Interview with Sukhraj Beasla

She is the queen of happiness. She embraced the love of the written word from an early age when she first visited the library with her late Grandfather. A self described social media addict, our interviewee works in Orange County advising small businesses on the joys of communicating online. We are pleased to welcome Sukhraj Beasla ‘The queen of happiness’ all the way from Orange County. She talks to us about her blog, life and lots more. Read on.

When and why did you start blogging?

I have been blogging since I was kid. I always kept a diary, then started blogging online when I was in college, and that tradition continued up until now. I blog because I love to write. It is my zen.

Tell us about your work with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. What got you interested and how did you get involved with this group?

I am a mentor and coach. I got involved because my cousin passed away from this disease so I wanted to give back.

You have blogged about your experience of being caught in a difficult situation, unawares. How do you reconcile the need for safety with being on Foursquare and having your location being visible to strangers?

It wasn’t because of Foursquare so let’s clear that up. It was because I was in an alley and somewhere I shouldn’t have been. I still use Foursquare but I use it wisely. I only check in after I’ve left.

You write about social media, marathon-running, food and television (in addition to other slice-of-life posts). Have you ever felt the need to focus on a topic or is the diversity, a conscious effort? What would you recommend for new bloggers?

I write about these things because it’s the theme of my blog – random stream of consciousness from the queen of happiness so it makes sense to write about different things. For new bloggers, I would recommend picking something that you are passionate about. It doesn’t hurt to blog about various topics. Just be consistent. That’s how you get noticed.

Your content is divided across your website, your Yelp! and Posterous accounts and CNN iReport. Can you tell us about how this works out for you (as opposed to having it all in one place)?

I do this for exposure. If someone sees me on Yelp, CNN, or Posterous they also see a link back to my main blog. These are all activities that drive traffic and they are good for SEO purposes.

Text-blogging, photo-blogging, tweeting, audio-blogging, vlogging�you do them all. Do you have any special preferences among these media?

Nope. I love them all. Vlogging is my current favorite and I have my YouTube channel.

Do you ever get stuck when writing an entry? What do you do then?

Yes, several times. I leave my current space, work on another project, watch some TV, etc. While I’m not focusing on my writing, I find the words automatically come to me and I can write again.

Do you promote your blog? What promotional techniques work best for you and why?

Yes, I stumble, digg, tweet, and Facebook. Twitter has worked the best. I tweet out a link every few hours when I write a new blog post.

How important is it for a blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive? Have you ever had a bad experience (trolls etc)? How did/would you handle it?

Very important. Always set up a system where you get notified of new comments and thank each reader. If you thank them, they will stay loyal to you. I have had no bad experiences.

What do you find to be the most gratifying aspect of blogging?

I love getting my thoughts out. I always have. As mentioned earlier, it is my zen and keeps me sane. I love it when someone reads my blog and finds some value.

How, in general, would you rate the quality of Indian blogs? How do you see the future of social media in India shaping?

I don’t think I can answer this question. I don’t live in India and haven’t had the opportunity to get to know any Indian bloggers. I follow the shape and structure of what’s happening in the US.

Share your favourite five blogs and top five Twitter follows.

Five blogs:

• Words done write
  Latest Post: 7 Twitter crimes that should be outlawed
• Social Good Today
  Latest Post: Forget your business cards? Always have a digital card with contxts
• Life without Pants�
  Latest Post: Sorta like Carmen Sandiego
• Mashable
  Latest Post: Double Rainbow Appears Over L.A., Twitter Explodes in Meme Catchphrases
• Ajileon
  Latest Post: Smarter, Faster, Cheaper – Book Review

Twitter:

• @jeffreyfriend
• @wordsdonewrite
• @staceysoleil
• @maryannewendt
• @mayhemstudios

What is your advice to someone who wants to start a blog?

Pick a topic that you’re passionate about, research it well, and remain consistent. Remember to thank anyone that shares your content, comments, etc, and be gracious. Always give back as well. Comment on other bloggers posts. Everyone puts in an effort to make their blogs great; they all deserve appreciation.

Do you earn revenue through your blogging? How does one go about it?

No, I do not but you can monetize via ad space or getting paid to post an article.

If the Internet did not exist, what would you be doing?

I would spend more time reading.

And finally, some fun facts about Sukhraj Beasla:
Color: Purple
Movie: The Breakfast Club
TV Show: Castle
Book: Like Water for Chocolate
Time of Day: Evening
Your Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Thank you Sukhraj for taking the time out for this interview. We are sure many Indian bloggers would follow you and your blog. Readers, shoot in your comments..