There’s just over a week to go until #BML17 and I’m looking forward to spending the day with lots of other bloggers and learning more about how I can improve my blog. This will be my third time attending Britmums Live. My two previous experiences have been quite different and it will be interesting to see what I take away from it this year.
What I’ve learned from previous events
My first Britmums Live event was a pivotal moment for me on the blog. I had a wonderful time meeting up with other bloggers, learned a lot about social media and SEO but the biggest thing I took away from it was the realisation of what I didn’t want from my blog.
Blogging can be an all-consuming thing. I think a lot of bloggers go through a similar journey in the first year or so. There’s that strong desire to learn more, post more, grow more. It’s all about stats and social media following and how to be bigger and better. It can be easy to get sucked into rankings and figures and to get despondent when they don’t go up quickly enough. My life had started to revolve around my blog. Britmums Live 2015 inspired me to take a step back, re-evaluate and rediscover why I’d started blogging and what I enjoyed about it.
Second time around was very different. I went wanting to explore my creative side, focusing on the sessions that sounded fun. One thing last year did do was help me rediscover my love of drawing thanks to Jennie Maizels’ fabulous Sketchbook Club session.
What I’m hoping to learn this time
It seems I’ve come full circle again this time around. I’m back to looking at how to focus my blogging and how to improve my social media. However, I’m two years on from that first Britmums and two years wiser. I’m no longer obsessed with my stats. I’d like to grow them, yes, but they don’t have the power over me that they once had. This time, I’m comfortable and confident with who I am as a blogger and just looking at how I can improve while staying true to myself.
Creativity is still important to me too. I want to come away with fresh ideas and tips on improving my writing and my photography.
Catching up with and meeting other bloggers
The biggest thing for me though with this conference and with any other blogging conference is social connection. I’m looking forward to meeting up with other bloggers face-to-face for the first time and catching up with others that I’ve met several times before. I’m looking forward to chatting to different brands and engaging with them. And I’m also looking forward to a day for myself. A day to be the me behind the mummy.
If you see me there, do come and say hello. I’m petite – 5ft tall with mid-length brown hair and glasses. I’ve yet to decide what I’ll be wearing but it’s likely to be a pretty dress.
My tips for a great conference:
- Be yourself and be confident in the fab blogger that you are.
- Don’t be afraid to go and say hello to other bloggers. One of the best things about blogging events is meeting up with online friends.
- Plan ahead and think about which sessions you want to attend, but if there’s nothing on at a particular time that is of interest, don’t be afraid to take time out too.
- Make sure you take a phone charger and business cards – and don’t forget the camera!
About my sponsor
I’m very thankful this year to be sponsored to attend #BML17 by Fantastic Services. They offer a range of difference services and describe themselves as a “one-stop shop for 25+ professional home cleaning and maintenance services, provided within London and the UK.”
I’ve been a brand ambassador for Fantastic Services over the last year and have reviewed several of the services they offer, including oven cleaning, garden clearance and window cleaning. As well as cleaning and gardening, Fantastic Services also carry out services such as handymen, builders, removals and pest control.
It is such a shame I am missing out this year! Have a wonderful time I can’t wait to hear about it xx #coolmumclub
Thanks Fi, am looking forward to it 🙂
Oh lovely, Fantastic Services are a great company to be working with as a sponsor. I hope you have a great time and I’m sorry we’ve ended up going to different conferences, I’m not at BML as I’m doing BlogOn this weekend instead.
Nat.x
They are fab. Hope you had a wonderful time at BlogOn – that’s one I’d like to get to at some point so maybe we’ll get to meet up at a conference in the future 🙂
It was so lovely to meet you last year Louise. In fact, a short conversation we had was really useful and made me go away and take some practical steps with my blogging accounts. As you say – you can learn just as much from chatting to other bloggers as you can from the sessions so talk talk talk!! And a belated thank you for the advice you probably never realised you gave me xx
Thanks for linking to #coolmumclub and SEE YOU THERE!
Thank you – it was so lovely to meet you too. I never realised I’d given you some useful advice – glad whatever I said was helpful! Look forward to seeing you on Saturday x
I’m going to BlogOn, I’m sat at the hotel now! I can’t wait to meet other bloggers #coolmumclub
Hope you had a wonderful time 🙂
Ah I wish I had a sponsor to attend what sounds like a great event. #coolmumclub
It should be good. Was so pleased to get a sponsor this year 🙂
I’ll keep my eye out for you – it’s my first time since 2013 and a completely different blog! More than a little nervous!
Thanks Lauren, hopefully will see you to say hello to! 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful time, and look forward to reading all about it xx
I’m so excited! This is my first BML event and I can’t wait!