After two action packed weekends, back to back, I felt the need to take a few days away from blogging to get my brain back, and to let it all sink in (and give daddy, baby and my bed, some special quality time without mommy hacking away.) WOW! I had an earth shattering time! It all started with winning a contest at Westin La Cantera in San Antonio, and I had an AMAZING time! In the same day that I heard the news about the contest, I had to jump on an opportunity to volunteer for the Mom 2.0 conference and glad that I did.
It all started with everyone dressed to the nines in a Mad Men themed party, and everyone ready to meet and mingle. I hadn’t been to a party in over two years, so I was afraid I had lost my touch for being social, but I managed…barely. It wasn’t very hard when there were so many ladies that flashed a warm smile and ready to talk to me and hand me their business card. AHHHH! I forgot about business cards! Rookie mistake, indeed. I’ll never make that mistake again.
Moving forward, on the first day of conferencing, I was very intimidated by all the super smart and beautiful women, but then after listening to the keynote speakers Gretchen Rubin and Heloise, I knew I was going to get vast amounts of information and fall into place.
After my interview with Heloise, and realizing what amazing and warm woman she is, I found my footing and hit the ground running (still editing video, so watch out for that in the next day.) I still can’t forget what Heloise said that really resonated with not only myself, but many other women, “Before you post anything online, think twice, because what you write may affect someone…it may also affect you and your family ten years from now.” Another reason why I took a few days away from blogging.
A major theme of the conference was being genuine and authentic. Sometimes when faced with opportunities, it may be tempting to write up glowing and flawless reviews. The consensus from all the successful mom bloggers is to be true and authentic to yourself and opinions, and you will be able to hold your readers because they know they will come to your blog not just for a good read, but because your opinion is valued.
The first panel I attended really made me think about how this whole blogging thing has become more than putting words to print and can actually be a full time income, not just a few dollars here and there. As a stay at home mom, I’m constantly thinking about how I can make the most of my time and how I can stay at home with my daughter and still earn a full time income. I’m sure that many other mom bloggers are constantly thinking of the same thing, but the first panel really gave much information on how it can be possible. Being authentic is the first, and maintaining an active voice. Companies value a real and honest opinion, so if you want businesses to work with you, be genuine and authentic, and don’t fall into the passive voice.
The next, is to figure out how you will make your blogging into full time income. There are many resources that are out there, and some that were mentioned were small business resource centers, and score.org. Not to mention, there are many grants that companies and the government accept applications for, that do not charge fees, and are free to apply for. It’s great to know that there are non profit companies out there, like The National Institute of Small Business Grants that educate business owners and entrepreneurs for free. If there’s only one thing I took away that I’d like to share to other mom bloggers that was shared with me, is to be S.M.A.R.T in establishing your blogging as a business and what you want to achieve–be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and have a Time-frame.
My personal goal is to be at home full time with my daughter while running a full time business and income by the end of 2010 to bring my husband home as well. I know it’s possible because there were many women at the Mom 2.0 conference that have achieved such success. In other panels, there was even a lawyer to answer any and all questions, ready and willing to help. Many topics hinged around the FTC regulations about disclosing relationships with businesses as well. (Oh yeah, I also won a stroller from Scandinavian Child, which I can’t wait to get!)
Day two kicked off with the panel: Bloggers, Brands, and the New Publishing Paradigm, with Heather Armstrong, Gabrielle Blair, Maggie Mason and Stephanie Smirnov, and I felt very invigorated by the discussion and words that were shared. The biggest thing I took away from this panel was that it’s important to maintain your voice, and finding a good fit for your message when working with businesses, and having an active role in communities. Decide what your readers want, and give it to them. Many nuggets of good advice, and things that I need to work on.
In the breakout sessions, I think the panel that sticks out for me on day two was the Ready, Set, Optimize Panel, discussing ways to become more user friendly, and SEO friendly. Biggest thing: Get simple, and organized(think journalistic style,) and track your user actions to better optimize (with keywords) your site for future use.
There’s plenty of information I’m still processing, and I’m still trying to get some video editing done, but just wanted to share some nuggets of information. I tried my best to attribute where words came from, but if you notice anything I missed, please feel free to point it out.
Also, if you were in attendance, please share something you learned at the conference. Karma is a powerful thing, and we’re all here to be successful in a healthy and happy sort of way, so if there was something that you learned in a panel, please share it and we will all be smiley and grateful!
In the mean time, stay tuned for behind the scenes interviews from the Mom 2.0 2010 conference.
~Hale Mom
*Disclosure–This is a sponsored post by BusinessGrants.org, but in no way affects my words or opinion of the Mom 2.0 Conference.
to blogging and little by little things have started falling into place, but it’s been mostly trial and error, and talking to some pretty cool and very smart women, and of course having the chance to be involved in the 
. Bring TONS of business cards. You never know who you will bump into, and having a card on hand with every avenue of communication you have available, because opportunities just might pass you by.
