Focus Group Contest!
Jyl (The Post-It Place http://www.thepost-itplace.com/) and Kelli (3 Boys and a Dog http://www.3boysandadog.com/) got together and decided that after every single Blog Conference, they heard the same things from attendees:
· It is just too expensive
· I want to learn more advanced techniques
· My favorite part was networking with others who do the same thing I do
So, they set out to change the shape of Blog Conferences by not only offering attendees basic and intermediate classes, but more advanced classes as well, with less cost, and more time to network!
To start it off and really get some input from a wide-range of bloggers, they're having a We Blog Conference Focus Group. The group will be getting together May 16th through May 18th, 2010 in Gatlinburg, TN at the awesome Glenstone Lodge. (The first FULL conference will be held in the same location in May 2011.Gatlinburg is SUCH a great area for a conference as you have the WHOLE Smokey Mountains at your backdoor (check out the photos below) and driving over to NC or KY is a breeze) We feel this will give us a chance to “hear from the people” . LOOK at that pool, for those of you under 4 feet of snow- doesn't it just look HEAVENLY???? I love the Gatlinburg area, and it's an easy 6 hr drive for me-isn't that a plus, no need to get on an airplane if I were to get selected!
They will be choosing 8 bloggers to be on the Focus Group in addition to them. Each person selected will bring something unique to the table! Attendees will be chosen based on a set of criteria that encompasses all walks of life and blogging styles. As part of the selection process each blogger will be required to blog, vlog, tweet, etc. what makes them the perfect candidate.
So this, my dear readers, is my POST, because, I really really really would LOVE to attend and be part of the Focus Group! I like to think of it as a pre-conference trial run, as I've never attended a blog conference before!
As you know I've been blogging for only 6 months now- WOW - and yet I have 317 posts! That comes out to about 60 a month, which equates to about 2 a day. Boy, that sure doesn't sound like a lot! But I am AMAZED I've been able to get that many done!
I came into the blogging world with NO experience in html or in blogging AT ALL. I have been VERY blessed to be following blogs with VERY generous and helpful bloggers at the helm. They have shown me how to change the look of my template and how to arrange items to be more pleasing to you my readers AND to make it easier for newcomers to navigate! If there had been a class, Blogger 101, I would definitely have taken it!
I think this is valuable to the Focus Group, as I represent the new blogger who doesn't have alot of experience, and if they want to have beginner and intermediate classes, then I can be of help as to what we beginning bloggers need! As my blog is also all-purpose, not defined by a definitive niche of only 1-2 things, I feel I can represent a whole range of bloggers, not just niched ones!
As my readers can attest I don't mind being a guinea pig and trying out things in order to let my readers know about products or reading books to let you know how great or bad they are! I like to be an answer person- it's what I do on my job and alot of what I do in my blog, so being part of a focus group to format a conference just seems like a perfect fit to me!
Some of the things that I would love to learn while in the focus group would be html quick tips, how to use blogger more effectively, whether it's viable to remove the blogspot from blogger name, how to increase page rank, is SEO really worth the effort, how to increase traffic to my blog and what can I do to better attract a higher level of PR marketing (though I am very happy with the reps who have worked with me so far) and how to better use Twitter.
WHEW...ok, now I feel like I don't know much! HA HA HA
I really love the stuff Jyl and Kelli have planned already:
· Round Table Discussions
· Live Twitter Party (I like SO SERIOUSLY need a mini-course on HOW to attend these- I haven't gotten one right yet!)
· Southern Style Tea (all Southern girls know it's just not a good party without TEA)
· Critique My Blog (oh yeah- I SO SO need this- I KNOW you my dear readers like the blog like it is, but I can't help it- I'm anal- I keep thinking it needs more tweeking (for example I've got a GREAT "new" vintage postcard that I want to rework into a new header-it is MORE adorable than the one I have now!). I'd love to hear from other bloggers who have huge numbers of followers, what they think is missing)
· What Works (I think ALL new bloggers want to have some sort of mini-bible on starting a "mom blog")
It is SO wonderful that Glenstone Lodge (conference location) and Discovery (the diamond level conference sponsor) are on board with supporting the blog conference. Special kudos to Discovery for providing FREE rooms for the 8 bloggers who are picked for the focus group- check out their website and give them some props for supporting us all! Personally I would LOVE going back to Gatlinburg in the Spring, as we always seem to go in fall and winter (snow baby, snow baby)!
It looks like they have some sponsors pending, but I wish I had a list of them to give you to check out. But check back and I'm sure they'll be more posted soon!
And don't forget to check out Jyl and Kelli's websites ( 3 Boys and a Dog http://www.3boysandadog.com/ and The Post-It Place http://www.thepost-itplace.com/ respectively), and tell them THANKS for thinking of new bloggers and what we need (and if you feel like putting in a good word for me, HUGS from me !)
· I want to learn more advanced techniques
· My favorite part was networking with others who do the same thing I do
So, they set out to change the shape of Blog Conferences by not only offering attendees basic and intermediate classes, but more advanced classes as well, with less cost, and more time to network!
To start it off and really get some input from a wide-range of bloggers, they're having a We Blog Conference Focus Group. The group will be getting together May 16th through May 18th, 2010 in Gatlinburg, TN at the awesome Glenstone Lodge. (The first FULL conference will be held in the same location in May 2011.Gatlinburg is SUCH a great area for a conference as you have the WHOLE Smokey Mountains at your backdoor (check out the photos below) and driving over to NC or KY is a breeze) We feel this will give us a chance to “hear from the people” . LOOK at that pool, for those of you under 4 feet of snow- doesn't it just look HEAVENLY???? I love the Gatlinburg area, and it's an easy 6 hr drive for me-isn't that a plus, no need to get on an airplane if I were to get selected!
They will be choosing 8 bloggers to be on the Focus Group in addition to them. Each person selected will bring something unique to the table! Attendees will be chosen based on a set of criteria that encompasses all walks of life and blogging styles. As part of the selection process each blogger will be required to blog, vlog, tweet, etc. what makes them the perfect candidate.
So this, my dear readers, is my POST, because, I really really really would LOVE to attend and be part of the Focus Group! I like to think of it as a pre-conference trial run, as I've never attended a blog conference before!
As you know I've been blogging for only 6 months now- WOW - and yet I have 317 posts! That comes out to about 60 a month, which equates to about 2 a day. Boy, that sure doesn't sound like a lot! But I am AMAZED I've been able to get that many done!
I came into the blogging world with NO experience in html or in blogging AT ALL. I have been VERY blessed to be following blogs with VERY generous and helpful bloggers at the helm. They have shown me how to change the look of my template and how to arrange items to be more pleasing to you my readers AND to make it easier for newcomers to navigate! If there had been a class, Blogger 101, I would definitely have taken it!
I think this is valuable to the Focus Group, as I represent the new blogger who doesn't have alot of experience, and if they want to have beginner and intermediate classes, then I can be of help as to what we beginning bloggers need! As my blog is also all-purpose, not defined by a definitive niche of only 1-2 things, I feel I can represent a whole range of bloggers, not just niched ones!
As my readers can attest I don't mind being a guinea pig and trying out things in order to let my readers know about products or reading books to let you know how great or bad they are! I like to be an answer person- it's what I do on my job and alot of what I do in my blog, so being part of a focus group to format a conference just seems like a perfect fit to me!
Some of the things that I would love to learn while in the focus group would be html quick tips, how to use blogger more effectively, whether it's viable to remove the blogspot from blogger name, how to increase page rank, is SEO really worth the effort, how to increase traffic to my blog and what can I do to better attract a higher level of PR marketing (though I am very happy with the reps who have worked with me so far) and how to better use Twitter.
WHEW...ok, now I feel like I don't know much! HA HA HA
I really love the stuff Jyl and Kelli have planned already:
· Round Table Discussions
· Live Twitter Party (I like SO SERIOUSLY need a mini-course on HOW to attend these- I haven't gotten one right yet!)
· Southern Style Tea (all Southern girls know it's just not a good party without TEA)
· Critique My Blog (oh yeah- I SO SO need this- I KNOW you my dear readers like the blog like it is, but I can't help it- I'm anal- I keep thinking it needs more tweeking (for example I've got a GREAT "new" vintage postcard that I want to rework into a new header-it is MORE adorable than the one I have now!). I'd love to hear from other bloggers who have huge numbers of followers, what they think is missing)
· What Works (I think ALL new bloggers want to have some sort of mini-bible on starting a "mom blog")
It looks like they have some sponsors pending, but I wish I had a list of them to give you to check out. But check back and I'm sure they'll be more posted soon!
And don't forget to check out Jyl and Kelli's websites ( 3 Boys and a Dog http://www.3boysandadog.com/ and The Post-It Place http://www.thepost-itplace.com/ respectively), and tell them THANKS for thinking of new bloggers and what we need (and if you feel like putting in a good word for me, HUGS from me !)
