alt="Top 7 Things I Learned at the iRetreat 2014 Blogger Conference" src="http://whsr.webrevenueinc1.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/iRetreat2014-500x99_c.gif" />
class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10091" src="http://whsr.webrevenueinc1.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/iRetreat2014.gif" alt="iRetreat 2014 influencer conference" width="750" height="149" /> This week I had the pleasure of attending href="http://iretreatconference.com/" target="_blank">iRetreat 2014. This intimate conference has been around since 2011, when it was called Reviewer’s Retreat and focused on supporting product reviewers. It’s still small – a limited number of bloggers and sponsors attend – but the focus has shifted from review blogging to a focus on your blog as your business. This year’s conference was held in Hershey, PA, and featured many successful bloggers from the Philadelphia area.
Here is a wrap up of the top things I learned while attending iRetreat 2014.
1. Photography: Shoot into the light.
When you have a nice product to showcase and review, what is the best way to show in a photo?
Workshop leader Amy Renea of href="http://www.anestforallseasons.com/" target="_blank">A Nest for All Seasons, had some great advice: place it in front of a window (blinds down) to shoot. When you do this, the product will be backlight and appear dark, so you’ll need to adjust your exposure compensation. This is a very important term in photography that refers to adjusting your camera to get the right amount of light onto the subject. To adjust, find the “exposure value” on your smartphone or camera’s menu. Use “+” to make the image lighter on your darker background. (Using “-“ makes it darker.) This will help eliminate the darkness and nicely balance the image. Now, shoot the product straight on. As an added tip, remember that brands already have flawless shots. They are looking for something unique and eye-catching from bloggers, and want to see the product being used as intended. For example, if you’re shooting a Margarita glass, DO put a fancy drink in it with salt on the rim!
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Dig deeper: Need more tips? href="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/blog/blogging-tips/graphics-is-not-my-thing-part-1-take-better-photos/" target="_blank">Check out my guide on how to take better photos.
2. Partnerships: Use them to build reach.
The opening keynote, presented by Vera Sweeney and Audrey McClellan of href="http://www.gettinggorgeous.com/" target="_blank">Getting Gorgeous and Fashion Forward, was dedicated to the topic of building partnerships, which is great for better exposure and more brand appeal. More than that, though, a partner can be a great support for your blog and business. If you put a Twitter party together, for example, you can share the tweets and not overwhelm your audience who does not want to attend with information they don’t need. You can share pitching responsibilities, each one catering to a brand she prefers or knows better. And not only do you grow reach by crosslinking articles, you can share a combined Instagram account, join a Pinterest group, add yourself to a Twitter list – all great ideas in reaching more people. Naturally you’ll have support from a trusted resource when you need, as long as you build your relationship on trust and honesty. Vera and Audrey set up their LLC right from the start, so when you are looking for a partner, be sure not just to find the right fit that complements your site, but hammer out the legal details in advance.
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Dig deeper: href="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/blog/socialmedia-marketing/building-a-networking-group-for-social-media-exposure/" target="_blank">Discover more tips on building a network with like-minded people.
3. Professionalism: You’re always auditioning.
Although this quote came from Audrey, it was a sentiment that was expressed throughout the conference, from both bloggers and brands. Audrey and Vera made it clear that they never stop working – even on vacation. Brands are always watching what you do, say and put online – or offline. Do not think you’re safe from scrutiny when you’re in real life. Always conduct yourself professionally and keep certain standards in mind. For example, true brand loyalty is a great idea. If you are a brand ambassador for one product that you actually use, don’t even review another. Vera shared how she painfully had to turn down some lucrative contracts because of this – but her integrity remained intact and that was worth it. And speaking of contracts, always have one so you can avoid the problem of not getting paid for a gig.
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Dig deeper: href="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/blog/blogging-tips/from-blogger-to-freelance-writer/" target="_blank">Learn how to go from blogger to paid professional writer.
4. Video: Just do it.
Video is a critical component to success today. The best thing to do? Just get started – now. Don’t worry about it being perfect or looking beautiful. It’s more important to be authentic and have fun with a topic you love. Pick a humorous or whacky thumbnail when you’re posting to YouTube because it will stand out better. And if you’re worried about video or inept at editing, href="https://vine.co/" target="_blank">Vine is a great option for short, sweet videos to get you started.
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Dig deeper: Once you’re started, href="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/blog/socialmedia-marketing/maximize-the-power-of-video-on-pinterest/" target="_blank">learn how to integrate video into Pinterest to maximize your exposure.
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class="wp-image-10092 size-full" src="http://whsr.webrevenueinc1.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/sponsor-jabra.jpg" alt="Jabra, an iRetreat sponsor" width="300" height="584" srcset="http://whsr.webrevenueinc1.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/sponsor-jabra.jpg 300w, http://whsr.webrevenueinc1.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/sponsor-jabra-154x300.jpg 154w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
class="wp-caption-text">Great swag should never be your main reason for attending a conference. However, getting to know brands with great products that fit your audience should be!
The first morning of the conference started with a panel, “Working with Brands” sponsored by Rite Aid. The critical question, “What are brands looking for?” was answered with a host of viewpoints.
Most brands are looking for numbers (how many followers you have) – or engagement (comments, shares and likes) – or a good story – or all three! The fact is, the more you can bring to the table, the more appealing you are for brands. At the roundtable discussions the next day, we discussed brand loyalty – again. The fact is, sticking to one brand and giving them regular shout outs on social media will attract their attention, depending on the brand, but equally sharing shout outs for their competitors can drive them away. While the brand reps at the conference understood the need we may have to use competing brands, upper management frowns on this kind of engagement from bloggers. In the meanwhile, pick and focus on the brands you love the most and start sharing about them. In addition, make sure your blog has a nice page flow with few ads, impeccable grammar, research your numbers and do your best to build traffic. Also keep in mind that sponsored content should be no more than 20-30% of your blog’s content.
class="wp-image-10093 size-full" src="http://whsr.webrevenueinc1.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/slide-traditional-media.jpg" alt="working with newspapers" width="300" height="228" />
class="wp-caption-text">Sample session slide, from “Traditional Media” presentation
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