9 Ways BlogPaws will Surely Elevate Your Blog (to the next level)

You’re probably wondering what the BlogPaws 2018 conference is about. Maybe you’re just starting to come up with your blog post ideas.

Or maybe you haven’t even started your blogging journey yet.

Perhaps you’re like me and ready to take your blog to the next level and get to the know other members of the blogging community and finesse how to do pet influencer campaigns?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above ….you’ve come to the right place.

In todays’ post I’m going to cover all the reasons why you attend no matter where you are in your own blogging journey.

But before I start, let’s cover the conference basic FAQs

What and when is the 2018 Blog Paws Conference?

BlogPaws is an online social media group for Pet Bloggers.  Every year they host a conference that brings all the bloggers and brands together.  This year marks their tenth year anniversary and it will be held between April 18 and 20, 2018.

Can I bring my pet to BlogPaws?

Absolutely.  The best part is that you can bring your dog or cat with you and they can join you for all of the sessions.

Where can I hear from others who have attended?

The best place to start are with the BlogPaws Ambassadors.  This year they are.

Jenise Carl: Happy-Go-Doodle

Elizabeth Kenne: Chronicles of Cardigan

Alison Reder: Sarcastic Dog

Joely Smith: Fashion Beyond Forty

Dawn White: Lola The Rescued Cat

Where is it held?

The conference will take place in Kansas City, MO.
And because I’m an Instagrammer … of course the first thing I looked up was the best places to Instagram in Kansas City

And of course I needed to know how dog friendly it was. Great article via Go Pet Friendly.

How to prepare for BlogPaws

I’ve been reading up on past blog articles. And I’ve narrowed it down to three items.

Prior to the event you want to connect with pet bloggers. The attendee list can be found via 2018 conference agenda link. Once you’re on that page you want to click on the Attendee list to see who else will be there.  In doing so you can meet bloggers before the event and familiarize yourself with their blogs so you can jumpstart your face to face conversations with them. There’s also the Blog Paws Facebook Page  as well as the Blog Paws Group.

Business Cards: I’m forgoing a “press kit” in exchange for business cards that will have all of our media and social media profiles listed.

Gifts: I read a previous blog post where a blogger brought buttons that she gave out to other bloggers. I thought this was a neat idea. Kind of reminded me of that time I went to Burning Man. It was customary bring gifts for new friends. I don’t plan on making it too complicated and my top three are stickers, buttons, or pins.

So now that we’ve covered the basics… here’s the 9 epic reasons you can expect elevate your blogging brand to the next level.

1. Your Awesome Tribe:

Do you ever get the question … “So tell me what do you do again?” To which I explain that blogging and social media is really just relationship marketing … and that the digital space is just one of many communication channels.

I get the customary nod of “I think I get it but not really”. This is the conversation I always seem to find myself in especially with family members that I only see during the holiday season. Well at BlogPaws I know I’m going to meet my people. In fact it’s already starting to happen pre-event.

You see blogging is NOT easy. It normally starts off as a labor of love … and then you realize the potential in reaching a larger audience … to which you then start to learn marketing, SEO, keyword research, promotions, publishing, PR, and online networking to name a few.

What might take me an hour to create and engage on an Instagram post, might take me eight to twelve hours for a blog post. And what’s more, you don’t necessarily have an audience either. I remember starting my blog and it was like crickets.

I’d refresh my browser and the daily traffic was in the single digits. There’s more to the writing and marketing aspect to blogging. There’s the technical part too. Like that one time I updated my plugins the night before I was about to leave for the Philippines and ended up taking the whole site down.

Maybe it was a blessing in disguise because I ended up rebranding it as I rebuilt it. I didn’t sleep that night. But that was ok I caught t up on my zzzs that 13 hour plane trip to see my parents. In any event, I have a high level of respect for bloggers. It’s a selfless act especially in the beginning and a lot of lessons are learned from mistakes. I know that at this conference I’ll meet my tribe of fellow bloggers.

2. Face to face:

I’m a bit old fashioned. In spite of the fact I’ve built a business around online interactions, it the offline connections that cement me to a person.

You see I grew up in the time prior to the world wide internets. With my marketing degree I entered the space of hotel sales. In the early parts of my career, you did business by attending trade shows. There you met with your marketing prospects, and assessed if there was a brand fit. And from there you formed your business relationships for the years to come.

The internet came and we threw to the fax machines and replaced them with email. Fast forward 20+ years later social media allows one from the comfort of their seats at home, have thousands of virtual relationships. And as much as I love the efficiency of the internet…. nothing replaces face to face.

Because when you meet someone face to face, you can’t hide behind the phone or the screen. All the nuances in your body language, in sharing a conversation and laughing together only appreciated offline.

3. Mentorship

I’ve learned that you can’t go through life alone. That there are those have have forged their way ahead of you that are eager and open to help. I’m looking forward to meeting other seasoned bloggers.

To get inspired and come with new ideas. To have conversations and receive feedback from those that have already mastered a challenge I am having.. Because I know that in spite of my strengths about Instagram and social media … I have so much to learn about the world of blogging. So I come to BlogPaws to learn from mentors. And I conversely – I come open to share all that I know with others too.

4. Ridiculous Swag

Brands that are serious about connecting with bloggers will be at the event. I’ve heard stories of the ridiculous amount of swag that they provide. In fact they say. Pack light and bring a duffle back so you can bring approximately 50 pounds of swag back home. Lucky for me I’m driving so I’m not so worried about this. And what’s even better is this swag is not for you. It’s for your dog or cat. And isn’t that why you have a blog in the first place?

5. Velcro yourself to your Dog … or Cat- It’s allowed.

As we mentioned before, yes your dog and cat is allowed to attend the event with you. If you’re blogging about your pet…. then it only makes sense the source of inspiration is with you. At all times. It’s allowed!

6.  Nose to Nose Awards

Each year members of the Pet Blogger community are recognized via the Nose to Nose Awards. Last year I was so inspired that three of our friends won awards. They are: Wear Wag Repeat for Best Pet Blog DesignI Party with Bruce Wayne: Best Pet Micro Influencer Long Haul Trekkers: Best Pet Photo on a Blog

7. Unparalleled access to brands

Have you been to a chamber networking event? I have. They are boring. And a waste of time. I tried it for a year and found it wasn’t for me.

Mainly since there were thousands of members in every kind of business possible. While I was a member of the San Diego Chamber I met a variety of small businesses. And although that was great for connections … it didn’t do anything for my brand.

However I expect things to be different at Blog Paws because everyone there will be in the same industry.. Attending BlogPaws puts you face to face with companies in the pet niche.

They are eager and energetic about how bloggers can help them achieve their business goals. And they attend with the hopes that they find a brand fit. Going back to face to face interactions. You could pitch to 200 brands online and hope 3 of them write you back. Or you could attend BlogPaws and meet with brands face to face.

8. Speakers:

Each year Blog Paws brings speakers to cover topics that will benefit you as a blogger. The agenda can be found via this link to the BlogPaws conference page. Once you’re there you want to click on the Schedule link. A few topics have caught my eye such as:

Facebook Ad Essentials: What Every Page Owner Should Know and Incorporate Now

Making a Brand Swipe Right: Get The Relationship You Need With the Brands You Deserve

The Sound of Silence – Don’t Walk Alone in the Influencer Path

And last but not least the presentation I’m most excited about is the one I’m a co-panelist on:

How to Use Instagram Stories to Boost Engagement + Connect with Your Pack.

I’m honored to share this presentation with the following amazing women: Tori Mistick of Wear Wag Repeat is an old friend of mine. I’m so excited we’ll finally get to meet in real life. She and her dog Lucy won the last year for Best Blog Design. In addition to blogging, Tori is also an accomplished podcaster just as comfortable on screen starring in her own YouTube shows, or feature spots for others.

A post shared by Tori Mistick ? Dog Mom Blogger (@tmistick) on Feb 2, 2018 at 5:31am PST

Meesha Kauffman dog mom to @ipartywithbrucewayne has made me laugh on an almost daily basis. If I miss her posts I always make sure to go back and catch up. If you haven’t met her sassy Bruce Wayne you’re missing out. Oh – and while we’re at it – Bruce had puppies. Yes. Cloning is real and he has five just as sassy puppies living with him. I’m pretty sure I’m going to hear about all of their antics with his “little lady” Meesha.  Find them via their Blog via this link.

A post shared by Bruce Wayne & Co. (@ipartywithbrucewayne) on Feb 5, 2018 at 9:35am PST