Going into this conference, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew Savvy Blogging Summit was for “serious” bloggers, many of whom make a living from blogging. Most are deal bloggers, which isn’t my niche at all. Other than the social aspect, I didn’t know how much I’d really get out of it — so I was pleasantly surprised with how much inspiration and knowledge I walked away with, and have long lists of To-Do’s and Goals in “My Big Ideas” notebook.

1 – It’s okay to take my blog seriously.

I’m not going to let my blog take over my life. Some people can truly make blogging a full time job, but I am not willing to do that right now, at this stage of my life. However, it’s okay to take blogging it seriously. My blog is a platform I can use in all sorts of ways, and growing my blog is a perfectly good goal to have because it enlarges my sphere of influence.

2 – Comfort zones are like quicksand.

In blogging, and in pretty much every other area of life, comfort zones are like quicksand: hard to get out of unless we are very intentional about it. Make a point of stepping outside your comfort zones, and ask friends to hold you accountable.

3 – My blog is my home base; social media sites are embassies.

My blog should be my primary online focus, because this is where my platform is. Social media sites — like twitter, facebook, pinterest, and the rest — serve as embassies to represent a blog beyond it’s home base. Treat these sites accordingly; don’t let them suck time and energy away from your home base.

This was something Michael Hyatt said, and it resonated strongly with me. I’ve been thinking along these lines, but he put it so clearly with this analogy. I’ll be pulling back a bit from my efforts in places like facebook; this way I can work on my blogging goals without increasing my online time.

4 – Set goals. Act on them.

Both Michael Hyatt and John Saddington expressed this same idea in different words. We need to set goals, be specific, and then act on those goals. Again, this is not just in blogging, but anywhere we hope to grow. I’ll be applying much of what I learned at SavvyBlogging to my photography business as well.

5 – Reputation is more important than ranking.

Ted Rubin says relationships are far more important than any return on investment, whether in blogging or any business. I agree! Reputation is far more important than ranking. Our goal should be to build trust, not to focus on how extensive our network is.

6 – Say no.

We all have a finite amount of hours in the day. No matter how great an opportunity is, we have to remember that if we say yes to one thing, we are, by default, saying no to something else. We all need boundaries and balance within each day.

7 – Take time to daydream.

If we are constantly plugged in, or constantly running to and fro with errands and activities, then we have no time to just sit and think. We need to make time to daydream, to let our thoughts wander where they may. The back porch is a favorite place of mine to do this, and it is one of the best ways to help keep me feeling sane.

June 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio: Will you be there?

I don’t know yet what life and finances will look like then, but I hope to attend Savvy Blogging Summit next year. Will you be there? If you’ve been to a blog conference, what was the most valuable thing you learned? {Click to comment}

Jamie

Wife, mom, J-ma. Introvert who enjoys good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand – unless it’s lost yet again in the microwave. Read more »