Type A Parent Conference 2011 just ended tonight. It was a pumped and loaded fun 3 days!
I want to share briefly what I learned at this conference. And I learned more than simply that I have a cute baby with the fattest cheeks and thighs EVER. (even if that was the most common thing said to me all weekend).
All the bloggers from Kansas!
Rock What Ya Got
You are really good at something – what is it? Everyone has a talent. Are you a technical writer? A creative writer? A photographer? A baker? A humor writer? Hone your skill! Do it with passion and enjoy your blog. Find out what you love to do and then get really good at it. Do you know how to find bargains? Share them with your readers and use affiliate links. For me, I am a writer. I have a love affair with words and telling stories. I am going to refocus my blog on my writing (and my new found love of photography).
Make yourself known
Bloggers, you need to know social media! Educate yourself about how to build a following on facebook, twitter and get connected on LinkedIn. Google is my best friend. I research “top Facebook Fan Page Apps” and “Engaging on twitter” and then I share what I learn on this blogging basics series. Sadly, my Facebook Fan Page is lacking. I am working on that next. Are you feeling overlooked? The secret the “big bloggers” know is how to network. They are friends with other bloggers who get gigs and share with each other. Make friends. Go to conferences. Get involved in online communities. Twitter, facebook and linkedIn are a blogger’s best friends.
Focus, People
You need to focus on your own talents and strengths and don’t compare yourself to others. So what if she got a huge thing to review or got paid to put up a press release and you can do it better? You know your blog rocks and you will get the next one. The best thing you can do for your blog is continue to make it better without putting it up against another blog as a measuring stick.
You also need to focus on your strengths. This is where a strong niche can be so valuable. Yes, you can write about everything under the sun and be a “general life blogger” but if you have a passion then hone in on it and really put yourself into it. Make your blog all about it! Brands will notice. Sometimes, a brand will want to work with a blogger that is influential in a particular niche vs. someone with loads of traffic but no real focus.
There’s no place like home
Make sure your location is easy to find. Brands are starting to see the value in locally influential bloggers. On your twitter profile, put your state. In your meta tags, put your state and/or nearest metro area. Brands google and twitter search for locations they want to market to.
On another note, reach out to local businesses. Don’t just offer reviews and giveaways either. Offer social media consulting, copy writing, advertising! If you write about your local market often and are involved offline too, the local chamber of commerce will want to work with you to help them get on the “internet map.”
~~~~~~
So now I am all pumped! While I will continue to offer reviews and giveaways, I will make sure to pour more energy into a local Kansas focus and share more stories with you. Storytelling is a part of my heart!
What do you love about blogging? I’d love to hear!
These are all good points Annie! That sounds like a fun and informative event. I really have to get into Twitter more and figure out the nuts and bolts of it. I have to figure out exactly how to make a FB page for my blog as well. I’ve looked at the Help page but haven’t had a lot of time to read around it (dang kiddo!). I’ve recently started following lots of other mom and CDing blogs and reading and commenting on them (after bedtime), and I’ve “met” a lot of blog moms that way.
I love two things about blogging. One, it gives me the opportunity to share what I’ve learned and experienced with others so that they can avoid my foibles or even feel better about our shared experiences. Two, it gives me a way to organize my thoughts about a topic. I generally get an idea from talking to a client or a couple and then the idea starts rolling around in my head until I finally put it on screen (or paper).
Thanks for sharing what you learned. I love interacting with people. I love being able to speak what is on my mind, even if it isn’t the most popular thing to say. The best part of being a blogger is expressing myself.
So glad we got to meet in person finally, and yes I love babies chubby legs and bright smiling face (she gets that smile from Mom for sure!) {{{{HUGS}}}}}
Love the photo – that is a seriously cute kid!
You really do have a super cute baby… AND her thighs are simply edible.
It was great to see you again!
You did a great recap of speaking points from the conference. Personally, I learned that I can survive with only 4 hours of sleep for 4 nights straight. Well, kinda. Sleep caught up with me when I got home, lol.
Thanks for sharing what you learned! Hopefully now that I’m on WP I can start figuring out SEO and using meta tags to put myself on the map. And I love all your stories!
Awesome take-aways, Annie!! It was so great to see you and your adorable darling baby! I have gone back to a focus more on what I love to write, and even though I don’t write as much, my readers are connecting more, and I’m so much happier.
All these points are right on!
It’s true though – that is a darn cute baby.
Great tips! I try really hard not to get stuck on comparing myself to others and wonder why so and so got this and I didn’t. The sea of bloggers is vast and so I definitely try not to take it personally.
Sounds like you have some new motivation!
Great post. And so true! It was silly for us to have to fly to NC to meet. When life calms down a play date or dinner is in order. I bet we could find an easy half-way spot.
Loved those chubby cheeks…Uh, I’m talking about the baby! LOL U were such a sweet woman. Glad I had the chance to meet you. I also love ur blog. Coming over from the Blog Hop. Please come and check me out, too 😉 xxoo
Great advice as usual, Annie! I love these tips and thank you for sharing them with us! Looks like you had a great time at the conference!
I love seeing people like you at conferences!! It was so good to see you again! xoxo