Why did you decide to start a blog?
To provide and promote positive images of marriage and parenting in the black community.Attendee Spotlight: Mark Chappelle from Junkyard Salvation
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Mark Chappelle who's blog is Junkyard Salvation
What do you hope to experience at Blogging While Brown 2013?
I got pulled out of my shell and met a lot of friendly and brilliant people at BWB 2011 in Los Angeles. They expanded my perception of the black blogosphere. I hope to do that again!
Why did you decide to start a blog?
I had a some really bad experiences as the co-founder of a successful church that caused me to shift from love to hate when it came to Christianity. I knew I'd be experiencing some major personal growth, so I knew it'd be good for me to document the healing process. It would keep me from repeating mistakes and maybe save someone else from making them in the first place.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Faith bloggers, bloggers turned authors, and WordPress experts!
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
Be invested in what you write. Anyone can list facts, define words, and be called informative. But when you're able to imprint a piece of yourself into your writing, people can relate to and embrace your writing the way strangers suddenly become your friends.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I see myself settling into an assured life philosophy and solid spiritual belief where my blog will serve as the trail that helped lead to it, and my readers will be on their own paths right along with me.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
Of course. I started with a small readership that started to expand on its own. I'd love to find out how I can improve on what I've already got re: content, promotion, interacting with readers, and developing a community
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I think so. I started off without a lot of direction in blogging, but I found out that I'm a better writer than I thought. I've since picked up on a lot of devices for telling a complex story in a simple way, and making dark and touchy subjects more easily approachable with lightness and humor.
Welcome back to BWB !
Attendee Spotlight: Wayne Bennett from The Field Negro
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Wayne Bennett who's blog is The Field Negro
What do you hope to experience at Blogging While Brown 2013?
Meet other bloggers of color and exchange ideas and network
Why did you decide to start a blog?
Because I saw so many things happening at the time that was frustrating me, but I couldn't find a way to openly talk about my frustrations.
I decided to start writing under a pseudonym until I got outed.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Critical thinkers who are socially aware.
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
Keep your posts short and topical.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
The black Matt Drudge.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
Marketing tips.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I think I have an idea of what people want to read when they go to a blog.
I have tips about making blog posts interesting and insightful.
Welcome back to BWB !
Attendee Spotlight: Kelly Virella from Media Matters
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Kelly Virella who's blog is Media Matters
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to network with my fellow bloggers and panelists.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
It's so much better than a diary!
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
I'm excited to meet everyone, especially media bloggers, science and technology bloggers, political bloggers, race bloggers, literary fiction bloggers, film bloggers, music bloggers, and fine arts bloggers.
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
1. Get it done. Set a regular writing schedule and stick to it.
2. Avoid burnout. Set a schedule that actually works for your life.
3. Grow it. Pick two or three bloggers with whom you have synergies and promote each other's work.
4. Sell it. To monetize your blog, you must set aside time where you focus only on that.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
My blog will continue to be a personal blog on which I discuss my entrepreneurial ventures. I hope to build my brand as a serial media entrepreneur who has more than book knowledge about what it takes to build a successful independent media brand.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
I'm hoping to meet people who can help me grow my network in the black blogging community.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I have experience raising money for media startups, growing audiences, and overseeing advertising sales to large brands such as BMW. I'm also a front end web developer and an award winning journalist with 13 years of experience, including managerial experience. I have tips to share about raising money to build your business and I have tips for people seeking to build their journalistic credibility or those seeking to use blogging as a launchpad for a journalism career.
Welcome to BWB !
Attendee Spotlight: Jim Bettinger from JSK — John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford
Attendee Spotlight is:
Jim Bettinger who's blog is JSK — John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at StanfordWhat do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
Continued insights into current trends, as well as spread the word about the program I run, the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
I'm particularly interested in connecting with bloggers who have an interest in the challenges facing journalism, and who want to help meet those challenges.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I have a lot of experience working with journalists and journalism entrepreneurs who are working to invent and re-invent themselves.
Welcome back to BWB !
Attendee Spotlight: Matt E. Stevens from Prune Juice Media
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Matt E. Stevens who's blog is Prune Juice Media
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I hope to meet other like-minded bloggers and media personalities while learning helpful information to grow my platform.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
I have always loved having a voice in media. That, combined with my love of news and politics, made starting a blog a pretty easy decision. For me, there is something special about sharing my ideas in cyberspace and people connecting to them. I don't need people to always agree with me. I just like sparking good conversation and healthy debate. You do not see many African-American men doing this type of work regularly.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
I'm always interested in meeting other political bloggers at the BWB conference, even though we are few and far between. But, I have learned some awesome information about running a site from big names in other categories such as fashion, humor, and technology. So, I always keep my eyes open to meet people of all backgrounds with helpful tips.
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
My best tip is for bloggers to discard their conventional thinking about promotion and the daily activities for their blog. Our blog sites are not typical products of corporate America. The rules are different. Don't be afraid to take risks even in the face of seemingly impossible odds. Use social media heavily, travel, network, develop cool partnerships, etc. The greater the risks, the greater the rewards.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I definitely see myself having a strong(er) voice in the media in the next five years. That doesn't necessarily mean it will be through my blog, but perhaps through a bigger outlet. I'd love to see my blog reaching a wider audience in the next five years if it stays in its current form.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
Active followers are always great to build an audience. So far, several bloggers have used their social media and websites to mention my work to their followers. That type of organic recommendation is great. Many of the followers have hung around for long haul with me because of this exposure.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
My background is in media/public relations. I can help bloggers understand how to promote themselves to outlets and how to package themselves as potential experts.
Welcome back to BWB !
Attendee Spotlight: Miss Mikelah from Style & Vibes
Attendee Spotlight is:
Miss Mikelah who's blog is Style & Vibes
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I hope to meet and learn from other bloggers. I'm really interested in learning how as a niche I blog I can brand and build it's readership.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
Because my family is from Jamaica and I was born in the U.S. I've always been immersed in both cultures so my blog in a cultural extension of that.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Lifestyle bloggers who have turned their blog into a brand.
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
Be consistent! It's something I have a problem with myself, but when you blog consistently the numbers don't lie, it keeps readers engaged.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I would really like to see it grow it as a Caribbean America lifestyle brand. I have ideas about adding an eShop and hosting events to keep readers engaged online and off.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
Their wisdom and insight is all that's need. I would love to get their honest feedback on how I can grow.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
Understanding Caribbean culture from a non-tourist perspective. Many people have a perception of Caribbean culture displayed through tourism or what's musically.popular at the moment. While those are a huge parts of the culture, there's also a side that people don't get to see.
Welcome to BWB !
Attendee Spotlight: Weed Pterodactyl from Weed Pterodactyl
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Weed Pterodactyl who's blog is Weed Pterodactyl
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
Meet and network with internet savvy folks.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
Express my opinions.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Independent minded folks with Own opinions.
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
Drive and target your traffic.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
Turned into a cartoon, cartoon strip, webisodes.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
Thinking.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
Better marketing online.
Welcome back to BWB !
Attendee Spotlight Sojourner Williams from Sojourner Walker
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Sojourner Williams who's blog is Sojourner Walker
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I hope to meet other bloggers and get some great tips regarding building my brand, publishing and using social media.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
My blog began as a way to document my experiences living abroad in Mozambique, then developed into cultural travel blog.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
I'd love to connect with bloggers who do book reviews, travel bloggers, food bloggers and wellness bloggers.
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
Blog at least once a week
Use lots of compelling photos
Write engaging content
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I hope to have a book published and I look to become a trusted travel resource for cultural travel and travel with children.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
I'm always open to suggestions and ideas/tips.
Welcome to BWB !
Attendee Spotlight: Rene Syler from Good Enough Mother
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Rene Syler who's blog is Good Enough Mother
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I want to continue growing my brand/blog. I want to learn more effective ways to create content, promote and connect with brands
Why did you decide to start a blog?
I was looking for a companion piece to my book and traditional publishing had no idea what to do.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Lamar Tyler
Terrance Gaines
Carolyn Edgar
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
Top tips:
Update blog daily: You should not expect to build a brand working 4 hours a day, 4 days a week.
Use an editorial calendar: CRITICAL! Planning what you are going to write takes the pressure off of, "What am I going to write about today?"
Be Neat: Sloppy doesn't sell. No spelling errors or poor grammar.
Protect your brand: Trademark, become an LLC do what you have to to protect what you've worked hard for.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I would like to license the name Good Enough Mother to brands that are interested in using it to promote ease and convenience for things important to families.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
networking opportunities and tips on how to work smarter
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I come from a traditional media background and used blogging to reinvent myself. I know have made a name for myself in common sense parenting after starting Goodenoughmother.com, the blog based on my book of the same name. I think I could offer others inspiration and a look at what they can accomplish with a lot of hard work.
Welcome back to BWB !
Join #BWBNYC & National Action Network for the Saturday Night Screening of Fruitvale
Join Blogging While Brown and National Action Network for a free screening of Director Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station. The screening will take place 9:30PM Saturday, June 22nd at AMC Magic Johnson Theater, 2309 Frederick Douglas Blvd, New York, NY 10027. Click here to RSVP.
About 'FruitVale Station'
Winner of both the Grand Jury Prize for dramatic feature and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, director Ryan Coogler’s FRUITVALE STATION follows the true story of Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan), a 22-year-old Bay Area resident who wakes up on the morning of December 31, 2008 and feels something in the air. Not sure what it is, he takes it as a sign to get a head start on his resolutions: being a better son to his mother (Octavia Spencer), whose birthday falls on New Year’s Eve, being a better partner to his girlfriend Sophina (Melonie Diaz), who he hasn’t been completely honest with as of late, and being a better father to Tatiana (Ariana Neal), their beautiful four year-old daughter. Crossing paths with friends, family, and strangers, Oscar starts out well, but as the day goes on, he realizes that change is not going to come easily. His resolve takes a tragic turn, however, when BART officers shoot him in cold blood at the Fruitvale subway stop on New Year’s Day. Oscar’s life and tragic death would shake the Bay Area – and the entire nation – to its very core.
Are you ready to show off your best accessory?
Put on your best smile and your all white and join us for
Colgate-Palmolive's Optic White™ All White Party!
This year’s Conference Kickoff Party will be held at the Aloft Harlem WXYZ Bar @
Friday, June 21st @ 6:00PM
2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard · New York, NY
For Platinum & Gold Badge Conference Attendees Only
We are on our way to whiter smiles this year with Colgate-Palmolive's Optic White™ as a 2013 partner. The Optic White Regimen makes it convenient and effective to achieve whiter teeth in just five days. This breakthrough whitening system features Colgate's best-selling toothpaste, Optic White®, along with the new Colgate® Optic White™ Mouthwash and Colgate® 360° Optic White® Power Toothbrush.
The Colgate® Optic White™ Regimen's enamel-safe technology whitens by removing stains on teeth every time you brush and rinse. Using Colgate® Optic White® Toothpaste on a daily basis over a four week period, resulted in teeth that are 3+ shades whiter.
As a global leader in oral care, Colgate-Palmolive continues to deliver solutions that help improve the oral health and well-being of consumers worldwide. The Colgate® Optic White™ Regimen extends Colgate-Palmolive's technology leadership within the whitening segment and will continue to revolutionize the way millions of consumers whiten their teeth.
For more information about the Colgate® Optic White™ Regimen, visit www.colgateopticwhite.com
Attendee Spotlight: SistersWithBeauty
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I hope to gain an insight on how to take my blog to the next level. I would also like to network with other bloggers and panel members. I want to learn great tips on blogging and anything additional the conference can teach me.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
While transitioning I knew I wanted to encourage others, as I had been encouraged. I found my talents of styling my own hair and motivating and put those two things to work.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Natural Hair Bloggers
Fashion Bloggers
Fitness Bloggers
Financial Bloggers
Relationship Bloggers
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
-Be consistent
-Be passionate first about your purpose. If you don't feel you, no one will.
-Show more and talk less
-Always remember you have a blog and point people to it however you see fit
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I see SistersWithBeauty as the premier natural hair website for DIY naturals.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
Networking
Lessons learned
How to effectively financially benefit from their blog?
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I am well at communicating, speaking and encouraging. Which is why I started blogging in the first place. I created SistersWithBeauty to help others returning back to their natural hair. I hold private counseling sessions for naturals needing more attention than a comments box can give. I’m attentive, insightful, and I just love doing what I’m doing. My passion is real because I am. I have a sense of humor and I’m approachable. These are all things I believe anyone looking to have a blog should possess to some degree.
Welcome to BWB !
Attendee Spotlight: Erica Jewell from A Girl Travels
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Erica Jewell who's blog is A Girl Travels
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I hope to build my blogging network and to learn how to develop my blog so that it has an even large impact
Why did you decide to start a blog?
I started blogging to create a live diary about my adventures, my travels, and my community involvement as I travel for work and leisure.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Travel Bloggers, Philanthropists, and Fashion Bloggers
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
I want to learn how to drive traffic to my blog, how to earn sponsors, and how to gain a better understanding of Search Engine Optimization.
Welcome to BWB !
Attendee Spotlight: Esta Fiesta from Living Fiesta
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Esta Fiesta who's blog is Living Fiesta
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I hope to meet fellow bloggers and learn new ways to maximize my blog's potential.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
When I had to take a position in corporate America, I decided to start Living Fiesta as an outlet to keep myself connected to the entertainment and fashion worlds.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
I'm interested in connecting with entertainment and style bloggers as well as bloggers with journalism experience and vloggers.
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
Write on a regular basis and remember your audience.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
In five years I see myself as a trusted entertainment and style expert who has expanded her expertise into other avenues. I see my blog as a go-to site for news and commentary on entertainment and style.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I have a lot of Public Relations experience which can help other bloggers in creating and promoting their brand as well as promoting themselves and their blog.
Welcome to BWB !
Call for Onsite Volunteers
We are in need of onsite volunteers for Blogging While Brown 2013!
We are currently placing volunteers who have two full days of availability on both Friday and Saturday.
Volunteers will need to be available as early at 7:00AM on both Friday, June 21st and Saturday June 22nd.
YOU MUST be able to be on time on both Friday and Saturday because we have a very short time between accessing the building to the opening of conference registration.
If you are are available for both days, please respond to lianne@bloggingwhilebrown.com and I will provide you with more information!
What You Can Learn from My Google Hangouts On-Air Disaster!
Gina McCauley, Founder of the Blogging While Brown Conference
I will not declare that Google Hangouts Sucks. What happened to me is not Google’s fault. I take full responsibility. I’ve gotten to watch some great Hangouts. What I will say is that attempting to broadcast my own live Google Hangout has left me emotionally scarred from my technological humiliation in front of the world.
I finally decided to explore Google Plus after being told that I HAD to use Google Plus in order to enjoy the benefits of SEO on the Google search engine. Hangouts seemed “neat” and I read raves about Hangouts in most of the articles about Google Plus. So I decided to host a Google Hangout as a prelude to my annual conference, Blogging While Brown. I had an amazing guest, Zondra Hughes of Six Brown Chicks and she had an amazing presentation. Too bad no one got to see or hear it the first two times we tried it. So imagine my embarrassment when the lady who runs a social media conference doesn’t know how to use social media. Behold the train wreck. Apparently it posted to Youtube so I get to relive it all over again.
As I sit here attempting to recover from the psychological trauma of my first attempt at a Google Hangout On-Air. I have decided to chronicle everything I did wrong so that this public embarrassment might be a learning lesson and provide a beacon of light to all who may follow in my path.
It Isn’t for Everybody
Just because you CAN use Google Hangouts , doesn’t mean you should. I’m sure many will disagree with me, but there are just far more user-friendly, reliable alternatives to Hangouts On-Air. If you are doing a high profile live event, choose one of those.
Google Plus is not like anything else on the internet.
Forget all of the other podcasting and live-streaming services you’ve every used. It’s not SKYPE, it isn’t USTREAM, it isn't Facetime, it isn’t Blog Talk Radio. If you attempt to use the logic, reasoning and experience you developed on other platforms and apply those to Google Plus, you will be sadly mistaken. I made a terrible assumption that Google Hangouts would be user-friendly. It wasn’t for me. Which makes me wonder who Google intended to be a user.
Practice. Practice. Practice.
No, you will not “figure it out” on the day of the event. In this case we did a dry run through. A practice session was the responsible thing to do. It appeared to work well. And then on the day of our scheduled event, it didn’t.
Because we did not have lengthy history of hiccups to draw wisdom, we stumbled in front of the world. We could not troubleshoot because we’d never experienced “trouble.” Google kept logging us in and out of Hangouts, our invitations weren’t going through, it was madness!
Had we practiced for a month or more. We would have known what to do when something didn’t work as planned. We would have known what possibly may have gone wrong.
Google Hangouts and anything related to Google Plus is NOT Intuitive.
You know how your two-year-old cousin can figure out how to SKYPE on your iPad? Give the tiny tot access to your Google Plus account and I promise, the baby will be just as stumped as you are. Google Hangouts is not intuitive to me. It is the kind of thing some of us need a class to understand. It’s not a consumer product. I suspect consumers were not the intended end users.
Why Google Plus is designed the way it is a mystery to me. The parts don’t work together. You have to log in multiple times. Features that should take one step, takes five, and that’s only after reading a step-by-step tutorial written by someone else other than Google. Because you see, the videos located on Google Plus don’t actually show you how to use it, they just demonstrate what you could do, if you ever figured it out.
I’m relatively tech savvy- from an end user’s perspective. I can code a little and I’ve live streamed events and even hosted my own podcast on multiple platforms. I know how to follow directions. My first clue was when I searched for simple directions on how to execute a live broadcast, I didn’t find any. So I relied on the kindness of other internet strangers to show me the way.
Get Over Your Embarrassment
Sure only 20 or so people saw my train wreck of a hangout. I wish it had been flawless, but I shouldn’t view it’s trainwrecky goodness as a failure, it was more like a very valuable learning experience.
Don’t Give Up.
I’m more committed than ever to figuring out Google Hangouts On-Air . I must conquer Google Hangouts before I can declare that it sucks and stop using it. Otherwise, I’d be quitting and I am not a quitter!
So here are some nuggets of wisdom that I gleaned from my epic failure.
- Make sure the mic of the person you want people to hear is not muted.
- Make sure the screen that you want to display to the world is actually displaying.
- Do about a dozen low profile test hangouts before publicizing your first hangout.
- Have a backup service such as USTREAM on standby in case some terrible technical nightmare ensures.
- Text your host if there is a problem.
- Take a class... taught by someone other than Google! Google appears completely unconcerned with the ability to actually use the technology.
That is why I will be on the front row of the panel Beyond Facebook & Twitter: Using Google Plus, Pinterest and Instagram at this year's Blogging While Brown. It is a breakout session scheduled for 10:30AM on Saturday, June 22nd. Perhaps our speakers Jeneba Ghatt, and Nicole A. Taylor can help me figure all of this out!
Here is the final produce from Zondra once we finally got things right.
Attendee Spotlight: Shawna Kay from Blissed Out Belle
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Shawna Kay who's blog is Blissed Out Belle
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I'm looking forward to networking with other bloggers. As well as, learn how to make money from my blog and acquiring sponsors. I also want to learn how to effectively use social media sites and other tools to get higher rank on search engines and increase website traffic. I would like to learn how to successfully video blog.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
Blissed Out Belle™ was spawned from my own awakening and self-empowerment. This all began after I settled into my career following college, and at that time I started to question my life as a whole. I was going through a quarter-life-crisis, so I had to do some serious soul searching.
Through my soul searching I uncovered a lot about myself that has helped me to emerge as the empowered woman I am today. In addition, I discovered the power to living a passionate and prosperous life, and my mission is to share my experience and insight with others.
My newfound perspective has propelled me into my purpose of helping others pour more passion into every aspect of their life, and my aim is to encourage others to live at their Highest Potential.
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
1. Constantly engage with followers and social media sites, by presenting content that is fresh and relevant.
2. Keep your brand image consistent throughout all social media sites.
3. Join blogging networks.
4. Create a media kit.
5. Reach out and contact advertisers or solicit sponsors.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
In 5 years I see my blog being a full-fledged community of supportive women helping empower each other. My goal is to host seminars or events, as well as write books, and travel around the world speaking to people about living an empowered life. All in all, my goal is to help people break down the blocks in their life so that they're able to live life by design and not default.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
I would love to collaborate with other bloggers, and organize events that are beneficial to the both of us. I'm also open to guest contributors that can add another perspective to my site. It would be great if there is a way to help increase each others traffic.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I believe to take your blogging to the next level you must begin to video blog. Readers want to connect on a deeper level, by seeing you in action discussing hot topics.
2. Another thing to consider is your personal brand. First impressions matters, from the way you speak, to your personality, to even how you dress, it all matters. So, bloggers must think about what kind of image they want to represent and be consistent with it.
3. In addition, I believe if you are a serious blogger, you need to create a media kit. The purpose of the media kit is to have a professional pre-packaged set of promotional material used to send out to sponsors, advertisers, booking agents, etc.
4. Bloggers should also acquire the skills necessary to speak to groups of people. As a blogger you have the possibility to become a huge public figure, so being able to speak in front of people is a must.
Welcome to BWB!
Attendee Spotlight: Georgette from Grown and Curvy Woman
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Georgette who's blog is Grown and Curvy Woman
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I hope to meet other bloggers and connect to a larger community. I want to learn how to improve content on my blog to attract more readers.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
I started blogging to chronicle my journey towards self love. Blogging has helped me confront and overcome years of poor self esteem and image.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Im open to meeting all kinds of bloggers. I dont limit myself as I would like to move my blog to more lifestyle content.
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
Support other bloggers by visiting their sites and leave genuine comments WITHOUT linking your blog. It shows the blogger you appreciate their work.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
Gosh...hopefully my blog will become a space where women can discuss a variety of topics whether it be body acceptance or fashion.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
Im always open to learning especially regarding the technical aspects of blogging. Any nuggets of wisdom seasoned bloggers can give me is appreciated.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
Honestly Ive only been blogging for a little over a year. Im pretty green...lol
Welcome to BWB !
Attendee Spotlight: Shawn Hamilton from Dueling Interests
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Shawn Hamilton who's blog is Dueling Interests
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I'd like to learn more about linking up with other bloggers, getting traffic, and integrating twitter, facebook and google+ with my blog.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
I felt like there wasn't enough context on the internet to make sense of all of the content, so I started blogging to help put some of our current political and social debates in perspective. Sometimes historical perspective is missing, so I will occasionally trace the historical roots of a problem or question. At other times I will explore a similar problem in another country and see how they are succeeding or failing at solving it. Then occasionally I will argue that something we think is a problem is not, considering the available options, but in all cases I try and add something different to the discussion in an effort to shed light on some issue.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Political blogs, book reviewers, history blogs.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I'd like to create a reliable blog for current events and political insight.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
In addition to my blog I review books for New Books Network and I produce podcast interviews through blogtalkradio.com.
Welcome to BWB !
