On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of attending a blogging event hosted by ProBlogger.
To be honest, I wasn’t really sure what it was going to be about. I knew it would be about blogging, and I knew I’d see some bloggy buddies. And I knew that everything I’d seen of ProBlogger until then was helpful.
That was enough for me! I went along, and heard from Darren Rowse (Mr ProBlogger himself), Erin Bender (Travel with Bender), Alice Nicholls (The Whole Daily) and Nicole Avery (Planning with Kids). They discussed blogging (der), social media (including all those Facebook stats you can’t get your head around), community building, SEO, content planning and even what to do when you don’t want to do it anymore.
I got a lot from it. And here are the top seven things.
1. Know your blogging voice.
In the land of blogging, you’ll find a wide variety of bloggers. You’ll find friends, entertainers and celebrities. You’ll find experts, tutors and leaders. And you’ll even find the same bloggers filling these different roles across different topics and categories.
(Image source: Helena Denley – Twitter @helenadenley – used with permission)
Know your voice(s), and use it (them) effectively.
2. You don’t need a huge audience to make an income from blogging.
A huge audience helps. Of course it helps! But you don’t need it. If your offering is unique, and there is a call to action that most people will act on, then you can make money. Because… (cue segue to next point)
3. You want to build a community.
You want active, engaged readers who care about and believe in what you’re doing. 100 readers that read consistently and are advocates for your blog and/or your services are better than 1,000 readers just stopping by.
4. It’s okay to switch off from blogging for a while.
In fact, if you’re feeling ALL OF THE OVERWHELM, it might be the best way to a) recharge, b) stay true to your voice instead of churning out content and c) keep your offering unique instead of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’.
5. Content calendars are vital.
Even if you blog as the mood takes you, about whatever floats your boat, a content calendar is helpful. It can get your thoughts in order. It can highlight patterns in your posts that you didn’t even realise were there. And you can always change things around later. (Or ignore it completely. But I don’t think that was the point.) Which leads to… (cue second seamless segue… and admire awesome alliteration…)
6. Direction is important.
If you can’t do everything you want to do, it’s easy to blame lack of time. Time is finite. But all the time in the world won’t help you if what you’re actually lacking is direction.
Know what you want to achieve with your blog. This doesn’t mean you need lofty goals; mine certainly aren’t. But they do exist.
And here’s where Darren said something that really got my attention: Pick a fight. He didn’t mean to go around antagonising people with derogatory comments and writing angsty posts, but to pick your fight. Decide what you stand for (and against). And share it.
7. Focus is just as important.
As Nicole said, bloggers have a really hard job staying focused. We have a lot of distractions, and the worst part is that there are so many justifications for them. Social media platforms are generally how we build those blogs, so it’s easy to justify an afternoon spent on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
But once you have the direction, you need to focus on it.
Bonus lesson:
So, an afternoon very well spent indeed, and with fabulous blogging company to boot.
Thanks, ProBlogger team. See you at the conference in August!
Have you been to a ProBlogger event? What did you learn from it?
And will I be seeing you at the conference in August?! I’m a little bit excited!
Sounds interesting. That was why I did the Heart. Mama blog in the past. It seemed that noone else was blogging about those things in this community, and I felt they were important to share. I definitely had a strong and engaged community. It’s been harder sustaining a strong community now my stand is less defined.
It is difficult. And it’s countered by the fact that I don’t want to be known as the (insert issue here) blog. Still thinking on that one a week later.
nothing like a great conference with awesome speakers to re-energise you!
Thanks for the tips 🙂
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
Feeling equal parts re-energised and dragged down by lack of time! Ironic considering point six, but it’s just that time of the year that all my clients need urgent work done before the federal budget is announced in a month and a half.
Thanks Em – all good tips. I like that one about direction being about picking a fight, or standing for something. That bonus lesson is nice too, makes you realise the power of speaking softly if you have something worthwhile and different to say.
Yes, I’m glad I don’t have to go out and buy a sledgehammer! LISTEN TO ME EVERYONE! Yawn.
Great take-aways Em. I am proudly a non-problogger so all the monetizeation stuff does nothing for me. But the heart of blogging is true for probloggers or non-probloggers alike. Finding your voice, building your community, building trust and organizing time and social media. Enjoy the conference!.
I’m minimal on the monetisation side – unless you include separate writing work I’ve gotten directly (or indirectly) from the blog.
Great tips, Em. I need one of them calendar thingies!
I bought a cheap as chips 2015 diary from Coles for the sole purpose of mapping out the blog posts. Works a treat!
Thanks for the awesome wrap up Em! I’m glad you were able to get so much goodness out of the sessions. Lots of gems in there.
Thanks Laney – the events are so well-run and I always get something from them. Looking forward to August!
I missed out on a ticket so I was bummed, so thanks for sharing your learnings. Sounds like some good, encouraging points were made x
Encouraging, YES! Key word. Lots of love in the room.
Ooh, I love that ‘pick your fight’ line. I has pretty much immediate flashes for both my blogs, each slightly different but complementary. Thanks for sharing.
That’s great! Mine is less clear. Still thinking that one over.
I attended the Sydney ProBlogger session which I gained so much from as well! I’m so bummed I can’t attend the ProBlogger Conference coming up. I can only imagine how much I would have learned there!
Glad you got a lot from the Sydney session. I’d love to hear what the panellists in each state had to say.
Great tips, thanks.
I really need to sort myself out with a content calendar!
Doesn’t have to be fancy-schmancy. Doesn’t even have to be a calendar, in my opinion! Maybe just a dedicated book?
Thanks for posting about this. I wasn’t able to attend the Melbourne event so I am enjoying reading feedback from other bloggers about what they took away from the day.
Thanks Erika. I’m about to hit some other overviews too.
Thanks for sharing the tips, I was too late to get a ticket, so I’m very glad you shared the love here.
You’re welcome! Glad they help.
Ooh, this sounds like it was really helpful, especially for those of us who doubt ourselves (which is probably all of us at times). Glad to see the resounding, “be yourself and if you need to take a break, take one” message. Something I think I needed to hear
P.S. totally saw your tweet on The Block the other night
Haha, it’s pretty easy to get a tweet on The Block these days. I don’t think many of us are tweeting about it!
I think more bloggers doubt themselves than we all realise. The ‘winners’ (for want of a better word) are the ones that just keep doing it anyway.
I’ve loved these mini ProBlogger events this year! And I’ll see you there in August 🙂
Yay! And yay!
Thanks for the roundup – wish I got to the Brisbane one but tickets sold out sooo quick. Thank goodness I got my August ticket!
That’s funny – I wasn’t planning on going and was busy that day so took it as a sign. Then I got home earlier than I’d thought, logged on and there were still five tickets left. So I took THAT as a sign!! Ha!
What a great round up! I totally need to get on the Calendar train. I loved Darren’s presentation in Sydney – it was such an eye opening session. See you in August!
Yes, do hitch your carriage to the calendar train. Choo-choo!
Thanks for sharing your takeaways. Such great points for all bloggers to hear. I won’t be going in August but am sure I will still hear tons from those who attend. Xx
Probably! We won’t be able to shut up about it! Thanks for the feedback. x
Thanks for sharing this learning Em. I wasn’t able to get to the Sydney event but I’m KEEN to attend the big one again in August. As usual, lots of very useful insights – I just need to act upon them!!!!
Yes, the acting on them is difficult. At least I’m currently acting on the engagement thing! Replying to comments. Tick!
I went to my first blogging event back in February. Problogger made the trek over to Perth and it was a great day. I learnt that Nicole Avery is one VERY organised and inspiring woman. She certainly lives up to her Planning Queen name. Have a fantastic time at the August conference. I’ll be eagerly following it on social media and hope to make it there next year (PS: I did admire your awesome alliteration – bravo Em!)
Thanks for the alliterative applause!! Ha! Nicole was very inspiring – and so honest. As is Darren. I think that’s what makes them so relatable and yet so authoritative.
Sounds like you had a great time – looking forward to seeing you at problogger in August!
Bring it on!!!
Sounds great! I have just started the Blog with Pip e course, and I am so looking forward to it 🙂
I haven’t done that, but have only heard good things. That’s not true. I’ve only heard great things! Would love to hear your thoughts when you’re done.
I was lucky enough to get a Brisbane ticket, I like these mini pro-blogger events. Unsure about the big one in August, a big bit of date clashing to deal with. 🙂
Boo for date clashes! That’s a shame, but at least you know and are not trying to offload a ticket later.
Thank you for coming and for including us in your round up. We had such a great time, can’t wait till the next one! Meet you again soon 😀
Pleasure – thanks for speaking and for your insights! The Facebook chat we all had to have, right?
Sounds like we both learned a lot from the PB Events in our cities – I went to the Brisbane one earlier this month.
Yes! So much to learn from the PB team.
I went to the one in Brisbane and heard similar things – I love Darren, he’s just so down to earth and wise! I can’t wait to see you in August
Looking forward to Em hugs!! Darren’s talk was great.
I’m very excited about the PEvent in August and look forward to seeing you there again Em. It’s so inspiring! I think the trouble with my blog is my personality. I’m not the ‘pick a fight’ type of person. I need some of that fighting spirit!
I run away at the first sign of dissension I’m basically a sook :).
Yeah, it’s a toughie. I’m still mulling that one over. I don’t think it has to be a controversial issue. You could stand for always hugging your children before bedtime. You could stand for thinking teddy bears are cute. You could stand for being a dog or cat person. (Okay, that last one is controversial!)
Fab wrap up as always, Em. I went to the Brisbane event and a number of things really hit home for me. I won’t be at the event in August. I would have absolutely loved to have seen you. Maybe I’ll get to see you some other time during the year. I hope so anyway 🙂
Thanks Renee. We’ll miss you in August, but I saw your reason for not attending and it totally makes sense! You’ll be laughing when you get that family holiday!
Great summary Em! And thanks for the cool tips. Time to work out what my voice is (does “weird guy shouting at passersby whilst only wearing a packet of M&Ms” count as a voice?)
SURELY that counts as a voice?! You should email Darren so he can update his presentation slides!
These are all awesome tips. When I posted daily in October last year an editorial calendar was my saviour. I had things that popped up that had time constraints and having an editorial calendar meant that I could just drop and drag other posts around.
I think what I like most about the calendar is spreading out the similarly-themed posts. Otherwise I’d write them all in a burst and it would look like I had themed months!
Great wrap up. I went to the session in Sydney and it was just what I needed and a great teaser for the Aug event. Cant wait. Xx
Yes, a great teaser! Well said. And thank you.
Awesome round up of info Em for those of us who couldnt be there. I am betting you are feeling very focused and full of enthusiasm after that 🙂 xx
Yes and no. Aaargh, busy writing season! At least I’ve got all my notes clear in my head ready for when the enthusiasm has the energy to break through.
It was lovely to meet you in person Emily. I too loved Darren’s whisper strategy as well.
You too, Nicole! I really got a lot from your presentation. Finding better ways to do it so the fun and enjoyment stays. YES. Thank you.
I used to go to ProBlogger event – well, I went to three I think but skipped the last one. They were starting to feel a bit the sameish and a bit too focussed on monetisation. I’d love to make money from blogging but struggled a bit with the it being a priority for some fairly new bloggers. (As if that was why they’d started writing.)
I love the networking and meeting other kindred spirits however!
There is a strong focus on monetisation, but there were three sessions running at a time last year, so I was always able to find something relevant to me. And yes, it can be difficult to sit in a room with people who haven’t yet started blogging but are wondering why no sponsors have come on board yet!
Thank you SO much for this post. I couldn’t make the Brisbane one and was really interested in what was said. All such great advice. I am going to ProBlogger for the first time this year and can hardly wait. Count down is ON.
You’re welcome! Glad you got something from it. Bring on August!!
Oh I wished I could have gone so this post is just perfect to give me the low down. Looks like it was great!!! Thanks
You’re welcome Caroline – glad it was helpful. I believe all events were a big success, so I’m sure there’ll be more planned!
Hi Emily, loving these notes. Thanks for sharing them. I attended the Brisbane session and had a great morning of catch-ups and learning. Hope to see you in August for the big conference – can’t wait.
See you then! WOOHOO!
I wasn’t able to get to the event in Sydney, so do appreciate you sharing what you learnt. Am going to Pick a fight! thanks!
Get those boxing gloves on!! Ha!
Great wrap-up Em! Darren and Nic really know their stuff!
They are very clever clogses! (And I think I just invented a word.)
Oh, I would have totally have loved to have gone! But you know, kids, blah blah 😉 Thanks so much for sharing your tips xx
I hear you. I was lucky they put it on a Tuesday (my only kid-free day) and just as lucky not to have client meetings that day (depending on your definition of lucky).
This is a great wrap, thank you Em! I was there but there was a lot to take in (and people to meet!) so it’s fab to read this wrap. I loved hearing all the stories too and got a lot of out it. Hope to see you in August if not sooner! x
Thanks Vanessa! Was great to see you there. And yes, hopefully someone organises a Melb blogger catch-up before then, but otherwise, see you in August! I’m sure it will come around quickly enough.
I so loved that quote you highlighted from Darren. One of my faves!!
It’s so good to hear advice like that in amongst the BE SEEN, BE LOUD, GET IN EVERYONE’S FACES messages that bombard you otherwise.