Ten of the top things that I took away from SITS Bloggy Boot Camp this weekend:
10- There’s no reason not to share. Expertise, ideas, etc. We can build each other up.
9- Be Switzerland. Amy from Resourceful Mommy had some great advice. Be professional and steer clear of the drama.
8- Transparency doesn’t mean telling everything to everyone. It means that you’re authentic.
7- “Reach” is not just about page views. Your blog reach is so much more than that (twitter following, Facebook exposure, real-life influence, etc)
6- If it’s not obvious, disclose it! (and even better–don’t stress about FTC fines. They will go after the advertisers, ie–the companies, first. The FTC guidlines are guidelines, not laws!)
5- Staying out until 1:00 AM is apparently past my curfew. Even Mommy gets in trouble for staying out too late. And apparently, being gone for a full day feels like a week for my kids (enough to make me a Welcome Home Cake). Wasn’t long enough for Mommy.
4- Tara from Feels like Home CAN TEACH ME to finally understand SEO! I am thinking about making a whole extra post just about the SEO tips and tricks I learned.
3- Sometimes Moms can benefit from kids activities just as much as the kids do. Case in point: Tiffany’s summer camp “Circle of Trust” might have been the best hour and a half of the conference.
2- We need to be more forgiving of each other and ourselves. We are all women sharing a common love–for networking, sharing, writing. It’s all good!
1- The women behind the blogs we read really are just as cool (or maybe even cooler) in person as they are in the Blogosphere. And the connections we make on our blogs are real.
I wish I could link to everyone that I met this weekend. And I wish I had more pictures to share of all of the amazing people I was able to chat with. It was a fantastic weekend!
© 2010, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
Yep, this was actually the second time that Francesca and I got to hang out, though I must say I got to see a lot more of her this time around than in Vegas. She is great!
Now getting her to the CBC….that’s a great idea! I can even bribe her with a place to stay!
You got to meet Francesca! I am so jealous. I keep trying to get her to come to the CBC.
.-= Kristina P´s last blog ..Search, Ponder, and Buffet =-.
Me? A good writer? Wow! Thanks! I often don’t feel like that’s one of my strengths. Yet I really like doing it. Always have. So who cares if I’m good at it or not? I’m not stopping! ;)
Ah shucks! I wish you had introduced yourself! Like I keep saying, there were too many people to keep track of–so many people I wanted to meet and not enough time to tlak to everyone. But still a really FUN day!
Love the wrap up — hate it that I am a dork, was too shy to walk up and introduce myself, even though I’ve been stalking your blog for quite a while!
Fantastic recap! You’re one of those writers that make me want to be a better writer. I’m so enthralled by your gift. And those pics? AMAZING! I’m so glad we sat next to each other at the onset of the conference. You’re so sweet, kind, and funny! You captured the essence of boot camp perfectly, and the circle of trust….WAS AMAZING!!!
.-= Tricia´s last blog ..What I learned at BloggyBootCamp =-.
I think you understood what I was saying there, but rereading it, I realized it should have said that I didn’t recognize you without your mug, not behind your mug. :) Sometimes I’m slow, though…
I was thinking the same thing. I am so glad we’ll have another chance to sit and chat!
I know, not bringing the mug? #conferencefail for sure!
.-= erica´s last blog ..By: e =-.
So great to see you again, if only for a moment. Thank goodness we will have another chance to catch up at Momz Share!
.-= JenniferG of Hip As I Wanna Be´s last blog ..Win A Sponsorship To Blogher 2010 From SEED at Hip As I Wanna Be! =-.
LOL! Yes, that was CLASSIC ;)
We will definitely meet again!
.-= debi9kids´s last blog ..Twos-day for Tuesday =-.
Thanks! I’ll come check out your post! There were way too many people I didn’t get to chat with. It was overwhelming (in a good way). I just could have used another full day!
Yay! I’ll be at BlogHer, too! I will be writing some SEO tips for sure!
OK–this is hilarious. I finally made the connection as to who you are online/blog comments. Is it crazy that I didn’t recognize you behind your mug? I’m so embarrassed! I am so glad we sat together and could chat. I definitely came away with a new (and good) friend!
It was amazing. Next time… :)
Isn’t that always the case?! Thanks SO MUCH for coming with me!
I just wish you could have been there!!
It totally flew by! I didn’t meet half of the people there, and yet I felt like I made tons of connections. It just wasn’t enough. The Circle of Trust was after dinner (late) on Saturday night. Sorry you missed it!
The SEO trips were worth the cost of the conference (which was cheap anyway…) I will be sharing for sure!
Thanks! It was a thrill to finally meet you. I’ll never forget where we met the very first time. I’ll always remember our hug in the ladies bathroom. ;) I’m sure we’ll be able to cross paths again. This is certainly not my last conference!
I need help, too. But I finally think I can do it. I’ll be sharing soon!
It really was great, thanks!
I have been hearing a lot about SEO, and how important it is, and I have read a bunch of articles about it, but it never really clicked until this weekend. Don’t worry–I will be sharing!
Thanks!! I will definitely write something about the SEO tips I learned (once I get the teacher’s ok, of course!) PS–I’ll be putting your post up tomorrow evening!
Me too! I wish I could have spent more time with everyone!
I didn’t take as many pictures as I would have liked, honestly, but at least I got something. It was such a fun day, I kept myself busy!
I took good notes during the SEO class. I’m just hoping I can do it all justice!
I drove home after the late night fun….granted, I only had an hour drive. But, boy was I tired the next day!
I really hope you can go to a conference! They are so much fun and great motivation to keep on blogging!
Great recap! I put together a top 10 list too that will be posted tomorrow. I’m bummed we didn’t run into each other. I’m heading to Philly and will definitely be staying the night! I loved your pictures. You truly captured the essence of the boot camp.
Great recap of what sounds like a wonderful experience. I’m going to my first blogging conference, BlogHer, in August and I can’t wait. And yes, tell us about SEO PLEASE!
.-= dusty earth mother´s last blog ..ABC Butt =-.
Loved meeting you… and the SEO was so helpful. Glad we figured some things out together!
Great photos. I wish I had taken some!
You will have a blast!
After the conference, I was looking around and realized there were tons of people I didn’t ever bump into. Even one great blogger that I met before. As I was saying goodbye I realized I had seen her as we were walking in, but never had a conversation with her. :(
I feel the same way. I missed so many people. There just wasn’t time to meet everyone!
It was so much fun, and has gotten me so much more pumped for the CBC!
Thanks! :) I LOVED meeting you, and just wish we had more time to spend together!
Wow I would SO love to meet the women in your photos!! I’d like to learn more too.. sure… :)
Jealous of your cake too!
.-= Carissa´s last blog ..Twitter Tweets I Tweet =-.
Great write up of the day! Very creative. And did you realize that we never got a picture of just us?! Next time, first picture of the day. :)
.-= Safire´s last blog ..QOTW: Divorce and Multiples =-.
Looks like so much fun.
.-= angie´s last blog ..{A little letter to my laptop} =-.
I am so bummed I didn’t get to meet you in person… what the HECK happened during the time we were there? IT FLEW! Okay, I clearly missed “something” b/c although I knew that Tiffany ran a summer camp, I was not privy to the “Circle of Trust” event?!?! Was that Fri or Sat night? Bummer!!
So great to connect, even if it’s just “I was there, too!! Wish we met!!”
Hugs, and I’ll be following you!
Thanks for sharing! As someone who couldn’t make the conference, its nice to read about what all of you lucky ladies who did attend took away from it. I’d love to read the SEO tips post if you decide to do it.
.-= Danielle from A Few of My Favorite Things´s last blog ..The Write Stuff {GIVEAWAY} =-.
This was a perfect post :) You captured such great moments and your pictures are gorgeous as always :)
LOVE that your kids made you a welcome home cake! That is too cute!!!
Loved even more getting to meet you in person. I just wish we’d had more chatting time. Next time? If not Philly….some other :)
.-= debi9kids´s last blog ..One Time, at Bloggy Boot Camp…. =-.
Sounds like you had an awesome time! Can’t wait to hear about the SEO tips that you learned! I totally need some help in that area.
.-= shelly´s last blog ..One of Those Days =-.
Sounds like a great experience! I look forward to more tips from you. I don’t even know what SEO is (guess I’m showing my blogger ignorance) so I better go look that up right now!
.-= CDScott´s last blog ..Spring Break Chicken =-.
It looks like a GREAT conference:-)
Terrific Pictures! I definitely think you should write about the SEO stuff you learned too. It’s so hard to find any kind of actual -comprehensible- advice about that topic out there on the net for the layman to use.
.-= Gilliauna´s last blog ..Cute and Unique for 100 =-.
Laura, it was so nice to meet you and spend time with in the Circle of trust. I hope to meet you again.
Kim
You captured so many fabulous pictures! I love them, I failed at photo taking while I was there, so it’s great to be able to show my husband what we did :)
.-= Jayme´s last blog ..I am a quitter. =-.
You are so right on about the connections. They are REAL and really mean alot to a person.
And yes, please right that SEO post. I need a review b/c somewhere in the middle my brain got lost. :)
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Sorry, I Didn’t Get That, Please Try Again. =-.
I really enjoyed your re cap. Amazing pictures, I wish I could have been a part of that circle of trust. That’s what I get for going back and forth in one day. ;o( Next time I’m spending the weekend to get the full effect!
Looks and sounds like a great time. I’ve got to get up the courage to actually go to a bloggy conference.
.-= Krystyn´s last blog ..Mommy and Me Monday-The 3rd Edition =-.
sounds like a blast–getting excited to go the SF one.
Awesome write-up! It was such a blast – but I dont think I formally met you? I agree “Circle of Trust” was the best.
Awesome pics! The conference was so much fun, wish i could have met more people!
.-= Stephanie @ Geezees´s last blog ..Engagement photo with story,Canvas Unwrapped, Bloggy Bootcamp =-.
That sounds absolutely amazing! Great tips and thanks for sharing!! I am so glad I am going to a conference and I am so excited to meet you and all the other really awesome women and men we blog with!!
.-= Brandie´s last blog ..Give Me Your Best Shot! =-.
It was such a pleasure to meet you! You take the BEST pictures!
.-= Trenches of Mommyhood´s last blog ..This One Time? At Bloggy Boot Camp? =-.