BlogSummit Agenda

Alarm has ensured I awoke in plnety of time to have the essential two coffees to wake me up, catch up on social media, shower and prepare to travel. I am so excited, as I learned so much from last year's BlogCamp, which I live-blogged (q.v.) during the event, and I am again hoping to do similarly.

I have been sent an agenda - but till I actually get to the venue and the session opens - who knows what might happen! Here it is, in case you have misplaced your own copy...

"The day will kick off around 10am with a welcome from our sponsors, Volvo Cars and Cow & Gate. The support of these brands is what allows us to keep BlogSummit free of charge for bloggers, and we encourage you to say hello to the brands attending on the day, if they're relevant to you! 

In the morning, we will be opening up with an inspiring session with Sarah McIntyre, who will talk about how she uses blogging to build a community, to keep creatively inspired and provide a platform for her very successful illustrated books. 

Next up, Ben Wakeling will be sharing his story of working with a charity to co-publish a book, as well as offering insights on dealing with online negativity and criticism. 

Ruth Arnold of Geek Mummy will be running a tech clinic, with tips for bloggers at all levels on blogging essentials that aren't as tricky as you might have thought! From backing up your blog to personalising your blog design, we'll have user-friendly tips to make you a fully fledged blogging ninja.  

After lunch, our sessions will kick off with a panel of expert food bloggers sharing tips on how to present food content that will get your readers' taste buds tingling. Our bloggers will be sharing tips on working with food brands, presenting recipes, getting great photos for your blog - and much more. 

Finally, we'll be looking at the ever-popular issue of working with brands, with tips from the Tots100 and Foodies100 team, followed by a brand panel featuring PR guests who will be chatting about opportunities to work with their brands and clients.  There will be plenty of time for Q&A and sharing of your own experiences in this session."

[Image description: TOTS100 logo]

Thanks to TOTS100 for inviting me! %D

By the by, the Twitter hashtag ( # ) for the event is #blogsummit.

See you all shortly - I'm the shy, disabled guy...

BlogCamp: Review

The level of concentration required for live-blogging BlogCamp last Saturday was enough to knock me for six over the past few days. (See previous five posts all of differing length!) My dyscognition flared with a vengeance; apart from my body succumbing to between twenty and twenty-two hours of sleep per twenty-four hours. This has meant my usual routine of keeping apprised of current events globally, nationally and amongst my relatives, friends and acquaintances via social media has also taken to the back-burner. I still feel completely shattered; but in a rare moment of cognitive clarity, I thought I had best blog before I faze out again!

[Image description: BlogCamp logo ©]

I thoroughly enjoyed the live-blogging aspect. It was great to convey instant impressions and perceptions. Although, I was unable to keep as strict an eye on my grammar and vocabulary as I would normally, due to time limitations and the need to publish asap (as soon as possible). Furthermore the established comfort of my shelf of dictionaries, grammars and thesauri was not readily available to me as at home. This forgoing of some aspects of control felt liberating. Perhaps another behemoth aspect of my OCD has been slain?

BlogCamp was not what I had expected. Partly this is because the announced agenda was supposedly to include usage and development of Google’s Google+, which did not come to pass, and partly because I, erroneously as it transpired, anticipated a blogging-for-beginners course. Unfortunately for the uninitiated, such as myself, the language of blogging is an impenetrable jargon and alas no glossary was provided. This site was mentioned, that app and t’other plug-in. A-huh: no idea what was being discussed for much of the time; it could have been quantum mechanics for all I knew!

Nonetheless, I did glean the odd gem of information and in due course I shall attempt to apply these to my own blog. I definitely think that video-blogging is the way to go for me. This is partly because visuals are one of the most sought-after types of information, and thus likely to increase traffic to the blog. However, from my perspective as a disabled person, I can imagine that speaking my ideas etc. might be an easier way to access my blog for blind and partially sighted folk. The only draw-back I potentially foresee, is the looming of my stutter/stammer. Although, if I learn how to edit my videos, I ought to be able to work around this impairment.

For someone sensitive to sound, the din of around one hundred womenfolk all attempting to make themselves heard was a veritable cacophony. For the most part I retreated to the relative calm of the venue hall whilst the hens clacked away in the communal zones.

Interestingly, the vast majority of bloggers in attendance were female. This could be due to the organisers predilection for baby, toddler and foodie blogs. Or perhaps this is true in general in the blogosphere? Still, I did chat to several lovely ladies, some of whom wish to remain in virtual contact.

I left BlogCamp at The Studio with a contented smile on my face and a sated stomach - what more could one hope for?

BlogCamp: Part Four

Ruth @geekmummy talked about video-blogging. Her main justification is that YouTube is the internet’s second biggest search-engine. I see the wisdom in her justification.

However, given my caution on using imagery and thus Pinterest, I doubt very much I could yet make the leap into video. Nonetheless, I perceive immediately that this would be a great way to discuss ideas and notions. It was suggested by a member of the audience that, instead of talking to camera solo, have someone to chat with to add a more realistic dynamic.

There then ensued a Big Bang Theory nerdy, geeky discussion of technology. ¿Qué? … Oh lordy!

BlogCamp: Part Three

So, I now know that the expert blogger is named Cathy James (and her blog is NutureStore). She has an extremely clear delivery and good enunciation. She is full of creative and common-sensical concepts.

Pinterest - everyone knows what it is, Cathy avers. I am the only dissenter. I must be so out of it. Folk keep mentioning this site, that site, this app, that app. I think an interactive white-board may have been useful so that key names could have been flashed for reference.

Pinterest looks fabulous. I shall have to ponder how I might use it. This blog is primarily an ideas and notions pool. I have added photos and pictures to retain interest especially on longer blogs. Could these images be turned into gateways to my blog? I am sure it is possible.

BlogCamp: Part Two

Did not catch the speaker's name, but she set out with some clear goals:

1 community

2 feedback & ideas

3 traffic

4 extending your influence beyond bloggers (on Facebook as opposed to Twitter)

5 secret societies

But very quickly I was lost in the expert bloggers' lingo, an impenetrable jargon full of references to alien beings or Latin plant names for all I knew.

Colin-Roy Hunter ‏@criquaer

#BlogCamp: I have no idea what the speaker is going on about: it's like a foreign language. Using too much jargon... %S

Colin-Roy Hunter ‏@criquaer

#BlogCamp I need really basic stuff - I'm completely lost now! %(

Pee break & bland latte ensued.

BlogCamp: Part One

Well, after struggling with Manchester city centre’s notorious one-way system, and only a couple of screaming matches with my (wonderful) driver because I cannot tell the difference between left and right (never could), we almost drove past 51 Lever Street. I was looking for The Studio. The name was on a billboard inside the foyer, not on the outside. The window-wall was however emblazoned with huge numerals denoting 51. Driver kindly reversed and deposited me on the kerbside - too high for me to mount; so I walked to the corner to hobble across the dropped kerb. And so to the entrance. Thankfully, a very kind concierge came to my assistance and bade me welcome whilst directing me to the third floor via the lift (elevator).

A couple joined me and prattled on the journey up, through the doors and then assumed I would open a pull-door whilst laden with two bags, a hoodie and walking assisted by two sticks - Oops! Suddenly brought their conversation to a rather abrupt halt as they realised they would have to affect ingress.

Inside, I eventually managed to get the very pretty receptionist to speak loud enough for me to hear what she was attempting to convey. She pointed me in the direction of coffee machines, seats and pastries - CAKE! I joined the queue for coffee. Alas, by the time I reached the equipment coffee was there none. Hot chocolate, hot chocolate or hot water were the only items on the menu. Erm… hot chocolate then.

After half a beaker of a so-so beverage, and a tasteless (but gratis) apple Danish, I sat down to type. A lass who had said, “Hello” whilst I was noshing, came over and sat down beside me. Heather and I had a good natter, before the hordes began to stream into the debating chamber.

10.30 Welcome to BlogCamp

10.45 Boost your blog audience

11.45 Coffee break

12.00 Become a video star

12.45 Lunch

1.30 Photo wizardry

2.30 Coffee & cake

3.00 Getting things done