The Blogger Interviews: Cate Sevilla
This week’s blogger interview is with that all round blogging extraordinaire Cate Sevilla of Bitchbuzz.com. Cate is another face I’ve seen at London Bloggers Meetups for a number of years and certainly someone I’ve enjoyed meeting.
Cate’s one of those people who has a steely determination to get on and make things happen, at least that’s how it seems to me. If you read any of her content you’ll probably get what I mean, it’s pretty bold. Cate took part as a guest speaker at the PR Edition of LBM in 2010 and argued for PR agents to treat bloggers with a little more respect, but at the same time I seem to recall her having a fairly balanced view in that bloggers need to be a little smarter in how they work with agencies.
If you’re looking for some ideas around how to get a commercial blogging venture going, you could do a lot worse than buy Cate a drink or two at the next LBM. Well, as ever, enough from me, over to you Cate…
1.What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
My blog is CupCate.com
2.What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
CupCate.com is about what makes me tick.
3.When and why did you start blogging?
I first started blogging on Myspace in 2005 because I needed a way to make sense out of all of the thoughts that were swimming around my skull. But I started blogging as CupCate on Vox in 2006 because I was interested in a career in writing, and blogging seemed like a natural first step towards that as writing online is much more interactive and exciting than writing Word documents that sit on your desktop. But I suppose the main reason I started blogging is simply because I love to write.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
CupCate.com started out on VOX, and then moved over to Typepad in 2008.
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Not only has blogging essentially become my career (I launched the women’s lifestyle website BitchBuzz.com in August 2008, and worked as an editor at Shiny Media before that) but I’ve met some incredibly awesome people through my blog.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
The blogs I read are Mademoiselle Robot, The Clothes Horse, Dooce, and Gala Darling. Why? Because they all either make me laugh and/or inspire me.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
- Be yourself. Don’t try to do what someone else is doing as it won’t translate the same way.
- Pay attention to the quality of your photos. No one likes blurry/scary/crappy photos. (Plus, there are plenty of camera apps that can help with that, these days!)
- Be genuine. Write about what you love, what you think, what you feel. Not what you think other people want to hear about.
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
I love my blog the way it is.
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
Writing awesome, original content and doing your own thing.
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
To have a couple beers with friends and to see people I speak to online In Real Life!
Photo is courtesy of Caroline Briggs Photography
Great interview. Will check out her fav blogs now
I’ve been present at events where Cate has drifted serenely into the room. She makes us plebians look even more mundane and ordinary than we actually are – a remarkably stylish lady!