Top take aways from #SheStreams

Me at the Disney World luncheon

I had the amazing opportunity to come to the blogging conference, SheStreams, as a guest of BSM Media and the conference’s  corporate sponsor, AT&T.  All I had to do was get myself to Ft. Lauderdale and soak up as much knowledge (and Florida sun) as I could.  I am so glad I was able to go! I feel genuinely blessed…like it was by divine intervention that I was selected for the sponsorship.  I learned so much and really had a great time!

To try to process all that I learned I thought it would be helpful to concentrate on my three top take aways from the weekend:

1. Just add video to your blog/website.  It doesn’t have to be fancy! I have resisted the whole vlogging trend because I thought I wasn’t good/pretty/smart enough.  I didn’t like the way I looked or sounded on camera and I thought I needed expensive equipment and editing software to do it right.  Well I learned that I just have to be me.  Apparently people want to hear what I have to say in addition to reading it.  Speakers spouted statistics about video blogs being more credible and engaging and having a greater effect on any ‘call to action’ I might be looking for. In short, just do it. (You’ll see more video on here soon!)

Disney World’s Laura Spencer

2.  Just socialize! I’m not a natural networker and since I can’t drink in my present (pregnant) state, I thought about skipping the cocktail hours.  I’m so glad I didn’t. I spent one hearing about an awesome new virtual assistant company, Time Dog, that specializes in providing assistant services to moms.  Genius! I also chatted up the vivacious Laura Spencer, head of Social Media for Disney World (!).  I felt dowdy and outclassed by this amazing woman but she was so down-to-Earth and nice.  Just being around fabulous people like Lara, can make me want to step up my game.

3. Just go. I debated going to SheStreams because…well..I don’t “stream” and it seemed like an advanced type of blogging conference. Plus it was 600 miles away and I’m 8 months pregnant and…there were many more excuses but they were just excuses.  I was offered a sponsorship and I am so glad I took it! I brought the whole family for a great Spring Break trip.  We tagged on a couple days in Palm Beach at The Breakers (more on that soon) and had an amazing vacation.   I learned a lot and met some really cool people (and the swag bags were pretty awesome too).  I’m so glad I went with my gut and didn’t let my excuses win!

Disclosure: I was given a sponsorship for my SheStreams trip from BSM Media and MomSelect.  I was not asked to write a post or do anything in exchange for this sponsorship.  As always, all opinions are my own.