5 Great Reasons To Attend the BlogPaws Conference

BlogPaws is the premier online social media company for bloggers and social media influencers.  BlogPaws connects brands with bloggers and social media influencers, and connects bloggers and influencers with each other.  Take your blogging and influencer skills to the next level by joining us at the BlogPaws Conference! 

May 18 - 20, 2017 

Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 

This post is sponsored by the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated as a BlogPaws Conference Ambassador to help share information about the BlogPaws 2017 Conference but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. BlogPaws is not responsible for the content of this article.

If you're a new blogger or haven't attended a BlogPaws conference before here's why you should go!  

5 Great Reasons To Attend The BlogPaws Conference

1. THE EDUCATION!
The blogging and social media education is more valuable than I can say.  Whether you're brand new to the blogging community or a seasoned influencer, there are Featured Speakers and Workshops that will help you grow your blog and your social media presence. The workshops cover a wide variety of the hottest industry trends in blogging & social media.  There are so many great sessions to choose from!

2. THE NETWORKING!
Network with other bloggers, brands, and industry experts in the pet community.  BlogPaws bloggers learn from each other, support each other, and have a bond that comes from our shared interest in pets and their welfare.  We're in this blogging journey together!

3. THE CONNECTIONS!
Connect with industry professionals and brands you'd like to work with.  There's nothing like meeting in person and talking about your passion and your blog (or microblog) to make an impression and forge a relationship with a brand.  You'll learn a lot about their company and products as well, and what new products or initiatives they may be working on.

4. IT'S ALL INCLUSIVE!
The BlogPaws conference is a great deal.  You get SO much for the price of a conference ticket.  It's all inclusive from Keynote Speakers, to Working Sessions, Food and more!

5. THE SWAG!!
BlogPaws SWAG bags always contain great new products to try!  You'll want to share about all the great SWAG you got with your readers after the conference... or during the conference via your social media channels!

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I'm honored to serve as a Conference Ambassador this year, and pleased to be able to offer you the AMBASSADOR 10% CONFERENCE DISCOUNT!!  Use the code  BP17-10off-Ambassador to receive 10% off the price of your conference ticket!  Click here to Purchase Your Conference Ticket   (discount applies only to the conference ticket, not hotel or airfare)

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Already have your ticket but haven't made your Hotel Reservation yet?  You can make your Hotel Reservation Here.

Serving up Learning, Networking & FUN at the 2016 BlogPaws Conference!

9 Common Conference Questions Answered

What does my conference ticket include?
Entrance to the Exhibit Hall, all Keynote Speaker sessions, Working Sessions (w/ a few exceptions as noted), Events, Nose-to-Nose awards dinner, Meals (as noted on the agenda).

Should I bring Business Cards with me?
YES!  You'll be meeting so many people you want to keep in contact with, from fellow Bloggers and Influencers to Brand Representatives and  Industry Leaders.  You want them to remember you so business cards are a must.  If you need to order them, do so NOW!  Printing mistakes often happen (especially to me, I have no luck with printing!).  Leave time to have them redone just in case.

Can I bring a friend or my significant other to the conference?
Yes!  Your companion will need a conference ticket as well if s/he wants to partake in any of the sessions, events, meals, or the awards dinner.  You can apply the 10%  Ambassador discount code to their ticket as well!

What kind of food will be served?
BlogPaws always offers a wide selection of delicious food, and plenty of it!  They include vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free options as well.  If you have other dietary restrictions let them know in advance and they will work to accommodate you.

How will I get from the airport to the hotel?
BlogPaws will be providing a code for FREE Uber taxi rides from the airport.  Airport transfer is included in your conference ticket price.  Watch for updates to find out the code & details on airport transport.

What do I do with my pets while I'm at the presentations and sessions?
One of the best things about BlogPaws conferences is that you can bring your pets with you!  They can even attend presentations and working sessions with you.  If you or your dog need a break there is supervised doggie playtime at on-site Pet Parks available. This is set up either indoors or outdoors, depending mostly on weather. There is no extra charge for this!

What should I wear?
Dress is mainly casual/business casual, although it can vary.  You want to be comfortable and dress appropriately for a warm climate, but you will also be meeting industry professionals and brands you want to make a good impression on.  Most importantly, wear comfortable shoes!  You'll be doing lots of walking and standing.  You are free to dress up for the Awards dinner the last night, many people do!  You'll find people wearing anything from slightly dressed up to full out black tie, it's up to you!

What should I pack? 
One important thing I'll say right now is to Leave Extra Room in your bag for all the SWAG you'll pick up as you walk through the Exhibit Hall!  Our generous Sponsors want you to see their products, and most want you to take a sample home with you to try - and hopefully write about!  Honestly, people always say they wish they had left more room in their suitcase for all the fabulous SWAG!!

You'll have your cell phone of course, and you may want to bring a laptop or tablet for taking notes during the sessions.  I also bring a notebook & pens because one year I somehow deleted notes I was taking at a session!  Some folks like to upload photos and video to blog about the conference in the evenings.  I share conference images on my social media during the conference, and blog about my experiences later.  Sponsors love when you take photos or short videos with them at their booths showing their products.  I'll be posting photos & video with some of the brands on my social media.  Don't forget your chargers!

Icy and Phoebe loved their first BlogPaws Conference in 2015!

Pet food isn't provided at the conference, you'll need to bring your own.  I'll bring along fun outfits, collars/leashes, and bandanas for my dogs.  I'm going to dress them up for the Awards dinner too!  You don't have to be a Nose to Nose Awards Finalist to walk the Red Carpet, we're all invited to strut our stuff on the Red Carpet that night!  

Where should I go to stay up to date on conference news?
Follow the BlogPaws Conference 2017 Facebook Page.  As we get closer to the conference, updated conference information will be posted there.  Check out the Essential BlogPaws 2017 Conference Everything Post on the BlogPaws web site for all the essentials you'll need to know for the conference.

A really wonderful addition this year is the BlogPaws  Newbies Course! If you're a new Blogger or Influencer attending the conference for the first time, you should take the BlogPaws SLC 2017 Conference Newbies course - it's FREE and full of great conference tips!  It's not completely finished yet, but go on in and introduce yourself!

Click this link to learn more about the BlogPaws 2017 Conference.  

I went to my first BlogPaws conference in 2014.  When I read about all the great speakers and working sessions they were having, I knew I had to be there!  Despite the fact that I was a total newbie blogger who wouldn't know a soul there, I took the plunge and went.  I didn't know anyone or have any idea of what to expect.  As soon as I arrived however, I started meeting people!

Not only did I have a great time at the conference, I learned so much more than I ever expected.  The connections I made and the things I learned did wonders for my blog and my social media presence. I couldn't believe so many pet loving people (and their pets!) gathered in one place to network, learn, share information and ideas, and have FUN!  I had found my "Tribe"!

As a Conference Ambassador, I'm happy to assist conference attendees in the BlogPaws Conference experience both before and during the conference.  Do you have questions about the conference?  Post them in the comments and I'll answer them!  If I don't know the answer, I'll find it for you.

I'll See You In Myrtle Beach, Friends!!



This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of BlogPaws. The opinions and text are all mine.

Highlights From The Blog Paws 2014 Bloggers Conference

I attended my first pet bloggers conference, a BlogPaws conference in 2014 in Las Vegas. I want to share a couple of my favorite highlights from that first conference.  I learned so much from the workshops and from other bloggers.  I met some wonderful people and discovered lots of great new blogs and products. 

One of my favorite highlights from the conference was Susan Getgood’s  workshop, Monetization:  Revenue, Reputation, and Recognition; Defining your Path to Professional Blogging Success.  Susan is Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BlogHer, so she knows a thing or two about online marketing!

Susan with one of the four legged workshop attendees

I had read Susan’s book Professional Blogging for Dummies, a great resource for bloggers interested in monetizing their blog, or optimizing their current monetization strategy.  I had the book with me at the conference and Susan was kind enough to sign it for me!  Some of the things she discussed were:

DEVELOP YOUR PROPOSITION; Define the unique thing you have to offer your readers.    Mine is having insight into dog behavior, issues, safety and health because I have years of experience as an animal welfare volunteer.  I also have two dogs I travel extensively with, and Icy and I are a registered therapy dog team.

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE; Who reads your blog and where they hang out online. 

DEFINE YOUR NICHE OR CATEGORY; What specific area the products, information, or services you provide fit into.

IDENTIFY YOUR “AWESOME”; What you are an expert in, and what makes you an expert.  She asked us to complete this sentence:  I am an expert in _________ because of ________.    Tout your awesome on your blog!

One of the things I found overwhelming was thinking I had to be on every social media network; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest,  LinkedIn.  During her workshop I asked Susan if she felt we needed to be on all these networks in order to be successful.   She advised us to select social media networks to participate in based on what they do well and on which networks our audience hangs out on.  That was a relief to me.  It's not so overwhelming knowing I don’t have to be on every single network to create an effective online presence and be a successful blogger. 

Another of my favorite presentations was given by Steven Feldman and Dr. Kate Hodgson of HABRI, The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative foundation.   I’m a huge believer in the power of the human animal bond.  I’ve seen incredible responses from some of the people Icy and I have visited in the course of our therapy dog volunteer work.

Steven talked about the positive chemicals that are released in humans when they touch an animal.  He also talked about pets being a "prescription for health" and that doctors are including pets in patients' treatments.

Some interesting facts Dr. Hodgson shared with us were:

Pets can be a catalyst for their owners to stop smoking; they don't want second hand smoke to harm their pet.  This fact really surprised me!  Does it surprise you? 

Pets can be motivators for healthy lifestyle choices by increasing exercise.

Pets can provide therapeutic intervention to treat illness.

Pets can counter the risk factors of major diseases; inactivity, tobacco or alcohol use, hypertension and high blood pressure.

Check out HABRI's web site to learn more about the science behind the human animal bond.

There were many other great workshops and keynote presentations, these are just two of my favorites.   I look forward to attending BlogPaws 2015 in Nashville.  BlogPaws 2014 definitely exceeded my expectations!