Spring, summer, and fall, but mostly summer, seem to be the season for blogging conferences. I just returned from the Haven Conference, a medium-sized conference for bloggers in the DIY and Home blogging niche. It was amazing. And it’s hard to tell you just how, unless you were there yourself.
I’ve read countless recaps over my three years of blogging, who were awesome. And made me jealous that I didn’t go. What I learned (and maybe you learned) was that:
- the sessions are insanely helpful
- meeting other bloggers is a beautiful thing
- it’s good to get away
- you will have a to-do list a mile long
- you learn more about yourself and yourself in relation to blogging
- you take pictures with people and look cool now, cause you’re friends with the cool kids
And you know what, I did get that out of it.
(insert pictures of schmoozing here)
But it’s tough because if you don’t go, you really don’t know why all of that would be of any use to you. Or how you could justify spending your time away and your money on conference tickets, airfare, lodging, business cards, food, new clothes, supplies, child care, dog care, husband care, house sitter, pedicure, hair cut and color, etc. etc. etc.
I know I felt that way. And I know it’s hard to explain to your husband that you want to spend money and leave him with the kids so that you can “go have fun with other bloggers.” Uhhh. Yeah.
1.) You’re serious about blogging.
Not serious, more like committed. (none of us are serious people)
If this is you, or you want this to be you, I think that you should need to go to a conference. It’ll be the kick in the pants you didn’t even realize you needed. Pinterest, articles on SEO, and reading other blogs can only get you so far. If you want to make this either a career or an intense hobby, you need this. I feel like after three years of blogging, I am ready. I am ready for this.
However, if you aren’t serious about blogging, but have the money to attend or are local, go for it! It’ll be like a fun, yet informative vacation with friendly people who like to talk. And who knows, maybe after it you’ll want to blog. 🙂
2.) You want to Learn.
If you think you are an expert and know it all, keep living in your fantasy world and stay home.
The sessions at Haven were super informative, and taught by experts. The keynote speakers were John and Sherry of Young House Love, for goodness sakes. I read their blog, it was my first, it is why I started mine, and I still learned a ton.
Ever wanted to know about photography and photo styling? Okay! Here’s Layla from the Lettered Cottage, and Kevin and Josh from shootflyshoot.com. I can’t begin to tell you how much I learned and how that one session saved my blog.
Want to know about advertising, SEO, and building your blog? Those sessions were taught by some of the most experienced and knowledgeable bloggers in our niche (or any other niche) and worth every penny if you went out for those sessions ALONE.
They were all awesome.
Ask questions. Volunteer. Take tons of notes.
yes that is me looking like a noob, but I volunteered, and I got to help Ana White! Cool!
But it doesn’t stop at the sessions...
3.) You Will meet (and learn from) other bloggers.
This may sound like something that’s fun, but it’s something you need if number 1 applies.
You’re doing something that takes up more of your time than any full time job ever could, and you’re doing it free of charge. Or for much, much less than a part time job would pay. (I could work at McDonalds and make bank!) No one understands it (You do what? What’s a blog post? Hint: tell them you work “in social media”). You neglect your life for this, yo.
SO!
You’re going to want to meet colleagues.
You’re going to fall in love with them.
My amazing and amazingly hot roommates. L to R: Pamela from PB&J Stories, Vivienne from The V Spot Blog, Kim from Sand & Sisal (whose photo this is), and me with the creepy eyes. Seriously. These girls were like the cool big sisters you want to hang out with. I loved em. They even gave me the confidence to wear a mini-dress!
You’re going to connect and share stories.
me, Sandra, and Kristen
And chair dance to latin music while eating tapas. And maybe share too much.
left: our food; right: Ashley, Linda, and I (photo on the right taken by Jessica)
You’re going to meet old friends. That you met the backwards way (social media first, then real life)
You’re going to realize that there is no such thing as “big bloggers,” that we’re all just people. Who get shy. Or have an infectious laugh. Or want to get to know you. Or want someone to sit with so they don’t look like a fool.
You’re not going to know everyone or their blog.
You’re going to find new blogs that you don’t have time to read, but want to immerse yourself in.
photo stolen from my awesome (and hilarious) friend Kristy
You’re going to learn SO MUCH from them.
I missed a session one of the days because I was so engrossed in talking with Vanessa and then her sister Heather from At the Picket Fence. I talked with vendors and shared stories outside of trying to pitch them or smile and look pretty and tell them how much I looooooved their product. We talked about THEIR life and home renovation projects. It was cool.
And in a business whose success is based on sharing (let’s be brutally honest), you need friends and co-workers. If one of my new friends has a project that I think is cool, you know I’m going to share it. If you like people and want to form good, GENUINE connections, go to a conference. If you want to be fake for the sake of having people share your content, FORGET IT. People will smell it from a mile away.
4.) You will learn about yourself.
And now this is gonna get serious. I learned a lot about myself blogging wise, and real life wise
Sigh. Like a lot.
(Can’t stop myself. I like you, a lot.)
I can’t really convey that to you, and unfortunately I can’t just spit it all out onto my computer screen and hope it sticks there, and sounds perfect and applies to you. But I’ll try to tell you what I learned.
I learned that I’m ready. I’m ready to devote my time to this and make it my job. Ready to go from being an unorganized slob to getting a schedule going. Ready to listen to Uncle Joey and Cut. It. Out. with the 10 projects going on at once and the 5 that never will get finished. (shakes head) I want to have fun and be me, but I want to get serious behind the scenes. No more Netflix while mommy is trying to blog just so I can squeak a post out (that’s what nap time is for). I need to plan like I would for a job.
But on the other hand, no more living my life for the blog.
I’ve worked while being a mom before, but being away away from my kids for three days also made me a better mom. I missed them. They were cuter than I remembered. Their little voices made me get teary. I paid more attention to what they were trying to tell me instead of “yeah, yeah okay, show mommy later.” I realized that the mom from church is right and time is flying way too fast and I need to stop this nonsense and being crabby and enjoy it.
I feel like I am a happier version of myself and maybe that didn’t come from Haven necessarily, but it came from the experience.
And maybe this is the most important one (sorry, kids): I’m a people pleaser, always have been. I apologize too much. I say “thank you” too much. I shorten my blog posts because I think that’s what you want. And while it is important to think of others and not just go nuts, I can’t let it hinder me. I was scared to let myself come out and maybe that feeds into some shyness. I was comparing myself to others.
Once I tried letting go in my real life and being me, my husband said:
“I like you. I like you like this. This is the Ann Marie I know.”
I’ve been absent not just on my blog, I’ve been absent in my real life. But not anymore.
...
Do not go to a conference if:
- your kids won’t be able to eat because mommy spent it all going to a conference.
- you want to schmooze and take pictures with “big” bloggers
- you are blogging SOLELY for money
- you want swag
why?
- That’s dumb. Come on now.
- You’ll look (and feel) like a weirdo creep if you just go around laughing it up, then ask for a picture. (Don’t ask me how I know.) Only go if you want real relationships, not if you are looking for a person to help promote you.
- The ones who are making the big bucks have put in the time, 10x the effort, and they might get very little sleep. Maybe they’re robots. You have to be willing to work hard in order to get any sort of payout. It is possible, but it is hard work.
- Well, that’s a tempting reason to go. Only kidding. Or maybe I’m not.
What do you think?
What have you gotten out of a blogging conference?
What do you hope to get out of it?
For more Haven recaps, visit Rhoda’s blog. There’s a whole link party full!
Also! read my friend Sarah’s recap and win her Kreg Jig that she won (and I won but won’t give away).
Disclosure: this picture flatters neither of us and I’m only including it so I can tell you about her giveaway.
Jessica
Ann Marie-
This post. Man. This post like DID it. I have already bought my Haven ticket (back in Jan.) because I wanted 2013 to be "The Year of the Blog". I think I've had my blog for almost 3 years and I rarely write but I have projects constantly (ish) moving at home and I want to blog about them. I'm a teacher...so spring break, summer break, and winter break are like my PRIME TIMES, but I don't love that. I am passionate about making our house reflect us. I'm passionate about writing. And, truly? Yes, I'm passionate about my kiddos at school...but it's most certainly not my creative outlet. Writing my blog always has been...which is why the archives look more like my brain-dump/word-vomit than actual blogging with sense and purpose. Anyway, I was all "maybe this Haven thing is dumb because i'm such a lame-o blogger" and I do NOT think you are a lame-o blogger AT ALL. I think I've read the last 4 months in the last 30 minutes as I'm frantically flying through your blog with a case of insomnia. BUT, you spoke to my heart here...and even as I was reading I was like "I'm going to look like a chump at this conference" and then you posted about the Kreg Jig from Sarah's blog (which I already read religiously). And guess what? It was ME who won the Kreg Jig. And then I knew. Reading this was like fate. It's like God was saying, "Jessica, don't sleep tonight. You have friends to make on the internet and conferences to be confident about." So yeah. Thanks. I sound crazy, probably, but that's not super far off soooooo, here's to hoping you're right about people being cool with my crazy in ATL.
And seriously, thanks. 🙂
GiGi Eats Celebrities
ALRIGHT when is the next BLOGGING conference, LOL! I have been convinced!
capturing joy with kristen duke photography
fun read! i've been blogging for about 2 years, and i went to my first two conferences this year (snap and EVO) and wow, amazing!!! what you said in so many ways;)
Jillian @ Hi! It's Jilly
What a great recap! I would love to go to a conference, but how do you find out about them? I've seen stuff about Haven, SNAP!, BlogHer & Blissdom on other blogs, but I'm sure there are more conferences than that, right? Is there a directory, or do you Google it, or what?
Sweetpea Lifestyle
LOVE this post! I attended Type-A Conference in Charlotte during Haven! However, I am putting it on the docket for next year!!
Vivienne @ The V Spot
Great and thoughtful recap! mwuah! xoxo
Ann Marie
muah right back! Thanks for ignoring the fact that I mumbled in my sleep and did not realize it 😉
Ann
I SO want to go to a blogging conference! I'm bummed, the expats in Germany one is happening JUST as we are moving back to the States. Ah well... I can't wait to find one - sign up and go. BTW- I can relate to the part about family and losing yourself and finding yourself. The realities of being a mom and the importance of being yourself! (Love your blog, btw)
Ann Marie
oh, man! What timing, that stinks. I'm determined to either find or create a blogging get together nearby. I'll keep you posted, but know that it probably won't happen for some time, haha.
I remember hearing about people losing and finding themselves and my naive, young self thought "well that's dumb." NOW I GET IT! I'm glad to see that someone else has struggled with it. Of course I love ya too, because you don't have an "e" at the end of your name. 🙂 *hugs*
Laura / Pet Scribbles
I was only half-way thru reading your post, and walked down the hall to my husband's office (we both work from home), popped my head in, and said, "Next year I'm going to a blogging conference." And then I came back here to finish reading your post! It was THAT good of a recap + reasons to go. Plus I want to meet you. So there's that, too!
Ann Marie
hahaha, YES! That is awesome. All I got from my husband was "that post is too long."
I want to meet you tooooo! Next year. 🙂
Melanie @ MJ
love this post!
Ann Marie
thanks, Melanie! 🙂
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage
You = rock star. I love this post. 🙂 Thank you for putting that out there.
Ann Marie
you = too kind. Thank you for reading it!
p.s. I gave Gina a huge hug out of nowhere, probably scaring the crap out of her while she was trying to eat lunch. We didn't even get to chat much, and I think I freaked her out a bit. You are welcome. 🙂
Kari
I love this post so much!
I learned so much from this post!
But the one thing I learned that I had not heard from another blogger about going to a conference?
Business cards.
Had no idea.
So I guess thats something I am gonna have to plan ahead and do.
I got a year to plan though, so I should be golden. 🙂
Ann Marie, white house black shutters
Business cards are a BIG deal, a big FUN deal! It's like trading baseball cards. I could devote a whole post to them, so I only briefly mentioned em. I'll send ya an email when I get it up!
Just don't take way too long to design them, order them a few days before, pay way too much, and have to have them shipped to the hotel, okay? Cause that's totally what I did... 😉
Ann Marie, white house black shutters
It really isn't a bad expense if you plan ahead of time, like you said! I'm already saving up for any conferences for next year. Also, many of these smaller conferences (I think smaller = more intimate and better) can sell out, so my roommate Vivienne was saying to purchase the tickets first, THEN pay them off. I really hope you are able to make it, Erica! Thanks for commenting 🙂
Miranda
I would totally go to a blogger conference just to stalk people. Creepy? Yes. True? Yes. 🙂
Ann Marie
actually (and I don't know how much I'd like to broadcast it, because I don't want them taking all the tickets for next year, but you're cool and I hope you go), there were much more non-bloggers than I would have thought at Haven. Folks that just wanted to come and learn some DIY stuff from incredibly talented bloggers, and maybe meet their favorite bloggers.
It was cool! So I am officially inviting you to #haven2013.
Miranda Irby
Sweet! I've started a blog (kinda) just so I can hang out with the cool kids. 😉 But, good to know that non-bloggers are allowed too. 🙂
Erin
This was a really informative post! I never really considered going to a conference before, but all of this Haven chatter has me thinking.
Ann Marie
it was fun, and a much needed battery charge that I didn't even know I needed. I don't like spending money, but this was well-worth it. If you do or don't decide to go, either way I hope we get to meet up some day!
Ann
I didn't go to Haven for lots of reasons...and I will readily admit that all the hoopla made me feel incredibly left-out. I love blogging but I'm shy. I don't like to go places by myself and the thought of flying into Atlanta, getting to the hotel and actually meeting other bloggers made me break out in a cold sweat. But I'm working on all that and hopefully by next year I'll have the money and the confidence to attend. Thanks for a great post. You have a darling blog.
Ann Marie
Thank you, Ann. 🙂
I can definitely see what you mean. I'm the type of person who gets shy, then eases into things, but my stomach was in huge knots the week before, up until about the first night. Maybe longer. I was surprised at how non-cliquey it was, but it was nice to have a handful of people that I knew (my roommates).
If you have any blogging friends or friends you've met through commenting, maybe start talking to them in chats or emails back and forth, maybe move on to skype and say hi to one another, see if they're going, and have a pal? While you are gonna meet people, it is nice to have that one pal you can count on.
If I am there, feel free to come by and say hi! Or let me know and I'll find you to say hi so that you're not nervous. 🙂
Karen
I agree with Erin on all counts. Thank you for a great recap and really good points. As a new-ish blogger, I appreciate these points.
Ann Marie
thanks, Karen! I wanted a post that would help me if I hadn't gone, if that makes any sense. Glad it helped you out! 🙂
Sarah @ The Ugly Duckling House
Loved this post and could totally relate! Shame I only met you until the conference, but it's a really good reason to go (looking back, that is). I'm planning on making more of an effort on my site, too. I wanted so much not to overshare about my breakup with Scott that I failed to put personal stuff on there for a long, long time. Not anymore.
The swag I got more than paid for my ticket. I definitely went because I was excited to meet my blogging idols, but I came away with much more. Worth all of the lost sleep (during, then also because all that I learned afterward).
And thanks for the link back - there are no flattering pictures of me in that post either. Or maybe that's my face. Hehe.
Ann Marie
I feel ya, man. I went through some crazy health issues and kinda went on Ann Marie lockdown mode. It consumed my life, and while I wrote two posts about it, it was a huge huge part of my life for 6+ months.
Do it. Blog more about you. I want to hear more. I liked the you that I met at Haven! And you are GORGEOUS in real life. I'm jealous of your baby blues and bummed the picture didn't have you glowing in it so I could show you off to the internet.
Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality
Hi, Ann Marie! Loved your recap,so glad it was a good wake up & learning conference for you. That is what we hoped for and Haven exceeded all our expectations on how great it was too. We loved having you all there. Wish I would have had more time to hang out with each and every one of you. Next year, I'm not going to be so heavily booked, I'm going to get to mingle more. Love your post!!
Ann Marie
Thank you, Rhoda! You've read a lot of recaps and that means SO much to me, especially coming from you.
Haven really was amazing. I cannot give you one negative thing about the experience, everything was so well thought out. I especially loved the intimacy that came with having a smaller crowd. Looking forward to next year! I read your blog and see the ya'll's, but it was so lovely to hear them in person! 🙂
[email protected]
Ha, you make me laugh 🙂 I can't even do a recap b/c I didn't take any pictures, well maybe 3 and you have one of them 🙂 hehe. I do have a funny video though I could post. Anyway, great recap!
Ann Marie
you made me laugh too, but with that video. Dang it! I should have included it! All of my pictures were either stolen from other blogs (with credit given) or crappy cell phone pics, so you're good. Just borrow some. 😉
But you need to write a post with that video!! GIRL! You'll throw everyone off and they'll love you even more.
and thanks for the sweet words. 🙂
Gina @ shabby creek
No matter why you came, I'm so glad I got to meet you!!!
Ummm... And you win the award for body post-conference wrap up EVA!!!
Ann Marie
I am too, although I wish we would have gotten to chat instead of me just running up to you and hugging you. (In my defense, Angie asked me to.)
And WHOA!!! You have been to a lot more conferences than I have, at least I think so. And I know you've read a lot of recaps. Thank you, Gina! That compliment means SO much to me. Especially coming from you. And I'm glad to know it wasn't too long, haha! 🙂
April @ illistyle
Sold. Let's go to snap together.
Ann Marie lives here
Deal. At least I hope so. 🙂
Erin @ DIY On the Cheap
I love this recap, Ann Marie! And I loved meeting you! I think us blogger ladies share a bond that other people don't understand, because we can totally relate to each other and we are passionate about the same things. I know that one of my favorite parts of the conference was meeting other people who truly love blogging and "DIY-ing" as much as I do, because most of the people in my life are probably bored to tears when I talk about it because they just don't "get it." Next year I am booking a room instead of commuting across town because I feel like I missed out on the after-hours fun and the opportunity to really form close friendships with a lot of people, but I loved every minute of it and I'm so glad I got to meet you! I'm glad it was such a great experience for you too.
Ann Marie
Thank you, Erin! I loved getting to meet you. You are one of the sweetest, kindest people I've met. And you're so gorgeous and tiny!! I totally agree. I don't think there are many people who could go to meet a ton of new people, and instantly hit it off.
I would recommend it for next year, although if I was local, I probably would have commuted to save money. You didn't miss a ton, but you should have went out to dinner with us! I don't know about the other rooms, but after we went back to our room, we all passed out. 🙂
Megan
Ann Marie lives here
Oh no. Megan? Did you turn invisible?
Kelsey
Love it! I laughed at the very first part of this post! (The Why You Should..)
I went to SNAP! and it was insanely awesome. This one looked really good too. Glad you got to meet so many people and had a great time!
Ann Marie lives here
hahaha, thanks! Although I'd like to be able to go to Haven again, if I had to pick one for next year, I think I'd pick Snap! I heard so many good things about it, and Tauni is like a brilliant mastermind. Good to hear that confirmed, and hope WE get to meet some day.
Shannon at madiganmade
Yay! Looks like you had a good time and walked away renewed about WHBS and you. I only went to one small conference this year (BBC)... but I sooo want to go to a niche conference in the next year.
Ann Marie lives here
I really did, Shannon. And I really, really can't wait to meet you. 🙂
Kristy
YOU. ARE. A. ROCK STAR!!! and I am sooooo thankful, out of all the bloggers and hoopla at Haven, our paths crossed!! {Otherwise, you may never have known how awesome I AM!} hahahahaha!!! Totally kidding!!! But not about our paths crossing! I had such a great, fun night sharing tapas and chair dancing with you!!! Can't WAIT to do it again! 🙂 xo
Ann Marie lives here
I agree!! AND we got to have dinner together! 🙂 Haha, you're right. I think we would have met and then bam, done (like so many other people we met). I know you're not kidding about the awesome. 😉
Chair dancing sounds SO bad! To anyone reading this: chair dancing is when you are sitting down in your chair, don't want to dance, but the music is so funky that you just can't help yourself. And you do a little dance. Sitting down.