How to make an Instagram Stories graphic

It's been a while since I did a better blogging post, so this is my reprise! Since Instagram Stories was introduced, I've been fascinated by the companies and big bloggers that create graphics within their stories. There's always better, more interesting text which not only captures my visual attention, but makes me want to click to see more. 

However, I don't have the time or the team to devote to spending hours in Photoshop or InDesign creating graphics, so just brushed it off. And then, my favorite blogger secret ever, Canva, introduced IG Stories templates. SCORE! Here's a brief tutorial. 

Start by downloading the Canva app. I actually prefer to work in Canva from my laptop, but since IG Stories is on the fly, the app works just fine! 

Next, choose the Your Story template. 

From there, you'll be able to access tons of different graphics that you can completely customize by tapping on different features. 

Once you're finished, tap "share" and save the template to your phone. 

Upload it to IG Stories and voila! Done! 

Are there any other IG Story secrets I should know about? Spill your secrets! 

Southern C In Review

Since I am borderline crazy, I decided it would be a good idea to attend not one but two social media conferences in the course of a week. If you've ever attended a conference before, you know just how exhilarating and exhausting they can be. However, as a girl who never shies away from a challenge, I decided I could handle it. 

Exactly one week after leaving for Palm Springs, I left for Sea Island to attend the Southern C Summit with my neighbor & jewelry designer, Paige. Southern C is a conference for female entrepreneurs. While men definitely attend, the great part about the conference is that it's geared towards women and run by women which means that everywhere you turn, there's something gorgeous to look at - whether it's the locations, the food, or the swag.  Everything was stunning. 

Since I gave a full review of Alt Summit, I thought I would do the same for Southern C. This conference could be beneficial for just about any sort of entrepreneur you can think of: real estate, creative business, bakery...anyone and everyone is welcome! 

Travel:

Thank you sweet baby Jesus for easy travel to and from Southern C. Since the Summit was held at Sea Island, it was just a quickish road trip to the coast. We made it down without any big issues, and it was so nice not to have to cram everything into a tiny carryon suitcase. We definitely made the most of Paige's trunk! Since so many of the entrepreneurs come from the South, I think this is a great location for the Summit. Win!

Setting:

I definitely can't complain too much about a trip to Sea Island in February, so I won't. Sea Island proved to be a wonderful setting for the Summit. It was picturesque and perfectly walkable. I will say that since it was off season, something seemed to be a little off about the service. When I've been to Sea Island in the past, I was completely awestruck by how amazing the service was. This trip...not so much. Many of the restaurants were closed, and the resort seemed understaffed and overcommitted. 

Speakers:

I loved loved loved the speakers at Southern C. All of them gave valuable information and put a very human touch on being in the business. Of course, I enjoyed hearing from my friend Mandy and my now crush, Gray Malin. Ironically, I had just seen Darcy Miller at Alt just a few days before, and her presentation was the exact same. Now, I am probably the only person in the entire room who happened to be at both conferences besides Darcy herself, but I would have liked a different perspective. 

Content:

The big takeaways from Southern C were vastly different than the ones at Alt. Of course both conferences really honed-in on the value of social media (specifically Pinterest), but what I enjoyed about Southern C was the way that it really felt like we were all in it together - these huge brands got on our level and spoke about their humble beginnings. I loved that. It's such a misconception that everyone starts big or everyone has it all figured out. To hear these huge brands and bloggers say otherwise was incredibly comforting. I do wish there had been more time for one-on-one or small group conversations. Southern C is very much a "large group" setting. There are tons of circular tables with 8-10 chairs at them which is perfect for conversation...except there was never any time to chat. In the future, I would love to see breaks between speaker sessions for people to discuss what they're learning or ask questions.

Parties:

Since we didn't stay at Southern C for the entire conference, we only got to enjoy one of the parties. It was well done, and I enjoyed the circular tables that allowed everyone to have conversation. Conversation is huge for me, especially at conferences, and I always prefer an intimate setting. The party featured a spread of oysters and shrimp for happy hour with BBQ indoors. It was fun and easy. 

Networking (aka. friends):

Since Paige had been to the conference before, she already knew several people attending. I also knew a few people attending, so it was fun to be surrounded by old friends and new ones. I loved bumping into bloggers and other friends as we made our way throughout the conference. Plus, there were a lot of opportunities to meet new people. My favorite part of networking was the Southern C app. It made it so easy to connect and get to know people before we got there, plus it made it easy to find friends you met in passing again. The app is fabulous, and I hope other conferences jump on board with a conference-specific app in the future. Great idea and execution! 

Final Thoughts: 

I would without a doubt attend Southern C again. In fact, I think I might attend every event they have. Not only was it completely in my wheelhouse, but I felt like the value was unmatched. Everything seemed organized, planned, and executed well. If you're in the South and have a business, no matter what it is, plan to attend! 

Palm Springs in Pictures

If there is one thing that I can say about my trip to Palm Springs, it's that is was most definitely a series of Kodak moments. Everywhere I turned, I was completely enamored by what I saw. Literally, from the moment I got off the plane, I gasped. 

Actually, let's chat about the Palm Springs airport for a second. Y'all. The airport is outside! I've been to a few open air airports, but the Palm Springs one takes the cake. It truly captures the spirit of Palm Springs - and even reminded me of the Jetsons just a little bit - in the best way possible. 

Palm Springs had such a unique vibe, and it's definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. I would have loved to see more of the mid-century modern architecture and vintage shops, but I still managed to capture how colorful the town is in just a few photos. Here's a photo diary of a 3-day trip to Palm Springs. Enjoy it! 

ALT Summit In Review

Now that it's been a few weeks, I am ready to bequeath my Alt Summit knowledge on you all! For those of you who aren't bloggers, you might not find this post super interesting, but if you're interested in a glimpse into what a blogger conference is, read on! 

My first Alt Summit was last year, so for round two, I felt like a pro. I knew what to expect, what to pack, and how to prepare. While every summit is different, there's something comforting about not being a newbie. Instead of going through my takeaways again, I thought I would set-up a little compare/contrast post. If you recall, I attended two conferences within the same week, so stay tuned for next week's review of Southern C! 

Travel:

This might be my biggest beef with Alt, so I am getting it out of the way from the get-go. While the summit was held is beautiful, retro, picturesque Palm Springs, Palm Springs is not easy to get to from the east coast. Like at all. I spent nearly 8 hours on a plan + time at 3 airports to get to Palm Springs (and the same amount of time on the way home). Needless to say, I'm not totally sure it was worth the time commitment to get from Atlanta to Palm Springs. I think if this conference is a national conference, they might want to consider a more central location, or a location that is a direct flight away. It was in Salt Lake last year, and while that's not exactly close to Atlanta, it's only a four-hour-ish flight. Much better! 

Setting:

And now, back to the positive! Guys, if you can stomach the flight and spend several days in the Palm Springs area, it's worth the trip. It's so beautiful that I actually said out loud (more than once I might add), "Is this real life?" The mountains are gorgeous, the weather pretty much perfect, and the skies clear. The conference was held at the Saguaro, and I must say while really cool in photos, the accommodations were a little lackluster, especially after staying at The Grand America in Salt Lake. Because the hotel is kind of small, some of the speakers were held in the restaurants or even outside. there also weren't tables which made taking copious notes difficult. If I were to go back to Palm Springs, I would opt to stay at one of the other area hotels like The Parker. 

Speakers:

The speakers at Alt never disappoint, and this year was no different. Actually, I felt as though this year's speakers were even better than last year's ones. I adored hearing from the founder of Freshly Picked, Susan Peterson...you know Susan, her company makes those adorable leather baby moccasins that are everywhere. She was raw, humble, and incredibly transparent. In fact, instead of following her presentation, she got on stage, completely scrapped her PowerPoint, and allowed everyone in the room to ask her brutally honest questions. It was inspiring and fascinating. I also loved hearing Alison Faulkner from the Alison Show. I was introduced to Alison's brand a few years ago, met her at Alt last year (for approximately 2 seconds), and adored her presentation. If you don't follow her on IG, you totally should. She's hilarious. She was also on my connecting flight to Salt Lake, and I had to try really really hard not to fangirl. 

Content:

Alt always has the latest on innovative content, or how to really optimize the tools that are already available. This year, many of the speakers focused on the value of Pinterest. I learned a ton about Pinterest, and I am hoping to really encourage my clients to loop Pinterest back into their social media arsenals. There was also a lot of info about monetizing your blog (obviously), and one of my favorite sessions was how to reuse old content. It's pretty crazy to think about writing content once, sending it out on FB and IG, and never ever putting it in front of someone's eyes again. 

Parties:

The Alt parties rarely disappoint, too. I will say, I preferred last year's party set-up better. In previous years, the first night was dedicated to sponsored dinners - a sponsor, like Minted, rented a bus and took a small group of bloggers to an intimate dinner. I loved the ability to connect with friends the first night and see them again throughout the rest of the conference. This year was a HUGE welcome party at the pool which made it hard to meet people and really have conversation. 

Networking (aka. friends): 

One of the best things about Alt is the sense of community. There is literally ZERO competition going on at Alt which is crazy because there are always incredible sponsors (this year included Home Depot and Vitamix). Everyone is way more interested in making friends and meeting new people than they are worried about who has more followers or the best outfit. It's so refreshing in a world that can be quite materialistic. I met some sweet women this time and caught up with old friends, too. 

Final Thoughts: 

If you've ever wondered if you should go to Alt, the answer is, you definitely should. It is a great experience for a first time conference go-er, and is basically the epitome of blogging. I remember walking around and recognizing some of my favorite bloggers...basically, blogger celebs are crawling at Alt. If you want to go, be on the lookout for tickets which go on sale in the fall. This year, the conference sold out in 24 hours which was a record! 

Special thanks to Annette Joseph for letting me tag along on her trip. It was a great time!

Palm Springs Packing List

Next week, I am jetting off to ALT Summit in Palm Springs. I'll be joining Annette Joseph, editor and stylist extraordinaire, and I can only imagine the fun we'll get into. I've only been to California once, and while I am thrilled to be headed there again, I've been a little anxious about packing. I want to fully embrace the Palm Springs vibrancy and elegance, so I've been staring at my wardrobe for days trying to determine what to bring. Days will be filled with the conference while evenings will be all about cocktail parties and chic dinners. There's also a chance of laying by the Saguaro's amazing pool and kicking off the day with early morning yoga, so I'll be adding a few lounging looks, too. 

The good news is since it's Palm Springs, usual rules fly out the window. I'm bringing all the white pants and open toed shoes I can, and don't even get me started on all of the accessories I'm tossing in. I am for sure packing a ton of Empire State Finery necklaces and earrings (this one, this one, and these are my top picks). I think they'll blend right in with the Palm Springs vibe. I'm also bringing my favorite gold Hazen earrings. You can never have too many accessories, right?

I *think* I've finally narrowed down my clothing choices, too and I thought it might be fun to share them with you today. My goal is to pack super lightly because I'm carrying-on for no reason other than it helps my anxiety levels. Is there anything I'm missing from the items below? Tell me if I am!

P.S. Pretty sure these same rules apply for Sea Island which is where I'm headed a week after I get back from Palm Springs. I'll be attending the Southern C Summit! 

photo via the Saguaro Hotel 

How to Blend Your Hobby with Your Career

Isn't it funny how life is cyclical? When I was teaching, I never would have guessed that having my blog would eventually lead me to a second career in the digital marketing space. Even in the few short years that I've worked in social media and marketing, I've seen a major shift in the role. What began as an addition to a company's advertising has since become a necessity in order to acquire new customers and in turn, power the business - a cycle of its own.

Writing has always been one of my favorite hobbies. If I'm being honest, I like it way more than other hobbies I have, and I would even venture to call it a passion (as much as that word irks me). When I was younger, I loved writing poetry and stories. In high school, college, and post-grad work, I could crank out an entire essay in about the same time a peer could do a page of math homework. Why I didn't pursue journalism in undergrad escapes me, but like life, being a writer has slowly but surely cycled back around. 

Karl Wente, a winemaker at Wente Vineyards, understands how cyclical and often parallel passions can be. Wente is a vineyard with a history dating back five generations, and as a winemaker, Karl is obviously passionate about wine, but also happens to be a pretty talented guitar player. He's managed to incorporate both into his career.

Before you roll your eyes and stop reading because you think there's no way your own hobby could become a career, stop and think about it. Blending your hobby with your career might not be as easy as writing or music is, but it's not so much about the hobby itself as it is the thought behind it. Hear me out: I've always loved sharing things with other people and teaching them how to do things. Instead of standing in front of a classroom, I think writing is just the platform through which I share things now. So while my passion isn't necessarily the act of writing, it IS the act of sharing things with others. 

Now that we're finally having some cooler evenings, you can find me with my computer in my lap and a Wente cab in my hand cranking out my latest articles or social media posts. I'm sure that as the seasons change, my beverage of choice will too, but that's what's beautiful about seasons...they're cyclical, too. 

Get FREE SHIPPING on Wente Vineyards wine using the code: JRNYSHIP1. 

6 Lessons from My First Year as a Freelancer

Today is the one-year mark since I left my classroom to pursue my freelance business full time. If nothing else, the past year is definitely evidence that time absolutely flies. I cannot believe that this time last year, I was saying good-bye to my coworkers and waving to school buses with tears in my eyes (such a softy). It's absolutely crazy to think that it's been an entire year, and man, has it been interesting. I wanted to reflect on my first year in business not only to share with you some thoughts, but as a record for me to look back on as well. I have 6 lessons from my first year as a freelancer: 

1. Connections matter. And because those matter, so does networking and networking events. I'll be the first to tell you that I despise anything with the word "networking" in it; it always feels so fake to me. However, every single one of my current clients have been word of mouth referrals or clients that I've gotten by talking about myself (which I'm still terrible at). 

2. Expect the unexpected. When I left teaching, I had two incredible clients under my belt with a goal of getting a third major client by December. Imagine my elation when I picked one up in October - way ahead of my goal (hashtag winning). And yet, imagine my disappointment when I lost my biggest client just two days after the big #3 gain. Losing clients (and gaining new ones) is just a part of being a freelancer. And while it can be stressful not knowing where the next paycheck is coming from, really, it's one of the best parts. Gaining new clients keeps my work interesting, and it's definitely kept me on my toes. Plus now, I can proudly say I'm at what I like to call "full capacity."

3. Go with the flow. And your flow isn't the same as someone else's. It has been a year of me learning how other people work. For every single client, that means learning their schedule, understanding their work culture, molding to their meeting times, and compromising my own ideal schedule in the process. If you don't know me personally, you might not know that I'm extremely Type A. I plan my schedule weeks in advance. And I don't do change so well. So, when I'm thrown a curve ball, as I have been many many times this year, it's pretty hard for me to knock it out of the park. The good news is that I recognize this in myself, and that I'm trying every day to improve and go with the flow. 

4. If you build it, they might not come. It turns out that it takes a lot more than a business name, a business plan, and a bank account to get work. Not succumbing to Bravo in the middle of the day and choosing to put my head down and work has been an adjustment. While I really hate the word "hustle," there is definitely a sense of urgency needed with freelancing. Otherwise, you're not getting paid. 

5. Make friends who get it. I cannot express how thankful I am for my freelancing and small-business owning friends who have been a sounding board for me this year. Not only have they kept me sane, but they've offered sound advice via text, chance meetings in the driveway, and over coffee.

6. Your passion doesn't have to be your work. Hear me out. Working in "your passion" is a huge trend right now. Every time I tell someone I left teaching, I hear the phrase "well now you get to work in your passion!" Let's be clear: social media isn't my passion (not really) and teaching wasn't not my passion. In fact, I am still deeply passionate about education. And education is very very very much a part of my daily work. I get to educate clients about best social media practices. I get to help them make their businesses stronger. I get to help them create a brand that matches their vision. I get to help people. And that is awesome, and that I am passionate about. 

Fellow business owners: what are some of the lessons you've learned?  

image via

3 Easy Ways to Integrate Video

It's been said once, and it'll be said again, video is king in 2016. Whether in long form or short spurts, video is changing the face of social media one 15 second clip at a time. Facebook is even rewarding video content by moving it up in your feed. Beyond being the way to stay in the social media game, let's be honest: video content is just plain fun. And it doesn't have to be difficult either. Stay on top of algorithm changes and have fun with your social platforms by integrating video easily with these apps:

Boomerang: Boomerang records a video in short bursts and then plays it on a loop. Since Boomerang is easily incorporated into Instagram, it's a great way to experiment with video content. One of my Boomerang video's has gotten over 255 views (even though it only received 38 likes - shows just how powerful video content can be!). 

Magisto: Magisto was actually my first foray into video content. Record short snippets of video and upload them into Magisto. Next, Magisto chooses the best parts of each video and uses those pieces to create one full-length, edited movie. I made the video seen here with Magisto. 

iMovie: iMovie is definitely the top tier of video making. While it's not necessarily as easy as the apps above, it is a fantastic way to edit video content for social media and beyond. I love the ability to add unique text and music, and I like being able to clip videos and put them back together. iMovie take a little bit longer, but the time here is well spent! 

Oh, and one more tip for video: if you're on Snapchat, consider downloading your snap stories and reusing them to produce video content. Kind of like I did here. :) 

Any other video editing apps I should know about? Share them in the comments below! 

photo via

5 Free Resources for Blog Stock Photography

If you're a blogger, small business owner, or just plain lover of pretty images, this post is for you. While I love to take my own photos, sometimes, it's just not going to happen...especially for pretty stock photos. You know the ones: beautiful styled desk shots, intricately styled coffee tables, and cups of coffee just begging to be sipped. 

Thankfully, tons of talented photographers have gotten on the stock image bandwagon to provide bloggers with beautiful (and free!) stock images for their blogs. I use these images occasionally and they're perfect for when you want to overlay text. Just remember to give credit where credit is due, and always source the photographer! Here are 5 free resources for blog stock photography:

Feminine Stock 

Ashley Ella Design 

Rekita Nicole

(where today's image is from!)

Death to Stock 

Pink Pot 

image via Rekita Nicole 

Instagram Change: What it means and how to stay on top of the game

Over the past week, there has been a lot of chatter about Instagram and the changes that are coming down the pipeline. If you haven't heard, Instagram will begin rolling out an algorithm change in the coming months.  In sum, your feed will no longer be ordered chronologically. Instead, your feed will be presented much like a Facebook feed with posts sent your way that Instagram thinks you will like. 

While the average person might not care, for small business owners (and that includes bloggers), the changes are incredibly scary. First, one of the brilliant things about social media is that it is a platform for small businesses to shout their brands from the rooftops...aka. free marketing. With changes like this, advertising budgets are definitely going to need to be broader. Second, it's definitely got that creepy "big brother vibe" to it. How does Instagram know better than me what I want to see? Finally, for those of us that have grown our following organically, it's just plan disheartening. 

One of the things that I've prided myself on with my own Instagram account is never having participated in a loop giveaway to earn followers. I've never purchased more followers from a third party, and I've never coerced people into following me on Instagram. If you have, that's totally okay. It' just wasn't in my budget when loops were all the rage. While that means that I have a small following compared to tons of other bloggers, it does mean that my following is fiercely loyal and incredibly engaged. And that's awesome to me. 

These changes are going to be hard for everyone to grasp, but there are things you can do TODAY to start getting your Instagram ready for the official algorithm switch. These simple changes might not fix the algorithm switch, but they will help you combat it:

1. Build a consistent feed. I use VSCO to layout my Instagram photos ahead of time. This helps me color-coordinate my feed, make sure I don't have too many food pictures back to back, and keeps a consistent look to my feed. Instagram will find your feed more "worthy" to share with others. 

2. Use relevant hashtags. I know this seems silly, but do research every few weeks to determine relevant hashtags to your brand. And use hashtags that MEAN something. Adding #food doesn't help people flock to your feed, but something like #AtlantaEats does. Simple, straight forward, search-relevant hashtags will be key. 

3. Encourage your followers to "Get Notifications." This will help people who really want to see your feed find you fast. 

4. Keep calm and carry on. People, at the end of the day, Instagram is a business. Just like when advertising came along and we had to accept those changes, we will have to accept these changes as well. However, don't let this new phase totally paralyze your Instagram game. Instead, work to make your Instagram feed even stronger, so the new algorithms push your feed out there for others to see. And and the end of the day, keep calm and carry on. 

To read more on this subject, check out the following blog posts:

Ashlyn S. Carter

Caitlin Bacher

Creative Hive

The One Blog Change You Should Make Today

Bloggers, listen-up. Today I wanted to share with you the one blog change you should make today to make your blog infinitely better than it is. You'll never believe that something so simple could truly change your readership, your sponsorship, and your blog's readability. The best part? It is such an easy fix, you'll be wondering why you haven't done it before. Ready?

Resize your blog's photos to the same width. 

That's it. That's all it takes to improve so many things about your blog. Think about it: you're reading a blog and as your eye scrolls through the text, photos are switching from portrait to landscape to square. When reading blogs that have resized images, readers don't even notice the switch. But for blogs that are switching back and forth, it can be a real headache to read. In fact, as a reader's eye moves through your blog, your text and images should all be about the same size. Really! 

Need even more reasons to resize your images? It helps your blog load faster. I get so frustrated when I visit blogs that take forever to load. 9 times out of 10, it's because the photos haven't been web optimized. I learned at Blogshop years ago that your photos should be between 500 and 800 pixels wide. To give you an idea of what that looks like, my photos are resized to 680 pxls (to match the width of my text). 

You don't have to have Photoshop to fix this problem. If you have a Mac, you can open your photos in Preview and simply change the size there. And if you're on a PC, just resize them in Pic Monkey. Your readers will thank you and your photos will be even better! 

stock photo via 

Blog Conferences and Workshops: What to Bring

One of the things that I definitely stressed about when I was preparing for Alt was what to bring with me. I knew I would only be gone for just a few days, so I needed to edit my wardrobe and keep my extras to a minimum. Plus, I had heard through the grapevine that there would be some really great swag that I needed to get home, too. Being selective about packing was key! And for this over packer, it was a bit of a struggle. I managed to truly pack only what I needed for clothes, but my tote bag was a bit of a different story, and next time, I'll do some things differently. 

There are tons of blog conferences and workshops coming up in 2016, and they all sound amazing. Be prepared for them with my list of what to bring:

1. Business cards: Definitely don't leave home without these! I had new blog-specific business cards made for Alt at Moo.com, and I love how they turned out. I included a few of my favorite blog images that encompassed not only my personality, but my blog's personality, too. Moo has a ton of options, and they all look incredibly professional. Plus their quick turn-around can't be beat!

2. A great pen: I know this seems silly, but make sure you have a great pen (or three!) with you. Try to make it ball-point or permanent, so it doesn't smear on surfaces. I found myself writing things down a lot at the conference (obviously), but also writing on some not so traditional surfaces (like business cards of other bloggers or sponsors who I needed to remember). 

3. Small tote bag: Okay, so this is one I need to improve upon. I ADORE my Lo & Sons OG bag because of all of the pockets it has, but it's way too big for fitting discretely under chairs. Plus, it's a little to big when packing into crowded rooms and events. Pack a small bag that fits on the necessities. 

4. Bottle for water: Conferences always have pretty pitchers and glasses for water, but those aren't portable. Pack your own refillable water bottle to be able to refill throughout the day as needed. You'll be chatting it up and will definitely be parched, so be prepared!

5. Spiral notebook: Spiral notebooks are best for blog conferences because they don't take up a lot of space on a table. I love the way that bound books look, but a spiral is definitely the way to go for a conference - you'll be able to remove pages if needed and the compact size is ideal for writing. 

Are there any blog conference and workshop necessities that I'm missing? Do tell! 

And!

What conferences do I need to know about in 2016?! 

This post has a sponsored element, but all opinions are my own.

5 Takeaways from Alt Summit

Whew, I am finally ready to share my thoughts on Alt Summit with you! Have you been curious?! Alt was everything I hoped it would be and more. I know, I know, that's a total cliche, but it's so true. There are tons of recaps out there including mine over at Annette Joseph Style, so I wanted to do something a little bit different on PPD. Instead of recapping every little piece of Alt, I thought I would explain my 5 takeaways from Alt Summit along with why I think you should definitely book your ticket to the conference next year. 

My 5 Takeaways from Alt Summit

1. Alt is first and foremost a community. In a world where the words "blogging community" are about as clear as a wooden door, I truly felt as though I found a community at Alt. Everyone at the conference was so genuine, so humble, and so nice. It was truly unreal. I had conversations with bloggers who have hundreds of thousands of followers who never uttered a peep about their blog infamy. I met bloggers of blogs I have been reading since I was 22 who could not have been more interested in me - little old me. In the weeks leading up to the conference, I found camaraderie in the Alt Facebook group which allowed me to get to know a few familiar faces before getting to Salt Lake City. In the weeks since the conference, I have kept in touch with the women I met through social media, and am even expecting a valentine in the mail from one awesome group of bloggers. The bottom line is, this conference is a place where women come together to support each other. Period. No caddy talking about each other behind closed doors, no competition to work with brands before someone else does, and no judgement about the number of followers everyone has. It was incredibly refreshing and uplifting to be in that environment, and it made me LOVE being a member of a blogging community. 

2. Periscope and Snapchat is where it's at. Seriously, if you're not on Snapchat AND Periscope, you're going to be left behind. I know it sounds scary to add yet another platform to your repertoire (and by one, I really mean two), but you owe it to yourself to stay in the social media game. There are so many things that you can do with Snapchat and Periscope, too! I am so excited to incorporate Periscope into my social media more; I have some stellar ideas, so stay tuned. 

3. Repurpose content which means, working smarter, not harder. There is no reason that you can't use the same photos on Instagram on your blog. There is no reason that you can't take a Snapchat DIY, download the videos, and turn them into a blog post. There is no reason that you can't show the behind the scenes of an event and use them as a starting point as a recap. Think smartly about your content and use it in the best way you can, more than once!

4. Don't be scared to reach out to brands. Oh man, this is a tough one, but don't be afraid to reach out to brands. The worst that can happen is you get a no, and the best that can happen...well, that is yet to be determined! Brands don't have time to read every single blog, search every single about page, and email every single person they might want to work with. Do the hard work FOR them. It's amazing how many brands out there are dying to work with bloggers. In fact, Minted's CEO Miriam Naficy even said that one of the reasons she started Minted was how much she saw the power in bloggers. Crazy! 

5. Be nice to everyone. Seriously. I know it's hard to be nice to everyone; I am not always so good at it myself, but it will definitely pay off in the end. You never know who has a connection that you might want to make, or who is having a rotten day, or who can help you out in some way, or who YOU can help in some way. Smile, be nice, and make a friend. I only knew ONE person at Alt when I landed in Salt Lake City, and I really had to push myself to introduce myself to other people (hello, my name is Nicole, and I'm an introvert moonlighting as an extrovert...). It was challenging, but not one person looked at me like I was crazy. Instead, I made new friends! 

Finally, and technically takeaway number 6, plan to go to Alt next year if for nothing else than the experience of getting out of your comfort zone, meeting new friends, and enjoying the heck out of the scenery. Next year's event is in Palm Springs at the Saguaro (an Instagram worthy hotel if I ever saw one). No word on when it will be happening, but I know I'll be there. Any roommate takers? :)

Feel free to ask me any questions at all; I'm happy to give you all my scoop! 

Photos via: Brooke Bevan Davis & Justin Hackworth for Alt Summit

Alt Summit: Staying a Student

Today, I am thrilled, elated, excited, nervous, and apprehensive all at once. I'm definitely a mix of emotions because today, I am heading to Alt Summit! Alt Summit is a huge, fabulous small business and blogging conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. One of the companies I work with is Annette Joseph Style. Annette is a nationally renowned author and food stylist, and she is graciously taking me along with her, so I can help with her marketing and blogging. I am so excited to learn as much as I can from tons of like-minded men and women. I've always believed in reinvesting in education and staying a student in your profession. While blogging isn't technically my profession, it is a huge part of my social media freelancing and an equally huge part of my life. Our days are filled with classes and workshops while our nights are filled with parties.

Interestingly, this is my first ever blogging conference, and I can't wait! Stay tuned on Instagram to see everything that Alt has to offer!! 

Have you ever been to a blogging conference? Would love to hear your advice!

Annette Joseph's Style+Photo Workshops

A few weeks ago, my future sister in law, Kaci, and I spent our Saturday morning being flooded with photography and styling knowledge at one of Annette Joseph's Style+Photo Workshops. Professional photostylist Annette along with veteran photographer Christina Wedge set-up shop at Ponce City Market's West Elm location. The West Elm at Ponce City Market has the most adorable coffee shop tucked into one of its corners which served as the perfect location for our workshop. 

The morning began with a little lecture about styling from Annette. During Annette's talk, she discussed some stylist secrets while showing us examples of what to do (and what not to do) when styling photos. As bloggers, interior designers, and amateur photographers, this lesson was especially helpful, and I have to say that I've been using a few of her tricks when styling my blog photos. Color triangle? Yes please! 

Next we heard from Christina who walked us through different aspects of our camera and learning about what each button really means. We spent a lot of time in F-Stops and lighting which was incredibly useful to learn what those things actually mean. 

Once we wrapped up our lessons, it was off to see Annette and Christina in action. I loved seeing Annette work her photo styling magic as well as how she works seamlessly with Christina. And watching Christina and Annette make the tiniest adjustments to subjects to get the perfect photo was really insightful. I think that was one of my biggest takeaways. So often we want to make these huge, drastic changes to photos, but really, we just need to move fabric just a hair or wiggle that bowl the other direction. Small changes = big impact. 

The day wrapped up with working in partners to style food and then some of West Elm's interiors. Kaci and I worked to tell a story about the food we were working with: making pasta for a date night at home. We're pretty proud of what we came up with!

As for interiors, we chose a beautiful camel leather couch that was full of punchy pinks. We decided to tone down the colors a bit, and looking back on our work, I am impressed with our use of what was already set-up by making it look totally different. A true team effort! We went from all of those pinks and oranges to more neutral, soothing tones of navy, white, and gray. A subtle change with a huge impact. It's amazing what pillows and greenery can do to a space. Our movements even make the shelving in the background look more neutral. 

If you're interested in taking one of Annette's workshops, she has one coming up in June...in Italy! I have no doubt it will be an amazing experience. Learn more on her site. 

Thanks to Annette and Christina for imparting your knowledge on us. We had a blast! 

photos via: me :)