Following on in my Meet The Blogger series, today I am introducing you to Alek who blogs over at 9 to 5 Voyager.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?
Hello! My name is Alek Zayas-Dorchak, and I run 9 to 5 Voyager, a travel blog focused on budget- and schedule-friendly travel.
WHY DID YOU START BLOGGING?
I started 9 to 5 Voyager at the advice of my friends and family, and for two main reasons: 1. I already traveled quite a bit and wanted a platform for sharing my adventures; and 2. Being several years out of college and finding myself in unfulfilling careers, I needed a creative outlet. I’ve really enjoyed writing and sharing my photos, and always look forward to my next voyage!
As a side note, I also wanted what we in the US call a “side hustle.” Money is not the main goal of this blog, but I can see it becoming a fun source of income in the future.
HAS YOUR BLOG CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED?
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FUNNIEST MOMENT SINCE STARTING YOUR BLOG?
Funniest moment? Man, I wish I had an answer to that! I’m really just now getting it ramped up, so I can’t think of a funny moment, per se. I’m sure I will soon, though!
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR WORST MOMENT SINCE STARTING YOUR BLOG?
Again, I’m not sure I have a solid answer for that. It’s been fun, and keeps getting better and better.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A NEW BLOGGER STARTING OUT?
Spend some time coming up with a solid name BEFORE you create your website. You want something pertinent to your subject matter, that is also catchy. Will someone you meet on a sidewalk cafe remember it easily after hearing it?
If your goal is to monetize your blog, consider getting a self-hosted website on something like SiteGround or HostGator. That way, you can still use WordPress to write, but have more room to customize your content and get better ad opportunities.
Most importantly, be patient! You won’t be seeing any real payout for probably a year. Although, I would add that Facebook groups like Bloggers United can help you immensely, and give you the opportunity to help other bloggers as well!
WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT BLOGGING THAT YOU DID NOT REALISE BEFORE YOU STARTED?
I was surprised at how many people from around the world have been reading my blog! It’s really cool to see someone in Kenya or Indonesia or Nepal read my work. I’m glad I added the Google Translate widget to the top of my page.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY WHAT WOULD YOU DO FIRST?
While I’d love to love to say “quit my job and travel the world,” a more realistic response would be “pay off all my debt and travel the world!” I’m also trying to go back to school so I could certainly put some money towards that.
WHO IS YOUR BLOGGING HERO AND WHY?
Expert Vagabond has been a great role model so far. He’s one of the most successful and visible travel bloggers in the game. Since I’m a newcomer to all this, I find myself looking to his site for inspiration for my own. His blog is jam-packed with valuable information, incredible photography, and awesome stories. For example, he recently got back from traveling through Afghanistan.
You can follow Alek at
Blog – 9 to 5 Voyager
Thank you Alek for introducing yourself and telling my readers all about your Blog and yourself. If you missed last weeks post or any of the other posts in the series, you can find the post in my Meet The Blogger section. If you would like to be involved in my meet the Blogger series please complete the form here
Always great to read about new bloggers! So great to know how others enjoy their blogging
Thank you I love finding out more about people and am loving hosting the series x
Great post (and Hi Alek!) Its always so lovely getting to hear more about the blogger behind a blog and so interesting too! Thanks for sharing x
Thank you am glad you enjoyed the post x
I love to read and learn about other bloggers. And yes there are people from all over the world in the blogging community which is fab xx
I do as well 🙂 that is one of the things I love about Blogging meeting so many different people from around the world who I would not have met otherwise x
I’d 100% travel the world and pay my debt off if I won the lottery! xxx
I would go travelling as well x
I’ve been blogging for so long now (10 years eeek!) that it’s really lovely to see people just starting out with that newbie passion, I’m sure Alek will go far! xx
It is such a mind field when you start blogging, as you realise how much work goes into writing and pubslishing a post x
Yes to thinking about what you will call your blog, mine is so long that I wish I had selected something shorter
It is hard to come up with a name and then realise you are stuck with it lukily mine is very apt x
My mummy is a bit like Aleks and uses her blog as a creative outlet – not as much travelling as hime though!
I would love to travel more, and hoping to make a change on that next year x
Alek’s blog looks great! I love a good travel blog. I definitely agree that having a solid blog name when you start is definitely important!
What a fab interview! I’m definitely going to be checking out Alek’s blog – it sounds like a fantastic read.
Thank you and glad to have introduced you to a new blogger x
This is a great interview with Alek and I love his sound advice about thinking about a good and solid name before the website is created.
Thank you and choosing a name is probably the hardest part x
Loving this series of meet the blogger to find new blogs to read. Like Alek I started a blog as a creative outlet.
I love finding out about other people and am loving hosting this series x
I love these ‘meet the blogger’ series, as it helps me discover new blogs! Alek’s blog looks right up my street!
I am enjoying finding out more about different bloggers and loving hosting the series x