Bloggerz 20-20: Gayatri Rao

Written by Blogjunta on 11 November 2011. Posted in Rendezvous - Bloggerz2020


	Name: GAYATRI RAO Profession: Digital Marketing & Public Relations Bio: I blog because I love to write! I have an MBA & a Masters degree in Marketing from Georgia State University. I work for a global Public Relations firm. My two biggest passions – reading & writing! Blog(s): www.lifeunordinary.com Get in touch: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Q	Tell us about your first Blog post
	My first blog post was on my erstwhile blog - Peridot. The first post was about my Grandmother; I reminisced about the many glorious summer vacations ensconced in her love and abundance.
Q	Which is your favourite blog post?
	It’s a toss between two: A Tip or Two which was a humorous take on my key learnings on marriage after my 2nd anniversary. My 15 seconds with Indra Nooyi which really brought to life 15 seconds during which I was in the presence of real greatness.
Q	How do you decide what you write on your blog?
	All my blog posts are inspired from my own life and day to day experiences. It could be a simple bumper sticker on a car ahead of me at the traffic light that prompts a blog post.
Q	Have you ever faced a writer’s block? How did you overcome it?
	Frequently. When I do, I search my own memory archive for old stories that I can potentially regurgitate. For the last one year, I have started carrying a little notebook in my handbag – one that allows me to quickly jot down an interesting thought.
Q	One blogger you think we all should follow?
	Heather Armstrong – www.dooce.com - she has a crazy, uncanny sense of humor!
Q	What are your achievements as a blogger?
	I attended the BlogHer (www.blogher.com) conference in San Francisco this year and was able to meet and learn effective blogging practices from leading voices in the industry.
Q	Do you think blogs can help bring about a change?
	Absolutely. As an example let me circle back to Heather Armstrong who has just returned from a humanitarian trip to Bangladesh and is now raising money for the empowerment and betterment of midwives and children in Bangladesh through her blog and followers.
Q	Do you believe in Monetizing blogs?
	Yes. In fact, professionally, I work on online advertising and paid media and know the value that impressions and clicks create. At the very core, they promote brand awareness.
Q	Which is your favorite widget ?
	Lilypie is my all-time favorite - http://lilypie.com/. This is a ticker/ countdown based widget. I used it while I was counting down to my wedding and plan to use it as a weight-loss calculator too.Another good widget (this may actually be an application) is Networked Blogs. This one automatically publishes every blog post on your Facebook wall.
Q	Describe your blog(s) in one line?
	I’m on a mission to make THIRTY rock.
Q	Why should anyone follow your blog(s)?
	I provide a unique Indian-American perspective on women, marriage and professional life. My experiences growing up in India and then studying and working in the US make for some interesting blog posts.
Q	How do you choose the blogs you follow?
	I choose strong women – those that have great content to offer. For example, I have recently started following Rachna Chhabaria http://rachnachhabria.blogspot.com/ a children’s book author who blogs exclusively about literary tips and experiences. She offers great perspective on everyday writing.
Q	How do you promote your blogs?
	I use several SEO techniques one of which is LINK BUILDING. For this, I post my blog on several directories, post comments on other blogs and articles and cross promote through my own Facebook & Twitter pages. I also use Networked Blogs.Last but not the least, I have a strong support system in my friends who graciously read my blog and comment.
Q	Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or others?
	All of the above! You can find me on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/gayatrirao26 . I also participate in local Meet Ups (http://www.meetup.com/) and belong to a few local blogging communities as well.
Q	Do you guest blog?
	Not as yet. I have just signed up for a service called “Seeded Buzz” (http://www.seededbuzz.com/) that identifies blogs on which you can submit a guest post and also identifies guest bloggers for your own blog.
Q	One celebrity you would want to guest blog at your blog?
	Amitabh Bachchan. I have the utmost regard for his prolific writing.
Q	Where do you see yourself as a blogger after 5 years?
	I hope to become a Tier 1 blogger like the Meenakshi Madhavans of the world.
Q	If you had to exchange your blog with one person who would that be?
	http://shobhaade.blogspot.com/ I have read and enjoyed her work for longer than I can remember – her novels, her columns and now her blog.
Q	Blogjunta to you is?
	A powerful platform that showcases talent and a community that is bringing together writers from across the nation and abroad as well. Blogjunta is poised for phenomenal growth and I am proud to be a part of this success.
Q	Your advice/message to all bloggers?
	Keep writing. Don’t have a gap of more than a week between blog posts – that’s when the lethargy sets in. Look around you for inspiration – your muse may be your neighbor or your best friend. Finally – READ. Try to read a strong novel every now and then. Good reading promotes good writing.

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