On Saturday I did something really exciting! Almost 2 and a half years after writing my very first blog post, I went to my very first blogging conference. Blog Camp Birmingham.
When I started my blog I didn’t anticipate that I’d be writing it more than 2 years later. I was anxious about my pregnancy and wanted an outlet. Somewhere to write down my thoughts and feelings. And a blog seemed like the perfect place; a modern take on the traditional diary.
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The Love of Blogging
Back then, I didn’t realise how much my little virtual journal would become such a huge part of my life. Didn’t expect to look forward to writing my posts so much. To get such a buzz out of taking the photographs, to illustrate my words.
And a couple of years on I can say — with some conviction — that my blog isn’t going to be discarded any time soo. Nor left unwritten or taken down from the World Wide Web.
It’s such a fantastic creative outlet and I just can’t imagine it not being there now.
As my blog has matured, a whole host of other exciting opportunities have begun to occur. The chance to work with interesting brands; to create lovely posts inspired by their products or services.
Incredible Opportunities
We’ve been given the incredible opportunity to go on a little family holiday to Bluestone Resort in Wales. We had a fantastic day out Folly Farm — again as a direct result of my blog.
And I have met some really lovely people. Through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Fathers, mothers, bloggers, non bloggers, bloggers.
Plus I have a group of very special blogging friends who I regularly chat to on-line and — as of yesterday — in person!
So yesterday, I swallowed my nerves (and wow, was I nervous), caught the train and headed off to Blog Camp Birmingham.
The event was run by The Tots100; a network for mum and dad bloggers, with more than 8,000 members, reaching 10m UK readers each year.
Throughout the day I learned about Pro-Blogging, Metrics, Vlogging and how to be Camera Ready.
I met my lovely ‘virtual’ friends.
I chatted to some of the most influential movers and shakers of the UK blogging world. And left with a head full of ideas and inspiration.
I fell into this blogging malarkey completely by chance.
When I signed up for my free WordPress blog and wrote my very first post I had no idea that there was an entire sub-culture that went with it.
And since that first diary entry I’ve discovered new friends — real ones not ‘virtual'(!) —new skills, and a possible new career in the offing.
Amazing what you find when you’re not really looking, isn’t it?
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
ah sounds like you had a really great time, gutted i couldn’t make it but look forward to meeting you in Juneat britmums!! x
It was brilliant Amy — so wish you’d been there. Really good to listen to the full time, paid bloggers talking about the industry. I picked up lots of tips! :) x
I followed along on Twitter and it looked so exciting. It’s strange, but from reading your blog, I expect you to wear yellow all the time :) I’m off to BlogOn in Manchester on Saturday and I hope it’s just as good x
Aaah it was so good Rachel! I was terrified in the morning and nearly bailed out — I don’t mind admitting — but I’m so glad I swallowed the nerves and went along! So far out of my comfort zone but brilliant to learn some new things and best was meeting all my lovely blogging friends!! I’m not going to BlogOn — I have a Britmums ticket and am toying with going to Blogtacular — are you going to those? Can’t wait to meet you :)
I’m going to BritMums too so I will see you there. I would love to have gone to Blogtacular but I’m on holiday when it’s on. It looks like the perfect conference for creative bloggers though.
Brilliant! So I’ll get to meet you in June! :) Yep — Blogtacular looks perfect for a creative head like me. Got to work out if I can justify the expense! If I hadn’t paid for my Britmums ticket — and had a sponsor — I wouldn’t even be thinking about it! One thing at a time though ;) x
So great to meet you there and have a big hug!! You are just as lovely in person as I imagined!! So glad you enjoyed it too. Always fab to meet up and chat with some lovely bloggers :) Jess xx
Aaah pet — it was SO good to finally meet you!!! My blogging partner in crime ;) So glad I didn’t bottle it and actually went. Looking forward to Britmums now! x
What a wonderful event to participate in! I’m like you – I had no idea that this little corner of the internet to upload sonogram images would turn into 10 years of deep and amazing friendships… and even paid writing jobs!
It was fab Sadia! So goos to finally meet the people I’ve been chatting to online. And incredibly inspiring to meet bloggers who have had financial success through their blogs. Can’t wait to go to the next one! :) x
It looked so amazing! I just hope when the next one comes along I have enough courage to go! #TwinklyTuesday
It was brilliant! I was SO nervous and nearly bottled out but I’m so glad I went :) Roll on Britmums :)
It sounds like the event was awesome! I wish I could have gone tooooo. I think I blog for the same reasons as you, it really is a wonderful outlet, isn’t it? Ah it must have been so lovely to put faces to names finally! Mim x #twinklytuesday
It was really good! I think I needed to go to a smaller even before Britmums. I know I would have found that incredibly overwhelming, had I not gone and met a few of my fave bloggers beforehand at BlogCamp. Blogging is an amazing outlet!! Can’t imagine life without my little blog now! x
I wish you’d been there too! I can’t wait to meet you!! It was such a fun day — only made better by finally meeting some of my lovely friends! Can’t wait to give you a big hug at Britmums!! :)
Wow, good on you for going Caro, especially when it was, as you say, so far out of your comfort zone. Sometimes you just need to dive in and swallow your fear.
Thanks for sharing this. I was wondering how it went.
#TwinklyTuesday
I absolutely agree Fionnuala! Sometimes, facing your fear is the best thing you can do. I would have missed out on such a great day — and probably not had the courage to go to future events — if I hadn’t swallowed my nerves last Saturday! x
It is amazing! It’s so nice to see what you can achieve with blogging. I’d love to go to blog camp and meet you and my other virtual blogging buddies, sounds like such fun. And to work with brands would be amazing. Congrats on all your achievements. #TwinklyTuesday
Incredible isn’t it? I certainly hadn’t anticipated it when I wrote my first post. It’s such a brilliant world, that’s for sure! :)
Sounds like you had a fab day and it’s always lovely when you can finally put a face to the name #Twinklytuesday xx
Totally agree :) People look different in real life than they do online, so it’s so nice to meet everyone for real! x