Waking Up Like a Dog
Kara Mia taking a nap
Yeah, it’s been a while. I know. I’ve been in the process of re-invention for too long and it’s time to pull the trigger on a few things, even if they’re not perfect. Anyone relate?
The topic of this post seemed like an easy way to ease back into regularly blogging for the Breakfast Blogging Club. Although, I can tell you that future posts will likely NOT be about just blogging. It feels too narrow and there are SO many other blogs doing it better.
Besides, it still stings when I recall telling some snobby Oakland blogger a couple of years ago about BBC, and he sniffed, “Oh, how refractive.” I think that was the word he used. Yet another Blog Snob encounter.
But I digress.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m still a HUGE proponent of blogging for business, and it can work well when incorporated into an online and social media strategy. Happens all the time.
So as I peek out, one eye open, gearing up for full blog consciousness, I thought I’d start with this easy beginning step. I’ver already committed to going to WordCamp in August, and now I’ll throw my collar in with The Media Awards coming to San Francisco in October. (This Oakland girl thanks the organizers for not picking a south bay venue!)
Here’s the scoop.
The World Media Awards and Event
Learn how to use the latest technologies and techniques to boost your blog and publishing results. The purpose of the event is to gather people and knowledge to celebrate the best in blogging and media creation. If you get the importance of a content startegy – regardless of the size of your business – you’ll want to be there.
At this event, there will be a series of workshops and events hosted by some of the world’s leading publishing experts. The event takes place on Wendesday, October 26th at the PayPal building in San Francsico.
Tickets are $50, but you can blog about this event for a chance to go for free. Yes, I’m going this route myself. But you need to be one of the first 100 bloggers to post about it. Wish me luck.
Space is limited to 500 attendees and you can contact the organizer, Murray Newlands. Murray is also the organizer of the San Francisco Blogging Club Meetup. Sorry to say I haven’t been to one of their meetings yet.
If you’re part of the Breakfast Blogging Club circle and either follow this blog (really, thanks for hanging in there), are a member of our Meetup, or get the weekly emails from our Quick Start Guide of juicy blogging topics (HUGE thank you), then this event is for you. I also think folks in PR, media marketing, authors, business bloggers and content creators will benefit from attending.
Here’s what Murray Newlands says about it:
“I love blogging and wanted to create an event to celebrate the best in blogging and media. I meet lots of publishers and want to be able to create an environment where they can exchange knowledge and creativity.
“We are pleased to have eBay as lead sponsors of the event. eBay is keen to support the publishing community.”
More to be said about the event includes:
The eBay partner network is increasingly reaching out to support bloggers. Other sponsors include Growmap, VigLink and Trancos.
World Media Award judges include Steve Hall, Sarah Austin, Chang Kim, Pierre Zarokian, Cheryl Contee, Krystyl Baldwin, Adrian Harris, Jeremy Wright, Rob Bloggeries, Dave Duarte, Tanya Alvarez and Dana Oshiro
Media partners include Adrants, The Affiliate Marketing Awards, Read Write Web, mediavisioninteractive.com and Bloggeries.
And just who is Murray Newlands? Seems like a busy guy, doesn’t he?
Murray Newlands is author of “How to Make a Blog Book” and “Online Marketing; a User Guide.” He is also founder of the Affiliate Marketing Awards. Born in the UK, he now spends his time in San Francisco and New York. Murray works for Audience Mindshare and consults for Trancos Ins as well as being an advisor for VigLink.
Would love to see some of our Breakfast Blogging peeps there. Let me know if you’re planning on going.
And I promise not to hit the snooze button.
P.S. That’s my dog Kara in the picture. She’s about 10 months old. Got her from the Oakland SPCA. They told us she was a border collie mix, but she looks a lot like a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. She seems to like herding and loves water…well, mud anyway.
Cook Your Way to a Better Blog
Filed under: Blogging, Writing Tips
Blogging and cooking are a lot alike.
Both require a minimum of planning, the right ingredients, some time, and a state of emotional readiness, a desire to please, and an end goal of pleasure. Both also create a tangible end result that creates an experience for the audience.
What are the ingredients for a good blog?
- Know who you’re cooking for? Who is your target audience?
- Know what your end result will be. If you’re cooking an omelet, you need to know that at the start. If you’re writing a list of do’s and don’t’s you need to know that, too.
- What experience or result to you want you readers, your audience, to have? Just like you want to offer a savory or maybe a sweet meal to you and your loved ones, you need to know what kind of flavor or emotional experience you want to offer your blog readers. Read more
Exceptional Resource for Bloggers and Writers
There’s a first time for everything. First steps. First date. First kiss. First job. First blog post. And the Breakfast Blogging Club is no exception. Just last week we received our first ever link exchange request, shored up by a glowing review of our Quick Start Guide to Writing Your Blog. O.M.G.
Here’s what happened: I received an email from Roger over at Published & Profitable complimenting us on the quality of the information we provide from our Quick Start Guide. The email included a link to a post he wrote about the Guide on his blog, and concluded with a request to exchange blog rolls. Read more
Your Blogging Voice
Our new member via Meetup.com, Trish Roque, posted this great comment: “Hi Beth, thanks for the greeting. My biggest blogging problem is finding the right blogging voice. I know that will only come from blogging a lot. Looking forward to spending more time with the breakfast bloggers!”
Trish, We look forward to spending more time with you too!
You’re right — time will help you sort out your blogging voice.
Voice is a combination of factors, primarily:
1. Who you are.
2. Who your audience is.
3. The result or experience you want to provide to your readers.
Breakfast bloggers, What do you think about your blogging voice?
Are You Dumb Enough To Blog?
“Why the hell am I doing this?” “Does anyone read my posts?” “It’s hard to make time time to write.” “I don’t know what to write about.” “What’s the ROI, anyway?!”
Danger. Danger. Danger.
Any of these questions and doubts show up for you? The Breakfast Blogging Club usually meets twice a month in person. Sometimes, it feels like a long time in between meetings. During these long stretches, I often ponder, “Am I making a difference for anyone?”
Danger. Danger. Read more
