450 Bloggers converged on the Australian Gold Coast this week for Problogger Event (#PBEvent), the largest Blogging Conference in Australia and arguably one of the best blogging conferences in the world.
In its 4th year now, this conference keeps getting better and better.
As with any great conference, the Twitter Feed was going off with great quotes, images and takeaways from the presentations – here are a few of the best ones from Day 1:
Held at the quirky, contemporary and uber cool hotel, QT on the Gold Coast, Darren Rowse didn’t disappoint with a mix of great speakers, fabulous food (I mean seriously, a VW Kombi Icecream Van was parked in the venue!), an amazing Friday Night “Tropicana” Party at the Hilton and a few surprises along the way.
Keynote – Darren Rowse @problogger
Darren Rowse, founder of Problogger opened the 2 day event with a fabulous Keynote about the Road Blocks to Successful Blogging. From challenges of time, to skills to comparing ourselves to other bloggers (and what to do about it), Darren had the packed room of bloggers thinking about these questions and more…and a few friends on stage to help him share his message.
‘Ask: will this opportunity take me towards my goal or away from my goals’ @problogger #pbevent — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 12, 2013
There will always be more you can do, just make peace with the fact there are things you can’t do @problogger #pbevent — Caz Craig Makepeace (@yTravelBlog) September 12, 2013
To work out what you are doing with your week, create a grid in 10 min increments and map what you are doing @problogger #pbevent — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 12, 2013
My three top bloggers block reasons are Idea Generation, Creation & Completion. At one point I had 93 drafts in Problogger! #PBEVENT — Darren Rowse (@problogger) September 12, 2013
@amyporterfield Put your mindset & desire in front of your fear. #pbevent — Donna Moritz (@SociallySorted) September 12, 2013
Nobody ends their day saying “I finished Twitter today!” LOL says @tsh at #pbevent — Cas McCullough (@casmccullough) September 12, 2013
@problogger Keep things simple and be transparent. By showing people what you don’t know you will be more relatable. #pbevent — Donna Moritz (@SociallySorted) September 12, 2013
Just off stage at #pbevent – action man @TreyRatcliff pic.twitter.com/aDDrBDK0bO — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 12, 2013
Whenever you start to panic just ask yourself: what is my core value? How can I use this fear as a learning opportunity #pbevent — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 12, 2013
Click here to tweet Darren and tell him that his conference ROCKED.
Facebook Marketing for Success – Amy Porterfield @amyporterfield
We were all truly privileged to have the wonderful Amy Porterfield make the trek to Australia to share with us all her top strategies for Facebook Marketing success. Amy had a packed house entranced with Facebook strategy after strategy! The twitter feed went crazy with quote after quote and there were plenty of takeaways for everyone to take action on their Facebook Pages.
One of the most important messages Amy shared was why it is so important to integrate email marketing with social media and Facebook – email and social are friends! Coupled with savvy engagement strategies, this was a session that had everyone excited to go away and start implementing!
#PBEvent @amyporterfield is in the (porter)house! pic.twitter.com/JGGzFSKYs1 — Liz Franzmann (@lizfranzmann) September 13, 2013
@AmyPorterfield 40% of time spent on Facebook is in newsfeed vs only 12% on page/profile so get fans to take action for engagement #pbevent — Empowered Women (@caseylightbody) September 13, 2013
If you want to see more revenue in your business, you want to ramp up email marketing #yes #sotrue @AmyPorterfield #pbevent — Cas McCullough (@casmccullough) September 13, 2013
I could listen to Amy all day long, awesome info. #pbevent pic.twitter.com/WAuxZ4QzWi — Budillionaire (@budillionaire) September 13, 2013
Use @picmonkeyapp to create great graphics http://t.co/bodo2fQQ5G @AmyPorterfield #pbevent #facebook — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
80 characters or less = 27% more engagement on Facebook @AmyPorterfield #pbevent — Celeste Mitchell (@celeste_writes) September 13, 2013
@amyporterfield People love the private stuff! Infuse the personal stuff! #pbevent — Donna Moritz (@SociallySorted) September 13, 2013
This is what engagement looks like.. #pbevent pic.twitter.com/2YC3BN5Fjx — Naomi NotJustAMummy (@NaomiCotterill) September 13, 2013
wow @AmyPorterfield key note on facebook marketing is gold…#pbevent — Mrsceeeceee (@Mrsceeeceee) September 13, 2013
@AmyPorterfield Mix things up! #pbevent #engagement #socialmedia pic.twitter.com/Ct6OyYqnDQ — Donna Moritz (@SociallySorted) September 13, 2013
Love how many ppl are taking notes in @AmyPorterfield’s session. She has so much info! #PBEVENT — Darren Rowse (@problogger) September 13, 2013
Send some love to Amy for making the long haul flight out to Australia – she was hands down one of the favourites of the event!
Blogging for Beginners – Pip Lincolne
There were plenty of great tweets from Pip Lincolne’s strategy packed session – here are just a few!
How to make your blog look gorgeous @meetmeatmikes #pbevent pic.twitter.com/fABjlynilL — Melanie Perkins (@MelanieCanva) September 13, 2013
“When you look at your blog is it you?” -@meetmeatmikes #pbevent #BeYourself — Julia Serafina (@juliaserafina) September 13, 2013
Find a way to use your blog for good #pbevent #blog101 @meetmeatmikes – love it! — Nicole Avery (@planningqueen) September 13, 2013
Freelance Writing – Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo) and Kelly Exeter (@kellyexeter)
I missed this session unfortunately, but the tweets were stellar! Valerie and Kelly shared their best tips for Freelance Writing
@valeriekhoo sharing tips on how 2 write fast – structure it, don’t procrastinate, write it no editing 1st #pbevent pic.twitter.com/KeJZWUpM5G — Nicole Avery (@planningqueen) September 13, 2013
Don’t edit while you’re writing #pbevent #FreelanceWriting — NutshellTAC (@NutshellTAC) September 13, 2013
Go over your posts before you publish and edit it to create the best one possible #PBEVENT #BLOG101 — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
Be prepared to be edited and let the editor do what is right for their publication and their readers @kellyexeter #pbevent — Elle Roberts (@Elle_Roberts_) September 13, 2013
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Monetisation – Where to Start? Darren Rowse & Tsh Oxenreider
This session was fabulous – Darren and Tsh shared valuable and practical tips for monetizing your site – from ads to ebooks and more. The “lounge” was packed to the seams and we had to pull up an extra couch!
. @problogger says there was no tipping point (number of visitors) re being ready to advertise : he just did it. #pbevent #pblounge — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
Advertisers want more than just graphic on sidebar these days @tsh #pblounge #pbevent — Melissa Norfolk (@melissanorfolk) September 13, 2013
. @tsh recommends forming a blogger collective and selling eBooks together for a group discounted price #pbevent #pblounge — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
“There’s a difference between numbers and influence. Play to your strengths.” @tsh #pblounge #pbevent — Dannielle Cresp (@danniellecresp) September 13, 2013
. @tsh says INFLUENCE can trump NUMBERS for potential advertisers #pbevent #pblounge — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
Advertisers should align with your brand and mission statement – be picky #pblounge #pbevent — Melissa Norfolk (@melissanorfolk) September 13, 2013
Balance your sponsored content with plenty of your own unsponsored content : #pbevent #pblounge #value — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
“I’ve never regretted being generous” @tsh on helping other bloggers promote their work. #pbevent — Lynnette Hoffman (@NomadLynnette) September 13, 2013
Blogging and Social Media for Product Based Businesses – Jess Van Den
Jess Van Den from Epheriall Designs doesn’t just talk about how to run a product based business – she actually runs a successful one. Jess presented on how to harness the advantages of having a physical product and using social media, blogging, and a mailing list to drive sales and grow your business!
Listening to Jess Van Den at #pbevent It’s all about images on social media. http://t.co/j2BhsD9xQ4 — Dorothy K (@DK_Writes) September 13, 2013
Make your customers a star. You can encourage them to share images on their profiles with a hashtag #pbevent #pbproduct — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
Make your content work across platforms to reduce your workload. Maybe tell a different story on each one #pbevent #pbproduct — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
Responsive Design; what the heck does it all mean? – Justine Bloome
Justine shared her extensive experience with creating an engaging brand experience online – making websites more engaging, easier to navigate, discover and take action! Some great tweets came out of her session:
Responsive design: Choose your design carefully so it will suit any device it is viewed on. @inBloome #PBEVENT #DESIGN) — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
#pbevent want to check what your website looks on different screens? http://t.co/w1mYJ5yqLF #userexperience — Helena Denley (@helenadenley) September 13, 2013
If your navbar is dropping down to a 2nd line, rethink and cull. @inBloome #PBEVENT #DESIGN) — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
The Step Changers – Christina Butcher, Caz Makepeace, Andrea Zanetich
3 hugely successful bloggers and savvy ladies on stage sharing the turning points in their blogging journeys, how they built large followings and everything from site redesign to making money from your blog. What’s not to love?
Remember where you are now is where you hoped and dreamed you be a few years ago. @MojitoMother — Clare Reilly (@thelifeofclare) September 13, 2013
Great advice from @hairromance & @MojitoMother – open up, reveal a but more, inject personality in ur blog for a better engagement #pbevent — Maria V (@CrashingRed) September 13, 2013
PROBLOGGER Never give up. Do more than anyone else. Keep pushing through the doubt #pbevent #stepchange @HairRomance pic.twitter.com/mEriVPgyHb — MyOfficebooks (@MyOfficeBooks) September 13, 2013
“If you’re not challenging yourself, how can you move forward?”@FoxInFlats @HairRomance @yTravelBlog #PBEvent pic.twitter.com/VSIQ23QruC — Melanie Perkins (@MelanieCanva) September 13, 2013
The Fortune Cookie Principe – Bernadette Jiwa
Bernadette talked about how to build a brand around your ideas by telling better stories….
‘Bloggers want to be top of heart not top of mind’ ~ @bernadettejiwa — Kelly Exeter (@kellyexeter) September 13, 2013
“Every blip on your analytics is someone searching for something” @bernadettejiwa #pbevent — Celeste Mitchell (@celeste_writes) September 13, 2013
YES! Brilliant! “@SuziDafnis: Do you want to be ‘top of mind’ or ‘close to heart’ with your customers? #pbevent” — Racquel N (@oddsauce) September 13, 2013
Facing the Truth (Smartphones and Tablets) – Ed Dale
There is little doubting that Ed Dale’s presentation was one of the most popular (and funniest!). He disrupted what we know with the reality of what is REALLY happening with how we use devices …. Ed presented the new tools of blogging, and how to reach your readers when they are….in a totally new “venue”!
I’m on at 12.15 @ Sunset Room #PBevent – it’s time to put your content in a venue that will value it… http://t.co/dxd6Y1hVnN — Ed Dale (@Ed_Dale) September 12, 2013
Visualise WHERE people are reading your content. Put them in that position… for many it won’t be on a Desktop… #PBEVENT @Ed_Dale — SuziDafnis (@SuziDafnis) September 13, 2013
Find a venue that values what you do says @Ed_Dale Content for tablets and/or apps is where it’s at. Lucky @BoundRoundAus #pbevent — Janeece Keller (@jmksyd) September 13, 2013
A brief history of personal computing by @Ed_Dale #pbevent #pbmobile pic.twitter.com/xIHVCWGwNk — Nicole Avery (@planningqueen) September 13, 2013
This venue is the cinema – they expect to pay for curated content. Saves them time. #pbevent #pbmobile @Ed_Dale pic.twitter.com/XcQxxCgcD1 — Nicole Avery (@planningqueen) September 13, 2013
Blogging and Creativity – Pip Lincolne @meetmeatmikes & Jess Van Den
This was a great informal session with Pip and Jess getting creative and sharing their nuggets of wisdom about blogging and creativity – some great tweets were shared:
People comment on blogs less now “Get your love from the post instead of from your comments” @meetmeatmikes #pbevent #pblounge — Vanisha Vakaoti (@VanishaMVakaoti) September 13, 2013
Love this RT @ntegrityagency: “Treat followers like friends. They are your friends, you just haven’t met them yet” @meetmeatmikes #pbevent — Richenda (@RichendaG) September 13, 2013
“Even though my husband works in my business –I ask his permission for any pictures.” @JessVanDen #pbevent #pblounge — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
Q: what happens when you get stuck? A from @jessvanden: I go for a walk & don’t take music. Use the time to clear my mind #pblounge #pbevent — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
Launch Your Speaking Career (Yvonne Adele & Trevor Young)
Another Informal Q & A session focusing on using a blog to launch your yourself onto the speaking circuit. Unfortunately I didn’t make it to this one but Twitter had some great takeaways on the #pbevent hashtag:
@Yvonne_Adele ‘s *scientific formula* for working out rates for public speaking: say figure to mirror, if you laugh = too high #pbevent — Kim Abbate (@workingwomenaus) September 13, 2013
It’s easier to public speak to a room full of strangers @Yvonne_Adele #pbevent #launchingyourspeakingcareer — Rachel Wernicke (@RedcliffeStyle) September 13, 2013
.@Yvonne_Adele says: ‘set up a google alert for your main competitor & learn where they’re speaking & contact organisers’ #pbevent — Kim Abbate (@workingwomenaus) September 13, 2013
Give social proof that you’re a speaker. Put it on your business card, email signature, blog. – @trevoryoung at #pbevent — Carly Findlay (@carlyfindlay) September 13, 2013
.@trevoryoung encourages speakers to upload a video of a full length speech online for future clients to see #pbevent — Carly Findlay (@carlyfindlay) September 13, 2013
How to Create Your First E-Book – Nicole Avery, Paul Cunningham, Yishan Chan, Brooke McAlary
PROBLOGGER EBOOK TIP Once you know the pain points. Don’t overthink it and just write your ebook @SlowYourHome #ebook #pbevent — MyOfficebooks (@MyOfficeBooks) September 13, 2013
PROBLOGGER Wrote book in word and saved as pdf with acrobat. Don’t be scared to try @paulcunningham #pbevent #ebook — MyOfficebooks (@MyOfficeBooks) September 13, 2013
RT @MyOfficeBooks: Offer an incentive to engage @paulcunningham offered first 10 to state pain points copy of new ebook #pbevent #ebooks — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
Reinventing Yourself – Tsh Oxenreider
Tsh shared what it takes to re-invent your blog and re-brand with practical tips, tools and ideas to help you reinvent your online space. Tsh shared what it takes to re-invent your blog and re-brand with practical tips, tools and ideas to help you reinvent your online space.
RT @kellyexeter: . @tsh says people want more you, less brand & more you, less expert #pbevent #revinvent — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
Ask random people to look up your site and say what they think. (@tsh #pbevent #reinvent) — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
Ask random people to look up your site and say what they think. (@tsh #pbevent #reinvent) — Problogger Event (@ProbloggerEvent) September 13, 2013
Selling Stuff – Shayne Tilley
As Shayne said, getting readers to your sales page is just the beginning. He shared some amazing stats on conversion rates at the sales page and why people drop out at the checkout (and how to keep them there) – Fabulously helpful and practical strategies from Shayne – yet again! From customer experience to what to track and measure and how to handle technology – this was a takeaway-packed session!
Don’t make people work hard on your sales page! Keep it straight forward and simple @ShayneT #pbevent — Studio Exsto (@StudioExsto) September 13, 2013
Help close the sale by making sure that you are contactable! @ShayneT #pbevent #selling — Elle Roberts (@Elle_Roberts_) September 13, 2013
‘Your checkout form should be as small as possible, only collect the information you need to complete the sale’ @ShayneT #pbevent #selling — ntegrity (@ntegrityagency) September 13, 2013
@ShayneT: discount codes at a checkout are a DISTRACTION! #pbevent #selling — Jeanie (@nivajean) September 13, 2013
Blogging for Community – Joy Toose, Emma Stirling, Renee Bugg
@joydot @aboutabugg @EmmaStirling #pbevent #lounge should be something in it for NFP & blogger pic.twitter.com/XHb0nfZk1n — Nicole Avery (@planningqueen) September 13, 2013
My 5 Minute Chat with Darren Rowse
I was completely honoured to be asked up to talk to Darren for a quick chat about my blog. While there are many things I wanted to say, the main message I had for everyone was to just start writing to find your voice, be consistent and don’t give up – the tipping point for building a community comes quicker than you think.
For me, 1000 was the magic number on any platform. Be it Facebook, Unique Visitors or Twitter followers. Community really starts to build after that. But two things really helped to skyrocket my blog - guest posting on other sites, and taking notice of the “sparks” that Darren talked about last year. When I realised what I was interested in (and my readers were too), I pivoted my blog towards visual social media and things started to change. More of this to come in a future post – stay tuned!
#pbevent @SociallySorted on stage with @darrenrowse great insights on imagery and just keep at it is the key. pic.twitter.com/eTIvfi1je4
— Social Media School (@TSMTSchool) September 13, 2013
How to Do What You Want – Clare Bowditch
I have to say I was so excited to see this lady present at this event (and sing, yes, she sings like an angel) …but I really wanted to hear what she had to say… as I knew we were in for a savvy, cheeky, unconvential presentation that would have us all laughing…and thinking.
And Clare didn’t disappoint. She certainly did help us to break away from the world of business and blogging and think about what we really want? One of the best presentations of the day. (Disclaimer – I am a card-carrying fan of her music, and an avid follower of Offspring, but seriously, she had us laughing and feeling inspired!). And then she sang. And the magic was complete. With the beautiful “Amazing Life”.
“The way to build a dedicated, caring following is based on caring about the people you serve” – @ClareBowditch at #pbevent — Carly Findlay (@carlyfindlay) September 13, 2013
You are the only artist in your life…what is your mission in (your, wild, crazy, passionate) life? #PBEVENT @ClareBowditch — Xanthe (@xsentertainment) September 13, 2013
@ClareBowditch gracing us with a song at #PBevent pic.twitter.com/GflctAvkMX — Karyn Hogan (@KarynwithY) September 13, 2013
So very true “@ClareBowditch: “There will always be more you can do. Make peace with that”. problogger #PBevent http://t.co/3kJxlDR9H6” — Wishbone Design (@wishbonedesign) September 13, 2013
And now I am going to take out my little black book and, as my friend Amy Porterfield would say, take action on those ideas. The many ideas that so many of us got out of Problogger and the strategies to make them happen. Thanks #PBEvent Team. I’ll be back next year, for sure!
What about you – were you at PBEvent or watching via the Virtual Pass? Were you inspired to take action from the sessions? Which tweets did you love the best?
Did you miss Problogger Event 2013? It’s not too late – the Virtual Pass is available for another week! 