Events

Blog, Baby, Blog!

 


Last month Birmingham-based communications consultant Wade Kwon came to speak to members of See Jane Write about blogging. Kwon is the director of the social media conference Y’all Connect and he was one of the founders of the award-winning website Magic City Post. 

Kwon’s advice to us was much simpler than I expected. His secret to success: “Blog, baby, blog!” Kwon stressed the importance of consistency and gave great advice on how we can keep our blogs alive. 

Wade Kwon addressing See Jane Write members at a recent workshop
(Photo by Audrey Atkins)



Pursue your passion. “Tap into something you could write about all the time,” Kwon said. But you still need to know why you’re blogging. What is your objective? What do you want to get out of your blog? 

Tackle your tagline. Develop a phrase that succinctly describes everything you want to cover. When Kwon and his partners started Magic City Post, they figured out that their site would celebrate all that’s right about Birmingham. The site’s About page read: 

Magic City Post in two words? Unrelentingly Positive! 

MCP in 18 words? A daily look at the Birmingham metro area that shows off the best the region has to offer.

I believe that if you can describe your blog in a concise way such as that, you can use that tagline as a mission statement that will not only help you decide what to write but also help you make decisions about posts from guest bloggers, sponsored posts and more. 

Create catchy content. The thing new bloggers struggle with most is usually a lack of readership. Kwon offered some practical advice on how to get the word out about your blog. First, create content that will be shared over and over. This can be compelling, controversial posts but it can also be posts that are very useful. For example, if you write a hyperlocal blog, consider a post of highlighting important city events of the year or a list of local restaurants open on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Throughout the year stop and ask yourself what kind of information are people seeking right now. 
Be sure to share your content via social media but don’t underestimate the power of email marketing. Your blog should have on its front page a way for readers to sign up for regular updates about your site. 

Click here if you’d like more highlights from Kwon’s talk. 

Kwon’s talk left me with a lot to think about. I’m at a point of truly trying to figure out who I want to be in the World Wide Web. Do I want my blog to be the place people turn to for writing tips or do I want it to be full of feminist musings? Do I want to be a fitness blogger? (After all, I am exercising EVERY SINGLE DAY.) Do I want to blog about my love for Birmingham? Or do I want to blog about my life as a teacher? Or perhaps there’s a way I could blog about ALL OF THIS, but then I run the risk of being a Jane of all trades and master of none. 
I’m not sure how I want my writing career to look.



Cross-posted at The Writeous Babe Project. 

Jane About Town: Birmingham Bloggers Monthly Meetup

There’s a new blogging group in town and See Jane Write is eager to support this organization. Birmingham Bloggers is led by Meredith Davis, Beth Branch and Molly Moon and caters to male and female bloggers of all ages in the Birmingham metro area. Their goal is simple — to help local bloggers meet and collaborate. 

Birmingham Bloggers will host its first monthly meetup at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Chuy’s in the Summit. RSVP via Twitter @bhambloggers or via email at bhambloggers@gmail.com. 

Looking Ahead

There are many great blogging and social media conferences coming up this summer that you don’t want to miss. 
Y’all Connect Presented by Alabama Power is a blogging and social media conference taking place Friday, June 13 in Birmingham. The mission of Y’all Connect is to give attendees practical takeaways in corporate storytelling. See Jane Write fans can save $30 on Y’all Connect tickets using the code SJW110. But hurry. This offer expires May 30. 
The Bloganista Mini-Con is See Jane Write’s first mini-conference. This partial day conference is designed for fashion, fitness, and lifestyle bloggers but has something for everyone. Early bird tickets are only $20! Learn about our speakers and session topics and get your tickets today at thebloganistaconference.eventbrite.com. 
Save the date! This year’s WordCamp Birmingham is set for Saturday, August 16. WordCamp Birmingham is the South’s oldest running WordCamp having its first in 2008. WordCamp is a great opportunity to learn about WordPress whether you are a beginninger or advanced user. Visit  http://2014.birmingham.wordcamp.org to sign up for updates on this year’s conference. 

Jane About Town: Celebrate the Power of Women with B-Metro

 
It’s no secret that I love B-Metro magazine and its annual Power of Women issue is a prime example of why I’m such a fan of this publication. 
 
Each May B-Metro honors women of Birmingham striving to make the city a better place. I had the privilege of being recognized for my work with See Jane Write in last year’s Power of Women issue. (Check out my profile, See Javacia Lead.) 
 
This year’s honorees will be celebrated at the Power of Women Party, 5-7- p.m. on Thursday, May 8 at Vino (1930 Cahaba Road, Mountain Brook)  in English Village. I’ll be part of the B-Metro Blog team broadcasting party highlights via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 
 
The party will include complimentary food, a cash bar, and door prizes. 
 
Head to Facebook to RSVP. 
 
And then read about this year’s honorees in this month’s issue of B-Metro . 
 
You can follow my event coverage on the following social media channels:
 
Instagram  – @writeousbabe
Twitter – @writeousbabe and @seejanewritebhm
 
Why you should go? B-Metro supports our city’s powerful women. Show that you do too. 

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Jane About Town: Swoozie’s Housewarming Party

People who say there’s nothing to do in Birmingham simply aren’t paying attention. Most weeks there’s so much going on I have trouble deciding what events I will and won’t attend. If you’re a Birmingham social butterfly you probably have his problem too. That’s where Jane About Town comes in. With this new feature I’ll highlight local events I think would be of interest to women who write and blog. 

Swoozie’s Housewarming Party

You are invited to Swoozie’s Housewarming Party at their new location at The Summit (next to Bed, Bath & Beyond). Swing by between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for cocktails, a chance to snag great door prizes, and big discounts. 

You may know Swoozie’s best for its personalized printing services, but the store has so much more to offer. Swoozie’s would be a great place to grab gifts for Mother’s Day or for the graduates in your life. If you’re getting ready for a summer soiree, check out Swoozie’s stylish drink pitchers, wine glasses and serving platters. If you’re headed to a baby shower soon Swoozie’s has you covered there too with everything from plush stuffed animals to chew-beads necklaces — a trendy trinket for mom that’s also baby friendly. Swoozie’s also has a wide variety of stationery, jewelry, gift books, and more. 

Why should you go? Swoozie’s is a company that values bloggers. Wednesday evening Swoozie’s hosted a special exclusive event for bloggers that I was honored to attend.  And not only is Swoozie’s a good place to get gifts for family and friends, but you’ll find great gifts for you too. With journals, notebooks, and notepads galore — Swoozie’s is a writer’s dream. 


Looking Ahead


How to Win Awards and Influence Readers in 439 Days and 668 Blog Posts


Wade Kwon
Would you like to learn how to win awards and influence readers in 439 days and 668 blog posts? Then you don’t want to miss the next See Jane Write members-only workshop. 

Communications consultant Wade Kwon will be speaking to See Jane Write members on this very topic. Wade is the founder of Birmingham Blogging Academy and the Y’all Connect social media conference. The Poynter Institute selected Wade as one of 35 Influential People in Social Media. Birmingham Magazine readers selected him as Best Tweeter in the Best of B’ham 2010 and 2011 online polls.

A Birmingham, Ala., native, he started his award-winning blog Wade on Birmingham in 2005, and has worked with Time Inc. and Scripps-Howard on blogging and new media. He is also one of the founders of the Alabama Social Media Association, a nonprofit group dedicated to educating people about social media.

Wade has been a writer and editor at Southern Living magazine and the Birmingham Post-Herald newspaper, winning numerous journalism awards.

This event is for members-only. To receive an invitation to this event become an official See Jane Write member today. Click here for information on how to join. 


Alabama Writers Conclave Conference 


T.K. Thorne
Set for July 11-13, 2014, the Alabama Writers Conclave Conference will offer workshops on fiction, poetry and more. See Jane Write member T.K. Thorne will lead a workshop on historical fiction versus the historical novel. For registration and more information visit http://www.alabamawritersconclave.org. 




If you have an event you would like to be featured in Jane About Town send details to javacia@seejanewritebham.com. 

    5 Lessons Bloggers Can Learn from Fashion Designers

    Milo Beloved of Harold&MOD

    Last week while covering events for Birmingham Fashion Week 2014 I had the opportunity to interview Milo Beloved of the locally-based vintage lifestyle brand Harold&MOD. Located at 2323 1st Avenue North, Harold&MOD is a unique shop offering fashion, art, jewelry, gifts, and home decor all locally designed and produced and they specialize in revamping vintage clothing.

    While chatting with Milo I was struck by how so much of what he said could be valuable advice not only for fashion designers but for bloggers too.

    Here are five lessons bloggers can learn from fashion designers like Milo Beloved of Harold&MOD.

    1. Tell a story. In a recent video interview with Ivette Thomas of AllAboutBham.com, Milo said that he and his partner Heidi Smith try to tell a story with their store and with their designs. Likewise, you need to tell a story with your blog. Even if you’re simply trying to pass along information, tell a story with each post. Furthermore, think of your entire blog as one big story. And the next time you’re struggling with your blog’s focus or theme simply ask yourself: What story do I want my blog to tell?

    2. Find out what’s missing. Milo says that he wants to design for a variety of women from “the business woman” to the “fun, flirty college girl.” So he makes sure his inventory reflects this goal. “When I see one end  (of the spectrum) start to dissipate I try to provide for that,” Milo said. Take a look at the different aspects of the mission of your blog and see if you’ve been slacking a bit on one of those objectives. Did you start a fashion blog that you hoped would tackle tough industry issues but lately all you’ve been doing are outfit posts? Then step up your game! Also, if you’re trying to refocus your blog figure out what’s missing in your niche. What is the blog you want to read but can’t find? That’s the blog you need to write.

    3. Embrace being in the South. Birmingham-based bloggers, this tip is for you. Birmingham may seem an unlikely place for a shop like Harold&MOD but Milo thinks it’s just right. The Harold&MOD line debuted last year with a pop-up shop during Birmingham Fashion Week 2013. That was a huge success and soon the brand was being featured in magazines and Milo and Heidi were being asked to help with video shoots. “There was this collective energy around it that pushed us forward and launched us in a way that I don’t know I would get in a bigger city,” Milo said. So instead of thinking you need to move to New York for your writing career to blossom, decide to bloom where you’ve been planed and know that you can find the support in Birmingham to do just that. In the South, Milo said, “We’re friendlier, we’re warmer, we’re a little bit more relaxed in a lot of ways. There’s something sweet about Southern fashion that you don’t necessarily see in other places. You can make up your own rules if you’re daring enough to do it.” Be daring enough to not only make up your own fashion rules, but make your own rules about your writing career too.

    4. Pay attention to people. “I watch our customers very closely,”  Milo said when asked how he decides what he will design next. And he said he feels a true connection with his customers, too. Likewise, bloggers should get to know their audience and be sure to produce content that will add value to their readers’ lives.

    5. Keep moving up. “I always want to think up and think bigger,” Milo said. He went on to say he’d like to see the Harold&MOD shop offer more local art and that they’re working on creating a product that they can mass produce. So what’s next for you? Figure out how you can take your blog to the next level. Maybe it’s a new feature. Perhaps your blog needs a new look. Or maybe you want to completely change the focus on your site. Decide what you need to do to get bigger and better and then do it!

    A few looks from the Harold&MOD featured at this year’s Birmingham Fashion Week:

    Want more from Birmingham Fashion Week 2014? Check out the Birmingham Jane feature on designer Elizabeth Singleton at SeeJaneWriteMagazine.com.