At the start of the year, my friend and blogger Arvind Devalia approached me and asked if I’d like Leo Babauta to speak at the London Bloggers Meetup. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t know who Leo was at first – not having read his Zen Habits blog, or many blogs about health, minimal living, motivation and inspiration. Arvind was very excited and when one or two others started getting excited too, it was high time I checked him out.
I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was Leo writing one of the top 25 blogs in the world, but he was writing content that genuinely offered something of value. The more I spoke to people about Leo, the more I got an excited reaction about the prospect of him speaking. Ultimately Arvind put me in touch with Leo and the rest is history.
For someone who has achieved so much, Leo is a remarkably humble person. When he arrived at our event, he quietly made an entrance and immediately started talking with our community. Many were genuinely huge fans of Leo and his writing, but this didn’t seem to phase Leo or steal away his calm. Aside from his talk, Leo spent the entire evening talking to our bloggers – no commercial pitch, but a genuine interest in simply meeting people. I have to say, it was an absolute pleasure hosting Leo.
I took the opportunity of asking Leo to participate in one of our short blogger interviews which you can read below. – along with a short video clip from the night here. I strongly advise you check out Leo’s blog and perhaps his book The Power of Less (which I have subsequently devoured and loved). Well, enough introduction, over to you Leo and thanks for taking part.
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
Leo: I write Zen Habits (http://zenhabits.net).
2. What’s your blog all about (in 20 words or less)?
Leo: Simplifying your life.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
Leo: I started in January 2007 to chronicle some of the changes I’d been making, to share some of the lessons I’d been learning with others, and to connect with (and learn from) others doing similar things.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
Leo: I started on Blogger.com but quickly moved to WordPress. It’s what I’d recommend to any blogger.
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Leo: Oh, in so many ways. It’s connected me with some amazing people from all over the world, and I’ve learned a lot from them and made some good friends. It’s helped me to reflect more deeply on my life, so that I could share with others. It’s given me a job doing what I love — for the first time in my life. And I’ve had readers tell me that I’ve changed their lives in numerous ways … which is the most gratifying thing in the world.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
Leo: I love so many that it would be hard to know where to start. Other than the big names (Dooce, Daring Fireball, Seth Godin, etc.), I’d say read Tweetage Wasteland, Derek Sivers, Idlewords.com, Marco.org, Rowdy Kittens, among many others.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
Leo: 1. Do something remarkable and share how you did it;
2. Focus on writing great posts before all else;
3. Enjoy the connections you make with your readers rather than worrying about numbers.
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
Leo: I’m very content with my blog. I’m really racking my brain here and I can’t think of a thing, which is interesting to me.
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
Leo: Creating amazing content on a regular basis. That’s the only reason readers come to your blog — to learn, to be inspired, to be entertained, to be moved. Do that for them regularly, and they’ll not only subscribe, but share your work with others.
10. And finally, what motivates you to keep on blogging?
Leo: It’s those emails I mentioned from people who say I’ve changed their lives. It’s really moving to hear that, and when I write a post these days, I think of people who I might help, and it makes me feel good to know I might make even a small difference to someone.
It’s been a while since I posted a blogger interview and I’m pleased to say the wait is over. I’m back, but this time with our first ever international language interview. Well that at least was the plan until I realised I couldn’t display Chinense characters here on my blog. If anyone knows how your help will be much appreciated.
Anyway, enough about my technical shortfalls, it’s time to introduce you to the incredibly nice Tracy Wang. Tracy writes the blog Asuan at Home where you will shortly be able to read her interview in Mandarin too.
I’ll spare you the usual rambling intro and hand you straight over to Tracy…
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
asuan at home – http://aevwang.blogspot.com
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
It’s about life in London, a potpourri of the little experiences that make living in London exciting.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
My mum was the main reason and inspiration behind the start of my blogging in March 2005. Keeping in touch with families in Taiwan, the blog gives them an update about my life in London and at the same time learning something different about the city – from the perspective of a Londoner, rather than a tourist!
4. Which blog platform do you use?
Blogspot
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Blogging kind of just happened, and it was only later that I started to notice its impact on me. I read a lot more now, have a different perspective to the conventional day-to-day routines and actively seek interesting topics to write about.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
Tokyo Mango
This is a fun blog with all the brilliant and crazy things from Japan, very jaw-dropping and just entertaining to read.
Boing Boing
Unique commentary with all sorts of weird and wonderful topics. The stories are interesting, unique and wacky
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
- Be yourself – being yourself will make every article you write unique, and resembles you. Once you start writing, the rest will follow.
- Add a Picture – photos say a thousand words and make things more entertaining and real.
- Do your research – if you’re writing a specific topic, it helps to do some background reading
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
I’m generally happy with my blog in its current state… but if I have some time I’d love to play around with its design style and create a forum to make it more interactive and fun
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
Regular entries, intriguing stories, experience sharing, topics that readers are unaware of or curious about. Most of my new readers come from search engines so it helps to include a vast variety of subjects.
10. And finally, what you are hoping to get out of the London Bloggers Meetups.
This is my first meet up – I look forward to meeting like-minded people and hear about what made them start blogging and how the others establish connection with their readers.
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 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.
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