My friend Janssen recently created the Say Hi Society as a local, affordable alternative to some of the big blog conferences that all the cool kids seem to attend. (I’m looking at you, Alt Summit!) Janssen is pretty hard core when it comes to blogging–she’s really good at what she does–so I was excited to see what she would pull together.
The first event was a couple weeks ago and, no surprises, it was great. It included all my favorite things about blogger events: wonderful people, tasty treats (courtesy of Sodalicious), and solid info on how to be a better blogger.
 |
| Megan + me + Alicia being utterly ridiculous. Which is exactly why I love these people. |
Alex of AVE Styles taught us how to up our Pinterest game. Honestly, it’s not something I’d ever given much thought to; mostly I use Pinterest to get inspiration and find yummy recipes. But since I started using some of Alex’s tips I’m already seeing more engagement and gaining followers on Pinterest. Girl clearly knows what she’s talking about!
Heather shared some great info on working with brands as a social media influencer. I was thrilled to chat with her for a few minutes about what she does as a campaign coordinator for Collective Bias. When she found out I’ve been blogging for a decade and have never made a dime, she was shocked.
I can’t say I blame her. That’s a long time to commit to something you aren’t paid for! Of course, my blog has evolved quite a bit since it started. I’m not writing under a pseudonym any more, for one, and my content isn’t quite so random. But I enjoy writing and taking photos. I’ve made some truly wonderful friends through blogging. I’m grateful I’ve kept it up all these years. That said, I’m ready to do more.
 |
| Janssen + Brooke. More wonderful human beings. (Just out of frame: the anonymous Feisty Harriet, who is as great in person as she is online.) |
Part of my plan for transferring to a new site includes working with sponsors and affiliate networks in the hopes of bringing in a few extra dollars. I wanted to get a little more guidance in that area from this Say Hi event…and I totally did. But I’m still nervous.
I’d hate to start sounding like a commercial or feel like a sellout. I don’t want to feel obligated to write; I want to write because it brings me joy. Turning this into a “real job” means risking some of that, which worries me.
And yet…what do I have to lose? If I decide I hate writing sponsored posts, I can stop. If I’m working too hard and not making enough to feel like my efforts are justified, I can slow down. Our family doesn’t need additional income, so anything I get out of this is cream.
Mostly, I hope you’ll be patient with me as I navigate these changes. It’ll be a new challenge to balance authenticity and monetization. Wish me luck!
All photos by Red Poppy Photo.
I'm still ruminating on all the stuff I learned that evening. It was a lovely event and I am so glad that I got to meet some of the lovely Arizona bloggers. I've also been blogging for a decade and haven't ever earned any money from my blogging. I'm still trying to decide if I'm cool with that, or if I'd rather pursue sponsorships, partnerships, and the rest of it.
So many things to think about and decisions to make!
xox
Seriously. Why does it feel like such a massive decision? I'm glad I'm not alone in trying to figure things out.
How did I miss this?! I totally want to go! Sounds like so much fun!
There will be another in April. Check the FB page to stay updated!
So. I have this really really love/hate relationship with people being able to make money from blogging. Because any sponsored post is bound to be at least somewhat contrived, right? Because you HAVE to write about that product/service. And so I wish you the best of luck and at the same time, my heart feels so sad about this. But, I am one person, who apparently is way out of loop on the blogger train, and so you should definitely NOT just take my opinion. And yes. I am conflicted and this comment is awkward and I still think you are awesome and wonderful and I'm just going to stop now.
Not awkward. It's something I've been mulling over for ages because I reeeeally worry about not being true to myself. I can promise I won't EVER endorse something I don't feel good about. Honesty and transparency is way too important to me.
Hopefully you won't be too sad once the ball gets rolling. I'm hoping to keep things pretty much the same as ever around here…just with a small paycheck for my time.
You are so nice! Thanks for coming and being awesome. I love how thoughtful you are being about the direction of your blog.