Q. Can you tell us more about Rickey the blogger?

A. I am a computer technician in New York for a couple of small law offices. Nothing fancy. Just fixing common computer software problems like e-mail. My life as a blogger over the past year has certainly been more exciting. I bring my camera with me all time just in case I see something interesting, and there's plenty of that in Manhattan.

Q.  Why do you blog? What inspired you to come up with rickey.org?

A. This is all an accident. I've tried for many years to be popular on the web by writing personal anecdotes about myself. And then by accident, I became a huge Fantasia Barrino fan and started blogging about her every week.  I then noticed after a couple of months that my site became the unofficial Fantasia site. I decided the next year to blog about American Idol a lot since it brought in a lot of readers.

I realized that when I stopped talking about myself, the blog took a life of its own. Rickey.org is still a work in progress. I don't really know what it truly is right now. I guess it's my personal blog that a lot of people use as a resource for whatever reason. My inspiration is that I'm just a regular guy that wants to be heard. I feel quite lucky to have found an audience.

Q. What is the profile of your readers, if you have ascertained such?

A. 75% are from North America, 4% from the Philippines and the rest are from different parts of the world. I used to think that my audience are mostly women and gay men, but I have nothing to back that up. I think it's better not to assume anything.

Q. Any memorable feedbacks from your readers?

A. "You're like an older brother I can watch reality television with and be thinking the EXACT same thing.  Congratulations on such a great site.  I love you man. You're beautiful."  - A.

Q. Can you give us an idea about the extent of your readership. It must be phenomenal considering that you're No. 1 on Pinoy Top Blogs?

A. During the American Idol season the blog averaged 30,000 unique visitors a day. The rest of the year it's half that number.

Q.  How does blogging figure in your busy life?

A. The blog makes me busy. I don't really have a busy life. Haha. I consider things I do for the blog as a part-time job.

Q. Do you hope to earn from it as well?

A. rickey.org pays for my monthly rent. I am sure there are more ways to monetize it which I hope to explore in the future.

Q. What do you like best about blogging?

A. Meeting and connecting with people. I also like the idea that I've accomplished something whatever it is.
 
Q. In a previous interview, you seem to have declared that you're not a problogger but the fact that your site is paying your rent, in New York at that, doesn't it amount to problogging already?
 
A. Nope. I think I'm more entrepreneurial now. Which may or may not involve "blogging. " Yun na nga yung weird part eh -- I just happen to have ads on my site. What if I removed the ads. Do I become a regular blogger all of a sudden? Seriously. And how about the bloggers who have ads and don't make money? Are they problogger?
 
Q. Hmm, food for thought there Rickey. A problogger I think is someone who makes money out of his blog. But are we correct in saying that you're not into this whole problogging thing?
 
A.  In fairness, I think I'm running a website which is making money. "Problogging" is too narrow, and through my experience not the way to go. Blogging is a tool but it is not what will make your website successful.
 
Q. Can you expound more on what makes a blog /website successful, such as what happened in your case?
 
A. One of the basic reasons blogging has been effective is because the structure of blogs are very search-engine friendly -- so knowing this, you can drive people to your site by following basic rules when posting.
 
In my case, I found an audience via the search engines, word-of-mouth, etc. and then they kept on coming back. So in other words, they liked the person behind the blog, as well as the blog's function which is reality tv info. But as as I said before, I don't really kow what my blog is at the moment.My personal goals for success to find my audience I guess.
 
Q.  What are your own observations about the Pinoy blogosphere as you view it from afar?

A. Only a small percentage of the Philippine population (in the Philippines) is online -- this makes it difficult to communicate to the general population via a blog. Some important things to a majority of Filipinos, such as social justice, are easily filtered out by the minority who can afford iPods and a DSL connection.

The expat population however are avid Internet users, but the only things that bring them together are raw news sites. We are not bound together by ideas, which I think a blog would be very effective in doing.

Q. Your precious tips on increasing a blog's readership.

A. Narrow your focus. This makes it easier to establish an identity on the Web, versus your personal identity. Your personality will shine through via your writing. I think this worked for me, so it probably might work for you. Also, always use appropriate and Google-friendly titles for your posts.

Q. Your plans for Rickey.org .

A. To move to WordPress or Drupal because MovableType sucks!
 
Q. Why?
 
A. It can't handle the load of my site when a lot of people are trying to post comments.
 
For comments and inquiries, email annalyn.jusay@gmail.com

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View my blog: www.annalyn.net