Linda Ikeji is my Role Model - Young Nigerian blogger from Delta State reveals. Linda Ikeji is a famous blogger in Nigeria who in 2013 made it onto the list of Forbes influential bloggers which is no easy feat!
Her blog provides news, beauty tips, and celebrity gossip to her readers.
She started blogging when she was 17 years old with no background in journalism or writing experience.
Today, she has over 3 million followers on Facebook where she posts almost daily.
With so many people following her work, Linda Ikeji has been able to make a living for herself by running the blog as well as taking advertisements from various companies.
She has been able to launch her own beauty line as well as a clothing line via print on demand.
She was also named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2014 and awarded an honorary doctorate from Babcock University.
Linda continues to work hard to provide her readers with the latest posts and information on entertainment news.
She has been in the spotlight for her success and achievements as an entrepreneur while being one of Nigeria's most successful bloggers to date.
Her blog began when she had just finished school with no further ideas about what career path to take until she discovered blogging.
Annantram Peculiar Rana is a Nigerian Blogger who hails from Delta State. In this Exclusive Interview we would be asking him some personal questions. He revealed in this Interview that Popular Nigerian Blogger Linda Ikeji is His role model…Well who wouldn’t see her as their role model. Let’s find out more about the Owner of leaked9ja.com.
1. Can you tell our readers about yourself and your blog?
I am Annantram Peculiar Rana, I hail from Delta state, Nigeria. I am just 20years old and I am a student of the department of mass communication, Delta state polytechnic, Ozoro, historyhub.history.gov currently in HND 1.
I actually started my blog on Google’s free hosting platform Blogger.com in 2016 but was only a kid then, I knew nothing about blogging I was just a youngster who was toying with the internet.
Well it was only till 2020 around March or April when the lockdown started, I had interest in blogging. I am a kind of person who naturally doesn’t socialize more so I tend to express myself properly with writing. I know am not a Guru in Grammar but I can communicate effectively to an audience who would understand me, which is the essence of communication.
So I started of the blog and named it "xenolite Hub" weird name right? Well it was inspired by an android game I used to play where "xeno" is an elite enemy force. I later came to understand that it meant "Aliens" which was kind off unique. I was a bit active but due to lack of proper electricity and a computer (I operated with my mobile phone) I paused. That was when I was introduced to Wordpress where "the skies can be your limit". I learnt how to create a blog/website on wordpress with Paid Hosting and Custom domains….I even created some for clients who paid me. It was until now I created me own Blog name leaked9ja.com which meant to expose and bring to light things of public interests. I have lot more to say but I’ll end here.
2. Can you tell me some of your strengths that really helped you in blogging?
We for starters I love writing naturally so I guess that just puts me one step ahead, another thing is I am enthusiastic and I tend to look beyond the now. I have Passion for what I do which is one of the major thing that counts…you shouldn’t just venture into blogging when you don’t have passion for what your writing about. I mean if I was up for the benefit like Google adsense program where you get paid for adverts, I wouldn’t still be blogging. I feel it’s like the saying "seek God first and other things will be added unto you". So I think my Passion is my greatest strength.
4. How would you describe your blogging style?
Well my blogging style? I actually don’t know if I have a style but I know I love keeping it simple and always straight to the point and avoid the use of ambiguous words which would be hard for my readers to understand.
6. What ways do you think is better to enhance your traffic to the blog?
Well you could always share your articles on social networks like facebook, twitter, instagram and youtube. I do them all, Other ways include doing SEO (Search Engine Optimization) which would help you site rank more on the web and building backlinks (other websites linking back to your site). Although if you’re up for it, you could try adverting promotions on ads networks like Google ads, twitter sponsored posts….facebook and much more or alternatively post paid ads on Linda Ikeji Blog and other big sites like Bella naija.
7. What do you think is the best service a blogger can provide to his readers?
The best Service a Blogger can provide to his readers is being true and honest in writing…this is because readers see the internet as a very reliable source of information where they could get questions answered…so it is the core responsibility of any blogger to write in truth and honesty. Well taking about service you could to giveaways. Winks!
8. What would be your ideal working environment?
Wow this is quite guessable my ideal working environment is a quiet, neat, isolated place or room where I have steady power supply, a PC, a mobile, Access to the internet and am all set to go. I included neat because ideas to tend to flow when I am worrying about doing the dishes or mopping the floor.
9. How do you manage time to run your blog efficiently?
Honestly it’s Still a Challenge because I feel like the internet is my Home but there is my real life, full of tasks. My lectures, I have to fix things in the house, do the dishes, or Study. But I Guess it’s much easier when I am in school because I get to stay on my own and I won’t have to worry about anyone shouting that am too glued to my phone or PC.
10. What do you think is the best strategy that worked well for you to get more traffic to your blog?
For Now its Social media sharing… I have been trying to work on the SEO of my site recently, so I guess I would soon start having organic traffics from search engines.
11. How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?
I want to invest in my Blog, and advertise it so I can reach a wider audience. I would love to be recognized by big shots like Linda Ikeji as well.
12. What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that?
We never stop learning and learning means failing and correcting yourself from mistakes. I know I haven’t stopped making mistakes but the greatest I have made so far is putting all hopes in Google Adsense. Adsense goes through an Approval process where Google decides whether your site is ready and worthy of showing ads. So I applied for it numerious time but never got approved….So I stopped blogging and paused, since I was investing in it I should gain from it I thought to myself. The hard lesson I learnt form that mistake is "never make is about the money" well as I speak I have adsense approval on my site.
13. Tell me about your proudest achievement?
My Proudest achievement is that people get to read my writings, plus I get to earn from my traffic through Google Adsense.
14. Who has impacted you most in blogging and how?
Well it’s definitely not my parents, they are more like go and read your book…..stop pressing phone. Me Elder brother has encouraged me a lot but I guess I feel Linda Ikeji is my greatest motivation, seeing that she made her fame herself and didn’t just inherit it from her family….A quick reminder of her gets me back on track when I feel like am drowning.
15. What is your greatest achievement outside of blogging?
Well my Greatest achievement is that I am alive and healthy.
16. How do you think I rate your blog as an interviewer?
I do know, it is totally up to you to make such decision but for me, I love what I do even if I know its not perfect.
17. What do you do in your spare time?
I don’t need spare time I do Researches on articles I need to write, with my spare time…….am kidding I love sleeping or I see a movie but no matter where I am, I am brainstorming about my next great article.
18. Where would you like to be in blogging five years from now?
Simply put I would love to be like Linda Ikeji…..An Hot Cake.
19. What was the most challenging moment in your blogging journey so far?
I always had issues with messing around with codes on blogger but on wordpress it is minimal but I still get to deal with spams, SEO and traffic. Its continues, the challenge has only began, I believe the greatest challenge in blogging is not writing great content but getting people to actually read them.
20. Can you name some of your favourite bloggers?
With all I have said so far you should know be now who is topping my list.
• Linda Ikeji owner of lindaikejiblog.com
• Sisi Yemmie
• Olufamous
• I also love instablog…their style is quite impeccable
21. What inspired you to start your blog?
I just Want to Get my own cut of the Cake…I really crave to be heard globally and known for something. So I would say that this Ideology inspired me.
22. How do you motivate yourself to keep the blog up
and running?
I remind myself of the destination….which is to Leave a mark in the world and make a difference.
23. What do you find the most frustrating aspect of blogging?
Getting the news is not an issue but beating the competition is the real deal…news is still news when it is reported timely, not when its no longer trending otherwise its "stale news". Although that only applies to news not featured articles. Other challenges are Power supply and Good internet Connection.
24. In the future where do you hope your blog will take you?
I want to be in a legit list of Popular Nigerian Bloggers. I said legit because any Blogger can formulate a list like that and post on the internet. But I need it to be in form of an award or on a genuine website.
25. Have you met anyone interesting/famous on your blogging journey?
No, all effort to get in touch with my icon, Linda Ikeji has been rendered fruitless.
26. Do you have any specific goals for the rest of this year?
Yes to Have 3k and above followers on all social media Channels.
27. Did you have any professional help or did you created the blog yourself?
I did all of it myself.
28. What do you think is the best social media strategy for getting more visitors to a blog?
You could organize giveaways on your site, you could host online contests for your followers or give a kind of incentive to people to spread the word about your site around and lastly do social media advertising. For me one unique method is placing your watermark logo on pictures or videos you share online…most blogs like instablog do it.
29. Would you encourage other people to make their blog themselves?
Well it depends on the kind of person you are, if you are a techie, I would advise you make your blog yourself and learn along the way but otherwise consult a professional. The reason it would be more beneficial to do it yourself is that it familiarizes you with your work space and whenever any technical issue pops up you can fix it. Beware! It is a very tasking Job so if you are the kind of person who doesn’t like stress, just pay someone to do it.
30. Is blogging your profession or just a hobby?
I could say it’s my profession because I am a journalist, but I see it as just my hobby which would take me places.
31. A lot of people think that blogging is an easy way to make money online. Do you have some tips for those people who are interested in making money from the blog?
I have mentioned to don’t make it about the money, but if you are serious about making money with your Blog you have to be ready to invest and drive massive traffic to your site. The only way one can make money from their blog is through paid advertising and we have ads agencies like Google adsense which I have mentioned before now or you can collect adverts from big brands or individuals who are interested but no one is going to advertise on a site with no massive traffic. So be ready to get those readers…and to get those readers, you have to write great contents or either ways pay freelancers to write for your blog, you also have to rank high on Google and have a great domain authority. I won’t go into many details here if you want to know more you could search on Google or contact me.
It was great having you Thanks! For your time Please can you list your sites incase our readers would love to check them out.
Linda Ikeji Is My Role Model - Young Nigerian Blogger F -Freshangle News
як Kaley Mowry (2021-10-18)
Linda Ikeji is a famous blogger in Nigeria who in 2013 made it onto the list of Forbes influential bloggers which is no easy feat!
Her blog provides news, beauty tips, and celebrity gossip to her readers.
She started blogging when she was 17 years old with no background in journalism or writing experience.
Today, she has over 3 million followers on Facebook where she posts almost daily.
With so many people following her work, Linda Ikeji has been able to make a living for herself by running the blog as well as taking advertisements from various companies.
She has been able to launch her own beauty line as well as a clothing line via print on demand.
She was also named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2014 and awarded an honorary doctorate from Babcock University.
Linda continues to work hard to provide her readers with the latest posts and information on entertainment news.
Her blog began when she had just finished school with no further ideas about what career path to take until she discovered blogging.
Annantram Peculiar Rana is a Nigerian Blogger who hails from Delta State. In this Exclusive Interview we would be asking him some personal questions. He revealed in this Interview that Popular Nigerian Blogger Linda Ikeji is His role model…Well who wouldn’t see her as their role model. Let’s find out more about the Owner of leaked9ja.com.
1. Can you tell our readers about yourself and your blog?
I am Annantram Peculiar Rana, I hail from Delta state, Nigeria. I am just 20years old and I am a student of the department of mass communication, Delta state polytechnic, Ozoro, historyhub.history.gov currently in HND 1.
I actually started my blog on Google’s free hosting platform Blogger.com in 2016 but was only a kid then, I knew nothing about blogging I was just a youngster who was toying with the internet.
Well it was only till 2020 around March or April when the lockdown started, I had interest in blogging. I am a kind of person who naturally doesn’t socialize more so I tend to express myself properly with writing. I know am not a Guru in Grammar but I can communicate effectively to an audience who would understand me, which is the essence of communication.
So I started of the blog and named it "xenolite Hub" weird name right? Well it was inspired by an android game I used to play where "xeno" is an elite enemy force. I later came to understand that it meant "Aliens" which was kind off unique. I was a bit active but due to lack of proper electricity and a computer (I operated with my mobile phone) I paused. That was when I was introduced to Wordpress where "the skies can be your limit". I learnt how to create a blog/website on wordpress with Paid Hosting and Custom domains….I even created some for clients who paid me. It was until now I created me own Blog name leaked9ja.com which meant to expose and bring to light things of public interests. I have lot more to say but I’ll end here.
2. Can you tell me some of your strengths that really helped you in blogging?
We for starters I love writing naturally so I guess that just puts me one step ahead, another thing is I am enthusiastic and I tend to look beyond the now. I have Passion for what I do which is one of the major thing that counts…you shouldn’t just venture into blogging when you don’t have passion for what your writing about. I mean if I was up for the benefit like Google adsense program where you get paid for adverts, I wouldn’t still be blogging. I feel it’s like the saying "seek God first and other things will be added unto you". So I think my Passion is my greatest strength.
4. How would you describe your blogging style?
Well my blogging style? I actually don’t know if I have a style but I know I love keeping it simple and always straight to the point and avoid the use of ambiguous words which would be hard for my readers to understand.
6. What ways do you think is better to enhance your traffic to the blog?
Well you could always share your articles on social networks like facebook, twitter, instagram and youtube. I do them all, Other ways include doing SEO (Search Engine Optimization) which would help you site rank more on the web and building backlinks (other websites linking back to your site). Although if you’re up for it, you could try adverting promotions on ads networks like Google ads, twitter sponsored posts….facebook and much more or alternatively post paid ads on Linda Ikeji Blog and other big sites like Bella naija.
7. What do you think is the best service a blogger can provide to his readers?
The best Service a Blogger can provide to his readers is being true and honest in writing…this is because readers see the internet as a very reliable source of information where they could get questions answered…so it is the core responsibility of any blogger to write in truth and honesty. Well taking about service you could to giveaways. Winks!
8. What would be your ideal working environment?
Wow this is quite guessable my ideal working environment is a quiet, neat, isolated place or room where I have steady power supply, a PC, a mobile, Access to the internet and am all set to go. I included neat because ideas to tend to flow when I am worrying about doing the dishes or mopping the floor.
9. How do you manage time to run your blog efficiently?
Honestly it’s Still a Challenge because I feel like the internet is my Home but there is my real life, full of tasks. My lectures, I have to fix things in the house, do the dishes, or Study. But I Guess it’s much easier when I am in school because I get to stay on my own and I won’t have to worry about anyone shouting that am too glued to my phone or PC.
10. What do you think is the best strategy that worked well for you to get more traffic to your blog?
For Now its Social media sharing… I have been trying to work on the SEO of my site recently, so I guess I would soon start having organic traffics from search engines.
11. How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?
I want to invest in my Blog, and advertise it so I can reach a wider audience. I would love to be recognized by big shots like Linda Ikeji as well.
12. What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that?
We never stop learning and learning means failing and correcting yourself from mistakes. I know I haven’t stopped making mistakes but the greatest I have made so far is putting all hopes in Google Adsense. Adsense goes through an Approval process where Google decides whether your site is ready and worthy of showing ads. So I applied for it numerious time but never got approved….So I stopped blogging and paused, since I was investing in it I should gain from it I thought to myself. The hard lesson I learnt form that mistake is "never make is about the money" well as I speak I have adsense approval on my site.
13. Tell me about your proudest achievement?
My Proudest achievement is that people get to read my writings, plus I get to earn from my traffic through Google Adsense.
14. Who has impacted you most in blogging and how?
Well it’s definitely not my parents, they are more like go and read your book…..stop pressing phone. Me Elder brother has encouraged me a lot but I guess I feel Linda Ikeji is my greatest motivation, seeing that she made her fame herself and didn’t just inherit it from her family….A quick reminder of her gets me back on track when I feel like am drowning.
15. What is your greatest achievement outside of blogging?
Well my Greatest achievement is that I am alive and healthy.
16. How do you think I rate your blog as an interviewer?
I do know, it is totally up to you to make such decision but for me, I love what I do even if I know its not perfect.
17. What do you do in your spare time?
I don’t need spare time I do Researches on articles I need to write, with my spare time…….am kidding I love sleeping or I see a movie but no matter where I am, I am brainstorming about my next great article.
18. Where would you like to be in blogging five years from now?
Simply put I would love to be like Linda Ikeji…..An Hot Cake.
19. What was the most challenging moment in your blogging journey so far?
I always had issues with messing around with codes on blogger but on wordpress it is minimal but I still get to deal with spams, SEO and traffic. Its continues, the challenge has only began, I believe the greatest challenge in blogging is not writing great content but getting people to actually read them.
20. Can you name some of your favourite bloggers?
With all I have said so far you should know be now who is topping my list.
• Linda Ikeji owner of lindaikejiblog.com
• Sisi Yemmie
• Olufamous
• I also love instablog…their style is quite impeccable
21. What inspired you to start your blog?
I just Want to Get my own cut of the Cake…I really crave to be heard globally and known for something. So I would say that this Ideology inspired me.
22. How do you motivate yourself to keep the blog up
and running?
I remind myself of the destination….which is to Leave a mark in the world and make a difference.
23. What do you find the most frustrating aspect of blogging?
Getting the news is not an issue but beating the competition is the real deal…news is still news when it is reported timely, not when its no longer trending otherwise its "stale news". Although that only applies to news not featured articles. Other challenges are Power supply and Good internet Connection.
24. In the future where do you hope your blog will take you?
I want to be in a legit list of Popular Nigerian Bloggers. I said legit because any Blogger can formulate a list like that and post on the internet. But I need it to be in form of an award or on a genuine website.
25. Have you met anyone interesting/famous on your blogging journey?
No, all effort to get in touch with my icon, Linda Ikeji has been rendered fruitless.
26. Do you have any specific goals for the rest of this year?
Yes to Have 3k and above followers on all social media Channels.
27. Did you have any professional help or did you created the blog yourself?
I did all of it myself.
28. What do you think is the best social media strategy for getting more visitors to a blog?
You could organize giveaways on your site, you could host online contests for your followers or give a kind of incentive to people to spread the word about your site around and lastly do social media advertising. For me one unique method is placing your watermark logo on pictures or videos you share online…most blogs like instablog do it.
29. Would you encourage other people to make their blog themselves?
Well it depends on the kind of person you are, if you are a techie, I would advise you make your blog yourself and learn along the way but otherwise consult a professional. The reason it would be more beneficial to do it yourself is that it familiarizes you with your work space and whenever any technical issue pops up you can fix it. Beware! It is a very tasking Job so if you are the kind of person who doesn’t like stress, just pay someone to do it.
30. Is blogging your profession or just a hobby?
I could say it’s my profession because I am a journalist, but I see it as just my hobby which would take me places.
31. A lot of people think that blogging is an easy way to make money online. Do you have some tips for those people who are interested in making money from the blog?
I have mentioned to don’t make it about the money, but if you are serious about making money with your Blog you have to be ready to invest and drive massive traffic to your site. The only way one can make money from their blog is through paid advertising and we have ads agencies like Google adsense which I have mentioned before now or you can collect adverts from big brands or individuals who are interested but no one is going to advertise on a site with no massive traffic. So be ready to get those readers…and to get those readers, you have to write great contents or either ways pay freelancers to write for your blog, you also have to rank high on Google and have a great domain authority. I won’t go into many details here if you want to know more you could search on Google or contact me.
It was great having you Thanks! For your time Please can you list your sites incase our readers would love to check them out.