Haven Conference Recap

I won this cute Have pillow at the conference

Hi all.  I’m back today to share a bit about the Haven Conference I attended over the weekend and my biggest takeaways from the event.  If you are not familiar with Haven, it is a conference for Home and DIY bloggers.  The conference brings together bloggers from all over the country as well as top brands in the home and DIY industry for 3 days for learning, networking and some pretty serious partying too!

my blogging pals Tina from Encore Creations / me / Talana from Music Street Designs

Since the Haven conference takes place right here in Atlanta I couldn’t miss out of the opportunity to attend and boy am I glad I went.  Yes I learned a lot of great things that will help me grow and evolve my blog but most importantly I connected with lots of fabulous ladies who I know will enrich life in so many ways going forward.  Here are my biggest takeaways from the conference.

Our cute swag bags were created by Ballard Design (a store I spend way too much money at but love)

No. 1  You are Your Brand

Because of my corporate background I’m aware of the importance and value of a strong business brand.  In the blogging world your brand identity can become a bit fuzzy when you are trying to marrying pieces of your personal life into the business elements of your blog.  The Haven conference reminded me that I am more than just my blog and that ConfettiStyle is my brand, a brand I represent by the words I write, the projects and work I create and the relationships I build.  I think I have a pretty good handle on my brand but over the next month or so I’m going to be analyze my brand and make sure I’m delivery what I want to and what my blog readers and followers come to me for.

On that note, I’d love to know what things you like or don’t like here on the blog and if there is anything new you’d like to see.  Just leave a comment or drop me an email.

Ryobi was a major sponsor of Haven and is an example of brand excellence

No.  2  Blogging, like Any Business is Built Upon Relationships

The building blocks of any business, blogging or otherwise, is built upon the relationships you develop, which become the support beams for your business.  I had such a great time at Haven connecting with and learning from bloggers I follow and admire.  It was really clear from the conference that bloggers support each other and support and encourage the success of fellow bloggers.  I was so impressed at the willingness of other bloggers to share their stories, challenges, real-life obstacles and roads to success.   Blogging can open a lot of doors and it is so nice to know that there are bloggers there to help you get from one door to the next as you build and grow your blog and business.

  In addition to meeting tons of awesome bloggers, I also enjoyed connecting with many of the brands that were there and learning about how the work with and support home and DIY bloggers.   I’m looking forward to working with many of these brands going forward and showcasing them here on ConfettiStyle.

I got to meet Abbey from Online Fabric Store, one of my favorite brands and connect with Home Depot, another fave

No. 3  What You Put In, You Get Out

Ok, I’m somewhat of a confessed workaholic and I work really hard with my businesses and my blog but we all have those moments when we don’t give it 100%.  One message that I heard over and over from some of the most successful bloggers  at Haven was about putting in the work in order to get the results you desire.  That doesn’t mean becoming obsessed with your blog and neglecting your family and personal life, it means giving 100% of your effort to putting out the best work, the best photos and the best content when you are working on your blog.  It means being dedicated to building the blog you want.  Desire and Dedication = Results!

there were so many great learning sessions at Have that I have a notebook filled of information to help me grow my blog

No. 4  Everyone Has a Message

There was lots of conversation at the conference around not comparing yourself to other bloggers but instead developing your own voice and your own message.  I love that fact there are so many bloggers out there talking about home design and DIY, yet each of us can share our love for these subjects in a unique way.  I know I’ve fallen into the comparison trap more times than not, but Haven reminded me of the importance of being myself and sharing my ideas in my own way.  In the words of Dr. Seuss…Why Fit In When You Can Stand Out!

this is a slide shared by HGTV star Chip Wade on his design philosophy

No. 5  You Have to Love What You Do 

One thing was for sure at the Haven conference and that was that bloggers love what they do.  After talking to many of the bloggers at the conference I know that turning your blog into a business has just as much to do with the work you create as it does with loving what you do.  When you have a passion for something you create a clear vision, you put in the work and you turn your dreams into reality.  I love what I do and I walked away from Haven energized and ready to take ConfettiStyle to the next level.

Ballard Design showcased their passion for design and decor throughout the Haven conference site

No. 6  Social Media is Just That, Social

If I didn’t realize how important social media is for my business, I do now after attending Haven.  Connecting with blog readers, other bloggers, businesses and clients via social media is just another way to grow and expand your business and it has to be an active part of your daily activity.  I made many of my initial brand connections and met many of my favorite bloggers via social media and will continue to tweet,Instagram and FB to build those connections.

I’d love for you to follow me…

 Twitter

Facebook

 Instagram

No. 7  Defining Who You Are is Key to Others Understanding Who You Are

One of the sessions I attended during Haven was entitled Blogging Trade Secrets: What We Wish We Knew Then!  The session was led by some amazing bloggers and was jammed packed with valuable information.  One of the action steps I came away with had to do with understanding who you are and what your blog is all about.  Jen from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam shared a valuable exercise that can help you define who you are.  The exercise involves creating a list and outlining Who You Are and Who You Are Not and then listing the strengths of your blog and what you want it to represent as well as listing what you blog doesn’t represent.  This simple exercise can help you as a blogger stay focused on your message and what you deliver to your readers.

how cute is the DIY board created by Home Depot?

I could go on and on about what I learned at the Haven Conference and what a great time I had partying and getting to know other bloggers, but I’ll just say this…what happens at Haven, stays at Haven.

The conference is already set for 2015 and I hope you’ll attend so you can get in on all the fun.