GO BLOG SOCIAL 2016

Go Blog Social has been on my mind since last year. By the time, I thought of attending the event , it had sold out. So when this year, they announced the dates for the Kansas City Chapter, I guess I was among the first few to get my tickets. Tickets, cameras and outfit done, I headed downtown for my first ever Blogging Conference. For those of you, who are not aware, Go Blog Social is a Blogging Conference, in the Midwest which started in 2013. This year they have a four city tour. Go Blog Social was started by Kathryn Snellen of Kathryn Elise Studio and Sarah Ruhlman of Sarah Scoop. Ashley Mahoney of Hello Big Idea and Katelyn of Katalina Girl have now joined them on board.

The attendees were treated to a lovely Swag Bag and a breakfast buffet when they arrived at the Gallery Event Space downtown.It was such a lovely venue. The white walls, the flood of sunlight all day added to the feel good factor.

There were several of Sponsor Booths all around the hall and the attendees flocked about taking their picks. I began my day with the lovely Emily Jungdren Walters of The Bloom Academy in learning how to make floral crowns. I had been wanting to do this for a long time. Thank you Emily . It was the perfect accessory to my outfit .

Posing with my Floral Crown Teacher - Emily Jungdren Walters of The Bloom Academy

Breakfast and coffee and it was time for the conference to begin !

Kathryn Snellen of Kathryn Elise Studio and Sarah Ruhlman of Sarah Scoop :Go Blog Social Founders

The first speaker of the day was Photographer Allison Corrin . She had a beautiful presentation on Photography for Bloggers. She took us through the basics of DSLR photography and even how to take better pictures with your Iphone, on learning how to savor the light and follow the light.

Allison Corrin

Needless to say, she spoke about Bokeh -ing. My favorite topic. I could not help play around with my camera on it. Its Bokeh-ing which had won me my Photography award in the Midwest last year, so its always close to my heart.

Bokeh- ing Exercise

The next speakers were Teisha Marie Barber, President , Kansas City Fashion Week, and Phil Willoughby, CEO of KCFW. They candidly described themselves as the Fashion(Teisha) and the Week(Phil) of Fashion Week. Teisha took us through numbers and logistics of how KCFW had grown from its humble beginnings to such a huge Fashion extravaganza, it has now become.

Teisha Barber, President, KCFW

Phil had a gift for all of us. A legal packet to help us save our dreams, help us save all that we had worked hard for. It was indeed a wake up call for all of us, as he took us through the tenets of protecting one's online business(blog) . And he also gave me free legal advice, on how I could fight for the theft of intellectual property I have just faced.

Phil Willoughby,CEO, KCFW

Our Third set of speakers for the day were Bloggers Emily and Elizabeth of the Blog Fashion Column Twins. They spoke about how they had branched out from their blog to start their own clothing line LocalE.

Fashion Column Twins

Some more pictures, some more networking and finally headed to the Buffet line for a sumptuous lunch . But I was too excited to eat well,as I knew I had to get my Outfit Pictures done.

Post Lunch , the Conference hosted Kelly Rivard of Hallmark, who enlightened us on the importance of Search Engine Optimization for Small Businesses.

If you have a full time Blog, you want to make money of it. You know your content is stellar and you want some monetary appreciation for it. Thats exactly where the next speakers stepped in. the lovely ladies of Acorn Influence . They are an agency who seek to bridge the gap between Brands and Bloggers.