#BML17 – what I’ve learned from previous events and what I’m looking forward to this time

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.

 

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