Week 2 in Kathleen Gage’s 12-week challenge to post something community related regarding BlogPaws.
My goal with this blog is to make it a community based. I want it to be a place people come to when they are looking for answers, need a laugh, or need help with a problem, so it only seems fitting that this week I’m posting about the actual community of bloggers. Specifically those who attended BlogPaws.
Attending a conference like BlogPaws means you have some tough decisions to make, as many times there are more than one session you want to attend at the same time. My friend Kat (from Momma Kat and Her Bear Cat) made a Facebook page for BlogPaws attendees where they could share notes from various sessions. Taking notes during a session can be challenging, because there is so much information being presented. What I jot down is different than what you jot down, and by sharing notes, it makes it easier to get the full benefits of the session.
Competition in blogging
A good many of the presenters are fellow bloggers and every single session I attended, the speakers were happy to share their presentation after the session. And if you caught them in a free moment, they’d happily talk shop, share contact information, or anything else you needed.
You’d think at a conference that’s focused on blogging, you would see people being competitive, but that’s not been my experience at all. While there are some bloggers who keep their cards close to the vest, the majority of bloggers I know, are more than happy to share their knowledge and expertise with their fellow bloggers. And that goes for the speakers too.
We may all be looking for our little piece of the inter-webs, but we all offer something that is uniquely ours, and most bloggers seem to recognize that.
The only thing I recognize is that I’m comfy and your hand has stopped rubbing my ear.
The bonus of course, is meeting the bloggers you idolize, and their dogs too. Honey from Something Wagging This Way Comes, was happy to settle in with me, while I chatted up with Pamela.
Pet bloggers always seem to be willing to share and nice to each other. Mom’s job in real estate is so different. No one is nice and no one shares or helps. Not so much fun!
Since the only goal I have for my blog is to remember my boys better and maybe share a few laughs along the way, going to BlogPaws for me would only be for meeting all the bloggers. It’s amazing the feelings of kinship you can have for people you have never met in person! So actually get to meet them in real life would be wonderful!
I wish I could have had some cuddles with Honey!
I remember when I first started blogging, how I thought it would be a competitive thing. What a pleasure to find out that’s not so! Everyone is so willing to help each other, and I find that so inspiring.
The pet blogging community has been welcoming, engaging, supportive and just downright fabulous! Love it. Hopefully we will be able to attend the conference next year in person to meet all the cool bloggers and their adorable fur-kids. Having Ms. Honey in my lap would definitely be a highlight. 😍
Great post! I wish I could have been there! But, a lot of things prevented it. Oh well. Maybe one of these days. Anyway, at least I can read everyone’s posts about it.
PS. And what Taryn said. My blog – like hers – is mostly to help me remember my girls so I’d go to BP just to meet all you wonderful folks I’ve come to call my friends.