My BlogHer12: Final Recap with Tips, Links and More

Most people think of the BlogHer conference in New York as just an event for those ..well, you know... "mommy bloggers"!

Well, well let me tell you - mommy blogger convention or not there were speakers from the

PRESIDENT of the United States

Martha Stewart

and Katie Couric, among many others

over the past few days and Katie Couric even sends a prepared message in advance!

 I can't wait for her new show

I have met the most interesting bloggers and vloggers of every type, shape, size, and sex and field of expertise. Yes, it is true. BlogHer attendees also include men! (I say actually they are the smart ones, standing out among a sea of very interesting women).. anyway I digress.

So, some of you have been read all about how Olioboard.com sent me as their Brand Ambassador here and following my LIVE coverage on twitter @decaporter #BlogHer12 feed, which I thank you for. I feel like it is the best way to share with all of those that cannot be in the room, even if they are at BlogHer but just in another session, what I am learning and the key points that I am taking away from them.




The panelists have been wonderful and very generous with all of their great advice and tips
I am going to bullet point some of the key highlights from the sessions I attended and hopefully you too will feel like you can make your blog a better place for your audience:

• Brand Building:
• Pay attention to what brands what, content they are missing
• its not only about the numbers, it is always about the content and the engagement of your readers. (Hint, Hint: Please engage here !)
• Your new Mantra for those of you that want to start advertising and monetizing your blogs: "I am Real Estate. You can Invest Here."
• Strategic Planning Across Multiple Platforms
• Collect data (You Tube & Facebook Insights) that allow you to become an expert in what your readers want to hear from you
• www.crowdbootser.com a good link for this
• SEO for Bloggers
• Make sure that the User Experience on your blog is Optimized.
• No dead links - anywhere - Google will penalize your ranking.
• Keep old posts updated by going back and adding new content.
• Pay special attention to those posts that get the most traffic.
• even on Blog Roll (make sure those blogs exist, and are fresh)
• Keep your reader involved by linking throughout to other areas of your site, other social media platforms

and don't forget the power of your voice.

• Using Your Influence to Make a Difference
• Bloganthropy.com hosted a panel with many great bloggers that share and use their experience to benefit others. Through tragedy and loss they have saved lives, made new laws, and intrinsically made a difference in thousands of lives.
• I encourage you all to visit and click through - hopefully they might be able to touch a subject that is close to your hear and make a difference for you as well. 

Lastly, as I know that so many I met in person at BlogHer were excited to hear about how they could use Olioboard themselves and the fun and very engaged community that exits there. So I thought I would share a few dedicated posts from some really fine bloggers and friends online that have written all about Mom Sanctuaries just in time for you all to live the fine life in your last month of summer before you kick back into Mommy Mode.

Mom Sanctuaries - Ideas for You from 13 Olioboard Community Members!

Lesley of http://chaoticallycreative.com/2012/07/30/momspots-oliohop/
Kate of http://dabbleinchic.blogspot.com/2012/07/oliohop-momspot.html
Marilyn of http://design-magnifique.com/2012/07/30/designing-momspots-oliohop-olioboard/
Michelle of http://www.fashionhouseinteriors.net/blog/2012/7/29/my-perfect-mom-retreat-momspots-olioboard-blog-hop-3.html
Colette of http://www.frugal-finds.net/blog/2012/7/28/oliohop-mom-spaces-no-i-dont-have-a-big-announcement-to-make.html
Julie of http://gosimplysavvy.com/2012/07/30/simply-savvy-olioboard-inspiration-where-women-retreat/
Jennifer of http://jenniferreynoldsinteriors.com/2012/07/a-sanctuary-designed-just-for-this-mom/
Joanne of http://homestyling101.blogspot.ca/2012/07/oliohop-mom-spot-link-up-with-us.html
Antoinette of http://pushinteriors.blogspot.ca/2012/07/moodboard-monday-olioboard-blog-hop-3.html
Katrina of http://seasideinteriors.ca/?p=1330
Selma of http://blog.selmahammer.com/post/28333671473/what-moms-need-oliohop-3
Stacy of http://stacynaquininteriors.com/blog/2012/is-your-bedroom-a-sanctuary/
Olivia of http://swaygrl.blogspot.com/2012/07/momhop-oliohop-spots-for-mom-to-escape.html


Hope you have loved the journey, and have connected with some new blogger friends.
Thank you again to Olioboard for asking me to share the #OlioLove with all at BlogHer I really had a wonderful time.

BlogHer 2012: Day 1 with OLIOBOARD on my mind

Getting out the door, driving with the rush hour excitement into the heart of New York City and walking into the entrance of the hotel for #BlogHer12 was really a great way to start this experience.

My first day was jam packed and I will need to spend a day digesting everything so I thought I would share a little bit about Olioboard and what it actually is for those of you that are new friends from #BlogHer12 that might not know.

Olioboard.com is an online social 2D & 3D moodboard generator, WITH the added bonus of having a great selection of 150,000 + products which you can drag & drop into your board from amazing partner brands, such as Posh Tots, Layla Grace, Zinc Door, and many more.

collect sets and items Build your collection with fabulous items, color swatches, fabric samples, materials & more.

create a moodboard An Olioboard (or moodboard) is yours to craft -- an interactive tool to experiment with the style and mood of a space.

share your style Quickly explore design directions, get feedback, and share your style with others.

A few fun facts:

1. Olioboard is based in Vancouver, Canada HQ’d and started in June 2010.


2. In February, 2012, MASHABLE named Olioboard as one of their: Top Ten Hot New Tech Startups Changing the Face of Retail and they were also featured on the Today Show, the Nate Berkus Show and City Line Canada.


3. In April 2012, One Kings Lane became the first flash sale site to become a super affiliate partner and Benjamin Moore announced a formal color partnership with Olioboard’s site.


4. Today the numbers have skyrocketed to over 83,000 active community members and counting and has pageviews in the millions. It is truly incredible the positive response that it has received.

These were the boards that I made for The Nate Berkus SHow from the selection of product we were given. They can be simple or a little more realistic - whatever is easier for you.

So all you have to do, is create a login, start creating your mood boards by dragging & dropping the pictures and its all for free. (and if you have a product line, you can add it to Olioboard and earn money by making your collection shoppable!!) Oh ya, baby (no pun intended).


I even made up these big Biz Cards for #BlogHer12
Aren't they cute?

AND if that wasn't enough, and if you are a Pinterest fan (KIND OF LIKE ME) than you can always add any PIN you have collected (of course as long as its not copyrighted) or upload images from your computer to your Olioboard account.

Plus, Olioboard’s can be kept private or made public. What does that mean to you?

1. If you just want to use the great moodboard generator and the access to MANY, MANY great brands products to generate boards for your blog - than that would be great too! What a time saver.
2. If you want to benefit from referral site traffic - give it your best and promote yourself and your blog.
3. Another great idea is to participate in the contests and fun events such as these community members did - and look what they got! A fantastic opportunity to possibly become the next High Point Market Style Spotter! I was lucky enough to be one last Market (check out my finds on Pinterest here and here ) and I understand why there were so many applicants - it was a huge opportunity and alot of fun.

Olioboard Contest to Select 9th Style Spotter for High Point Market this October

 

Everyone will be able to vote for their favorite Olioboard. When voting closes on Aug. 22, the design with the most votes will win and the finalist will be named to the Style Spotters for the October Market.

The winner will join this great group of Style Spotters in October:

Each of the 15 finalists were given a limited set of products to use by only High Point manufacturers who are exhibitors at Market and the results are great!

Only YOUR votes will decide which lucky lady out of 15 gets to go, and there is less than 19 days to vote! Please help spread the #OlioLove for this contest by sharing the voting link far and wide! It's a VERY BIG deal for the one finalist chosen by the public's votes! --> Here's the link to share so everyone can see the entries and vote! http://olioboard.com/challenges/150-highpoint-featured-contest #OlioLove, thank you and good luck to all!

christydavis karalegako idhmedecor curatedhouse selmahammerdesigns lauravanzeyl denisemcgaha jeaninehays

lisamendedesign jrinteriors theenglishroom time2design denisemcgaha swaygrl jonivanderslice nestnestnest

So you see, its fun, its free, and most of all its easy to use.Why not give it a try and come back and let me know what you think!

*please note: I am sponsored to attend the BlogHer 12 conference on behalf of Olioboard. However, any thoughts I have expressed in this post are genuine .. I wouldn't say them otherwise!

Back in the Saddle: BLOGHER here I come!

So as some of you that still follow me know (thanks guys!), I have been on a little ..or maybe not so little now..hiatus of sorts. I pop in and out of the online SM platforms. I really have been trying my very best to stay engaged and up to speed with everything that happens in the 24 hour cycle of Twitter et al.

I love this blog.
I love blogging.
I actually think I love "talking" blog & design online (and sometimes this blog too) even more than that!
But, I am a working Interior Designer. That is what I do and really when all is said and one, that is who I am and maybe why I love sharing what I see and get to do on the blog.
I struggle, like I know so many of you do to, finding the time to go out and get inspired, to actually experience moments of "great content" and still come back and share those moments in a way that I feel is in keeping with what you and I expect of this blog.

So what am I rambling on about?

http://www.blogher.com/blogher-12

Well, I wanted to explain a little about the adventure that I am about to embark on as I happily accepted the invitation by Olioboard.com CEO Sheilah MacSporran and SM Guru Leslie Carothers of The Kaleidoscope Partnership to attend  BLOGHER 2012 with on their behalf as they work their way throught Las Vegas Market.

What is BlogHer '12? Only an event in it's 3rd year with 4000+ ultra powerful bloggers & mommy bloggers alike as they take Manhattan by storm!
Did you read that right -> 4,000 bloggers in 1 city??    YES!
Such an important event within the context of the power of Social Media that it draws the atention of none other than President Obama himself, who will be speaking to us!

Why me?? !! When I first came across Olioboard I wrote about it here... and early this year, I was lucky enough to be part of the Olioboard segment on The NATE BERKUS SHOW and had the pleasure of having my room win the big reveal.

 (watch that moment here)

and well, although I am not exactly a "Mommy Blogger"... I am a Mom, a designer for many Moms, a Blogger and hopefully will be able to share the #OlioLove with each one of the great new friends I make while I am dashing between panels.

So as I start to think about what I will need to do while there (there is a 120 page guide by the way, & an APP) I began to go through some of the posts with great advice from past attendees and these 2 Tips stood out by Blogger JennaHatfield

"Last Minute Tips, Advice and Encouragement for BlogHer '12        

1. Attend at least one panel each day that you have absolutely no reason to attend.... There is no greater way to stretch your blogging wings, get new ideas, find inspiration to try new things, and grow as a blogger.

Check!

2. Don't hold yourself to too much of a structure over the weekend. Go with the flow ..

Um.. Ok, I will try! Check!

So, on that note,
I will leave you as I go paint my Nails an Olioboard blue..



So, thank you to Olioboard.com for this great oppurtunity.
Much more on my BlogHer '12 days / My Olioboard sharing / & Mommy Blogging experience over the next few days.
xo