“Be clear about what’s the purpose of your blog and don’t under estimate the power of interaction with the readers.”

- Monika Manchanda

Webneetech.com interviewed Monika Manchanda, a working independent woman, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a friend, a traveler and yes blogger too; she launched her blog  “Monikamanchanda“ and“Highwaytravels“ in 2007.

Her write ups are really interesting and inspiring and a must read for budding bloggers.

Monika says  “it’s a personal blog written mainly with the intention of sharing my thoughts and whatever comes to my mind so I don’t really know if it can really benefit someone having said that I think one of the great benefit’s of blogging is the support and the motivation you can get from like minded people. Like when I started my struggle with losing weight and becoming fitter the kind of tips and support I have got from fellow bloggers is beyond words and in turn a lot of people of mailed me and said that the tips I am posting are of great help to them and it’s motivating for them to start their program. All I would say is that in a world of blogging the benefit what you want to derive. “

Webneetech.com found Monika’s blog interesting and interviewed her, to find more about the picture behind blogging and his experience as a blogger.

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Blogger’s Detail:

Blogger’s Name: Monika Manchanda

About Monika: Monika says” I think of myself as a bundle of contradictions, a working independent woman, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a friend, a traveler and ya a blogger… I love partying and am a huge Calvin & Hobbes fan and strongly believe that C&H holds the answers to many of my life’s complex mysteries. I blog about everything under the sun and have fun doing it… “

Age: 33

Occupation / Profession: Just another techie, I am working in the datacom development

Blog name and URL:

• Monika’s World http://monikamanchanda.wordpress.com/
• Highway Travels http://highwaytravels.wordpress.com/

Blog Focus Area, domain: Personal & a travel blog

Blog launched on: April 21, 2007

Monthly visits (page views) on website. Around 5000 visitors a month

Do you have team of bloggers? No as it’s a personal blog its all about me and my travels

Interest / Activities: of I love so many things – reading, watching movies, cooking, traveling, and gardening

Located at: Bangalore, India

Contact Details:

Twitter Id - http://twitter.com/monikamanchanda

Linkedin Id - http://in.linkedin.com/in/monikamanchanda

Email ID: monika.manchanda@gmail.com

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Interview Round (Q&A):

Q. What motivated you to start blogging?

2007 was the time when blogging was really beginning to pick up as a medium of self expression. I had been toying with the idea of writing a blog from some time then but was not sure that I will be committed enough to do it. Then just in a spur of moment I wrote my first post about the Narmada issue and how people were taking attention off the issue and focusing it on Aamir. After that for a long time I was just writing for myself with just some close friends reading my blog infact I remember how I used to send a mail to them that go read after I updated and then somewhere I started interacting with other bloggers and that made it even more fun.

Q.Tell us in detail about your blog, your idea and how it can benefit others?

As I mentioned earlier it’s a personal blog written mainly with the intention of sharing my thoughts and whatever comes to my mind so I don’t really know if it can really benefit someone having said that I think one of the great benefit’s of blogging is the support and the motivation you can get from like minded people. Like when I started my struggle with losing weight and becoming fitter the kind of tips and support I have got from fellow bloggers is beyond words and in turn a lot of people of mailed me and said that the tips I am posting are of great help to them and it’s motivating for them to start their program. All I would say is that in a world of blogging the benefit what you want to derive

Q. What area or topic you generally cover in your blog, any special reason behind it?

I write about anything that fancies my mind, about my travels, my general life, I love cooking and also post recipes on my blog, I have a Friday Feast section for that  . I also blog about some social issues once in a while and female equality is a topic very dear to my heart.

Q. Which blogging platform you are using (wordpress, blogspot, bloggers etc), any reason about it?

I am currently on wordpress but when I started I started on blogspot. I moved to wordpress in May after blogspot started giving my readers problems in posting comments. I personally think both have their advantages and disadvantages. In wordpress the interaction with your readers is a lot more easier whereas the widgets far more fun in blogspot

Q. How frequent you update your blog? How many post your blog is carrying at present?

I don’t have a set target for myself on that, sometimes I have also done 2 posts a day and sometimes not any for a week but in general I do 2-3 posts a week. There are a total of 342 posts currently

Q. What tools you use to increase your blog readership and bring people on your blog? Do you use social networking sites?

I feel increasing readership for your blog is about reading other blogs too J It’s about an interaction media. However I do use twitter and facebook to publish my posts and they are mainly for my friends who do read my blog but don’t write one

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

My biggest tip for the new bloggers is that BE YOURSELF…. Its easy for the reader to see through the pretense. Be clear about whats the purpose of your blog and don’t under estimate the power of interaction with the readers. That is what differentiates the traditional media and blogging… And go for it!!!

Q. Do you earn revenue through your blog? If yes, then how a blogger should monetize his / her blog? If no, then any plans in future?

No I don’t earn from the blog neither do I intend to.

Q. What are your other favorite blogs which you follow, can you list the top 5 such blogs?

Oh why do u ask such questions… there are so many blogs I love to read… go check my blogroll for that

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