BlogPodium: Blogs + Media (Plus Swag)

Friday I attended the first BlogPodium, a quarterly conference series in Toronto, ON.  The inaugural session was a conversation on blogs and media.  That it was a first of this series was perfect for me, because this conference also marked the first blogging event I attended.

Organized by Jennifer, Shannon and Lindsay, BlogPodium was a fabulous morning of learning, laughing and being a little starstruck.  Margot Austin, Kimberley Seldon, Kate Moore, Jennifer Flores and Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault sat in front of a room full of beaming bloggers and happily, and frankly, gave us advice to blog better and successfully connect with media.  The conference was top-notch: well organized, fun and informative (click here for photos).

With a geeky, fabric-covered notebook in hand I took pages of notes but a few suggestions really stood out:

• Post your own photos (Kate Moore)
•  Edit your blog and focus on your brand & identity as a blogger (Kimberley Seldon)
• Add your own opinions/ideas/comments/thoughts to recycled photos, if you don't post your own (Kimberley Seldon & Margot Austin)
• Have a fresh, original voice (the entire panel agreed) & be fun (Kate Moore)
• Network with other bloggers and always put your best foot forward (Jennifer Flores)
• Make your pitches to media clear, concise and demonstrate your talent, but also your fun side (Kate Moore)
• Pitch to the medium (Kimberley Seldon) & study the magazine/website you are pitching to (Margot Austin)

For other recaps of the talk, take a look at Jen's summary on Rambling Renovators or read what Britt had to say on My Daily Randomness  And, for any bloggers reading, be sure to keep your schedule clear May, 2012 for the next installment of BlogPodium.

If the fabulous information doesn't lure you, maybe the fun swag will:

There is swag in this bag!

 

Sponsors included: Delta Faucets, OlioBoard, Home Depot Canada, Chapters/Indigo Books, CB2, Pure Green Magazine, House and Home Magazine, Benjamin Moore Paints, The Penny Paper Co., and Butter Avenue.  But our swag bags (I keep wanting to call them goodie bags, but isn't that what kids get at B-day parties?) had goodies from other folks as well, including Beatrice (who included a gift card for a free print from her shop) and Milk & Cookies, a Toronto-based shop that offered a sweet coupon.

We also received a copy of the gorgeous, print-edition of Pure Green Magazine, volume one.  I actually met Celine, founder and editor-in-chief of the magazine, at BlogPodium.  She is amazing: so down to earth, approachable and really interesting - having met her made it even more enjoyable to flip through the magazine.

Will I See You in Toronto?!?

I am headed out the door, off to work, but then I’m immediately hitting the snowy trail for a road trip to BlogPodium & the Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup (plus the Interior Design Show, of course). 

Packing was a bit excruciating.  As a PhD candidate, 100% of the conferences I typically attend are attended by other academics and, not to be rude, I’ve grown accustomed to being the best-dressed.  Ironing my clothes has been the secret to my success.  But I have a feeling the other bloggers I’ll meet this weekend will be fancier than me.  You’ve seen my closet - you know I don’t have a lot of clothing (I don't even own a dresser).  Plus, I work from home most days so my closet is chock full of yoga pants and cozy hoodies.  This is my uniform:

Yes, Uggs are Ugly but SO warm. 

But I struggled through and picked some outfits – you’ll see photos soon enough!  I even fixed my DIY-destroyed manicure.

If you’re heading to the IDS or BlogPodium or Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup, please come and say “hi” to me!  These are my first blogging events and I will know no one from the real world, while other bloggers might already have bosom blog buddies.  Here’s me:

Well, I’m off!  I found some old CDs for my road trip, so if you hear this song blasting from a black Nissan Versa, that’s me (apologies for cutting you off):

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