Design Blogger Conference 2011

WOW what an amazing few days I just had! I am back home from an inspiring 3 days out in California at the Design Blogger Conference. To be honest I was not sure what to expect, sometimes you go to these conferences and they can be hit or miss but this one was spot on! I found it to be geared much more to the full time interior designer and blogger, purely focused on business. Seriously there was no messing around here and I loved it! I will have a full recap over the next few days but here are just a few points that continue to stick out in my mind.

 "Work Hard and Be Nice"!
One of the common themes from each speaker was that you will work harder than you ever have and be nice to everyone you meet! Social Media is a very supportive and encouraging place, take advantage of it. Many people credited their ability to reach out to those they admired and ask for help and guidance. Most often these experts were willing to offer up a few minutes of advice or pass on a contact!


MattBurkeviaPinterest
"Valleys & Peaks"
The quote that truly resonated with me was from the infectious Tracey Porter that we learn more in the valleys than we do in the peaks but when we are in the peaks we should slow down and stay focused. This is something I need to implement, when we are all at our busiest we are moving so fast that we might veer away from our goals and get off our business track. Her suggestion was to stay on point with your brand and constantly check in with yourself!



TobiFairley
"Photograph EVERYTHING!"
Tobi Fairley is incredible and shared so many tips on how to grow your design business. I will share many more of her tips in the next post but the one that kicked my butt into gear was her advice to take photos of everything. Especially the before photos. We all get so excited to start our projects we forget this step, she literally takes photos from every angle in the room, even if it is just a blank wall. Her strong advice to hire the best photographer you can afford was well received!

In the next post I will have even more tips and advice from the conference but right now I need to get some packing done, I move in 2 days! In the meantime hop on over to twitter follow my CreateGirl tweets and the hashtag #DBC2011 for even more tips.


(Image via Raina Kattelson - please note correction this is her actual room!,  Matt Burke Flickr, Tobi Fairley)
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16 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 3, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Great tips :) Thanks for sharing for those of us who couldn't be there. I agree, photographing EVERYTHING is key... I curse my forgetfulness when I don't have my camera on me and end up somewhere unexpected that is totally photo-worthy. Slowly but surely, I'm learning...where ever I go, the camera goes :)

    *Tania @ Passport2Design.com

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  2. casey at loft and cottageMarch 3, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    Thx so much for sharing. Wish I could have been there--it sounds so inspiring! Love the sign--be nice to people. Amen!

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  3. quintessenceMarch 3, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    I loved following all your tweets from the conference. There was so much great communication that it was almost like being there. But I look forward to hearing in more detail all the information and tips you all brought back with you. And yes, I have found the social media world to be incredibly friendly and supportive - including you!!

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  4. Jessica NicholsMarch 3, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    I love hearing about these things, although I am not a design blogger, I am a keen follower and fan.

    Also, I saw that image on pinterest too, from Italy, it is INCREDIBLE.

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  5. AnonymousMarch 3, 2011 at 8:53 PM

    I can't wait to see more posts about the DBC2011! I love hearing other people's perspectives on what they took away from it. Your insight is brilliant!

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  6. NylaMarch 3, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    What a great post Julieann, I really love your insights and I agree wholeheartedly with Stacy that everyone takes away something different and it's great to see it all come to life again after we've returned home. Great reminders!

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  7. SusanMarch 4, 2011 at 3:46 AM

    You've already shared so many great things from DBC2011 and I can't wait to hear more! The camera tip really hit home. I refurbish lamps rather than whole rooms, yet I was also having the camera chat with myself this morning...

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  8. Katherine HawkinsMarch 4, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Thanks for sharing your take-aways from the DBC for those of us who couldn't be there... looking forward to more insights from you. I have to say that the one concept that hit home with me was "photograph everything"! Even though I am a professional designer (who should know better!) & usually have my camera with me, I am sometimes so in the moment that I forget to take the pictures until it is too late (I personally have a case or two of missing 'before' pictures... shame on me).

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  9. UnknownMarch 4, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    Thanks for the credit- GREAT post!

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  10. CaitlinMarch 4, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    Followed your tweets throughout the entire conference - learn so much from you and I can't wait for all of your follow up posts. I'll definitely be attending next year!

    Thanks for this wonderful post.

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  11. Carrie HansenMarch 5, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    Great post! I love reading everyone's take on the conference!

    Carrie Hansen
    Studio C Interior Design
    www.studio-c-design.blogspot.com

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  12. Sarah KlassenMarch 6, 2011 at 2:46 AM

    Thank you for the re-cap, Julieann—such great tips and things to think about :) I am glad that the event was a success...

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  13. GlamaMamaMarch 6, 2011 at 11:07 AM

    Can't wait for your future posts about the conference. I was reading as many tweets as I could and it "almost" felt like I was there! Thanks for sharing!!
    Christine

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  14. LayerstooMarch 6, 2011 at 11:35 PM

    Looking forward to your future posts about the conference...loved the peaks & valley advise and great that the conference attracted such a professional audience.

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  15. AnonymousMarch 7, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    I've only been blogging for 6 months and I can say that all of these things are 100% true!! Looking back on my journey so far I almost can't believe the peaks and valleys I've experienced, how hard I've had to work, but also how kind people have been. That kindness paired with moments when all the hard work pays off is what makes everything worth it, including the valleys! Thanks for sharing.
    ~Carla

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  16. spiritwolfMay 22, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    Stopped by and enjoyed your page.

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