Today, I had a chat with Kristi Hines, one of the most prolific bloggers in the social media sphere. She is a fantastic Arizona based writer and consultant that always shares her best tips and tricks with her readers across multiple blogs.
Needless to say, I'm a big fan! In this chat, she revealed one of the greatest online mysteries ever known to man – why her blog is called Kikolani.
What is your day job Kristi?
I am an Internet Marketing Specialist with Vertical Measures. Our typical clients are business of any size looking to develop a rounded online marketing strategy.
Tell us about your background?
I have done a bit of everything, but I am generally drawn back to computers. When I started at companies as a receptionist, I would quickly get moved to the programming or web development department. Now I have enough experience, especially in Internet marketing to jump into that area first.
How did you get into blogging?
I started dabbling in some personal blogging in 2002. Even then I did a bit of affiliate marketing, blogroll exchanges for links, and lots of commenting. I didn’t get serious until the beginning of 2009.
What blogs do you write for and how do you manage the time?
Let’s see, the primary sites I write for (besides my own) are Social Media Examiner, Search Engine Journal, Search Engine Watch, and Stay on Search. As far as time, I’m thinking of new blog post ideas almost all of the time (like standing in the line at the grocery store) and probably working 10 – 20 hours a week outside of my full time job. But I love writing, so that part doesn’t feel like a chore whatsoever.
What are your 3 best tips for new and intermediate bloggers?
1.Get to know other bloggers in and outside of your niche – comment on their blogs and interact with them on social media.
2.Don’t assume that there is any get rich quick scheme that really works. The people who make a lot of money at blogging really work for it and diversify their income sources (not just ads, but speaking gigs, consulting services, products, etc.).
3.Be passionate about what you blog about. It’s a lot easier if you love your niche than if you are in it for any other reason.
What are the greatest pitfalls?
I think one of the greatest obstacles for bloggers is putting in the time. Some start out expecting everything to boom right from the start, and that isn’t always the case. Some of the successful bloggers took years of trial and error before they found their perfect niche and began to conquer it.
How important is the name of a blog?
When naming your blog, you can go three ways. You can brand yourself as an expert in an industry and use your own name as your blog like you, Chris Brogan, etc. You can name your blog based on your topic keywords. Or you can go with something unique and brand it to be synonymous with what you are writing about.
The name Kikolani (Kristi's main blog) is based off of a combination of my grandmother’s first name (Akiko) and my middle name (Leilani). When I started the site, it was strictly personal, so I didn’t think much about naming, but I have since branded it around the blog marketing / social media theme.
How useful is social media to promote a blog?
Social media is ESSENTIAL to promoting a blog. I generally promote everything directly on each social network, but for Twitter management, I swear by HootSuite. So much so, that I wrote a guide on HootSuite for bloggers.
How important is personal branding in the blogging world?
I think personal branding is very important. I went with branding Kikolani for a good year and a half, and it worked quite well online, but when you start networking offline, it’s good to make sure your real name is associated with your site name. Otherwise, you’ll end up introducing yourself like “Hi, my name is Kristi Hines.” ~ Confused look, crickets chirping. ~ “You may know me as Kikolani.” ~ Reaction by other person. ~ “OH, I know who you are.”
What’s your take on the blogging scene in the US vs. the rest of the world?
I think the beauty about blogging is that it is thriving all over the world. I talk to people on a daily basis, and am sometimes surprised to find out they are from countries I’ve never even heard of. Blogging gives everyone who speaks a common language the ability to share their knowledge and insight worldwide, which is an amazing thing!
Who are you favorite bloggers?
I have a ton of favourites. One day I will have to compile that list so I can give it out easily. Right now I am compiling a feed of them on a subdomain of Favorite Blogs, created by Rob Pene of Mission Driven Brand.
What has Kristi got in the pipeline at the moment?
I’m currently in the process of writing a little eBook guide to blog promotion, as well as working on writing content for a site dedicated to affiliate marketing.
What’s the one thing people can do to help you?
I love feedback, and I love guest posts. If people have something they want me to write about, I love hearing it, and if someone has something they’d like to publish on my site that is relevant to bloggers, I’d love to see it!
Final words of wisdom?
You can accomplish anything if you are passionate. Just believe you can and don’t give up until you’ve achieved your goals!
Kristi Hines is a blogger and social media enthusiast. Her main blog, Kikolani, covers blog marketing, blogging tips, and social networking. When she’s not at the computer, she enjoys tennis, photography, and ballroom dancing. Be sure to follow her on Twitter @KristiHines.
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