I will have to admit it here: I am new to blogging. Sure I have my Facebook account and do my status updates religiously. But blogging? That seemed like too much work to plan a website and lay it out and then update it regularly. What if the day comes when I have nothing to say? The pressure!
I know I have a lot to say though. I have been talking and chatting up a storm for years now. I have a lifetime of stories to tell. I have often been asked why I don’t write a book. (That’s another story.) In the last few years I have lived a fairy tale life complete with a Prince Charming. We have travelled to warm, sunny beaches and been snowmobiling in the most pristine powder snow. I have something to blog about!
Since I am new to blogging, I needed to find out all I could. How do I start? What is the best way to get my stories into the world? Is it possible to monetize my site?
Where would a girl go to get all of this information? The Blogworld New Media Expo 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada of course. I had no idea there would be an expo for bloggers, but there was, and I was there. While in Las Vegas I met so many people who are already involved in Blogging, Podcasting, Vlogging, and Social Media. I received pamphlets, books, stickers, pens… all about “New Media.” By far, the best trades show I have ever been to, and I have been to a lot.
What did I love about the show? The people. I was able to walk into every booth and tell them that I was a new blogger. They took the time to explain everything to me. I was given good advice and direction about where to take my blog, where my blog could go and the future of the industry. I had a great time meeting new people and learning. I was given information on how to make “social media” work for me. There are all kinds of tools out there to help a blogger make a living. I am still just touching the surface, but the possibilities are so exciting.
Although I was very impressed with all of the information I received, the highlight of Blogworld for me was the Ford booth. I actually got to test drive some of their new cars. They have a new model Taurus called the Sho. Wow! It really was a show. It drove very comfortably and the interior was “sweet.” The Ford SYNC communications and entertainment technology was developed with Microsoft. I loved the look of the instrument panel. I wouldn’t mind “getting in and going” in this car!
After driving the Taurus Sho, the new Ford Mustang caught my eye. As a young girl I dreamed of owning and driving a Ford Mustang. That was my dream car and at that moment I became that little girl again. I quickly hopped in and test drove that dream car. It was as good as I had imagined with its V-8 power, the “throatier exhaust sound”, the speed, and the sleek new design. According to my husband, I was wearing a smile the whole time. That little Mustang pony really made my day. I am happy to report that even though my years say I am a little older, there is still a little girl with big dreams in my heart.
The scene was Las Vegas and how can you not have fun in Las Vegas. We went to Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay where we saw so many sea creatures. We had just seen Seven Pounds so the jellyfish kind of freaked us out a little. Then we just enjoyed the electricity of the city. Over all Blogworld was a huge success for me. I came away with more knowledge than I had planned and had a relaxing vacation in between meeting times. Now that I am relaxed, it is time to put that knowledge to work.
Check out this fun slide show of our adventure at BlogWorld 2009.
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