I had the opportunity recently to attend Blogpodium when they came West (yes!) to Vancouver this fall. Blogpodium is a one-day conference that is focused on lifestyle and design bloggers.

Here’s the thing about lifestyle and design bloggers – they dress fierce…Me, well, not so much.

I had to elevate my wardrobe from Farmer to Fabulous. I also want to thank YOU for the support. So many of you chimed in on Periscope & Facebook leading up to the day of to help me pick out an outfit. With me, it always takes a community for me to look anywhere near stylish.

Huge shoutout to my stylist, Cea at the Thirsty Tourist because she scheduled the snot out of me the day before so I would have decent hair and a fabulous outfit. You are a true friend, who knows me well, as you took me right to Marks’ where you knew I could be comfortable. 

So, here was the final outfit:

Alfred Sung, Striped Edge to Edge Cardigan, Denver Haynes Soft Every Day Crew Shirt. borrowed scarf from The Thirsty Tourist & jeans from my closet.

It’s amazing how much content they were able to jam into one day at the Pan Pacific Hotel. The marketplace was loaded with sponsors, and amazing small business entrepreneurs that had things that were too cute. The conference guide had a photo with everyone who attended face in it. So you could connect with them and their social media platforms and have a handy guide to help you find out who was who. 

I couldn’t resist buying my blogging partner in crime a little print to hang on her wall from Pixel Paper Hearts. If you need a little inspiration for your wall, she’s your gal. After all, it’s ALL messy.  

In the loot bag (boy it was huge), I also picked up a delectable smelling Sugar candle from the Salt Spring Island Candle Co. I’m not usually one for candles, but this one with all natural ingredients is the perfect size for my kitchen counter.

5 Lessons Discovered at Blogpodium

Know Thy Google Analytics

Fellow geek girl (and my total geek girl crush), Avery from Camp Tech Co. was on hand to share her knowledge on Google Analytics. She shared all of her slides with us – and you can view them here. I nerd out a lot with Google Analytics, however Avery still taught me about segments, which is a really interesting way to view who’s landing on your page. Our traffic comes from various sources so this has allowed me to see what is working by social media channel.

Video Is Easier Than You Think

I really appreciated the seminar by Stef Forester & Rick Matthews on how to stay ahead in the digital landscape. Their tips for getting started on video were these: start now with the equipment you have (think your smartphone & DSLR), invest in lighting to make it look professional, and commit to posting a video once a week. Give yourself 3 months and see if it’s right for you. Don’t be afraid to take the plunge!

Be Yourself

If I had dressed up in anything but what I was comfortable in, or not been true to what we do, it would be obvious. This is true in blogging and life – be you. Your vibe truly does attract your tribe, and here are some more bloggers I think you should check out:

• Crystal from Hello Creative Family
• Stephanie from Garden Therapy (AND she just wrote a book!)
• Bonnie from Koala Mom
• Colleen from Lemon and Thistle
• Jennifer from Clean and Scentsible

Your First 9 Instagram Photos Matter

This one had me tripping out for about two weeks after. People will decide to follow you based on the first 9 images you have on Instagram. (Cue where everyone gets their phone out to check). This might be a good time to Get Real on Social Media, or make a decision on whether you’re curating your brand images or what you want your brand to reflect.

Apps Galore

Looking for a quick app to edit in on your phone? There was a tonne mentioned, so here you go: VSCOCam, Faded, FaceTune, WordSwag, FrameSwag. You can even get apps that will allow you connect your camera directly via WiFi to your phone or iPad making editing on the fly a breeze.