Tell me about your Blog?

Lanzarote Relocation (www.lanzaroterelocation.co.uk) was set up originally as a place for us to place our hints and tips about moving to this wonderful island. When we moved here, there was no “one place” to go and get all the information you needed… although we have of course had our imitators since. We relied on Google, local forums, and making friends. We wanted to pay it forward, as we had been helped so much. However, we did not want it to be biased or driven by advertising; and we have a web design and marketing business, as well as a nightlife website that keep us fed and watered. Yet over time it rapidly evolved into a real beast. We get new emails all the time from people moving over that just want to talk to someone friendly who isn’t trying to sell them something. It is valued not only by newcomers, but also existing residents, and holidaymakers. The blog contains practical information such as “where to go for this”, “who to speak to about that”, “how to go about the other”, and more. Quality is the driving force with this blog. especially as it has such a niche. We’re really not interested in posting content for content’s sake. It’s niche, it’s quality, and it works!

What has the blog done for you?

We may (quite deliberately) not run it for financial gain in itself – but in real terms this blog has had a major effect on our business in terms of enhancing our reputation and brought traffic and business to our other sites. It has also resulted in national press coverage in the UK.

What was your first blog?

This was my first blog… and I really did take to it like a duck to water. I try to make sure that every post is thought provoking, useful, or simply plain funny.

What is the biggest tip you would give to a newbie blogger?

Choose subject matter that interests you greatly… and that you could sit and talk about forever. Yes I said forever… not just hours, days or weeks – because that’s too limited. So many people set up a blog. write half a dozen posts, and then drift off because they are not passionate about their subject matter.

What do advertisers do that you wish they wouldn’t?

We don’t have advertisers per se on the blog, just affiliate links and adsense. And we make sure that the affiliate links we include are targeted in such a way that they are genuinely useful to our readers – which are quite a specific audience. This brings us back to “Site first. links second”. However, although we are always being offered money by local businesses to advertise on there – we turn it all down, because that is not what this blog is about. We have other very successful business ventures that they can get involved with if they so choose. The affiliate and adsense links more than fund the site.

What do bloggers do that you wish they wouldn’t?

Jump on board claiming to be a “Professional Blogger” when they’ve only been doing it five minutes and don’t have a clue what they are talking about. There are way to many ‘make money from blogs’ blogs and ‘get rich quick schemes’ out there set up by people who can’t do it themselves conning people out of money. Unsuspecting people fall for this – and it angers me greatly.

Where do you see growth in the blogging field? 

I see it growing for some considerable time yet. People are all so different; and interests, tastes, humour, drive and ambitions are so varied that there can always be something new to capture your attention, teach you something new, provoke emotions,  or simply raise an eyebrow.

What do you do to improve the world?

I’d like we think we do a little bit by supporting Kiva (www.kiva.org) and would encourage anyone reading this to take a look at what they do and where practical add links to the site. I like what they stand for – it’s true sustainable economic development.

We’d like to do more – time and money permitting

What do you do that is green?

Living on a small island, we aren’t big consumers. There isn’t that much to consume here, and travel is only a fraction of what we used to do in the UK.

It’s not conscious, but I’m sure are ‘footprint’ has reduced for that reason.

What are your contact details (email, company, blog, forums, etc)?

Email: elle@(nospam>gandy-draper.com

Company: Gandy-Draper – www.gandy-draper.com

Blog: www.lanzaroterelocation.co.uk

Forum: www.canarynightlife.net/forum

How do you prefer to communicate?

I’m a huge fan of email

What is one thing people can do for you?

Apart from giving me their winning lottery ticket you mean? If you are talking about readers of this interview. Maybe links or talking to us about anything mutually beneficial!

Oh – and I’ll say it again – have a look at the Kiva website and help someone else out who really needs it!