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}
Wife, mama, homeschooler, dog-wrangler. Introvert who finds joy in good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Fitness enthusiast and personal trainer. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand.
I was also at the Savvy Blogging Summit and all of these resonated with me, as well.
I came away renewed, inspired and encouraged… and also started seeing places in my life where I needed to say no or let go so the right things can bloom.
I am sorry I didn’t get the chance to meet you personally and visit more… I’ll keep my fingers crossed for Cinci! 🙂
Yes, Amy, I kept hearing your name but never did cross paths. Maybe next time!!
Great thoughts Jamie! I love how well you laid this out. Thanks for coming and being a part of the Summit!
Thank you, Crystal, for all the work you and the rest of the Savvy team do to put together such a great event!
So nice you were able to attend. I hope to listen to some of the sessions online when they are available. These ladies know what they’re doing! 🙂
Tonya,
It was wonderful to have the opportunity to go. I couldn’t pass it up since it was practically right in my backyard! I know the recordings will be helpful, too!
Great Post! Thanks for spreading the knowledge! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing what you took away from the conference. It all really resonates with me. I just started to take my blog more seriously as I noticed my numbers represented more than just my friends and family and homeschool buddies. I also read a great post from Christian Mommy Blogger about your blog being an e-ministry (I found the post thru following a link you posted on Facebook- so thanks!). That’s what I want– to reach out to others with the Love of Jesus, with a sprinkling of frugal posts and a layer of homeschool what-not… Read more »
Absolutely! And yes, that does sound like the makings of a great blog mission statement!
TRUST – yes, we have to build trust and grow relationships with our readers…and companies we work with. Researching, really understanding the depth to which both can and will impact our lives…and the lives of our readers. And…trust with others we write with and for. All key factors…. For me, I do value my blog…like you, my family comes first. Oh, it’s hard to maintain that if we don’t keep our eyes focused on our overall goals in life. It’s a beautiful platform you are building….thank you for sharing your words of wisdom, your take aways….I wish I had been… Read more »
It is a hard balance to keep, isn’t it? Thanks for taking time to comment, and still hoping to get to meet you face to face one of these days!
I love your takeaways! Such great wisdom from people who have been there and done it!
I was so excited to see that SavvyBlogging is coming to Cinci next year {only a 5 hour drive for me}, but then I realized I will have a newborn, so I’m not sure it’ll work out to come. 🙁
Ooo, ooo, Ashley, I’ll babysit! I looooove babies! 😉
Wonderful run down of Savvy lessons Jamie! I’m hanging on that time to daydream one. We really all need that. Glad you listed it! And I also like the image of your blog as home base and social media as embassies. I think Savvy was a pretty good mixture of the practical and the encouraging. Plus the fun of being with y’all!
I would love to go to one of these…SOMEDAY…I enjoyed going via your blog for this year. I find the social media thing difficult to escape. It is such a leech on my time and energy. I need to get better about pouring my focus on my blog as well. I’m also trying to get better about building solid relationships with my readers and other bloggers.