{"id":104869,"date":"2017-07-06T10:48:21","date_gmt":"2017-07-06T10:48:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/?p=104869"},"modified":"2017-07-07T08:59:43","modified_gmt":"2017-07-07T08:59:43","slug":"blogger-spotlight-justin-myers-the-guyliner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/blog\/blogger-spotlight-justin-myers-the-guyliner\/","title":{"rendered":"Blogger Spotlight: Justin Myers, The Guyliner"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Guyliner<\/a> is an ever-changing blog from Justin Myers. Starting as an anonymous dating blog, Justin now covers everything about modern life, including LGBT issues and the Guardian<\/em> Blind Date column. The Guyliner features on\u00a0our Top Ten LGBT+ Blogs<\/a>\u00a0and here Justin shares with us his blogging ethos, being\u00a0a writer, working with PR professionals and his advice for bloggers.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

How would you describe your blog?
\n<\/strong>My blog has had many incarnations over the years, all of which have kind of fused together into what it is today. I started out blogging about dates anonymously, before evolving into writing about dating in general, LGBT issues, and the crushing awkwardness of being alive in the 21st century, and now a large part of it is, inexplicably, a critical analysis of the Guardian<\/em> Blind Date\u00a0column<\/a>. I\u2019m never afraid to try something new, and I guess I\u2019ve been lucky in that my readers have liked each version.<\/p>\n

Why should people read your blog and what makes it different?
\n<\/strong>I\u2019m not entirely convinced I\u2019m doing anything massively original, but I guess I present things in an honest and passionate way. I’m never wilfully controversial or provocative \u2013 I am not afraid to be disliked but I do not go out of my way to encourage it like some writers \u2013 and I think it comes across that I mean what I say. My blog has heart, it is emotional. I’m not interested in free stuff or trying to sell anyone anything. People tell me they really like it.<\/p>\n

What has been your blogging highlight?
\n<\/strong>I have written professionally for a long time, way before I started the blog, but I know for absolute certain I wouldn\u2019t have been offered my book deal without The Guyliner \u2013 my first novel, The Last Romeo<\/em>, is out in 2018. That\u2019s the highlight of my career, really \u2013 I\u2019m not sure I will top that one, or even want to try. A specific blog highlight would be difficult to pick out, but the reaction I get every time I tweet out an old post about my first kiss<\/a> is quite something. When you write, and it touches someone, you feel both mortified and euphoric at the same time \u2013 I still don\u2019t think I’m used to it.<\/p>\n

How have people reacted to issues highlighted in your blog?
\n<\/strong>Like I said earlier, while I\u2019m no trailblazer, I think I stir something up with the things I write. I remind people of things they already knew, or experiences they\u2019ve lived, or I shine a light on areas that some people may not be talking about. The blog led to me becoming an advice columnist for Gay Times<\/em>, and often when I post, I get emails from readers saying \u2018me too\u2019 or \u2018that\u2019s really helped\u2019. It\u2019s an incredible feeling to think you can reach people in this way, but giving out advice is a massive responsibility and one I take very seriously. It\u2019s always in the back of my mind whenever I write anything \u2013 someone is going to read this; how will it make them feel?<\/p>\n

What types of campaigns do you prefer to work on?<\/strong>
\nI only accept commissions and write about things that interest me, or issues I know would be well received by my readers. Products and services don\u2019t really do it for me. I\u2019m very wary of bloggers who are only in it for the freebies; I find trusting them very difficult, and as my readers\u2019 trust is paramount \u2013 much more important to me than a free T-shirt \u2013 I am loath to compromise it. Experiences or things that my readers will find relatable or ridiculous, that\u2019s what I’m interested in. Really, I am looking for writing commissions, rather than opportunities to promote stuff on my blog.<\/p>\n

\"Justin<\/a>Is there any advice that you have for PRs that would like to work with you?
\n<\/strong>I don\u2019t accept guest posts ever and I say no to most things, to be honest. I prefer to take commissions that can be placed elsewhere rather than my blog \u2013 I write for a number of publications \u2013 unless it\u2019s very true to the core of what I do on The Guyliner. My reach on social far outstrips that of my blog \u2013 that\u2019s what PRs should probably concentrate on if they want to work with me. Anything that will suit my take on it is welcome \u2013 but it will be very much my<\/em> take and I cannot promise it will be glowing.<\/p>\n

What techniques do you use to make sure that you don\u2019t sacrifice on quality when working on sponsored content?
\n<\/strong>I don\u2019t do it! I say no to almost everything unless it\u2019s something I\u2019m interested in. Anything I couldn\u2019t present in my own style or fit either on my blog or another publication I write for, I don\u2019t get involved with. I approach everything I write in the same way, whether it\u2019s for money or for myself: is this something I need to say? Am I presenting this in the best way possible? Are people going to read this and wonder why the hell I\u2019m touching this subject? Will I read this again in a year or so and still be entertained and pleased with my work? If it\u2019s even half<\/em> a no for any one of those, I won\u2019t even start drafting, let alone hit \u2018Publish\u2019. All those criteria I set myself were born of previous experiences where maybe I didn\u2019t check myself as rigorously; I\u2019ve never stopped learning. I want people to read something \u2013 even if they\u2019re not interested in the subject \u2013 and think \u2018that was great\u2019 or \u2018that was really well-written\u2019. Fear that they won\u2019t keeps me from making too many mistakes, I hope.<\/p>\n

Are there any trends that you can see changing the face of blogging?
\n<\/strong>The depressing political arena is making us more cynical and, as a result, I think humour is coming back to blogging. I hope so, anyway; I\u2019m sick to death of reading really po-faced stuff that\u2019s more concerned with SEO and pleasing sponsors than actually taking a reader somewhere. The glamour does appear to be fading from the \u2018my life is fantastic\u2019 style of blogging \u2013 people are reading between the lines and seeing beyond the filters. I know those people work really hard at cultivating their image and presenting a polished product, but much of it makes me uncomfortable or tires me out, and I think it\u2019s the same for a lot of other people too.<\/p>\n

How frequently do you post on your blog?
\n<\/strong>I have a regular feature go live once a week. I wouldn\u2019t post more than twice-weekly \u2013 people get sick of you unless you\u2019re a known and trusted daily destination. I don\u2019t have time to keep that up and I\u2019m lucky in that my audience doesn\u2019t particularly expect it of me. I tweet regularly to keep myself \u2018out there\u2019 and, like I say, I tend to get much more engagement with a thread on Twitter than I would a formal blog post. I like the immediacy of it too \u2013 I prefer conversations to broadcasts.<\/p>\n

Do you have any tips for bloggers or businesses who want to improve their content strategy?
\n<\/strong>I don\u2019t really have a personal content strategy, and the work I\u2019ve done for businesses varies case by case and is usually totally separate from my blog; I guess I would say to companies, please hire decent writers, not just someone who can type. And pay them. It\u2019s increasingly important to be an all-rounder these days, which I totally get, but it always seems to be the writing part that suffers over the others. Reading is not over. Longform is not dead. The hypnotic quick sell of video doesn\u2019t really seem to be capturing anyone\u2019s imagination, despite ad sales\u2019 and content strategists\u2019 obsession over it \u2013 I wish we could see more of a balance between copy and video.<\/p>\n

To bloggers, I guess I\u2019d say find a niche and be good at it. Be consistent. Have a voice that people want to return to, so that, eventually, they don\u2019t care what you write about, as long as you\u2019re writing. When people are contacting you saying, \u2018I really want to know what you think about this issue \u2013 you should write something\u2019, it\u2019s a great feeling. And you know you\u2019re doing something right.<\/p>\n

The Guyliner features on the Vuelio Media Database<\/a> along with thousands of other bloggers, influencers and journalists.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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