Blogger Spotlight Interview: Scott from The Grumpy Git

Welcome to the Blogger Spotlight Interview. This week we have Scott from The Grumpy Git taking part.

If you would like to take part, and your blog is under six months old, or has been re-launched in the last six months, please email me randommusings29@gmail.com

Over to you Scott!

1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Scott, I’m 49 and live in Edinburgh. I am originally from the North East of England via the Isle of Man where I lived for most of my adult life until November 2013.

My background is primarily financial services, although writing and publishing has evolved in to something that I never expected.

I enjoy writing, trying new restaurants around the city with friends and watching films when time allows.

2 What is your blog’s name and what is it about?

My blog is The Grumpy Git and I write about consumer issues and motoring disputes to help, inspire and inform others about their consumer rights and how to seek redress.

3 Why did you decide to start a blog?

My blog evolved when I was writing the first edition of my consumer book titled ‘How to Complain: The Consumer Guide to Resolve Complaints and Motoring Disputes’. I have had enough bad and unique experiences that I could create a book out of (and I did), and I quickly realised that I needed a blog to sit alongside it as a platform to share my knowledge and expertise with others.

4 Do you have any goals for your blog?

I would like to build up my following across social media and have thousands of followers engaging with me and the content I have created.

I have made a real difference to the lives of many people so far based on the advice in my book, blogs and from word of mouth recommendations. I’d like to be able to help many more.

Eventually I would like to have my own consumer column in a paper or magazine and to be able to act as a consultant for firms on how to handle and improve their complaints handling procedures and customer service.

I have the ears of many consumers through social media and I know the problems they face, so I am in an ideal position to advise companies so they can act on it to improve their offering. I also know how to pre-empt various common problems and how traders can reinforce their rights.

5 Tell us one random fact about you

I once worked in a commercial Christmas decorations factory during the summer heatwave of 1995 dressing trees, bar swags and metal balloons. Let’s just say that it was character building and no fun whatsoever! I still know how to dress a Christmas tree properly to this day – I think it was seared on my brain.

6 What is the best piece of blog related advice you have received so far?

To focus on your niches and try not to be distracted by what others are doing. Remain focused on where you want to be, not where you are now and be generous with your time, advice and support. You get what you give.

7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?

I enjoy creating content that people like to read, share and engage with me. The opportunities that have evolved out of it have been incredible so far with national media exposure. I have met some lovely people as well who have been very kind and generous with their time, advice and support.

8 Is there anything you would do differently if you were starting over knowing what you know now?

I would have put my website on to self-hosting long before now. I tried to do it myself twice without success and I have had to engage an IT professional to rebuild, redesign and host it – money well spent.

It has been frenetic trying to make up for lost time in optimising about 140 blogs, creating new content, scheduling posts using Hootsuite, creating content for travel guides for their blogs, publishing my own books and books for aspiring authors and everything else.

I am looking forward to being able to take it at a slower pace next year, although in reality that will probably not be the case as there is always something to do to keep the momentum going.

I have learnt a lot, particularly over the past few months, and I still have much to learn.

9 Anything else you’d like to share with us?

Thank you for the opportunity to be featured on your blog and to do a guest interview with you.

I would like to thank Lady Janey in particular for being so generous with her time, advice and support since we were both featured in the Daily Mail as consumer champions. We share the same values and ethos and she has introduced me to various blogging groups including yours where I have met some lovely people who have helped me in many ways.

I hope that I can repay everyone in the future in my own way.

10 Where can we find you? (blog link and links to any social media)

You can find me on my blog, Twitter and Facebook.