Last weekend I enjoyed the fine company of hundreds of bloggers at Bloggy Con 2013, held at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Over the course of the weekend, we partied, studied, mingled, networked, and discussed all things blogging.
It was my first blogging conference and I’m hooked! Today I’m sharing the Ten Things I Learned at BloggyCon13:
1. Bloggers are a great group of people. (Duh!)
2. It made me feel all warm and tingly to receive swag from sponsors like Udderly Smooth, Honda, Skyo, Rit Dye, expressionary, and Zone Perfect.
3. It was very useful to have business cards for my blog.
4. It was awesome meeting people in real life that I’ve only interacted with online.
5. I learned more about Pinterest and hope to increase my blog’s presence there.
6. I now realize that I know nothing about SEO (for the non-bloggers, that’s Search Engine Optimization). Because I know nothing, and it’s doubtful I will never know a whole lot, my blog is a prison in which I’m stuck (per the SEO speaker) and I will never make any money. Eh.
7. Cedar Point is super fun.
8. My family thinks I’m a rock star for taking them to Cedar Point for this conference.
9. I’m a giant wuss and will not go on half the rides at Cedar Point that are designed to maim you or make you throw up.
No thanks! I’m a chicken.
10. I learned that I’m passionate about blogging and I don’t want to stop!
Have you been to a great blogging conference, women’s retreat, or work conference that inspired you?
I haven’t been to a blogging conference as yet and don’t know if I will ever make it to one due to my job but sounds like you had an amazing time. Guess we’re also in the same both when it comes to SEO, I know nothing about it either. 🙂
Growing Up Madison recently posted…Take the Pledge and Buckle Up For Safety With Graco
Well, at least you look better than I do about SEO since I took the seminar and STILL don’t know what the heck to do! 🙂
Katy – what I loved most about BloggyCon13 was meeting you and other great bloggers like you! I thought it was a fabulously smart and inspiring group! Thx for sharing your lessons from BloggyCon!
Debba Haupert recently posted…Home Equity Lines of Credit: The Good, Bad and Ugly Financial Advice from Miata Edoga
Debba, the blogging community has blown me away with its encouragement and passion! Thanks for stopping by.
I do hope to get to a blogging conference this next year. Thank you for sharing with us about your experience. SEO is just starting to make sense to me only because of the plugin I’m using.
Missy Homemaker recently posted…Frugal Strategies Series: Let Your Freak Flag Fly
Oh, if it’s Yoast our speaker was telling us to stop using it! But dont ask me why. 😉
And it was a joy meeting you. I blogged about the conference today too. By the way I saw the dates for the next Erma Bombeck conference. April 10-12 2014. thought of you when I saw it.
Jean Wise recently posted…Cedar Point’s Guide to Living
Lovely to meet you as well! I was just thinking about the Erma Bombeck conference today. Thanks for passing along the dates.
Nice to know that you came back with so many positives! Why can your blog not make money because of SEO?!
Roshni recently posted…Sexual abuse and the girl child: an Indian context
Well, I’m exaggerating as is my nature!! However, the SEO expert said that the right SEO drives people to your site every day, not just when you post. And increased, consistent traffic = better clicks/affiliate sales, etc.
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Ten Things I Learned at BloggyCon13
I wish that I could be there meeting you. You have shared some fabulous things that broaden my mind. Thanks a lot, Kathy.
Adelien recently posted…10 Things to Consider Before You Take Piano Lessons
I have never been to a blogging conference but they sure sound good! I don’t understand SEO either – so I’m in prison with you I guess!
Leah recently posted…10 Years ago
Hee hee! Yes, the SEO expert was very matter of fact that your blog is your “prison” if people only visit when you post. He said you want to use SEO so people visit *every day* and click on your ads, buy things for which you are an affiliate, etc.
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Ten Things I Learned at BloggyCon13
I wish someday to go to a conference. I bet you had fun!
Tess recently posted…Cheese on the go #ChooseSargentoCheese
I totally should have gone to this one, had I known about it!! Darnit! It will probably be the closest one that will ever happen, since I live in Columbus. How did I miss this?
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and learned a lot! Help us all navigate Pinterest please!!
Chris Carter recently posted…What’s Your Love Language?
Chris,
It was a fabulous first time conference to go to as a newbie. And I would definitely go again if the timing and location are right. You should make a mental note about BloggyCon–it is in September every year and has either been in Cincinnati (drivable from Columbus) or this year Cedar Point.
Maybe we’ll get to meet IRL next year!
Katy
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Ten Things I Learned at BloggyCon13
I would love to be at a bloggy conference some day soon! Maybe next year?
Jill @ Called To Be A Mom recently posted…Survival (Bug Out) Bag 72 Hour Check List For A Frugal Family +Giveaway
No blogging conferences, but I’m going on a women’s retreat with my church next month and I am really excited!! (Except for the part where they don’t let you bring your phone or other devices…)
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted…Five Minute Friday: She
Geez, guess I should learn about SEO. I see articles about it all the time, but I’m like, oh dear, my brain capacity is not large enough for that today. I see me maybe learning it in about a year. But I’m okay with that! It sounds like fun. And you know what, business cards are a great idea. I had not thought of that. Did you do them yourself or get them online?
Stephanie recently posted…A day spent on the farm
Stephanie, I made my business cards online and got them shipped to me. I think it cost about $15 for a big box from Staples or Office Max or someplace like that. Of course, within a month of ordering them I joined Instagram so my info about that is not on the cards!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Ten Things I Learned at BloggyCon13
I guess that’s the danger, if you join something new you don’t have it! I think I’ll wait a bit before I get any 🙂 It is in the back of my mind though that I need to.
Stephanie recently posted…A day spent on the farm
Ahhh SEO- it’s hard for even us tech nerds to completely understand. I find it hard to believe that every single successful blogger understands it and uses it – so don’t beat yourself up – it’s just yet (another) way to help generate money, which can just keep generating over and over and over without maintenance.
Just keep doing what you’re doing – and then, when you’re bored – figure out some SEO to help ENHANCE your blog 🙂