Last year, I had the great honor of speaking at Gina McCauley's annual Blogging While Brown Conference in Washington, DC. Along with Nichelle Stephens and Navarrow Wright, I spoke on a panel entitled: “The Business of Blogging: BEYOND Ad Networks”.
I enjoyed sharing how blogging has enhanced my life, and how a blog is not a business plan (here, in big letters for emphasis). (Both messages are vital.) I also had a chance to share my “UPRAT” acronym (starting at 03:43), and some tips for attracting sponsors and other collaborators to your blog.
My Co-Panelists
Nichelle Stephens is a founding editor at Cupcakes Take The Cake, a blog about, well, cupcakes. She is the editor of the NAACP Image Award winning Pepsi We Inspire, a branded lifestyle blog and community for African American women. Navarrow Wright is president of Maximum Leverage Solutions, a consulting firm that delivers internet and social media strategy consulting as well as technology development consulting to its clients.
Discussion Details and Time Stamps
In case you want to scroll forward to items of particular interest to you, here are some time stamps:
01:15: Nichelle Stephens shares her (many) blogs and what she has learned in 5 years of blogging. She discusses the need for a blog to have a niche, how a blog adds personal wealth (even if not financial wealth) to your life, and how to use a blog to build your brand.
03:43: Me, sharing my experiences journaling and blogging since 2001, and emphasizing that “The Media Is You!” I discuss how to use a blog as a natural extension of an existing business. I also discuss how your blog is your media outlet and how to embrace your inner journalist. My “UPRAT” acronym is also discussed: U-You; P-Plan; R-Research; A-Aim; T-Technology.
08:05: Navarrow Wright sharing about blogging his many passion, and using video and live streaming. He also discusses the important distinction between that act of blogging and the act of managing a blogging business. This is significant, and I encourage you to think about what this means for you and your blog.
15:40: Me, discussing how and why I “put myself out there” and just have fun with it! This little snippet is useful for those of you who are avoiding using video at your blog because your nails are not done and every hair is not in place. (Hint: no one cares …)
Gina McCauley will host the next Blogging While Brown Conference in Los Angeles from July 8-10, 2011. Get the details here.
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