pun.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
I use Blogger. I know it’s not the best platform and there a few niggly things about it which get on my nerves (the lack of spellcheck being the main one, unless I’m being really dense in not being able to find it!), but it does the job.
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Blogging has undoubtedly enriched my life in London, not least because of some of the amazing people I’ve met as a direct result of the London Bloggers Meet-Up. Through blogging I started to Tweet, and that has opened up so many doors for me in both my professional and personal life.
You get to find out about events before anyone else; you get invited on trips; sometimes there are FREEBIES! But, more so than these material benefits, blogging provides me with a platform and a voice, and having somewhere to record little titbits of my life is incredibly important to me.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
Domestic Sluttery is brilliant, and I always find Gary Andrews has interesting things to say, whether it be an in-depth analysis of the latest new media development, or a tasty recipe for kedgeree. I’d also recommend checking out the Posterous blog of @becksldrt – she gets up to so much stuff around London and makes me realise how great a city it is. IanVisits is great to find out about quirky events, and Tired of London, Tired of Life is awesome for discovering little corners of the city that you never realised were right under your nose. Outside of London, the brilliant Sianz – based in Cardiff – has a wonderful blog called Whimsical Musings of a Loon. She loves puns, and her writing always makes me giggle and ponder.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
- Work out *why* you’re blogging. Are you looking to make money from your blog? Are you a freelance writer wanting to showcase your work? Or, like me, are you doing it just for fun and to record your experiences? Depending on your aims, this will affect how often you blog and what kind of blogging platform you should use.
- If you’re doing it for yourself rather than for masses of traffic and revenue, then only write a post when you’ve got something to say; I only write when I’m in the right mood or have an experience I want to record. Different approaches work for different sites, so I guess that leads on to my final tip, which is to…
- Watch what you say. I’m a naturally cautious person and I would hate to write something nasty about someone and for them to find out about it. But that’s just me, and there are countless bloggers out there who have built their reputations on speaking their mind about anyone and everything! It sounds obvious, but by venting about someone or something on your blog, you are opening yourselves up to the internet, which can sometimes be a very scary – and intense – place.
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
I really wish I knew how to make my blog look prettier.
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
I’ve never been obsessed with numbers and high volumes of readers, but my most-read posts have been about quirky things I’ve spotted in London that other people have also noticed and turned to Google for answers. My most-read post is one I wrote not long after moving to London about a man I spotted wandering around a bookshop with an object resembling a golden pyramid balanced on his head.
Over two years later I still get people commenting on that post having also seen him out and about. In fact, even the pyramid man himself has joined the conversation to defend his choice of headwear! It’s really fascinating how you can connect with people this way – blogging really is making London – and the world – a much smaller place.
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
As I’ve mentioned, the online world can be a very strange environment sometimes. By putting real faces and people to their online personas you realise that we’re all actually just nice, normal people trying to find our way through life in one way or another. It’s a fantastic way to meet new people and to make good contacts. And, as numerous others have already pointed out, the free booze goes down very nicely as well!
OK Hayley, because you asked so nicely, here’s your plug…
Calling all PRs and tech geniuses
The MediaGuardian Innovation Awards 2011 are now open for entries. This year there are a bunch of new categories aimed at recognising tech innovation, including awards for mobile apps, disruptive technologies and tech start-ups. PRs who have worked on unique digital campaigns for their brands or clients can also enter the coveted digital communication categories. Entries are encouraged from agencies, in-house PRs, blue-chip tech businesses as well as independent developers. For more information visit guardian.co.uk/megas.
I’ve had the pleasure of talking to a lot of bloggers in the past couple of years, but none so far who have used their blogging as a platform for change in gay rights. Not until I met Godwyns that is. Gowdyns is a long time London Bloggers Meetup member who tells me his blog provides a voice to support his campaign – something that has been picking up speed of late.
Now Godwyns is a colourful character. Not only does he blog about gay rights but when I first met him he was writing a poetry blog, featuring his own works such as this one you can read here. Now before you click, I should just warn you that Godwyns writes erotic poetry and this one, written for LBM’ers, is called Coitus Blogging. Now with that warning out of the way go ahead and enjoy.
If you are ever at an LBM and would like to meet Godwyns, just look out for someone with an enormous smile. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll spot him, he’ll be somewhere in the room having a laugh and chatting warmly to another blogger. It’s been a pleasure getting to know Godwyns and more recently about his campaign.
Now without further ramblings, let me hand you over to Godwyns for a peak into his world…
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
My blog is called ‘My Person’ and the url is www.godwyns.com
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
Opinions on politics, human rights with a focus on gay rights and liberty issues.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
Started blogging 2003 but set up My Person in 2005. It is a focused on challenging the political frenzy surrounding people’s rights but especially as a platform for my activism as a gay rights campaigner.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
Blogger (blogspot)
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
It has given me an avenue towards reaching the goals I hoped for. Presently, I have diversified from it to set up a gay rights campaign and pressure group which is now playing a very important role in challenging homophobia in black and African countries.
Through this new set up, The Commonwealth is now listening and talking to me and my group on how to improve the life of gay people in its member states. Also, I have become a part of the general gay rights campaign, speaking at events, demonstrations, appearing on panels and giving opinions to the media on issues that affects gay people.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
a. Peter Tatchell – dedicated to Human Rights, democracy and global justice.
b. LGBT Asylum News – a focus how asylum seeking by gay people is handled
c. Baroque in Hackney – literal intelligence
d. Nick robinson’s newslog – political analysis of current issues in UK politics
e. Murray Newlands – Marketing blog – great for info about blogging and online presence
f. London Underground’s blog – a diary of the London (from the) underground by a London woman
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
- Have a focus and create a niche subject
- Establish and maintain the frequency of update – if current affairs, differentiate between analysis and [live] reporting
- Write in an easy to read style and make it as short as possible [not more than 400 words at a go]
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
Improve the amount of readers.
Andy: I don’t think you’re along with this one Godwyns..!
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
Frequency of update and coverage of real topical issues on Human/Gay rights
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
A great place to meet other bloggers from various background and sector of blogging. Share ideas, create networks and learn new things on how to always improve in blogging. But I must not fail to mention that the socializing bit is incomparable all made possible by the amiable, clever and well-connected organiser, Andy Bargery.
So I will finish with a huge thanks to Andy for the great work he’s done in managing LBM all these years. Many cheers Andy.
Andy: Thanks Godwyns, much appreciated.
It’s Monday morning again which can only mean one thing. Time for another Blogger Interview. This time I’ve been talking to Peter Marshall, a long time London Bloggers Meetup member and the person responsible for most of the photographs you see of our events on the Meetup.com page.
Peter’s an interesting character. If you’ve been to an LBM you’ve probably spoken to him and admired his camera at some point. It was only recently that I learned Peter used to be a teacher and that kind of fits, for he’s the sort of chap you feel knows his subject inside out. Every time I talk to Peter he’s been doing something interesting; whether photographing a demonstration outside an embassy, capturing the colour of a carnival, or more recently when he showed off his new blurb book on the 2012 Olympics site.
I realised when compiling this interview how long it had been since I last checked into Peter’s blogs to admire not only the photography, but the narrative too. Well worth a read if you are looking for commentary on culture, diversity, photography, life and more. Of course all of Peter’s blog posts are stitched together with Peter’s photographs.
I hope you enjoy Peter’s thoughts and make sure you say hello next time you’re at a London Bloggers Meetup. Peter will be there somewhere, probably the guy pointing a camera at you from across the room.
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
>Re:PHOTO http://re-photo.co.uk
My London Diary http://mylondondiary.co.uk/
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
Photography. My London Diary is my own work, >Re:PHOTO looks at wider issues as well as my own work.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
My London Dairy started around 2000- 2002 (it isn’t quite a blog because I don’t think you could do what I wanted as a blog then) and it was intended as an art work that explored how photography could use the web. At the time I was also writing a commercial site on photography, which later included a blog which got over a million hits a month from around the world. After I was sacked for taking photography seriously I wanted to keep on writing about it for an audience, so >Re:PHOTO was born
4. Which blog platform do you use?
WordPress, but I use my ISP provided version of it which limits me. Keep meaning to set it up properly…
My London Diary is simple html used to create a kind of blog.
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Meeting everyone at LBM!
But it’s also been great to meet readers who’ve really appreciated my work, particularly those photographers that I admire. I first met one of my favourites at a banquet in a castle in Poland and when I was introduced to her she threw her arms around me and hugged me.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
If you are a photographer Lensculture. Jim Casper is a great guy and finds some really interesting material.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
- Write on average a post every day
- Always have a point of view – blogging isn’t just listing information or links
- Study your subject, spend a lot of time reading other views on it
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
Find a way to make it pay without compromising my relationship with readers. One thing I’ve just started is bringing out Blurb books, some of which I hope will sell – the latest is ‘Before the Olympics: The Lea Valley 1981-2000‘ with over 240 photographs
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
Content. And word of mouth (also Facebook and Twitter.)
But really it’s the content that brings in the average of well over 3000 page views per day (and growing.)
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
I want to meet other bloggers and find out what they are doing – and hopefully get some new ideas. And the free drinks help!
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