Blogger Interview: Meet Biche from Chick About Town!

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Welcome to the Weekly Blogger Interview! This week is blogger Biche of Chick About Town Blog (www.chickabouttown.com). She is blogging under the fictitious name Biche but regarding using a real name or not Biche is blogging in style. I found her blog very interesting and she is such a great writer, that I thought I'd interview her so that you could meet her as well, and check out her blog too!

Can you tell us a little about you and your blog?

Yes, I can: under the pseudonym Biche, I write ChickAboutTown.com, a lifestyle blog that focuses on lifestyle in the entire East African region.

Are you a full time blogger? How did you get into blogging and why?

Yes, I’m a full time blogger. I started to blog in search of a new career. I had a passion for living and lifestyle in East Africa and also wanted to be mobile across the region. I figured blogging would be a great way to dip my toes into this field, while remaining mobile, and so I began to blog.

What do you find most challenging about blogging about your topic?

The financial considerations. Being able to continually experience new establishments, services, events, and products to write about requires money. When this is not being sponsored, it can pose quite a financial challenge.

How many years have you been blogging?

It’ll be four years in June.

What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog?

I live…which if I am in East Africa, means I am still indirectly working on my blog, collecting information and experiences that I can one day use in future posts or to answer reader questions.

How many times do you think about your blog when you’re away from the computer?

All the time. If I am not thinking about whether or not the things I am experiencing are write-worthy, then I am thinking about how I can take my blogging to the next level and turn it into a fun and lucrative career.

Who are your readers?

Generally, my readers are anyone seeking information about living and lifestyle in East Africa. More specifically, I have a significant Kenyan readership because I’ve written a lot about Kenya (which is where I used to live when I first started blogging). I also have a growing Tanzanian readership, as I shift towards writing more about Dar es Salaam, which is where I have lived for the past two years. My readership also includes members of the East African Diaspora, as well as tourists and expats new to East Africa.

Is there any other networking that you do to help your blog reach your targeted readers?

I once read that one of the best ways to grow your blog’s readership is by spending time online and contributing meaningfully in places where your target audience hangs out. Therefore, I read and comment a lot on other East African blogs and forums and have recently started a Facebook page (which I update frequently) and have also joined Twitter.

What was the most challenging moment in your blog content development process and why?

Some time towards the end of last year, I hit a serious mental block about what to write next on my blog. It was severe, and I even considered shutting down ChickAboutTown. Luckily, somehow, it passed and my blog still exists today.

How do you handle it when you just can’t think of an idea to write about?

I pray about it. I also keep a running list of popular search terms that bring readers to my blog. When I run out of ideas, I go through this list and choose a topic that inspires me since these are obviously topics that readers are interested in knowing more about.

What is your strategy with your blog in general?

Generally, I take things one day at a time and focus on incremental growth. If today/this month/this year I can do a little better than I did yesterday/last month/ last year, then I know that over time, this will add up to significant, consistent long-term growth. If I notice decline, on the other hand, then I know I am doing something wrong and need to re-strategize.

Is it bet¬ter to get facts from some¬one else, or con¬duct your own exper¬i¬ments for results?

I think that depends on the facts in question as well as the reliability of the source.

What’s the best thing a blogger can give to his readers?

Authenticity. In my opinion, one of the major reasons people read blogs is because of their more personal nature. Authenticity is one way of ensuring that a blogger is being personal.

I also think authenticity leads to blogs that are more innovative, inimitable, fresh, and unique. When bloggers are authentic, there’s a great chance that their blog will be as richly different from other blogs as the blogger themselves is from other bloggers.

How would (someone) describe your blogging style?

Ahhh…I think you’d be better placed to tell me!

What has been your strategy for creating visibility to yourself and your blog?

As I mentioned earlier, I focus primarily on two things: creating good content and participating meaningfully on online spaces where my target audience hangs out.

Everyone has a favorite/least favorite post. Name yours and why?

My least favorite posts would have to be Maharage or Maharagwe--As you Please! and First Baked Beans, now Corned Beef. I wrote those posts during a difficult time in my life, and I feel they were a bit uninspired.

I don’t have a favorite post, but one of my most popular posts--Durex Play 2-in-1 Massage Gel--has special meaning to me. I debated long and hard before publishing this post because of its sexual nature, and many people close to me advised me not to publish it. Still, I went ahead and did so because I believe in being open about sex and sexuality. In the end, the risk paid off: that post is consistently my most read and commented-on post.

Do you think you owe some¬one for com¬ment¬ing on your blog?

Not at all. But… just like in offline communication, I think it is only polite to respond to those who address you.

Is it worth reply¬ing to com¬ments on your blog know¬ing that most of your replies will never be responded to or even read again?

That has not been my experience. Most of my readers do come back and read my replies to their comments, often even commenting further which leads to greater conversation. I guess once readers know that a blogger will respond to their comments, then they come back to see what the blogger has to say in response to what they’ve written.

Have you ever thought of not approv¬ing a com¬ment because it is neg¬a¬tive know¬ing nobody will find out?

I have considered it, once or twice, but then went ahead and approved the comments nonetheless. If you stifle conversation on your blog without good reason, I think readers will eventually stop talking to you. The only time I have not approved such comments is when they have been outright disrespectful to me or to other readers and included foul language.

Do you think peo¬ple who com¬ment on your blog with key¬words in their name are worth being replied to, or even acknowl¬edged in your blog?

Definitely. I have no problem with self-promotion as long as there’s more to the comment than just that.

Is it wrong to com¬ment on your blog under a dif¬fer¬ent name?

I wouldn’t say it’s wrong but neither do I understand why anyone would do that.

Do you value every com¬ment you get on your blog the same, regard¬less of the con¬tent of the comment?

No. Although I value every genuine comment from readers, some comments add more to the overall conversation in terms of substance. I value those comments more because they make my blog more informative and comprehensive.

Do you believe com¬ments on your blog with more writ¬ing should be val¬ued and rewarded higher than com¬ments with less writing?

No. For me, it’s about quality not quantity.

Are you easily discouraged?

I don’t think so. Although I sometimes feel discouraged, I make a point not to act on that feeling very often. The net result, therefore, is that if you look at my actions, I am quite persistent.

Are you ever will¬ing to edit an image you use in your blog post to make it look more appeal¬ing and eye catching?

Yes. I crop, resize, and frame images to make them as attractive as possible, but I do so while being careful not to mislead my readers.

Do you avoid post¬ing con¬tro¬versy on your blog because you have none to post, or you’re afraid some¬one might dis¬agree with you?

I believe controversy is more about attitude than simply about differing opinions. If I have a controversial opinion, along with the evidence to support it, then I express it freely, taking care to be as polite and respectful as possible. This way, if a discussion ensues, hopefully, it will be about ideas rather than about character assassination and mud-slinging.

Would you feel more accom¬plished if you got 20 com¬ments from “reg¬u¬lar” blog¬gers, or just 1 com¬ment from a highly respected “famous” blogger?

Tough question. Although my ego would be stroked by the one comment from the highly respected “famous” blogger, I would do my best to try and keep that in perspective. People are people, despite whatever fame or greatness we attribute to them. The 20 comments from “regular” folk would actually be a greater indicator that my writing was interesting and relevant to more people.

Do you define your blog as a suc¬cess if you make a lot of from it and get a lot of com¬ments per post?

Yes, those are great measures of success, especially if I have financial goals for my blog and, well, who doesn’t like to be popular?

Are you a “thinker” and “plan¬ner” instead of a “doer”?

By nature, I am more of a “thinker” and “planner”. With age, though, I have learned the importance of following through on thinking and planning with doing, and so I’ve become a lot more balanced in this area.

Are you being as per¬sonal as you can with your read¬ers (pic¬ture of your¬self, small bio, etc.)?

No. Although I do share a bit about myself in terms of pictures, my background, and what I’m like as a person, I’d like my blog to be more about the information it offers rather than about me as a person.

Any specific tips you have for new bloggers who want to make it in the blogosphere?

1. Choose a blog topic that you are very passionate about because you will have to write about it until you are blue in the face.

2. Be clear about why you blog, and once you are, commit to it. The reason I say this is because many blogs “die” within the first few months of their existence. Knowing why you blog helps to keep you going when the going gets tough.

What is the ultimate Goal for a blogger in your opinion?

I think that differs for each blogger; people blog for a variety of reasons.

A lot of people are interested in blogging for the money earning potential. What are some tips for people interesting in making money from blogging? What are some realistic expectations in regards to what can be made?

I’m still trying to figure that out myself, so if you ever find out, please let me know!

If you or someone you know would be great for our Weekly Blogger Interview, please tanzanianblogawards@gmail.com and tell us!