Name – Gyant
Blog name: GyantUnplugged.com
If you had to describe your blog in less than 15 words, what would you say? “Celebrity scoop minus the bull****”
How long has your blog been live? Three years, but I’ve blogging for eightyears now. I got my start at SOHH.com
Do you have more than one blog or a website(s)? Yes Gyant on BET [blogs.bet.com/music/gyantonbet/]
Why did you choose this subject? I feel like it chose me, actually. I was meant to give these celebrities trouble.
What is your return on investment, i.e., do you get a financial return? While I won’t give exact financial information, the return on my invest is very good. Gyantunplugged.com has opened up opportunities for me that consistently provide financial stability. I am self-employed, and I work from home. My blog work is a direct result of that. An example of that is The Gyant on BET Bash, which took place during BET Hip-Hop Weekend in October of 2010. Me and my team secured over 11 sponsors and collected over 10k in revenue and services. That was pretty amazing. Another example is my popular television show on Comcast on Demand called “Gyantunplugged”.
But, I think it’s important for people to also realize how to leverage your blogs to acheive your ultimate goal. For me the fact that I was the first independent blogger to obtain my own blogspace on Viacom owned BET.com has a greater value for my overall brand.
GU.com also presented me with opportunities outside of blogging. In 2010 I was the social media director for Ludacris’ new spirit, Conjure Congac. And currently I have some amazing opportunities on the horizon that stem from my brand building.
The best advice I can offer any blogger or aspiring blogger is to look at the internet. Find the void and fill it. When my career initially started, there were only a handful of bloggers reporting entertainment news. However, eight years later that void has been filled to capacity and unless you have something — or can deliver something — no other blogger can, it will make your experience more difficult than creating a new lane for yourself.
How do readers respond to you and how many do you have?
I’d like to think that people respect what I do. I know a lot of people don’t like it, but as long as they respect it how can I get mad? (laughing). No, but seriously, I receive nothing but praise for what I do. Currently my blog numbers are down because I’m redesigning and transitioning out of celebrity entertainment news.
How do you link to other bloggers and get the word out to others that you have a blog?
I use hyperlinks, Twitter and FaceBook to link to other bloggers. I think the blogger relationship is very important in building a new blog. Unfortunately a lot of African American bloggers are very mean spirited and hateful towards each other and that saddens me. But it is very important to network with your colleagues in any industry.
What role does Twitter play in your life? Facebook? LinkedIn?
They are all very active. I use Twitter as a way to report on television shows and various topics that usually attract people who are not around TV sets and want the information as soon as possible.
What other social media do you utilize? Tumblr, and Paper.li
Do you consider yourself a journalist?
No. I consider myself a personality. In 2010 I began calling myself the King of Social Media!
What do you do when you are not blogging? Building my social media consulting company, taking meetings with record labels and brands educating them on social media and online brand building.
Some of your favorite bloggers are ... I’m sure I will forget someone or anger someone if I don’t mention everyone. Let’s just say I love them all.
Name a blogging tool that you can’t live without? My Mac Pro
-tammie reed
