Camp Blogaway

Food Bloggers, here are five solid goals for your 2010 list:

1. Vastly improve my food photography.
2. Refine my content quality: recipe writing, style, voice and proper attributions.
3. Grow my readership via smarter SEO techniques.
4. Gain precious face-time with food bloggers to expand my circle of support and contacts.
5. Strengthen my grasp of the blogging “business” and what’s out there for me – corporate contacts, PR folks, tax insights, monetizing.

For a serious kick-start, plan to attend Camp Blogaway Bootcamp for Food & Recipe Bloggers May 14-16 in the beautiful mountains of sunny Southern California (near Big Bear).

The jam-packed itinerary addresses all this and more at a great value: $325 registration includes two nights’ lodging, all meals and sessions, valuable workbook, plus all the fun you can stuff into a weekend away from the hassles of work and home. Early January, we’ll finalize registrations, so HURRY and pre-register.  

By Patti Londre, blogger at Worth The Whisk

Here are five top things food bloggers have told me they want most from their blogging efforts:

1. To grow traffic to their blogs. Aside from validation for delivering valuable and worthy content, visitor traffic produces real payoffs: money, visibility, deals, success. Many blog platforms provide statistical information that is quite insightful. And bloggers admit to often obsessing about their traffic to the point that their stats drive them crazy. Growing traffic is a complicated challenge, and that’s why networking with other bloggers really helps shed light on this topic.

2. To be treated as bona fide media. Bloggers influence consumers just like magazines, TV, newspapers, radio. And many feel strongly that their influence ranks up there for such considerations as trade show press badges, junkets, swag, backstage passes and more. Getting to that level of respect is a strong desire and a blog’s traffic is key to opening that door — sometimes, but not always. Personal contacts often can override the roadblock of lackluster stats.

3. To make decent money. Not every blog has ads, but lots of bloggers earn income via subsequent cookbook deals, speaking engagements, spokesperson work, freelance copywriting, teaching assignments and other prized gigs. Little ads don’t pay many bills. Decent money is a valid goal, and dovetailing efforts to build income from a variety of sources is a lucrative approach.

4. To be recognized as a brand. In this growing pool, each really wants to establish themselves as unique for their content, talent, style, outlook. Standing apart matters to many bloggers. How to do that is a constant struggle in this highly competitive field, yet making a name for yourself is the most effective method to step away from the herd.

5. To be wooed by money gatekeepers. Joining the elite circle of marketing insiders is a major springboard to the big leagues. PR agencies, advertising agencies, research firms, publishing houses, corporate marketing departments are the People With Money to Spend. For bloggers, making their acquaintance can be the Holy Grail. It’s not easy, but it’s doable.

Helping bloggers achieve their goals is the mission of Camp Blogaway. In addition to educational sessions, the on-site camaraderie and networking opportunities at Camp are invaluable. Successful bloggers will tell you, attending a blogging conference makes a big impact on your blog’s future. Join us May 14-16 in the beautiful Southern California mountains.

Blogging conference, here you come! Is this your first? An old pro? Not everyone is a natural self-promoter, yet putting a little effort into your visibility can greatly enhance your attendance value.

Many of our campers have succeeded in landing a business to “sponsor” their attendance – GREAT!  At Camp Blogaway, we work hard to ensure attendees meet and mingle, but YES — bloggers are encouraged to “think marketing,” too.  Here are five ways* to maximize your visibility, or that of your sponsor at Camp – they’re easy and cheap!

1. Bring business cards. Blog name/logo, URL, your name, email, twitter, Facebook. No need for phone or address.
2. Make use of the Networking Table for flyers, business cards — especially if you have been “sponsored” to attend. Consider standing out on that table. How about a Signature Recipe? A postcard from Camp? Invitation for a fun contest? Luggage tags?  Whatever you do should be easy to carry home and good enough for someone to not toss in the trash. 
3. Give away a nibble. How about a candy with your card attached? An imprinted lollypop, or other cute snack. Two things are important here – first, that your goodie doesn’t appear to give an impression you are a “sponsor of Camp,” and second, proper packaging. Don’t be the one whose goodie leaked or melted in suitcases.
4. Wear your logo. This is easy. Just buy a packet of Ink Jet T-Shirt transfers and iron yourself up a logo shirt or apron. FUN. 
5. Follow-up. Attendees will receive contact info for all our bloggers, sponsors, speakers, staff.  Making a real effort to reconnect once home is a valuable way to help you make things happen for your blog.

*Note – While here, we request attendees respect Camp Blogaway’s wonderful sponsors by ONLY promoting your blogs or personal sponsors via the methods, above.  Registered campers receive additional info on this topic in their Registration Packet.  Any questions, just email Fearless Leader patti@londre.com and she’ll give you a hand.

Many thanks to attendees Tastestopping, Earthbound Chronicles and Stockpiling Moms, for their input on these opportunities.