The London Blogger Interviews #7: The London Blogger

By JazCummins Last edited 181 months ago
The London Blogger Interviews #7: The London Blogger

This week’s interviewee is Andy Bargery of London Bloggers, who’s London Blogger Meet Ups we often frequent. Many a connection has been made via these relaxed get-togethers which seek to bring the London blogging community together for socialising and learning.

London Blogger Meet Up2.JPG

Image courtesy of My London Diary

If you had to describe your blog in less than 15 words how would you do it?

It’s a blog for small businesses to pick up ideas, inspiration and conversation on marketing.

Why did you start blogging?

I met a couple of bloggers a few years ago at a conference and what they had managed to achieve with blogging sounded amazing. One of them was a guy called Hugh Macleod who described what he’d been doing with blogging for a tailor called English Cut (recently voted as by the Sunday Times as one of the world’s top 100 blogs) and a South African winery called Stormhoek. I also wanted to learn about blogging as a marketing platform for my clients as it was something new at the time.

What about London inspires your blog?

The pace and drive of Londoners inspires me, not just for my blog but for working and life in the capital. A great example is the London Bloggers Meetups. I got them going a little over a year ago and I attracted a handful of people. Now our monthly events are regularly attended by 40-50 fascinating and energetic people. Ranging from people blogging about life in London as an expat, social media PR, being a mum, London Underground and even someone who writes a daily pun. I’m frequently blown away by how interesting Londoners and members of the London Bloggers Meetup are.

What would be your dream London Blogger Meet up be?

My dream meetup wouldn’t be too different to what we already do on a monthly basis. I’m keen to bring in more interesting speakers and keep trying out new venues as much as possible. It would be great to have Barack Obama speak to the group about how he used blogging - well microblogging at least - in his election campaign!

What's your favourite post you've ever written?

Hmmmm, tough one. I’ve never really thought about it. I wrote a piece about legal advice for bloggers after I’d heard from a legal eagle at one of the meetups which I’m pretty pleased with. But I’ve also had a lot of fun running competitions at Londonbloggers.net, or writing food reviews at Cheap Eats in London.

Tricky one for you, but tell us about another few London bloggers you like?

Ouch, that is a tough question. Difficult to name check just a few as there are generally some fantastic blogs and bloggers out there. However, as you’ve pushed me into a corner I’ll give you a handful:

Annie Mole’s Going Underground, The Plummet Onions, Fake Plastic Noodles, Epicurienne, Punlimited, Sandrine Plasseraud’s Buzz Attitude, the London Review of Breakfasts and Londonist of course..!

There are so many more great blogs than that though. Check out the member directory at London Blogger Meet Ups for more inspiration!

What does 2009 hold for London bloggers and the London Blogger Meet Ups?

More entertainment, more education, more sponsors and crucially more free beers. Look out for the St Patrick’s day event, details online soon.

And for some general London chat…

Where do you live and why do you love it?

I live in Wandsworth and I love it because it has more hours of sunshine than any other London Borough, it has the best transport links, the highest number of pubs per head and the lowest tax rates. OK, so apart from the tax rates, the rest is all completely false. I don’t really know why I love Wandsworth, it’s probably because all my best mates live around here.

What's your favourite place in London?

I love Covent Garden, always have and probably always will. Especially shopping at Christmas time, or watching a street performance from the balcony of Punch and Judy’s, or enjoying a beer at the Porter House or sitting in the little garden behind the St Paul’s Church in the summer, enjoying a coffee and taking in the sun. Superb.

Have you ever been sick on the tube?

Not that I know of, or at least prepared to admit to. I’ve fallen asleep a few times and missed my stop. I almost reached Cockfosters once when I used to live North of the river.

Anything else we should know?

I think that’s about it, unless you want my star sign, mother’s maiden name or date of birth. Thanks to everyone who comes to the London Bloggers Meetups, or reads marketingblagger.com.

London Bloggers.net

Last Updated 23 February 2009