Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Y'all Connect 2014: Come Join Me for my Favorite Blogging Conference!

By Rachel Callahan


I have been to Chicago, New York three times, and San Diego for blogging conferences.

But my favorite was in Birmingham, Alabama.

Last year was the inaugural year for Y'all Connect Presented by Alabama Power. And it was everything those huge national conferences were not.

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I was able to learn from equally brilliant speakers, but the intimate, local environment gave me the relational opportunities I had been craving. I was able to finally meet friends that I'd been communicating with for years, I made new connections, and I strengthened relationships I already had.

All while learning from leading social media experts.

I had been skeptical of the sessions, because I feared it would be geared completely toward corporate social media, leaving my own niche of personal social media out in the cold. But that was not the case - I was able to increase my understanding of tricky subjects such as SEO, learn about the millennial generation (and realize that I was one of them), and glean tips on how to tell better stories.

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Wade Kwon, the Conference Organizer, reflected later, “My biggest takeaway was meeting as many guests as possible and learning about what they do and what they were learning at the conference. It was fun just being able to chat with folks as they were in line for the lunch buffet.”

And I agree – the chatting in-between was just as valuable as what I learned from the sessions.

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I left feeling exulted and enriched, excited about my city’s social media presence and leadership.

This year's Y'all Connect is coming up shortly on June 13, and I already bought my ticket.  I also have a coupon code to share with you - ALABLOGMEET200 will give you $30 off the ticket price, bringing the entire conference (the full conference, two meals, one snack, and the closing party) price down to only $99.

I strongly recommend you come - I hope to meet you there, This year's speaker lineup is incredible, and I know you'll benefit from what the conference has to offer.


Disclaimer: I received no compensation from this post nor will I from the coupon - all opinions are my own.


Grasping for Objectivity, sells Birmingham photos to benefit The WellHouse at Picture Birmingham, and runs the blogging networking site Alabama Bloggers.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Best Post of the Week: Week 248




It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Best Post of the Week: Week 247




It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Friday, April 4, 2014

Best Post of the Week: Week 246




It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

April Meet-Up - Space Limited!

Cantina
By Wade Kwon
  • Alabama Bloggers April meetup
  • Topics: See list below
  • Cantina, Pepper Place, 2901 Second Ave. S., Lakeview, Birmingham [map]
  • 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. April 18
  • Admission: See list below
  • Event hashtag: #alablogmeet
  • RSVP on sign-up sheet
Let's talk blogging. Do you want to know more about ...
  • Marketing
  • SEO
  • Getting started
  • Post topics
  • Photos
  • Monetization
Come to the Alabama Bloggers April meetup. We'll have lunch at Cantina, a terrific taqueria with a mouthwatering menu. You can pick which topic group you'd like to join, and spend the time learning from your fellow bloggers.

In addition, this is a charity event for the WellHouse, a faith-based and Christ-centered nonprofit organization offering immediate shelter and transitional housing to women who have been trafficked, are prostituting or otherwise sexually exploited.  

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Let us know you're attending on our sign-up sheet. Note: Only 30 spots available, so RSVP now.  

Admission: Any item below to donate to the WellHouse ...
  • $5 cash donation
  • Gift cards (Visa, Target, Walmart)
  • NIV Study Bibles (Teen, Student, Life Application)
  • Bible Studies – ones the ladies can do alone
  • MacBook Pro (for staff use)
  • Towels (NEW items only, please)
  • Bras (sizes 32 through 38, A, B, C, D)
  • Sports bras (S through XL)
  • Jogging suits/workout clothes (new or gently used)
  • Tennis shoes (new, please, sizes 6, 7, 8, 9)
  • African-American hair products
  • Paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, napkins)
  • Cleaning products (Swiffer products, Pledge, Gain/Tide laundry detergent, dryer sheets)
  • Art supplies (photo paper for printer, canvas S/M/L, basic paint colors [white, black, nude, browns], paint pens, watercolors, paper, ruler, colorful Sharpies, stencils, Mod Podge, items to paint [pots, wooden items like birdhouses, crosses, etc.]
  • Jewelry making supplies (ring hoops to make rings, clasps for bracelets/necklaces)
Prizes: We're having a special giveaway: two $25 gift certificates to Cantina! Additionally, we have two $25 gift cards to Dreamcakes Bakery , and two door prizes from Picture Birmingham. You must be present to win. (Your hosts Rachel and Wade aren't in the running for the prizes.)

Thanks to Cantina, Dreamcakes, and Picture Birmingham for providing these great prizes. Good luck!
  
Questions: Email Rachel.

P.S. Be sure to join the Alabama Bloggers Facebook group ...
If you haven't linked up and introduced yourself yet, be sure to go here to do so!