Tuesday 21 May 2013

What I learnt from the Voices of 2013 Masterclass...

I wrote last week of my fears due to my social anxiety, and I'll tell you right now, when I walked in and saw everyone chatting and the wedding style round tables I almost turned tail and ran! I walked up to the emptiest table I could find (less chance of rejection) and asked Sara-May from Makeup Utopia if the seat next to her was taken. Phew. I had a seat...after chatting briefly, I was fixing up my name tag and praying that they'd hurry up and start, when the very friendly Amanda from A Cooker and a Looker came over and introduced herself. I can not describe that moment of relief, feeling I had a friend in the place (even though we had never met before)! I appreciated it so much - and replied like a moron 'oh, I wouldn't have recognised you, with your hair up'. I realised what I actually meant was, I wouldn't have recognised you unless you had your long hair out and were holding a baby, exactly like your cover photo, but we've already covered my lack of powers of observation, so I don't really need to dwell on that further.

I met quite a few more than my task of 3, but special mention needs to go to Maddie from Colour Me There who was there with her most darling little baby! The 4 week old didn't make a peep the whole afternoon - and was in the most fashionable baby bjorn I'd ever seen - that was how we started talking, I was staring at the material thinking it was nicer than what I was wearing...(baby 1: Me 0).

I'll be honest, I was relieved when my socialising in the next break was cut short by a number of left messages from a friends husband about taking my son to the footy that night. By the time I'd talked to both parties and made the relevant plans, the break was almost done...

There are lots of eloquent blog posts of the afternoon floating out there at the moment, so mine is of the short point variety - what spoke to me in particular, but I can recommend this post by Karen Jane Charlton of the Rhythm Method: She sums up the inspiring speech by Hailey Bartholomew perfectly.

Now the useful stuff that I learnt:
1. Even when someone says no, find someone else who'll say yes.
2. Just keep going, just keep writing
3. Remember the internet is forever - if you're in doubt, don't post it.
4. Don't let self doubt get the better of you (HA!) - question it, refine it and then just do it for yourself.

On more practical matters:
1. Have a logo, and nice fonts; have simple navigation and don't clutter it up.
2. Make use of the google image titles.
3. Know why you blog

On PR and Advertising agencies:
1.They don't just look at the blog reader numbers, they look at the other social media followers/presence as well
2.Get your face in their face
3.Remember the relationship is with the ad agency not the brand.
4.Every time you write for a brand, you lose a reader, so you need to weigh up if it's really something you want to do.

While I wouldn't say I mastered the masterclass, I did learn a lot and I'm really glad I went.  Lots of food for thought, and it's always good to step out of your comfort zone, just to see what's out there.

Torshlusspanik List:
1. Shooting (check)
2. Fencing (check)
3. Play croquet at Croquet Club
4. Laser skeet
5. Off road buggy driving
6. Play Assassins Creed
7. Jetpacking (check)
8. The Color Run (check)
9. Invent something
10. Cooking Masterclass (check)
11. Master a Masterclass (check)
I fled with a marvellous goodie bag (as if the information wasn't reward enough!) and would like to thank Kidspot and all those involved in the organisation of such a great event. For a little fish like me, it was such a great opportunity.




Lastly, while I don't know these people, I thought I'd put up the link as part of community spirit. A blogger and her partner were recently killed in a car accident, and their children were orphaned, so if anyone is interested in donating to a trust that's been set up, here is a link: http://meetmeatmikes.com/2013/05/please-help/

And linking up with some grace for FYBF...See who else swung by here


24 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had a good time - I will hold onto this post when I go to Problogger in September and be inspired by what you did so I can do the same !!!
    Have the best day !
    Me

    ReplyDelete
  2. Inspirec? I think you're missing the point that I didn't actually do it right....but worth that awkwardness for all that you'll learn. Maybe I'll come too and we can natter to ourselves...Interesting, Interiors Addict did a blog on self doubt this week, and she seemed so confident and successful - and yet when she raised it on the panel, I just assumed they were saying to make people like me feel better, and that they didn't really feel that way anymore (It's all about me ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was glad to have a friend too Lydia! Plus I'm glad I left the Little Sister at home - she wouldn't have been anywhere near as well behaved as Maddie's beautiful baby!
    Well done on sharing that link - it had totally slipped my mind. I'm off to donate now. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My 9 year old wouldn't have been as quiet!! ;)

      Delete
  4. I felt the same in the lead up to DPCON13. I was so relieved to have run into someone coming out of the car park, struck up a conversation and we walked in together. I wasn't alone! It's funny the thoughts we have and yet all it takes is to open your mouth and say hi to someone.
    It sounds like you got a great deal out of it all round :)
    Becc @ Take Charge Now

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did get a great deal...now to put it in place.

      Delete
  5. I felt exactly the same at DPCON13. It's hard to put yourself out there nd walk in to a room full of people that you don't actually know, even if you have been reading all about them online! So glad you enjoyed it and had a lovely time.

    Good job sharing the link for Kathreen & Rob's kids. I knew Kathreen a little bit through work, she reviewed books for us on Whipup and I was in total shock when I heard the news last week. So tragic. I hope they are able to raise lots of money for her poor children.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did worry it might be upsetting for people that knew her, but I figured the end goal was probably more important.

      Delete
  6. I found this particularly interesting: 4.Every time you write for a brand, you lose a reader, so you need to weigh up if it's really something you want to do.

    So thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There was a lot of talk about not selling your soul for a bag of bread. It seemed to be an in joke everyone knew about - but me.

      Delete
  7. Eek god I can sympathise with your social anxiety! I suffer from (self diagnosed but I fit all the criteria) prosopamnesia - a selective neurological impairment in the ability to learn new faces - which makes meeting new people especially in large groups especially stressful. Have I met this person before? Did I just talk to them ten minutes ago? ARGH!
    Well done on surviving and thanks for sharing the info

    I came over from FYBF :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm quite easily forgettable, so I figure I can always pretend it wasn't me, next time we meet...

      Delete
  8. Every time you write for a brand you lose a reader - interesting, I write for brands all the time, the trick is saying no much more than saying yes and this can be a learning thing all on its own. In the early days I wasn't sure what I was doing so much, but a couple of years is a long time in blog land.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think Veggie Mama said that (I didn't write who said what, unfortunately) but I thought it was interesting that it came from a big bucks blogger...(I mean that with respect, if it reads badly - I mean successful money making blogger)

      Delete
  9. Excellent stuff!!
    Sounds very worthwhile.
    Thanks for sharing :)
    Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can see you are a role model for Cheer Chick Charlie ;)

      Delete
  10. Congratulations on overcoming your social anxiety and going to this event! I understand (trust me!). It sounds like it was amazing! Eeekk....I need a logo! The death of the blogging couple and their children being orphaned is so terribly tragic. :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I need a logo, and pretty much everything else they said...

      Delete
  11. Thanks for sharing L - I have much to learn about blogging - I bet it was hard busting out, but go you! Em x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Enjoyed reading this, great you got lots out of it. Bloggers are friendly and fun, and so helpful to each other. Great pals.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sounds like you had an awesome time! I always knew you would! And lucky you for meeting Amanda! I bet she's just as lovely IRL!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I know exactly how you feel walking into events like that - it's really daunting but there are always friendly faces. Thanks for the tips - always good to learn more. BTW i just wanted to thank you for being such a consistent blogging buddy - i really appreciate it Lydia, kimx

    ReplyDelete
  15. It would have been great to have gotten to go - glad you took the plunge and got so much out of it. Hoping we can meet up at a future session one day!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like you took a lot home with you. Why don't I know about these things until after the event? This happens every time. I guess I should use Twitter more. x

    ReplyDelete