Omigosh! Returned home today from Blog Her Food 2012 — my 1st food blogging conference. Well, my first blogging conference ever! What an amazing experience to meet/chat/socialize with hundreds of people who are passionate about food! (note to self: business cards
And I had a beautiful room at the Renaissance Hotel as well as a delicious meal (and mediocre wine but you can’t win ’em all), a short walking distance from the event hotel.
Ohhh … king bed was heaven
View from door
My only gripe is about the coffeemaker — no cups just Styrofoam cups? Oh and why no light switch to enter the bedroom???
I met great folks — Heather, United States of Motherhood, Megan, the Gluten Free Vegan, and the irrepressibly Jan, Heckerty especially stood out and of course, meeting Ree Drummond aka the Pioneer Woman was a special highlight. She is as friendly and gracious in person as she seems on her blog and TV. Yes there was a pic taken and no I’m not showing posting on my blog. YES, we love cowboys! AND THE FOOD ….. No more needs to be said.
Wish I had taken pics of the sweet potato crabcakes instead
Even better was the enormous focus on learning. Finally I am starting to understand how social media is re-shaping our society and how businesses sell products/find customers. More importantly I see that blogging can be a business or a hobby. Knowing which one it is and keeping that front and center is critical.
I have a voice (for those who know me, you can insert “loud” voice) and am clear as to who I am as a ‘brand.’ It’s the technical stuff I need to learn — improve my photography skills, network with other bloggers, learn how to use all aspects of social media (woohoo Instagram and Pinterest I now know how to use!).
It’s exciting and frightening to stretch my comfort zone and develop new skills. It doesn’t hurt that I’m going to new cities for conferences … wheeeeeeee, travel’s always fun.
To my new friends from BlogHer Food 2012 — see you in Austin 2013.
