Last week I attended the Design Blogging Conference in LA. I’ve been blogging now for a year and four months…yes, I’m counting. Sometimes I wonder why? It takes time, thought and creative inspiration to blog twice a week, every week, rain or shine, no matter how busy I am. And yes, there are people who post everyday, but that would not be me.
via the Cypress Group images
I went because I wanted to find out what my peers think of this fairly new phenomenon called blogging, what they think it does for their business, and what the experts see as the direction of blogs. There was a lot of fabulous information, but here is my bottom line take away:
- My blog leverages my experience and knowledge to help inform my market and potential clients as to who I am and what inspires and motivates me when I help them design their space. Hopefully, it also inspires them.
- My blog helps me to influence and weigh in as a change agent in my industry a whole.
- Blogging and following other’s blogs helps keep me informed of changes in my business, keeps me up to date and feeds me new creative inspiration every day.
- All of which helps me to be a better service to my clients! And THAT is what it’s all about.
As an trend director I love the speed of the cyber world and how it’s changing the way we communicate. Through social media and my blog I have interacted with people I never would otherwise. And, as fun as these meetings are in the virtual world, can I tell you how fun it is to meet these “friends” face to face? The #dbc2011 conversation on twitter will attest to that! One of the speakers, Ronda Carmen, from All The Best Blog, left us with this awe inspiring, eye opening and mind blowing video on the very topic of Social Media and it’s influence:
And, at the end of the day for me it’s all about CONNECTION. Connection in the virtual world, with my clients and at this conference with on-line “friends” and supporting business owners in person. The generosity of the information freely given by industry peers and speakers during this conference was phenomenal. A special shout out and THANK YOU to some who stood out for me:
- To Adam Japko from Design Sherpa and Wine Zag, for the first, in what I hope to be MANY Design Bloggers Conference’s…still plugging for the next one to be held here in the North Bay Area and wine country. As Adam is also a wine aficionado he was so kind as to serve us a delicious glass of champagne at 10AM the first full day of the conference!
serving champagne at 10AM, lovely: via Shelly Mabry Rosenberg
- To the speakers who spoke to me: from Grace Bonny, Design Sponge, who kept it real; Dan McCarthy from NCI, who spoke on why blogs enhance our business; Scott Hanselman, Principal Program Manager Lead at Microsoft who listed what makes a good blog; Tobi Fairley for her very well organized presentation and list on the business of blogging; Ronda Carmen from All the Best Blog, with her focus, focus, focus; Doug Cook, founder of Abel Grape who took the very dry but very important SEO info and spelled it out!
via Jackie Von Tobel images:Leslie, Scot, Jackie, Tobi
- It was truly great to meet new friends and industry leaders in their own right: Joe Ruggiero, HGTV Host extraordinaire, and design authority who’s generosity of spirit and willingness to lend a helping hand from an introduction to a good listening ear is a joy; Joseph Aldrich, of The Cypress Group, who’s sense of play, authenticity and interaction kept us all happy; Leslie Carothers, founder of The Kaleidoscope Partnership for her open heartedness, impeccable documentation, and willingness to share information with everyone; JackieVanTobel, for her willingness to lend a helping hand and give information freely!
via Joe Ruggiero images:Joe & Joseph
- To a few virtual friends who became real: Kris Lajeskie, Shelly Mabry Rosenberg, and Carrie Anne Hansen! These three fine ladies have moved from “friends” to FRIENDS.
via Joe Ruggiero images:Shelly & Kris
- And last, but not least, a big thanks to Ann Maine, editor and chief of Traditional Home Magazine for the great TradHome party to launch their new online magazine venture with Lonny. Held at the Almont Yard, the party was filled with conference participants, Interior Designers at large and other industry luminaries. It was indeed a perfect ending to a very special few days filled with the inspiration of my peers.
via Joe Ruggiero images
via Traditional Home Party Images
Have you been inspired by your peers lately? What do you do to keep up in your industry? I invite you to leave me a comment below and tell me what YOU do! Thanks for stopping by.
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20 Comments
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Very nice and concise. Thanks for the nice comment.
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Thank YOU Joe, and thanks for stopping by!
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Great post! I love your take-aways! I hope we get to visit next year! I saw we need more days for networking!! Can’t wait! XO!
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Thank YOU for the great images. And, yes, we need more time to meet and greet, as well as at least a day to tromp through some of the great warehouses in LA. After all it’s Hollywood, and you can find anything there!
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Thank you for sharing your Design Bloggers experience – look forward to meeting you in RL sometime in the near future>
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Were you there Marcy? I would be sad if I missed you for some reason.
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I’ve been blogging for awhile too and often wonder if the huge amount of time it takes is wasted. Sounds like you were inspired!
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Carla, I have actually picked up two clients from my blog. The first one didn’t even want to interview me because they said they knew me and liked me from following my blog. That was enough to keep me going. This conference cemented it.
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Irene, great recap post. It was great meeting you. I think Adam Japko was brilliant in serving us all champagne at 10am. It was a total ice breaker that set the tone for the whole conference. I wish I would have taken more pictures. Looking forward to next year in wine country!
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I think I ended up taking 5 pictures. But since there were so many others taking them I had a lot to choose from. It was great meeting you too Dana and I do hope it’s up here in wine country next time. We’ll see
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Thanks a lot good post!
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I will definitely recommend this to my friends
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