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.
It’s Monday morning and that can only mean one thing, it’s time for the next in our series of blogger interviews (we’ve already interviewed Annie Mole and The Londoneer). This next interview is with the one of the bloggers behind possibly the best advice site on the internet… a hefty claim I realise.
But seriously, if you’re ever in need of some guidance on where to get a good breakfast, you can count on Malcolm Eggs, and his co-writers Damon Allbran, Kofee Annan, Chris P Bacon, Hashley Brown, Pam Au Chocolat, Duncan Soldiers and others at the London Review of Breakfasts.
I first met Malcolm a couple of years ago at a London Bloggers Meetup event. I was delighted to instantly recognise his blog as I’d just used it to find a greasy spoon as a meeting place for a stag tour I was organising. With blogger names like Malcolm Eggs, it’s difficult to forget too.
Malcolm is also one of those few bloggers who has managed to turn his blog into a book deal, something I know a lot of bloggers are keen to do. I haven’t seen Malcolm at a meetup for a couple of months, but he’s been around for a while and is certainly one of the long time community members. I absolutely agree with some of Malcolm’s tips too, especially the point of writing about something you are genuinely interested in. I can only assume therefore he’s a massive fan of bacon and eggs…
An so without further introduction, I’ll hand this post over to the charming Malcolm Eggs…
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
The London Review of Breakfasts: www.londonreviewofbreakfasts.co.uk
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
We review breakfasts in London and sometimes beyond (in places like Mongolia, Scunthorpe and Iraq). We take it very seriously.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
I started in August 2005 after having an egg-piphany that no-one in the mainstream media was writing about going out for breakfast. A blog is the best way to achieve an ambition without compromising any laziness.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
A creaky pre-Templates version of Blogger.
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
I landed a book deal (it’s out in 2012 with the wonderful Bloomsbury Publishing) and acquired an emergency conversation topic for when my mind goes blank at parties.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
I read Diamond Geezer and get incredibly jealous – he can write 2000 words about a new suburban bus route and leave you wanting more.
Also, Young and Foodish is a rare breed of food blogger: a great, unfussy writer who knows a lot, yet carries that knowledge lightly.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
Specialise: in something you are genuinely interested in.
Be patient.
Be yourself.
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
I’d like a big interactive map of all the breakfasts we’ve reviewed.
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
Spending much more time on writing and editing than on obsessively trying to get readers.
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
People blog about the most bonkers things and it’s great fun talking to them about that.
Last week we kicked off a series of weekly interviews with bloggers from the London Bloggers Meetup community. We started by interviewing Annie Mole who’s been blogging about the wacky world of the London Underground since 2003 – winning a gaggle of awards along the way. One of Annie’s top tips for writing a blog is to write about something for which you feel passionate and it’s clear our next interviewee does just that.
This week we’ve interviewed none other than London institution The Londoneer. I’ve known the man behind the Londoneer for a couple of years now and not only is he a fantastic blogger, but a throughly nice fella too. The things that really impress me about The Londoneer’s blog are the daily posts, often written in quite some detail, all held together with great original photography. It’s by no means an easy task to write one new post every day – believe me I tried and failed miserably at this – but the Londoneer takes this in his stride.
If you like London and want to read more about its cultural diversity and being a Londoner, there are few better places to go.
Well, without further ado, I’ll hand this post over to The Londoneer…
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
The Londoneer, and you can find it at http://thelondoneer.blogspot.com
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
It’s about my life in London and elsewhere, and it serves as a good platform for my photography too.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
I started blogging in 2007 after going to a Conference where Euan Semple, the ex-BBC journalist, was talking about the joys of blogging, and encouraging attendees to try it for themselves.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
I use Google’s Blogger (which is much improved in recent months I must say, particularly on the design side as it’s now very flexible)
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Blogging has really increased my understanding of London’s complexities, and taken me to parts of it I’m sure I would never have visited otherwise.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
My friend TikiChris writes (?) the London Daily Photo blog, which I find an inspiration – a new photograph every single day, and it takes some dedication to keep that up I can tell you. Tired of London, Tired of Life is another good one – it covers similar ground to my blog but the author is far more concise and doesn’t ramble on endlessly as I tend to do!
Of course I can’t miss out Annie Mole’s London Underground Blog which continues to fuel my fascination with our rather quirky public transport system.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
Just get stuck in, and don’t worry about the quality because that will come with practice.
Screeds of text without interruption can become a bit tiring, so throw in some colour whenever you can – photographs or video work well (but as a photographer can I please ask that you don’t reproduce other people’s work without their permission. It’s an almost unforgivable sin, and completely unnecessary these days anyway because even the camera on your phone can take perfectly acceptable photographs with a little effort)
Make sure that you read other bloggers’ work in your particular area of interest regularly – the better ones will inspire you, and the others will show you what techniques and writing styles to avoid!
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
I’m thinking about moving my blog to a unique domain, but as there will be a great deal of effort involved in making sure its a seamless transition both for my readers and the search engines, I wish I’d done it a lot sooner!
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
Make sure that you Digg, Tweet and update your Facebook wall every time you post something new. At least your friends will see your blogposts if no-one else does! And of course, do make the effort to get your blog listed on all of the blog directories – it takes very little effort and you only have to do it once per site. Loaded Web, Blogtoplist, Blog Catalog, Zimbio are all good places to start but you’ll find many others.
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
I meet fascinating people with fascinating stories to tell, and you never know where that next conversation might take you…
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