Two Saturdays ago I attended Bloggy Boot Camp conference in San Diego. This conference is held six times a year at major cities around the U.S. which changes from year to year.
I remember being so excited when I learned this conference would be in San Diego in 2011! The weird thing about attending a one-day conference is your own home town is that there really isn’t much preparation.
This changed the experience from other blog conferences I’ve attended. I didn’t focus on connecting with other attendees and felt a little disconnected there as a result.
Learnings
The agenda included speakers on a range wide of topics. There was so much great content that I’ll boil it down to my top two takeaways from each speaker.
Ten Ways to Build Your Traffic by Ashley Stock
1. Blog stats tell you much more than how many people visited. A new site to me is Whos Amung Us.
2. Define what is success to your blog (number of subscribers, amount of revenue, etc.) and focus on making it happen.
What’s Your Story? Long-term Growth and Monetizing Strategies for Bloggers by Anna Viele
1. You need a story; if you don’t create it someone will make one about you. Your version will be far more flatting.
2. Trust capital is different from social capital. You build it by being yourself (warts and all) and being transparent.
Simple Steps to a Kickin’ Vlog by Mary Burt-Godwin
1. Practice the vlog and record it a minimum of three times.
Editing is to vloggin what proof reading is to blogging.
Letting Your Writing Sing: Narrative Arc and the Writer’s Voice by Denae Handy
1. Everyone loves a good story which should include a narrative arc and the hero’s journey.
2. Speak it then write.
Business of Blogging Overview by Tiffany Romero
1. If your blog makes more than $3,000 a year, get a separate bank account.
2. Get a DBA or LLC and make sure you have sufficient insurance coverage.
Banding Isn’t a Bad Word by Amy Bradley-Hole
1.Figure out your role on the web.
2. Understand your promise and your story. What brought you the ponit you are at today?
Online Business Tips by Lisa Leonard
1. Hire and delegate your weaknesses.
2. Build a newsletter for the best response to new offerings.
Contract Law for Bloggers by Danielle Liss
Danielle is one of my favorite bloggers and she made contract law interesting which is not easy.
1. Never accept blanket indemnity; just due to your breach of contract or negligence.
2. Do not agree to AAA arbitration as it is very expensive. Instead use local law (where contract executed).
Essentials of a Media Kit by Francesca Bonducci and Tiffany Romero
Francesca is Tiffany’s partner on SITS.
1. Download other blog media kits for examples and ideas.
2. Tell advertiser why they should work with you with data, testimonials, elevator pitch and more.
Sponsors
Lunch was sponsored by Smart and Final and included incredible cheesecake. They also gave every attendee a reusable bag filled with products from their First Street and Ambiance lines.
Good Cook via Collective Bias gave a bag full of kitchen utensils to attendees as we left. (I will giveaway a number of these on Two Savvy Sisters soon so be sure to follow me there.)
Mirassou Winery was there and sponsored the wine tasting which I did not attend. I was afraid to get tempted by all the great wines and then have to drive after.
Thoughts
The content was very good. A couple of speakers referred to attendees as mommy bloggers. Newsflash! Not every woman blogger is a mommy blogger.
We changed tables with each topic during the morning to encourage networking. I wish we had more time for introductions each switch. It was great to meet other bloggers in my city.
My only other suggestion is to have snacks during the morning and afternoon breaks. I would gladly pay a couple bucks extra registration fee to have cookies or some other pick-me-up.
These are very minor complaints (more like observations). Tiffany and Francesca do a great job organizing six conferences a year. Would I go again? You betcha!
{ 15 comments }
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I’d been considering the Chicago one later this year, but I was worried it would be a little too basic for me. This sounds like something I could always benefit from.
I would have loved to hear about the winery – I met David Mirassou a few years ago. He’s a really nice guy and seriously knows his stuff.
I have always wondered about this conference, so it is good to hear your impressions. If it comes near my city, I’ll now make sure to go.
Hello…seems like you attend a lot of these sorts of functions. Could you mention the cost for each one? Would save us all searching it out for ourselves.
I have a website for my media products where I also publish longer articles. For shorter content, I have a blog. Neither are monitized beyond the products available (e-books and paperbacks) but I am considering it as the blog audience grows so I might attend a few conferences this year. Thanks.
I’m signed up for the chicago version – thanks for giving me a preview of what to look forward to!
@Melissa I would recommend going if it’s at a city near you.
@ tmgboloks This conference was around $125 dollars, but it changes from city to city depending on the hotel costs I imagine.
@ Kelly I can’t wait to see how you like the one in Chicago.
Great recap! I have always been curious about Bloggy Bootcamp! I will have to attend one on the east coast next year.
I love what you’ve done with your site!
I’m not sure if you remember me but we met at Blogher 10 at one of the events and I remember chatting with you and your sister. Will definitely check out your joint blog. Congrats!
I got my San Diego plane ticket so I’ll definitely be coming to your town for Blogher 11! 🙂
Hi Patty, I definitely remember you! We’ll have to make sure to connect at BlogHer. My sister will be again.
I can’t wait to read all of this information. I am sure it will be very helpful!
Blogging conference sounds like fun. I think this is a good chance to really get to know some of the people in the blogosphere and learn a few trips as well. It’s also nice to get away once in awhile.
Sounded like a great conference!
Hopefully, next year I’ll be established enough to try one of these out! I’ll be bothering you asking which one of the conferences you think is a must attend one 🙂
@ Lisa, I hope you like it.
@Spruce Up Your Finances It is fun to meet other bloggers. I learn so much from the informal chatting as well.
@ Money Reasons Does this mean you won’t be at the Financial Blogger Conference in Chicago?
Thanks for letting me know about these conferences. Definitely hope I can attend one soon.
Great conference review. You’ve reminded me to put more time and care into my blog.
Great tip’s! I am checking out the free version of Whos Amung Us on a few key pages.
Thanks!
@Jenna Hope to meet you at one!
@I am the working poor It’s a constant battle whether to spend free time on the blog or other priorities.
@ Alan I read somewhere that if you learn one useful thing at a conference then it was worth it.
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