the BLOG OUT LOUD blog >>

:: love Megan & Rebecca of Blog Out Loud ::

2010-12-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

blog out loud 7 >> LA :::: the re cap

2010-09-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

What a great evening it was last night.

It's interesting how much things have changed and evolved in Social Media. When Rebecca and I first started doing Blog Out Loud events, we focused mainly on blogging. The name sort of sums it up!

Over the past year, social media has exploded, morphed and become a vital aspect of commerce. Last night's panel was a great example of several different business models using Social Media in their own unique way, to reach their particular consumer, client or audience.

Covering varying areas of the LifeStyle vertical, we had everyone from sole ownerships to those working under a larger umbrella. It was really fascinating information.

With each Blog Out Loud, Rebecca and I learn so much more about this every changing media and the community that it creates.

We hope you'll make it to our next event.....

And we loved seeing all of you who made it to this one.

Blog Out Loud Hearts Our Sponsors

2010-09-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

Blog Out Loud would be merely a good idea (if we do say so ourselves ) if it weren't for all of the efforts and contributions of our sponsors. We want to thank Rose Tarlow Melrose House, for hosting Blog Out Loud 7.

Rose Tarlow's showroom on Melrose, in L.A.'s famed design quarter, is breathtakingly beautiful. We feel so fortunate to have such a stunning backdrop for our program.

We are excited to have Central California Wines, pouring from the, Bodegas Paso Robles Winery. A lovely Spanish Red and White, will be available for sipping during the evening.

And check out your goody bag with the following contributors SWAG just for you!

Blu Girl Art:: hand painted fabrics for you and your home. 15% of sales from Blugirlart.com support Clean Water Action.

ElyseWalker:: The hottest boutique in the Palisades, offering one stop shopping for all your favorite designer lines.

Leigh Viner:: Illustrator, photographer and designer, Leigh Viner, is in the house once again. Her beautiful work, is ready for framing. To see more of it check her etsy shop, jkl design here

The Muddy Dog:: offering the best looking dog duvets + duvet covers out there. The Muddy Dog is giving our Blog Out Louders a 30% discount on all items, now through December 1st.
Looking forward to seeing you for a great evening of Social Media !

Second Base:: Second Base, is the original Demi - Cami that gives you that pulled together look. As seen in People and StyleWatch. It's the must-have basic for your wardrobe. Second Base is offering Blog Out Loud 7 participants a generous, 50% discount with code.

Shop No 144:: Colleen Lemons is an interior desinger, a blogger and a passionate craftsman. She's handmade the beautiful Dandelion pins you'll find tucked into your bag. You can check out more from Shop No 144 on etsy

And somebody's gettin' lucky Tuesday Night. That's right, we'll be drawing two lucky winners to receive a three - month supply of Nue Science's anti-aging regimen (three products) valued at $600.00

BLOG OUT LOUD 7 Tues, 9/21 in Los Angeles at Rose Tarlow

2010-09-13T15:45:00.000-07:00

TWEET OUT LOUD Our 1st tweet up with the gals from BOL + RUE

2010-09-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

We are super excited to announce our new monthly series for the Blog Out Loud ....TWEET OUT LOUD. Once a month Megan and Rebecca will chat via twitter with a savvy and talented blogger/digital influencer and YOU are all invited to the conversation as well.

Our first TWEET OUT LOUD is next Sunday, September 12th at 5pm PST | 8pm EST. We couldn't be more excited for our first guests - the gals from the highly anticipated RUE Magazine. We'll be chatting with Anne, Crystal, Alaina and Caitlin about design, style, RUE, blogging and how to do it with grace (or at least do it with a smile)

How this works >> just login in to you twitter handle and use the hashtag #TWEETOUTLOUD to join in the conversation. Megan and Rebecca are tweeting from @BlogOutLoud and we'll be saying hello, chatting and asking the RUE gals questions about their style and new fab magazine premiere. And YOU can jump in as well - just join the conversation and say hello!

And we are getting ready for BLOG OUT LOUD 7 on Tues, 9/21 in Los Angeles. All details will be revealed this week so head over to the official site and our facebook community to learn more.

TWEET OUT LOUD Our new monthly series for the BOL community

2010-09-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

More info about our first TWEET OUT LOUD will be revealed tomorrow night - stay tuned!

BLOG OUT LOUD 7 | TUES, 9.21.10 | LOS ANGELES

2010-08-24T21:02:00.001-07:00

Join the BOL facebook community!

2010-07-15T00:18:00.000-07:00

happy 4th of july from blog out loud

2010-07-04T17:24:00.001-07:00

hope you are all enjoying a fab fourth of july holiday, Bloggers!!

5 Thoughts on Blog Presentation

2010-06-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

:: Me (Rebecca) and my camera. I didn't realize I snapped this pic since the flash is off and I was getting ready to shoot the interior of the wine bar. Random/funny) ::

We talked about so many things at BOL 6 a few days ago but time ran out and we didn't really get to the importance of presentation, or the actual look of your blog. Ok, here's the deal - it is important to have a strong visual impact on your blog. Like your own business, being thoughtful about your blog design (as well as content) shows that you care, simply put. Here are a few tips to get you on your pretty blogging way.

1 :: Fab Photos
Forget your blurry, uncropped photos and use lovely ones that showcase your thoughts. Bright + strong photos go a LONG way. Case in point - Bakearella. Her photos are INSANE and keeps me coming back to see what news photos and treats she has on her blog.

2 :: Original Photos
Reblogging and posting is definitely fine but always consider placing your own photos on your blog. I take my camera everywhere with me (see above - yes, that's me at fave spot
ino enjoying some wine that I took by accident.) so when I see something cool, interesting, relevant for my blogs, I snap away.

3 :: Font + Justifying R/L
Be consistent with your font and your font layout. We like to justify the font right/left so it looks like one solid block of copy. And we use the same font each post (arial in this case). These little details add presentation style to your blog.

4 :: White Space
Keep you blog fresh and clean of clutter. It's fine to have sidebar, footer, etc but try to add in some negative or white space so your posts become the focal point, not all the clutter around it.

5 :: Color Palette

Consider the tone of your blog and the relevance to your brand. Pick a color palette and stick with it. Again, this adds consistency and style on your blog.

How do you create style on own blog? Let us know!

Rebecca

BLOG OUT LOUD 6 Recap A fantastic night of social media + friends

2010-06-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

The lovely panelists of BOL 6

Meredith, Amy, Michell, Rebecca, Megan, Alison, Erin

BOL co-founders | Megan & Rebecca

Pre-event

Wow - what an amazing night at BLOG OUT LOUD 6!

We had a fantastic group of 75 guests to hear the panel speak about social media. We covered tons of topics - rewards from blogging, time management, defining your voice, authenticity, monetization, presentation and how to build and expand social media communities. There were so many great thoughts shared by the panel. We also had tons of tweets - thank you! We loved reading @CindyQuait share that she learned a lot AND realized she knew a lot too! yes!! Being part of the BOL events lets you see that you are right in there with other people and it's great to know that what you are doing - works!

A huge thank you to...

Our panel of successful + savvy bloggers

Erin, Michelle, Amy, Alison, Meredith

Tonefarmer for hosting the event

Fanny & Jane for the treats

Williams Sonoma Inc for the Pottery Barn cards giveway

Kylie of Effervescence for the portrait session giveaway

All of our lovely BOL Goodie bag sponsors / see their photos above (click here to see them all)

Please check back in with BLOG OUT LOUD for our next event in a few months.

xx, Rebecca & Megan

Mass Mingling >> What's HOT 2010

2010-06-11T05:52:00.000-07:00

EVENT 1 :: LA

EVENT 2 :: SF

EVENT 3 :: LA

EVENT 4 :: LA

EVENT 5 :: SF

I recently spotted Trend Watching's June newsletter (thanks for the tip, @MyThink) about the HOT HOT HOT trend of Mass Mingling and we love it since....we do it! BOL is this. And, hey, apparently a year ahead of the curve.

As Blog Out Loud celebrates it's 1 year anniversary, we appreciate the incredible real world connections that have been fostered through our own little events. We definitely know that long gone are the days/nights of feeling "isolated" while typing away on the keypads. Now is a time where like-minded people are connecting online and meeting offline - YES! I often share with people who aren't into social media yet that it IS relating, just in a different form. While it starts online (yes, it does take a bit to get used to at first), it's really a vehicle for forming relationships, friendships, business-ships that can be taken offline and in-person

For me, the BOL 6 event will be special for a few reasons >>

It's our 1 year anniversary of BLOG OUT LOUD
Our first east coast event in my fave city!
Our amazing guest list - all of you lovely RSVPs
I am meeting some online friends - in person - finally! I've e-know Erin for almost 2 yrs, Amy and I met over twitter last year, Michelle has already been part of BOL w a fab interview, Meredith and I worked online together for an AT post and Alison and I met through @Etsy. All of these ladies are people that I e-met and now, well, will meet in life.

Click here to read the full article about Mass Mingling.

Follow the BOL 6 event @blogoutloud for live tweets to e-hear what's happening as the event is happening.

Rebecca

sweet treats for BOL 6 Brooklyn bakery, Fanny & Jane

2010-06-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like a sweet treat to make an evening! The lovely ladies of Fanny & Jane (amazing Brookyln bakery) are donating some delicious treats for our event on Monday. we are - to put it mildly - *thrilled*!

Aside from making and serving goodies in their bakery, both Jen and Faryn of Fanny & Jane have their own "make it happen story" that they blogged about as their bakery journey was happening. Jen's popular blog - follow my bliss - about quitting the corporate day job and following a dream as well as their connection with NYC Sketch Comedy team - Harvard Sailing Team - both show that these ladies are real, passionate, fun and caring - why wouldn't you want to support this via their bakery? These are examples of successful blogs that complement a company. We love this type of small business "company" blog - it's a personal one and it really showcases the ladies' love of their business, their families and their own lives - which we all can relate to.

Click here to check out Fanny & Jane.

Click here to enjoy Jen's blog, follow my bliss (and we do!!)

Click here to enjoy Harvard Sailing Team

See you all on Monday!

BLOG OUT LOUD 6 >> GIVEAWAYS

2010-06-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

2 x $50 GIFTCARDS FROM WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC DESIGN TRADE PROGRAM

If you are an interior designer, register with the WSI Design Trade Program.

And check out the new Designer Marketplace blog featuring sneak peeks on seasonal trends, inspiration and behind-the-scenes love.

@WSIDesignTrade

* * * * *

BLOGGER PORTRAIT from EFFERVESCENCE PHOTOGRAPHY (VALUED AT $350)

The lovely Kylie Springman of Effervescence Photography has donated a free Blogger portrait - valued at $350! Session is for anywhere in the New York Tri-State Area and will last up to two hours. Within two weeks of the session, the winner will get a CD of up to twenty high-resolution images, complete with post-processing, that the winner can print or share digitally as they wish. Another great part - Kylie will work with you to design a session that shows the world who you are, with images that will be ideal for use on Twitter, your blog, your website, and anywhere else you want to put them.

Click here to visit Effervescence Photography

@KylieWritesHere

* * * * *

We love to giveaways things at our events and BLOG OUT LOUD 6 has some great ones! Aside from our lovely goodie bag for the first 40 guests, we will be picking 3 lucky winners to have one of these sweet gems shown above.

There's still a bit of room open for the BOL 6 event in NYC on 6.14.10 ::

RSVP :: rebecca@sweetlineagency.com or meganatthebeach@mac.com

BLOG OUT LOUD 6 DETAILS & RSVP

2010-05-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

{CLICK IMAGE}

PLEASE JOIN US IN NEW YORK CITY FOR BLOG OUT LOUD 6

JUNE 14, 2010 | 7:30pm - 9pm

www.blogoutloudevent.com

Erin Loechner of Design For Mankind
@erinloechner

Meredith Barnett of eBay's The Inside Source
@theinsidesource

Alison Feldmann of The Etsy Blog
@teenangster

Amy Dragoo of ABCD Design
@abcddesigns

Michelle Ward of When I Grow Up Coach
@whenIgroupcoach

RSVP

rebecca@sweetlineagency.com

meganatthebeach@mac.com

Announcing...BLOG OUT LOUD 6 JUNE 14. NEW YORK CITY.

2010-05-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

Well, that mini-break didn't take too long!

We really love the BOL community and since we'll be in NYC, we just had to do a BOL. So...here we go!!

We are *thrilled* to announce that the next BLOG OUT LOUD event is going to happen and is in just a few weeks in the Big Apple!

BLOG OUT LOUD 6 will be June 14th, 2010 in New York City!

We are still finalizing a few details so please stay tuned and check back in next week for our host location, amazing panel and RSVP details!!

And definitely follow us @BlogOutLoud
for exclusive tweets about the event!

a Blog Out Loud update >>

2010-05-06T21:59:00.000-07:00

hello lovely blog out loud friends,

we know it's been a while since we've been blog out loud eventing, blogging and all that good stuff and we wanted to check in with you guys. We seriously *heart* this great community and love that you are still enjoying BOL and are interested in future events (and we are excited too!!) and we wanted to share an update.

Megan and I are taking a mini-break from BOL for just bit since we both have new projects that have recently launched that need our deserved attention. BOL is a free resource that we do in our spare time purely because we love the supportive and generous style of the blogging world, in particular all you design bloggers. Since it takes a lot of time to put events together for you guys, we will get back on track when we can both commit the time deserved for the next event.

So please stay with us, check in and check back and we'll let you know as soon as we know when our next event will be - hopefully this summer!

And we'd love to share a little bit about where we are right now >>

I (Rebecca) recently launched Sweetline, an online brand project management company. I consult with lifestyle brands - interior designer, shop owners, artists, photographers, filmmakers, you name it - on their full online presences. This includes website editorial, social media 101 and project management of website and blog design and builds. We also have a neat blog and you can follow us here @sweetlineagency.

I am still contributing to Apartment Therapy and loving. living. small.. I have some sneak peek news - I am contributing to HGTV in a few weeks so check in on @blogoutloud for that link and I'll be featured in a super neat design mag this summer. And I doing a bit of freelance production work - phew - I am tired just writing all this down! :) but it's exciting and I am enjoying the ride!

Megan is still enjoying beach bungalow 8 and the popular podcast, The Skirted Roundtable. She is also doing design work for clients - she is a busy lady!

We'll e-see you guys soon!!

xo, Rebecca and Megan

Take those e-friends offline

2010-04-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hey BOL friends, so Megan and I have been chatting about Blog Out Loud 6 and details for a possible upcoming event in June. We can't believe that we are on event 6 already - what a fab ride! We really started this as a place for people to learn and inspire to embrace social media and connect and people have been doing just that - yes!

All this connecting online and spending time doing it (yes, it takes a lot of time) does have it's rewards and many of them involve taking your e-friendships offline. After a relaxing trip with my family and visiting gorgeous places like Red Rock, NV, I had a great brunch with BOL 5 panelist, Jeanine of @AphroChic on Saturday. We talked and laughed (and ate really good food!) and I regard her as a mutual design lover and new friend. What a neat result of all this blogging stuff! As you go about your day with your business and clients, include blogging and tweeting into the mix. It's worth it! You will create a community, you will join other communities and you will have new and supportive people in your life.

Check back in over the next few weeks for details about Blog Out Loud 6!

And enjoy more Red Rock inspiration with tablescape style at loving. living. small. and community love at Sweetline , my new online brand project management company.

Rebecca

Announcing...Sweetline Agency Rebecca's new online brand project management company

2010-03-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hello BOL friends, Rebecca here!

I am thrilled to share with you the news of my new company that recently opened it's digital doors, Sweetline Agency, an online brand project management company!

Sweetline virtually helps creative companies - like yours - with establishing, defining and evolving your full online presences. This includes website content development, social media 101 and website and community design, build and launch.

As you know, being a small business owners is incredible but busy! Many small companies haven't been able to really invest in their own online presence since working with clients and managing the day-to-day life of a company is busy and there are simply not enough hours in the day sometimes.

2010 is definitely the year for you if this is your type of company. It's time to invest in your biggest client - your own brand! That's where I hope to come in. I definitely get it from a brand, time, and creative perspective with a decade-long career in advertising. I can help you in a way that is creative, affordable, accessible and all that good stuff. I am pleased to offer a 15% discount on all new clients.

Click here to check out Sweetline.

Interested in being on the Sweetline blog? Check it out here and send me a note about your online presence at rebecca@sweetlineagency.com

Join the Sweetline community @sweetlineagency.

Looking forward to chatting with you and getting you up and running online!

xx, rebecca

What A Night! Recapping Blog Out Loud 5

2010-03-05T12:11:00.000-08:00

Blog Out Loud 5 panel and goodie bage info!

Setting up the goodie bags!

Barrel House - pre-event

Guest enjoying the event

Our panel chatting with the group

Rebecca & Megan hanging out at BOL 5

Our wine sponsor's great wine and lovely wine labels - Lorenza wine

Our giveaways

A photo of our insane goodie bag!

Wow, what a night!! Blog Out Loud 5 was a great success!! We had about 75 guests show up for a great panel discussion. This event was unique for us since we had a panel made up of people that shape the blogging experience and people who engage in the blogging experience. The main theme of the night seemed to be how rewarding blogging is to connect to people! It's really is an opportunity to meet like-minded people and feel connected. From there, things happen, doors open and creativity flows! To check out a few moments from the night, head over to @blogoutloud and read the thread. (I tried my best to tweet from my iphone)

And a BIG THANK YOU to all of our incredible and very generous vendors!

Our host for the evening...

Barrel House

Delicious wine...

Lorenza Wines

Giveaways...

Williams-Sonoma Inc Designer Trade Program
The Cutting Garden at Flora Grubb
AphroChic

Goodie bag love...

Pretty Chic SF
Chocolate Editions
Modern Pop
Yep Arts
Little Gray Pixel
The Pleated Poppy
Fossil Faux Studios
Filmore Clark
Sweet Ambs
Paper Pastries

Hope you guys enjoyed the night and check back in soon for details on our next BOL event, perhaps a little NYC love???? More to come!!!

Rebecca

Blog Out Loud 5 is tonight!!

2010-03-04T10:23:00.001-08:00

Looking forward to seeing you there!!

And if you want to follow us live, you can starting around 7pm PST!
Just head over to - twitter.com/blogoutloud or #blogoutloud

Check out the BOL blog tomorrow for photos and recaps from tonight's event!

Lorenza Rosé

2010-03-01T14:04:00.001-08:00

Our amazing wine sponsor Lorenza Rose will be pouring their fabulous libations Thursday evening. We don't leave you high and dry. Just one more reason to meet us at Blog Out Loud!

www.lorenzawine.blogspot.com

A Little Inspiration to Get your Brand Online...Now

2010-03-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

JESS3 / The State of The Internet from Jesse Thomas on Vimeo.

As we get ready for our fab Blog Out Loud 5 panel this Thursday, take a few minutes to check out this video by JESS3 about a little bit of what's happening now online.

Sweet Mother of SWAG bags

2010-02-24T17:14:00.001-08:00

As usual, our SWAG bags for the upcoming event runneth over with sweet, sweet, creative goodness. If you've attended our past events, you know that we like to give a little somethin' somethin' to our first 40 attendees. Not that we don't appreciate the rest of you who may in fact, be stuck in traffic across town or running maniacal-like, through the city to make it on a Thursday/ School Night. It's just that we've found that our contributors, who are mostly small designer/artist owned businesses, are more likely able to participate when we have a reasonable number.

That said, we'd like to take a moment to thank and give much credit to some of our participating SWAG bag contributors {with more to come}:

Chocolate Editions. is fine art for the senses. These beautiful chocolate bars, inspired by Pop Art, are hand crafted with the finest chocolates in gourmet flavors such as Neapolitan, Tangerine, Caramel along with the good old basics: Dark, Milk and White

www.chocolate-editions.com
www.maryandmatt.net

Modern pop is a line of modern art prints and paper goods with a pop art twist for children and grownups. Founder Ryan Beshara, created the company in 2008 beginning with a line of witty stationary and calendars for adults. Modern pop has since grown to include prints, and personalized invitations for children. All prints are printed in-house using the finest watercolor papers and archival pigment inks.

www.modernpopdesigns.com
www.modernpopdesigns.blogspot.com

Yep ARTS is a "super rad" print shop, in the Mission District of San Francisco, owned by artist Travis Weller. Specializing in providing commercial and fine art screen printing services, Yep ARTS happily uses a non-toxic and eco friendly process. Their work includes both paper jobs as well as tee shirt printing.

www.yeparts.com
www.etsy.com/shop/travisweller

Little Gray Pixel is the on-line store front of artist Vanessa Morsse's arresting photographic prints. Falling in love with photography from an early age and using a little pink camera, Morsse has continued to shoot with the intention of outdoing the last capture. Her work can be seen on her flickr page as well as on her design blog, Little Gray Pixel.

www.etsy.com/shop/littlegraypixel
www.littlegraypixel.blogspot.com
www.flickr.com/photos/lennonisgod

Designer, Lindsey Cheney has taken her love for fabrics and crafting and combined it with her talent for design creating, The Pleated Poppy. Each fabric poppy pin has been lovingly created by hand and is the perfect embellishment to a garment, tote bag, or anything you can think of. The Pleated Poppy offers an array of beautiful blossoms and hand sewn fabric pieces for the home and your self.

www.thepleatedpoppy.com
www.thepleatedpoppy.com

Fossil Faux Studios, founded by artist/designer Marcia Stuermer is an innovative studio based in San Francisco that strives to create the highest quality artisanal resin work. The results are powerful, visual and conceptual statements that, like fossils captured in amber, are frozen in time. Because of its beauty and durability, this artisanal resin is the perfect application for everything from counter tops, feature walls to handrails and shower enclosures. Stuermer's work can be seen in some of the world's finest 5 star hotels, private homes and galleries.

www.fossilfaux.com
www.marciastuermer.com

Following the tradition of artisan tile studios, Filmore Clark offers the best in American art tile. Founder, Lee Nicholson has been in the tile business for over 15 years. Working in such a rich environment she began her love affair with handcrafted tiles and over the years had the realization that the American art tile maker is one of the best in world. Filmore Clark hopes to bring a new life to the custom tile election process.

www.filmoreclark.com

With the belief that everything in your life should be pretty and chic....right down to your spiral bound notebooks and weekly planners, Pretty Chic San Francisco, offers a line of seven super chic styles to choose from. Slip it in your bag and scribble down dates, favorite restaurants, quick sketches or phone numbers. No more fumbling for an errant scarp of paper when you have a Pretty Chic notebook at hand. Each weekly view offers and inspirational quote as well. The perfect accompaniment for those of us iPhone and Blackberry users who still appreciate the written word.

www.prettychicsf.com

SweetAmbs cookies, are the decadently beautiful epicurean work of artist Amber Spiegel. Each cookie is hand made with the finest ingredients and speciality flavor pairings. And if great taste wasn't enough, the intricate designs artfully created on every cookie, make it almost a crime to eat. Bespoke designs available.

www.sweetambs.etsy.com
www.amberspiegel.blogspot.com

Los Angeles based, stationary and greeting card company, Paper Pastries, offers "confections for your correspondence". You can email all day, but nothing takes the place of pen to paper, and with this, individually crafted paperwork with cleverly written copy, your personal correspondence factor just went up several notches.

www.etsy.paperpastries.com

www.paperpastries.blogspot.com

And if you're not one of the lucky first 40, don't fret, we will be having a drawing for 5....yes FIVE, amazing products.

Blog Out Loud 5 Giveaways - YES!

2010-02-22T17:01:00.001-08:00

2 x $50 gift cards up for grabs
Courtesy of Williams - Sonoma Design Trade Program
@WSIDesignTrade

1 x Gold Tee
Courtesy of AphroChic
@AphroChic

1 x Floral Bouquet
Courtesy of The Cutting Garden at Flora Grubb Gardens
@FloraGrubb

We are thrilled to have some delicious giveaways for some lucky attendees of the 5th Blog Out Loud. And how do you win one of these goodies, you may be asking? Simply by attending out event, filling out a BOL card and enjoying the great discussion of our panelists.

For full event details, click here to check out the official BOL site.

RSVP to:
Rebecca lovinglivingsmall@yahoo.com
Megan beachbungalow8@mac.com

Blog Out Loud Interview Kim Vallee

2010-02-20T13:17:00.001-08:00

For our first Blog Out Loud interview of 2010, we are honored to have Kim Vallee of At Home with Kim Vallee and On The Web with Kim Vallee. Style expert and social media guru, Kim is definitely one to watch and to connect with. Kim has created a strong web presence and is one of the go-to people for style, design and social media. I personally have been following both of her sites for a long time and hope you get as much inspiration from Kim that I do. Let's hear what she has to say about defining your online voice, blog design and finding the time to get it all done.

You are a lifestyle and entertaining expert and offer incredible tips for the home on your popular blog, At Home with Kim Vallee. You also have a blog dedicated to social media and blogging tips that is full of engaging online ideas called On The Web with Kim Vallee. Plus all of your other projects, contributing to HGTV, interviews and more. Share with us how you started both your blog and how you created an editorial schedule.

I always wanted to the editor of a women magazine but I did not choose that as a career. It started when I ran a Web development company with my husband. He introduced me to blogging. I did it very casually for two years before launching At Home with Kim Vallee. This is when I got hooked.

I attend social media events every month for networking and to stay ahead of what is happening on social media. Plus, I am a presenter at “unconferences” three to four times a year. I also coach a few bloggers here in Montreal. Between and within these events, I needed a platform to discuss further what is happening in the blogosphere and how a blogger can use social media to grow their reach. I launched On the Web with Kim Vallee in December 2007. It was just before I migrated my blogs to Wordpress.

I prioritize one blog over the other. At Home is my main blog. I publish several posts a day on a typical weekday and I published one or twice during the weekend. I found that if you publish on the weekend, you will get more traffic on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There is no formal schedule for On the Web but I aim to publish once a week.

You have a great tone on your blogs. Share with us how you went about defining your voice and if, at all, it has changed as your blogs have grown.

What differentiates blogging from journalism is that the root of blogging is the way we are. We are aloud to share our feelings and can show our expressions. Plus, we write about what we are passionate about. This fact alone changes how you write as story.

Obviously my writing skill improved over the years. It is so much easier to write now. It is probably due to the fact that I found my voice. I also know my boundaries. Since my blogs have more than two years old, their scope is well-defined. I know what topics are appropriate and what I will not cover.

I shared lots of things about my taste, my ideal lifestyle, what I did, where I go, what are my dreams, up to what meal I cooked for dinner with my husband. But I also do not share our intimate life. I always been very conscious about that. What your question proves is that you can still share a lot of things about yourself and maintain a private life. This is what I mean by knowing what are my boundaries.

How important is social media when it comes to extending a company's voice? What tips would you give to a small business owner just starting out when it comes to setting up a blog and/or twitter?

Social media gives you a chance to show the world what you can do. It opens doors. But it is a long process. You build credibility one day at a time. When I started, I only dreamt on being paid to write an article for a traditional media. Last December, I wrote an article for the Toronto Star, one of the major newspapers in Canada. If I did not start my blogs, this would have never happened.

I found contracts for my husband’s business because I read the tweets of people looking for a supplier. If you connect with people on an authentic way, your followers will send you business opportunities when they see one. When you think about it, the cost of doing social media is a lot less than print advertising. Plus, it is easier to attract customers that fit within the culture of your brand.

After you opened your Twitter account, fill out your bio/description, and get familiar with the basics of Twitter. You need to figure out what you wish to talk about on Twitter. This will determine with whom you will connect. Then, you can write two or three tweets, follow like-minded people, and observe the conversation for a while. This way you will get familiar with the culture of Twitter. As soon as you get comfortable, start tweeting on a regular basis.

If you are willing to put the efforts, you can connect with the type of clients that you hope for. For it to work, you need to give advices to people, to be a problem solver, or to share informations about your market. In this mix, you can share on what projects you are working on. You could start with Twitter and then, you can add a blog to expand on the ideas that attract more attention. If you are present on social media, prospects get to know you and your products or services in a way that a corporate website cannot deliver. Many small businesses found that it can be best to build a blog with a few additional pages (contact, services/products, about) instead of a corporate Web site.

Your own blogs look amazing - very accessible, easy to read and full of content. There are so many blog templates available these days, what are your tips for picking a good theme? Also, how important is a well-designed blog?

Thanks, I am happy you like it. A blog design should be aligned with the culture of your brand and the audience. A well-designed blog conveys a sense of professionalism, which helps build credibility with new readers.

My blog is a very custom version of a Wordpress theme. I believe it saves you time to start this way. I worked with a developer and a graphic designer to get that result. Before you settle on a look, explore the supported features, google to see how well the theme is programmed, and ask people who used it if they had problems installing widgets or changing the headers.

I always check what a link to a post in Facebook looks like before selecting my theme. You aim to see the title of the post, an image of your post and an excerpt of your post. See more details on http://ontheweb.kimvallee.com/2009/04/design-your-blog-theme-to-show-your-post-on-facebook/

Thanks, Kim!

Follow Kim @KimVallee

And check out more of our past Blog Out Loud interviews right here.

Rebecca

2010-02-17T15:50:00.000-08:00

Announcing Our Panel... The 5th Blog Out Loud | March 4th | San Francisco

2010-02-09T14:57:00.000-08:00

Rick Klau
Business Product Manager
Blogger
@rklau 

Dave White

VP of Publishing

Technorati
@daveywhite

Jenny LaVelle

Associate Marketing Manager

Real Girls Media / Divine Caroline
@jennysf 

Jeanine Hays

Creative Director and Founder

AphroChic
@aphrochic 

Micaela Hoo

Design Blogger

The Drifter and The Gypsy
@drifterandgypsy

Hello Blog Out Loud friends!!

We are excited to announce our awesome panel for the 5th Blog Out Loud event that will be on March 4th in the lovely city of San Francisco!! Since Megan and I started Blog Out Loud last June, we've really seen social media grow and expand at an incredible pace. We want our events to inspire you to be your best business self and having a dedicated online presence is integral in 2010. The best part though - it's never too late to jump in and go!

Join us at our 5th event and hear from our incredible panel. We are so honored and proud to have these 5 people join the Blog Out Loud community. We will be having the event at Barrel House right in San Francisco. We'll be sending out the official digital flyer next week but if you already know you want to attend, send us a note!

rebecca@blogoutloudevent.com

megan@blogoutloudevent.com

We will be live tweeting the event so if you can't make it in person, tweet with us!!
@blogoutloud

BOL 5

2010-01-28T13:31:00.001-08:00

Blog Out Loud, Episode .13 "Social Media Tips"

2010-01-28T00:30:00.000-08:00

Post What Inspires You!

2010-01-24T17:11:00.001-08:00

A lot of people struggle with what to blog about when it comes to their brand?! My answer - blog what inspires you! What gets you going? What makes you smile? What makes you want to connect to your customers? What do you love about your industry? Whatever it is, write it on your blog and share your inspirations with your own readers. Even if it doesn't even fall in your niche, if it appeals to you then work it in to your blog style. I recently spotted this incredible sand animator, Kseniya Simonova, and thought it was amazing and I wanted to share it with you guys. What does this have to do with blogging? Not much except that it's a great example of posting something that's not necessarily part of your industry. If you want to blog about something outside the box, say that and weave it into your brand message in some way, even "Hey this inspired me!" Since you are the business owner, your readers will love to hear what you enjoy even outside of the industry.

:: amazing video found via deletelondon.com ::

Rebecca

The Freemium-Style Website and four reasons to join them!

2010-01-23T16:48:00.000-08:00

I was reading Mediabistro and noticed an event coming up called the Freemium Summit. Curious, I read further and discovered what a freemium site was and that I, in fact, was already part of a few of them, although I didn't know there was a term for it. Freemium sites combine a free offering with a premium, paid offering. Basically any site that offers tiered membership, including a free option. I love this type of site because in an era where relationships and trust are key, trying on something for size will provide most people comfort to ultimately spend money on the value of the tiered content.

I am preparing to launch my new business, Sweetline Agency, in early February (more to come on this!) and I'm interested in sites that discuss entrepreneurship, women business owners and marketing methodologies. I am a {free} member of Savor the Success, Ladies Who Launch and, most recently, the Hatch Network. Each of these resourceful and important sites offer a free tier as well as various price-point tiers that provide more information. Depending on what you are looking for and what you are willing to spend, you can decide what's right for you. For me, the free option is great - I can check out the networks, meet new people and then decide to spend money to join a more detailed tier later on. I wanted to share four reasons why all business owners should join freemium networks.

1) Meet like-minded people who will support you. Many of us are creative business owners and time is of the essence. Adding another site, like freemium sites, will just take up more time - and, yes, it will. But you are meeting people, creating your own mini-network of business owners who all are looking for the same things - support, guidance and like-minded people.

2) Great networking! Most people on these sites are in the same shoes as you and are looking to support, share and meet new people. Plus you have a new pool of people to turn to if you need help with your company, a connection or advice. Why will most people help? Because you are all part of the same freemium community.

3) Embracing a new community and adding more people to your own group. As you build your business, consider all avenues for spreading your services and brand. A freemium community is a great place to share your brand by re-blogging a few posts and joining some of the forums.

4) More opportunity to express yourself as an expert in your field. Join the forums and meet people on your freemium sites. Add to the conversation relevant and interesting thoughts to express yourself and your company.

Rebecca

Build Your Social Media Communities From The Inside Out Focusing on the Importance of e-Relationships

2010-01-19T21:13:00.000-08:00

:: toast to your e-relationships like you would with good friends ::

Any positive and worthwhile relationship takes time to build and this should be the same mantra and style that you embrace as you embark on your social media journey. Don't get caught up on the number of followers, the number of tweets, the number of tiny URLs, you get where I am going with this. Instead, focus on who you are, what you want to say and to whom you want to talk to. I recently read an article about the Relationship Era, a new period of time consumers have entered where "brands that win are expanding their focus to also include non-financial goals -- the kind of things that shareholders might have considered a distraction previously. These brands are realizing that it is possible to do something that is intensely meaningful..." I couldn't agree more! Beyond making a profit, brands - like yours - have an opportunity to connect and grow meaningful relationships directly. Here are a few things to consider as you build your relationship foundation.

:: Like any friend, your Twitter and blog followers are interested in *you* and what you have to share. By focusing on this simple idea, you can create smart and interesting conversations that are relevant to you and your e-friends. Forget forming your message for a potential Influencer that has 80,000 followers and who, ironically, is following 80,000 people and most likely has no idea who you are. Instead, embrace your 200 real followers that are listening and spreading your word.

:: I really believe that you need to build your relationships from the inside out. Set your tone and content with what you personally believe in and love. Tailor it to your own customers, trust me, they'll tell their friends and the viral swing begins.

:: Like any good relationship, keep it real and keep it open. Ask your readers their opinion, what they like, what they want, etc. From there you can tailor and shape your content and messages to them while showing that you are listening.

:: Hand over the reigns to a guest blogger to do a post or two on your blog. Invite new friends to post a relevant topic. This shows trust and also an opportunity for some cross-promotion and a new group of e-friends.

By sticking with your core audience you are building a real foundation to your social media community where people feel free to engage, interact and enjoy your content. These invaluable people will be there for you when you need them to spread your brand message. They don't care about the #'s, they care about what you have to say. Remember if you want to chat with your customers, go to where the conversation is - right in your own social community. Read the entire article about the 5 Principles of Breakthrough Success in the Relationship Era right here.

Rebecca

Define Your Blog

2010-01-19T15:34:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy start to 2010 and I am now catching up on a little Blog Out Loud love. Megan and I are chatting about the next BOL event so please stay tuned for news about a San Francisco panel in February or early March. As the year gets going and more and more people are embracing blogging and social media, I have seen more emphasis on defining one's blog. Not really as the topics, like home design, lifestyle, food, etc but rather the structure, style and tone of the blog. One of my own daily reads, On The Web With Kim Valle, has a nice post about this topic. Per Kim, are you:

a creator of new content – ex: a crafter,
a collector – blog is about what you like,
a curator – like I am
a news publisher – being the source of all the news about a specific topic
a problem solver
one that inspires people to act or create
a commentator, someone who shares his/her perspectives on issues and ideas, etc…

Consider who you are and how you want your blog to feel to others. And this may change as you get your own blog up and running. You'll slowly see what you enjoy writing and how your readers are responding to you. Take some time and define your blog, it will help you stay focused and become the foundation for your blogging adventure.

Rebecca

Best Widget For Bloggers LinkWithin

2010-01-07T21:57:00.000-08:00

One of the things that makes blogging easy and fluid are the free widgets that you can add to your sidebar or within your post template. From search box, to Google Connect, to link lists there are tons of free widgets that can make your blog rich and readable. My favorite by far - LinkWithin. This free widget can be added to your blog in literally 3 steps. It posts related reads automatically under each post that you publish (and any that had previously been published). So any and all of your old blog posts can be recycled to your continuing and new readers - yes!! Click here to add LinkWithin to your blog.

Listorious

2010-01-03T22:13:00.000-08:00

Hello Blog Out Loud friends! Hope you enjoyed the holiday and took a little break from your computer and gathered some blogging inspiration for 2010. One of my fave new finds over the holiday was Listorious, a site that compiles the best Twitter lists. Love stationary? Find the Twitter list that will have tons of stationary designers and enthusiasts. Into vegan cuisine? So are tons of others and the list is already made! Start making Twitter lists of your own and enjoy this great (and free) resource.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM BLOG OUT LOUD!

2009-12-21T23:09:00.000-08:00

Blog Out Loud's 10 Favorite Reasons To Blog 2009 Wrap Up

2009-12-20T20:46:00.000-08:00

When we thought of the idea for Blog Out Loud, we really didn't know how it would go. Our goal - let's do one event to inspire creative people and see if people enjoy it. Six months, four offline events, a blog, webisodes, a network, workshops and many new e-friends and real friends, we are thrilled to see this community grow! As the 2010 is arriving (yay!), I wanted to share my ten favorite reasons to blog that I learned and appreciated in 2009.

1 :: connecting to community

One of my favorite things about blogging is the community. The blogosphere is a real thing that is fluid and constantly evolving and people just want to connect to each other and share similar values and experiences.

2 :: reflecting and rethinking how I look at my own brand

I always love living in small space and blogging about them has actually allowed me to see certain ideas, resources and solutions in a new light. I also can now define certain design styles that I love but hadn't really realized before I started blogging about them often.

3 :: meeting amazing like-minded people online and in real life

Like connecting online, blogging has allowed me to meet amazing new friends offline. Through Blog Out Loud events, I've had the pleasure of meeting tons of new friends, all whom love blogging, are creative and like design.

4 :: appreciating my physical space more

It's easy to get stuck online, blogging, reading other blogs, reading more blogs. When I turn my computer off and get out to ride my bike, flip through a magazine, hang out with friends, I actually appreciate this physical time.

5 :: touching the lives of other people in a small way

When I got into blogging, I just wanted to write and express my love of design + small spaces. What ended up happening was much more then that. I started receiving emails and comments from the sweetest people telling me that they enjoyed my blog, also lived in small spaces or thank you for writing about small spaces. Wow!! I didn't realize at the time how global the blogosphere is and how my little blog could be read my my family and people around the world!

6 :: expressing myself in a creative outlet

As I reflected on my love of design, I soon learned that blogging was a wonderful outlet to express myself. I soon understood the addictive quality to blogging.

7 :: getting it out of my system

And like my writing, I also soon learned that blogging about design the best way to get my love of new products out of my system and adopted the ideas of if you can't buy it, blog it!

8 :: look and observe the world in a new way

I have my camera with me all the time and really observe the world in a new way. Anything and everything could be inspiration for a potential post, even dining out. :)

9 :: documenting my life

Even though I blog about small space living, my blog is kind of a lifestyle blog. Two years and over 600 posts later, I can read back through my blog and remember what I was doing and enjoying at the time. It's been an incredible way to document my life. Well a blog is an online journey, after all.

10 :: because I love it!

I blog because I love it and I love it for all the reasons listed!

HAPPY 2010!

Rebecca

BLOG OUT LOUD .12 "Rewards From Blogging" Event 4

2009-12-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

We just finished getting a few webisodes ready for you from the 4th Blog Out Loud event that was in November and hosted by DWR | Tools For Living. Our lovely panel covered a range of topics about blogging, social media tools, authenticity, creating original content, time management and, today's webisode, rewards from blogging.

And check out more webisodes from past Blog Out Loud events >>

Episode .11 "Building The Advertising Blog Community >> Event 3"

Episode .10 "Hi, I Have A Blog >> Event 2"

Episode .9 "Blogging Helps To Build A Brand"

Episode .8 "Building A Community"

Episode .7 "Hi, I Have A Blog >> Event 1"

Episode .6 "Borrowing Content"

Episode .5 "Do I Need A Background In Writing To Blog?"

Episode .4 "Inspiration Behind Blog Out Loud"

Episode .1 "Defining Your Voice"

Blog Out Loud Interview: Emi Hofmeister of DivineCaroline

2009-12-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

I am excited to share our latest and greatest Blog Out Loud interview from the lovely Emi Hofmeister of DivineCaroline, a publishing network with all the content written by...you! I love the tag line "life in your words" and also that the site is a "reflection of it's Members". The concept of the website truly encompasses and empowers the "every woman" while providing a broad platform for engaging and interesting content. As you get your own blog up and running, joining DivineCaroline's free site is just another opportunity to connect with like-minded readers and extend your online presence even further. Let's hear from Emi has to say.

Real Girls Media is an online community that provides a platform for women to express themselves. What steps have you taken to create such an amazing community? How have you seen the community grow and evolve?

When Real Girls Media was founded, there were few opportunities for women to share their stories and connect with others in a meaningful way. Independent blogs provided a place to write, but lacked a community feel. DivineCaroline offered an alternative, offering a place for women to both share their personal experiences and learn from others.

Creating and engaging a community is an ongoing process we initiated before DivineCaroline even launched. When we were developing the site, we recruited a host of prominent bloggers to serve as an advisory board. These women provided invaluable insight about online communities. Their advice helped us shape DivineCaroline. After the site launched, we invited these bloggers and other relevant web site owners to join our community as content partners. By publishing articles on DivineCaroline, they receive exposure to our audience and increased traffic to their sites. In return, each of these partners share information about DivineCaroline with their audiences, spreading word about a unique place online, where people read and write about everything that matters.

While our content partners play a crucial role in the DivineCaroline community, we depend on the commitment and loyalty of our users. As the number of contributors and readers on the site continues to grow, we regularly respond to evolving needs with new publishing tools (such as slideshow and video capabilities), a message center to connect with friends, and a rating system for most liked stories. As a result, the quality and quantity of story submissions continues to climb and we are confident that many women have found a trusted home online.

A lot of creative people are busy with their own business and haven't found the time to start a blog for their company. What advice would you give to a new blogger to encourage them to get in to the blogging ring?

For all those hesitant to enter the blogging ring, remember that an online presence is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Blogging is free marketing. It’s an opportunity to share information about yourself, your company, and your products with consumers. Your competitors are already in the social media space and you should be too. That said, I would caution against hastily jumping into the blogosphere. Before you launch a blog, take time to develop a social media plan that meets the needs of your consumers and fits with your brand persona.

· Spend time researching your industry and competitors. What are people saying about your company? Your industry? What are people worried and excited about? Think about specific issues and/or accomplishments to address on your blog.

· Set specific goals for how social media can help your company; develop content relevant to those goals. Are you seeking to drive new traffic? Increase awareness for products? Keep people informed about the industry? Create personal relationships between your brand and your consumers? The answer can be “all of the above” but pick a solid approach first. If you present yourself as an expert on a particular topic and can convey information in an interesting and relevant way, others will begin to seek your expertise.

· Promote. Promote. Promote. Make sure that consumers know the blog exists. Include it on your traditional advertising vehicles, make notes on your Facebook wall, and tell other members of your company to pass the link to friends. Once you have a few readers, you’ll feel more responsible for creating good content on a regular basis.

Divine Caroline, your first "vibrant community" of Real Girls Media is such an expansive and resourceful community. Can you share some blogging success stories or blogging inspiration stories from some of your members? (hoping this will encourage and empower new bloggers to join)

At DivineCaroline, we give everyone a voice by creating a place where they feel comfortable sharing stories, experiences, and talking to others. Our readers and contributors continually inspire us with their articles, but there is one writer who stands out for her success.

A regular reader of DivineCaroline, this particular woman found her voice during the election. As a bleeding heart liberal living in the middle of a red state, she needed a place to vent, to be excited, and connect with others that shared her views. She began writing, not just about politics, but about her family, friends, and the trials of motherhood. Her eloquent style attracted many DivineCaroline readers, who became loyal followers and eagerly commented on every new article submission. Encouraged by DivineCaroline editors and seven faithful readers, she launched her own blog. Her tagline reads “I have a voice. Who knew?” She openly credits DivineCaroline for giving her the opportunity to share her words and find that voice.

Divine Caroline has a clear, defined voice. We encourage new bloggers to really consider and define their own. What advice can you give for finding your voice?

Finding your voice is one of the most challenging aspects of starting a blog. It can also be the most fun. Committing time and energy to your blog will be much easier if you write on a topic that not only interests you, but stokes your imagination and ingenuity. Think about what you talk about with friends. Is it fashion? Kids? The hilarity of cats wearing hats? Truly, a blog can be about any topic, it just needs to be a focus or a theme that will continue to excite you after the first few posts. This does not mean that you will be pigeonholed and must write about one thing forever, but initially, it will help you launch a site with purpose.

Thanks, Emi!! Click here to read and join DivineCaroline and follow Emi on Twitter @EmiHof

Check out more awesome interviews from Blog Out Loud right here.

Americans are literally eating the web!

2009-12-11T09:46:00.000-08:00

A new report was released that American's "eat" 34 gigabytes of information a day! a day!! While most of this is from tv watching, a lot of it is from the web. So what does this mean to you? People are literally craving interesting and appealing editorial and video content. They want to read what you have to say. Consider this as you are beginning or continuing your blog and make your content worthwhile and relevant to the blog voice that you have defined. If you are at a loss for words, try this exercise. If you need a boost of inspiration, read other people's blogs and engage in the conversation. Read more about the study released a few days ago right here.

Give your readers incentive to read your blog Giveaways

2009-12-09T21:35:00.000-08:00

I was reading Ecorazzi, a neat green site, and noticed that they have a sidebar image of their weekly Twitter giveaway. Yep, every Thursday at 3pm they give away a green item. Very cool! Letting your readers know that you are thinking of them will really drive them to continue to read and support your blog. Depending on your niche, contact stores and brands and ask them to supply you with a giveaway item. In return, you are doing a little free advertising for them. It's a win-win for everyone!

creative company? consider a creative blog template

2009-12-06T09:59:00.001-08:00

not all blogs are editorial-based. many bloggers want to showcase more visual notes then writing and their blog may consist of photos and images. Here are a few to consider if you want to show more photos.

Indexhibit.
I was recently turned onto Indexhibit, a creative blogging template that allows you to showcase your content in a more creative exhibit fashion. I love the look of these templates - a weblog style with great textures and design.

Posterous.
A basic micro-site that rolls along to showcase all photos and design. Simple layouts allow the photos to be the star.

Squarespace.
Another great creative publishing site that offers interesting ways to show imagery while including a bit of content as well. This company charges a monthly fee but it may be worth the few bucks for the templates.

#tweetsgiving Connect With Twitter Friends and Give Thanks

2009-11-27T12:39:00.000-08:00

One of the things that we learned from Tara at the Twitter workshop were hashtag conversations - what they are and how to use them. While your handle is your own Twitter account/page, #'s are topics that people are talking about.

Favorite one right now - #tweetsgiving

Head over to Twitter and join the amazing conversation and share what you are giving thanks for this holiday season. We are definitely thankful for all of you - amazing new e-friends we've had the pleasure of e-meeting online and meeting offline at the Blog Out Loud panels. Blog Out Loud has been an amazing new adventure and we are so happy to be going on it with you!

Have a great holiday!

think about ways to spread your content Chris Watson's Chart of 30 Free Sites for Web 2.0

2009-11-24T23:16:00.001-08:00

One of the neatest perspectives on blogs is that because of RSS feeds, the news you want to read about comes right to your inbox. You don't have to really go out and seek your fave topics, like small space dwelling. I spotted Chris Watson's awesome social media chart and wanted to share it with you lovely bloggers. Chris points out 30 free websites that allow you to share your content and, in turn, have your community continuing sharing the love. He writes, "This visualization was made to inform on how easily and effectively you can use the web to build an online presence through free sites, feeds and monitor progress." Yes!! While blogging may be new for some of you, also take the steps to learn about social media in general and how your own community can help share your stories and help extend your brand!

:: via Fast Company ::

blog your neighborhood

2009-11-24T09:40:00.000-08:00

:: i live by the beach and often talk about it on my blog, loving. living. small.
Is this small space dwelling?

not so much but the colors and textures of my city inspire my small space design. ::

one of the neat things about a blog is that you can really write about anything, even off topic to your "voice". your readers want to get to know you so share more with them! One way to share more about who you are and also to create original content is to blog about your own neighborhood. Talk about where your business is or where you live and why you love it there! Always snap photos of your surroundings for inspiration and include them in your posts. Your loyal readers will love seeing how and where you live and this gives you a break from writing all those witty and appealing posts!

>> the heartfelt blog post and the get it done blog post

2009-11-19T10:18:00.000-08:00

I've been blogging long enough to realize a few patterns in regards to posting content. I've asked fellow bloggers about some of these patterns and they concur. Ok, so at least I am not alone here.

One of the more interesting patterns that I have experienced is the heartfelt blog post. I would be really inspired by something, write tons of original content that was full of witty sayings, hyperlinks and engaging questions to my readers and.....barely a response. (maybe at least in my head). The funny thing is I felt good after writing the post so the reward is definitely there.

There there's the get it done blog post. this post is definitely short and sweet, often without much thought with the simple goal of getting a post up so you can keep your readers happy and your blog consistent. Inevitably, these posts often get a lot of traffic and interest.

Either way, continue writing your thoughtful posts and your quick and simple posts on your blog. You'll start to see your own patterns and can navigate through them as you please.

Rebecca

A great Blog Out Loud evening at the 1st Twitter Workshop

2009-11-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

Our workshop location - Patio Culture on Abbot Kinney Blvd.

A little gift for the guests - Amenity Home organic bags and a note pad (remember writing!?!)

Tara Settembre (our Twitter leader), Kim Hoang (SheSays LA Director), Rebecca

A little cheese (and more goodies)...

...and wine!

Rebecca and Megan

Last night we held our 1st Twitter workshop with talented Twitter expert, Tara Settembre of When Tara Met Blog. The group was treated to a full presentation from Tara, explaining everything from the history of Twitter, how to use Twitter, make lists, use hashtags, retweeting, search for people, follow people, get people to follow you, join directories, search for topics, how to integrate it into your business and daily routine, Twitter etiquette, and more. Seriously, this workshop was awesome and we were happy that the guests enjoyed their time, including tons of great real life networking and chatting before and after the event.

*THANK YOU*

Tara Settembre of When Tara Met Blog for leading
twitter.com/tarametblog

Karla Stevens of Patio Culture for hosting
twitter.com/patio_culture

Amenity Home for the pretty bags
twitter.com/Amenityhome

Frey Wine for the yummy organic wine

New Oxford of America Dictionary's Word of the Year Unfriend

2009-11-16T23:34:00.000-08:00

I heard a news story tonight that the New Oxford of America Dictionary's word of the year is "unfriend" which means to remove someone as a friend on a social network, like Facebook or Twitter. This definitely goes to show that social media and the online presence has made a serious impact on mainstream culture.

Blog Out Loud Interview: Stephanie J of N.E.E.T. Magazine

2009-11-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

We discovered visual and inspiring online magazine, N.E.E.T., this Fall and fell in love with imagery and style. We quickly popped over to the blog which was also full of great posts and images as well. To our surprise, the blog had only been live for, oh, about 1 month! Wow!! We emailed the editor, Stephanie, and asked her to participate in a Blog Out Loud interview and we were thrilled when she agreed to share her story. Oh, and she's an accomplished designer so if you need a little website built or logo designed, check her portfolio out - it's amazing!

You launched N.E.E.T. magazine in 2005, which "is an eco-friendly, grassroots style bible for the digital age." We are insanely inspired by your magazine! Although you've been online for a while, you just started a blog this September. What inspired you to start a blog and how are you enjoying it?

I wanted to keep interest in N.E.E.T. between its quarterly issues and, as in every issue I feature a new set of designers and artists to keep the content fresh and showcase more designers, I wanted a place to catch up with past contributors. It's great to have a daily creative outlet, and to see that people are still creating, years since N.E.E.T. first found them.

Your blog is already full of great content! How did you jump in to posting content and how have you made time to post?

I'm constantly on the internet! And I love to revisit past shops and sites that were featured in the magazine, so it's a natural extension for me to create a blog for N.E.E.T. Making the magazine is a full time job, but I can always find time for a blog post.

How did you design the look of your blog? (It looks great!) What were 3 things that were important for you to have on your blog? (i.e. sponsorship areas, sidebar widgets, custom header, etc)

It's an instinctual process for me - I like the way the content flows, reading from left to right - and I've kept the dimensions of images posted on the blog the same as N.E.E.T., to keep continuity between them. It was important to have an advertising area on the blog to give more exposure to shops and designers; thumbnail links for all the past issues; and easy navigation to info on N.E.E.T., and its external links (Facebook, Myspace etc)

With the addition of your blog, have you already started to see new connections and/or networking opportunities for your brand, N.E.E.T.?

It's great to connect with other blogs in a way that the magazine can't - on sites such as Bloglovin, Independent Fashion Bloggers, Twitter. I've done a few ad swaps with my favourite blogs, which helps get the word out.

Thanks, Stephanie J! Definitely check out N.E.E.T. magazine and support this creative venture!! And, of course, the N.E.E.T. blog as well.

Check out more Blog Out Loud Interview s:

Erin Loechner of Design For Mankind and AOL's Shelter Pop

Zem Joaquin of ecofabulous

Melanie Nelson of Blogging Basics

Still time to RSVP for the Twitter Workshop on Monday!

2009-11-14T17:10:00.001-08:00

We have 3 spaces left for the Twitter, Wine and Cheese workshop this Monday at Patio Culture in Venice. The workshop feature social media guru, Tara Settembre of When Tara Met Blog, leading the group in all the Twitter how-to's you need to extend your brand further then you can imagine.

When: Monday, 11/16, 7pm - 9pm

Where: Patio Culture in Venice, CA

Fee: $40/cost of workshop

What do you need to bring: a laptop computer is optional.

RSVP: workshop@blogoutloudevent.com

Take a Blogging Break & Enjoy Your Physical Space SheSays Event 11.11.09

2009-11-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

I attended a great panel on Wednesday that was hosted by SheSays, an awesome organization for women empowering women! (I was honored to speak on their last panel)

The panel was called "Let's Get Physical" and was about appreciating and enjoying one's physical space - whether an in-person interaction, flipping through a real book, enjoying a museum, etc. The main idea was that so much of our life is online now that we can sometimes dismiss the physical nature of things. So what are we missing? Real physical energy and drive.

The panel was full of creative ladies who have created a balance of working online and making time for offline. It's so important in the blogging world to really shut down the computer and get out. (Yes, that means turning off the iphone too, friends!) So next time you are feeling restless or need that break - take it! Go on a walk, meet a friend for coffee, head to your local music store and listen to music there, just enjoy your physical space and your creative juices will keep flowing.

And the event also had the best party project ever - make your own headbands. The ladies of Academy of Archivists (also hosts and super talented creative people) created a fabulous workstation for all of the guests to enjoy! Check out my gold headband with black feathers - yum!

For more about SheSays, click right here. And the founders of SheSays are smack in the middle of a kickstartr push so SUPPORT THEM!!! Click here for their kickstartr page and spread the word!!

Rebecca

Blog Out Loud TV presents: The 3rd BOL sponsored by Wiredrive 10.14.09

2009-11-09T20:22:00.001-08:00

The video highlights from the 3rd Blog Out Loud event are now live! Sponsored and produced by Wiredrive, the evening was geared specifically for the advertising industry to encourage the building of the advertising blog community. It was an awesome evening with well over 100 guests and fantastic sponsors. Read all of the sponsors and panelists right here and watch the video, edited at Therapy and produced by Wiredrive, above or right here.

Check out more highlights from past Blog Out Loud events at Blog Out Loud TV.

Primp Your Post

2009-11-09T15:34:00.000-08:00

Just when you thought you had the perfect looking post, isn't it nice to know with a little primping you can jooszh your post into the beyond perfect? Thanks to typographer and illustrator, Jessica Hische, over at Daily Drop Cap, you can do just that.

Daily Drop Cap is an ongoing project that provides a daily drop cap that's as easy to use as copy+paste.

To place this cap in your blog post, copy this code at the beginning of your text (You’ll need to be in the html editing window.):
http://jhische.com/dailydropcap/B-teal-cap.png" title="Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische" align="left" alt="B"/>
Don’t forget to delete the letter in the text you are replacing with the initial cap!

>> don't be afraid to take a blogging break. but make a time to come back to your blog

2009-11-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

blogging takes time. a lot of time. and some times, you need a life break. don't be afraid to take a break from blogging to focus on other things. I spotted evite's blog hiatus (photo above) and wanted to share it with you. They told their readers that they are working on some new projects and will be back in a few months. I like how they gave a time line and also that they left links to some of their previous posts. Once you get up and running and need to take a break, then go for it. But don't leave your community hanging - they will come back to see you and if you are not there after many months then I wouldn't count on them coming back.

Blog Out Loud's hiatus tip - consider scheduling 1 photo post a week on Fridays to encourage your readers to enjoy the weekend. Or something like that. Photo posts are simple and you are at least staying a bit connected while your focus is somewhere else. Most blogging platforms allow you to schedule the date and time so take some time to do that. It's worth it!

The 4th Blog Out Loud event photo gallery

2009-11-05T14:26:00.000-08:00

Blog Out Loud + DWR:: recap

2009-11-05T10:23:00.000-08:00

I'd pretty much say, that last night was a smashing success. The venue was gorgeous and made one hard pressed to peel away from everything for sale in the Tools For Living Store {I heard more than one person describe it as being akin to the world's best modern museum gift store - don't miss it if you're in the 'hood} A bit of mingling, wine and hors d'ouerves kicked the night off before settling in for the topic at hand::blogging.

Our panelists were such a rich group of creative bloggers with big experience under their belts conversing on everything from social networking to what inspires them and gets them past blogger's block. Our audience was about 50% bloggers and as usual, the interaction was equally as valuable with their input and questions.

Thank you to DWR and Tara Frey who generously donated the drawing prizes. Frey Wine {organic wine with no sulfates} Pop Chips for sponsoring; as well as the beautiful work of ink + wit, amenity home, tiny pine press, Gelato baby for adding to our most awesome swag bags .

all photos courtesy Emily Ho - thanks Emily!

BLOG OUT LOUD + DWR::WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH!!!Join us Wed from 7pm - 9pm RSVP info@blogoutoudevent.com

2009-10-30T11:46:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for some serious blogging inspiration and know-how, please join us at the 4th Blog Out Loud event on Wednesday, Nov 4, at DWR in Santa Monica CA 7pm - 9pm.

We are teaming up with the amazing DWR | Tools For Living shop in LA for the free event.

We have an incredible panel of architecture + design + green bloggers who will be sharing their stories and experiences about blogging with you! The town-hall Q & A is for YOU so please join us for a great evening by the beach. Our panel...

Emily Goligoski of The SanFranista and Notes on Design
Gregory Han of Apartment Therapy and Unplggd
Laure Joliet of Apartment Therapy, At Home At Home and Dwell
Alissa Walker of Fast Company, Gelatobaby, GOOD
Haily Zaki of American Express OPEN Forum, Curbed LA, Inhabitat and Secret Agent PR

RSVP | info@blogoutloudevent.com

make your own custom Twitter background

2009-10-30T09:33:00.001-07:00

Blog Out Loud's new twitter page

a new twitter background for loving. living. small.

for those of you on blogger on Twitter, consider making a custom background for your page. I found four tutorials over at Chris Spooner's blog - one for a repeating image background, one for a graphic background fading to color, one for extra large image on your background and one for your very own custome. Awesome! He even gives you the Photoshop template to make your very own.

Follow Blog Out Loud on twitter twitter.com/blogoutloud

how to: create your own favicon

2009-10-28T06:30:00.001-07:00

I'm sure you've seen the small graphics that accompany the URLs of your fave blogs and websites. These are called favicons and you can add one to your own blog. This is a bit more work but it's a good way to learn about HTML and your own code so if you are a new blogger, consider trying this. There are a few steps in this process and it also requires you to go into your HTML code and doing a little copying and pasting.

STEP 1: Make your graphic
Create your fave graphic in Photoshop and save to your desktop. If you don't know Photoshop, consider googling clip art of an image you'd like. I used the flowers from my header to make my favicon for loving. living. small.

STEP 2: Make a .ico file
Click here to get to a website that will generate this type of file for free. All you have to do is upload your Photoshop or clip art image and click "generate ico". Once your file is made (takes 3 sec), just download it to your desktop.

STEP 3: Make your image into HTML code (pt. 1)
There are tons of free image hosting sites where you can upload an image to get the HTML. (HTML is the code that makes up websites and blogs. To manually add anything to your site or blog, you need to do so in HTML) I used Ripway for this. Register for free and upload your new .ico. You'll get something that looks like code in the photo above. Now let's finish the entire code in step 4.

STEP 4: Finish making the code (pt. 2)
The entire code looks like the code shown in the photo above. Copy your new HTML code link from step 3 (it will start with an http:// ) that you made on your free image hosting site and replace the link pictured above in red with your own new code. (see more info about this right here) The code that is not in red should stay intact - this is still part of the entire favicon code.

STEP 5: Add the entire HTML code to your blog HTML
So now that you have created the entire HTML code, we need to add it to your blog.

Go to your Dashboard >> Layout >> Edit HTML
First, download your entire template and save it to your desktop by clicking on Download Full Template. (This is your entire blog and your are essentially backing it up. You should do this any time you change your blog as a backup anyway)
Look at your code. Scroll down to about more then halfway look for "skin" tag, like the photo above. Then paste the 2 lines of your new code from STEP 4 right below this tag.

STEP 6: Save your new template and your new favicon should appear

>> Blog Out Loud hearts you!

2009-10-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

We started the blogging resource, Blog Out Loud, simply to inspire creative people - like you - to jump into blogging and join the community. Since we started this ride in May, we have added a lot of things and hope you enjoy them all! They are all for you!

Blog Out Loud Official Site
The hub of Blog Out Loud where you can find information and details about all of our events, consulting, workshops, panelists, sponsors and more.

Blog Out Loud Blog
You are (hopefully) enjoying the blog as you read this! The BOL blog is the place for free resources, interviews with established bloggers, tips for creating original content, understanding blogging etiquette, tricks for designing your blog, information about our latest events and workshops, links to current and past panelists and more!

Blog Out Loud Network.
The brand new free social network for you to join and meet other new bloggers, established bloggers and everyone in between. Ask questions in the forum, post photos, add videos and rsvp to upcoming events and workshops.

Blog Out Loud Webisodes
Video moments from past Blog Out Loud events.

Blog Out Loud Consulting
If you are ready to get your blog up and running and aren't sure where or how to start, we can help. Through the Blog Out Loud questionnaire and a free Skype consultation, we'll customize an e-book to help you build your new blog.

Blog Out Loud Social Media Workshops
Twitter and other social media applications are integral to building your business brand! We are offering 2 social media workshops with experts in November - Twitter and Social Media Success. Click here to learn more and RSVP.

Twitter/blogoutloud
We'd love to see you on Twitter!!

Blog Out Loud Book Guide
These reads are worth getting off your computer, iphone, blackberry, crackberry, or whatever machine is holding your attention. Click here to find some inspiring and informative reads about blogging, social media and the digital revolution.

big and beautiful - enlarging your images

2009-10-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

One common grievance when using a templated blog, is feeling as though your images just aren't as large as you'd like them to be. One way to enlarge an image is to go into the html code and adjust the width and height . The problem with that, is you may lose some of the clarity and end up with a less than quality image.

Here's a great tutorial found over at steph modo's eponymous website to go from small:

to big:

How To:

After up-loading your image, begin by going into the 'Edit Html' area of your posting. Find the code set that looks like this, and delete everything in the circled area below:

Now, you should only see this {the circled area}

Picture+21.png

Next find the part of the code that reads, /s and then a number. Usually it's forward slash s and the number 400.

Change the 400 to s576 or s640- depending on the size you wish to enlarge and the parameters of your blog. Don't worry, as long as you don't hit 'publish post' you can try it a few times and 'preview' the outcome until you get what you want.
Picture+22.<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">png</span> (image)

images: Steph Modo

>>Blog Inspired me & gogi

2009-10-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

We started the Blog Inspired series to highlight real people that are blogging their own brand successfully.

Today we want to show you me & gogi, a cereal company that let's you create your very own cereal online and they ship it to your door in a Cereal Capsule. Their blog, sincerealy yours, is all about their brand, the people behind the brand as well as their charitable efforts and exciting news. They keep their website all about the cereal and the 50+ all natural and organic ingredients and then continue sharing their personality over on their blog. I mean, who wouldn't want to know more about the creative people that came up with this idea?

Do you want to be part of the Blog Inspired series? We'd love to share your brand and blog with Blog Out Loud! Email us at info@blogoutloudevent.com and tell us about your work.

>>Technorati's State of the Blogosphere 2009

2009-10-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

Rebecca live tweeting Richard's address :: see it #bwe09 or @blogoutloud

I had the pleasure of hearing Techorati CEO, Richard Jalichandra, speak last week at the Blog World Expo. He shared a sneak peek of the State of the Blogosphere 2009 and - wow - there is some informative stuff going on in social media! Blogging and social media are such important tools to business owners (big and small) and it's important to engage with people via social media. Read the Technorati State of the Blogosphere 2009 for interesting articles and interviews from social media experts and marketers.

>>Blog Out Loud Interview Tara Frey of Typing Out Loud & Blogging For Bliss

2009-10-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

Today's Blog Out Loud interview features lovely blogger and author, Tara Frey. Tara's popular blog about life and inspiration is Typing Out Loud (yes, we love the title) and she's also written an informative book about creating a blog to enhance your craft blog. Yes! We are so thrilled to have Tara share her thoughts on blogging, keeping it real and tips for designing the look and feel of your blog.

We love your About section on your personal blog, Typing Out Loud. The 1st line reading, "Hi! I'm Tara Frey, an accidental author, purposeful blogger, aspiring photographer and editorial contributor to a few home decor mags." Share with us how you got into blogging, how the experience has been rewarding and what "purposeful" means to you?
I began blogging in 2004 out of what I call "bored store owner syndrome" I owned an online boutique at the time called Bella Pink and was getting tired of writing descriptions for products and the occassional one dimensional newsletter for my customers. I had some press coverage and an inbox jammed with questions, so I thought, "what if I started a blog and communicated with my customers instantly, sort of as if we were at the cash register of a real store?" The blog was born. I say purposeful blogger because I think my blog has evolved over the years to a really comfortable place for me to speak freely, sharing bits of my life and random thoughts, and challenged me to really crank up my photography a notch. I am no longer looking at stat counts or worried if anyone is reading. I blog for myself, which may sounds selfish, so I'll add in that I also blog for my mom, who gets on my case if she hasn't seen a photo of her grandchildren in 2 days. Blogging has allowed me to express myself and my love of my husband and children and allowed me to get back to my passion of creative writing and storytelling.

With BOL, we often talk about the importance of being real and authentic on your blog. You definitely have a passion for design and your family and you express it so authentically on your blog. Share with us how you defined you voice and why a blog is the place to keep it real. Also what's your advice on avoiding being too "salesy" or "overbearing" on a blog.

Like any blogger, it took me some time to find my voice. I had the online store (which since closed due to my desire to focus on writing) and I definitely didn't want to keep posting about sales or new products over and over. People responded most when I wrote about my family or my home. This was easy for me to write about because I think for every woman, their 2 favorite things are family and home! Once I started blogging for myself, the rest came easy and naturally. I think if you stay true to yourself, your blog will grow organically. It's great if you have something to sell and want to talk about it in a post, you can avoid being too "salesy" for example, by writing how you made the product or mix in a bit about how you use the product yourself in your home and show photos. There is no right or wrong way, just be yourself !

Setting up a blog can seem daunting to new bloggers. How did you design your blog and over what period of time? What are your tips on new bloggers regarding design?

This was a journey for me. My blog was all bedazzled and sparkly at one point. For me, personally I felt it took away from the content, my photos and writing. I decided to clean it up, tone it down, make my own banners from my photography which has made it completely freeing. I love having this freedom of changing my banners myself and not relying on a designer. It's great to change them out for the seasons or whatever mood you are in. Also a fun way to keep it fresh! Another tip I always tell new bloggers, is to keep your email address up top and easily seen. You never know who is reading it (in my case, a publisher!) So you want your readers to be able to contact you and find that information easily. Also, practice your photography. Blog readers love photos and are very visual people, so be sure to include a photo in every post, even if the photo has nothing to do with the post. And of course if you have an online store, be sure to keep a link and/or button easily seen up top on your blog!

Congrats on your book, Blogging for Bliss - Crafting Your Own Online Journal! You have penned a book aimed towards the crafting bloggers (a huge and creative community) that shares valuable information on embracing and setting up crafting blogs. Share with us the inspiration behind writing the book and what you learned along the way.
My book was a take off on some of my columns in Romantic Homes Magazine and Romantic Living Magazine. In the columns, I would feature 2 or 3 women of interest, their craft and their blog. When I met with the publisher, the idea for the book was to really focus on this explosive community of creative bloggers and feature an array of crafty women, along with visual imagery as inspiration sprinkled throughout, then blend it with a "how to". I think the finished product is a perfect combination of all of these things and a great resource for all creative bloggers...from new ones, to seasoned experienced bloggers as well.

Thanks, Tara!! Definitely check out Tara's book right here and her blog, Typing Out Loud.

Check out more Blog Out Loud Interviews from...
>>Jess Constable of Jess LC & Makeunder My Life
>>Zem Joaquin of ecofabulous
>>Erin Lochner of Design for Mankind & BAKERY

>>The 4th Blog Out Loud EventWednesday, 11/4 and hosted by DWR | Tools For Living

2009-10-20T13:04:00.000-07:00

We are happy to announce the 4th Blog Out Loud event!!

The event is Wednesday, November 4th from 7pm - 9pm and hosted by DWR | Tools For Living in Santa Monica, CA.

We have such an incredible panel of successful bloggers and hope you join us!

Emily Goligoski of The SanFranista and Notes on Design
Gregory Han of Apartment Therapy and Unplggd
Laure Joliet of Apartment Therapy, At Home At Home and Dwell
Alissa Walker of Fast Company, Gelatobaby, GOOD
Haily Zaki of American Express OPEN Forum, Curbed LA, Inhabitat and Secret Agent PR

Click here for the official site and more information.

RSVP to info@blogoutloudevent.com

Also join our brand new Blog Out Loud network!!

>>Introducing the Blog Out Loud NetworkA Blog Community For You

2009-10-19T17:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, bloggers, you asked for it and it is here -

The Blog Out Loud Network!

This community network is for new bloggers, established bloggers and everyone inbetween! Find information on the latest Blog Out Loud events and workshops, upload photos, videos, instant chat and join blog forums to talk about blogging and social media. If you are looking for blogging information and inspiration from other people and o get yourself out there, the Blog Out Loud Network is the new place for you!

>>Join the Blog Out Loud Network right here

>>Be our Facebook fan! Yes, Our Blatant Cry Out For You!!

2009-10-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

We aren't shy - we want you!!

Click here to join the Blog Out Loud facebook fan page.

>>TweetDeck

2009-10-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

We talked about TweetDeck at the 3rd Blog Out Loud event and everyone and their mom is using it @blogworld (Check out real-time Blog World happenings at #bwe09) We wanted to share it with you guys.

It really is a great tool to handle the sometimes overwhelming world of Twitter. TweetDeck is a free application that "is your personal browser for staying in touch with what’s happening now, connecting you with your contacts across Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and more." It basically organizes your Twitter world into categories so you can check your direct chats in one places, your mention's in one place, what your friends are doing in one place, etc. And in this busy and creative time, we all can use that!

Click here to download this very cool app and check out the TweetDeck Posterous blog and also their directory, sharing categories to help you search what people are talking about that interests you.

Have fun! @blogoutloud

>>Thank you, BOL attendees, panelists and sponsors!

2009-10-15T00:02:00.001-07:00

Megan Arquette, Bill Sewell, Rebecca Orlov, Jerry Solomon, Clint Schaff,
Erika Levy, Simon Mainwairing, Damon Webster

Woo hoo - The 3rd Blog Out Loud event!

Megan & Rebecca enjoying some wine pre-event.

The panel getting ready.

Therapy's awesome space before.

And full of lovely attendees!

We made Tall Redhead's with POM

One of our sponsors

What a night!!! We had such a blast at last night's event and met some great people. Over 100 people came to hear our incredible panel share their thoughts, ideas, and perspective son blogging and social media in relation to the advertising industry. I personally learned some valuable information and really picked up the great energy all around.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone that came to the event! (even in the rain - we are impressed!) To all of our sponsors, especially Wiredrive! And thank you Therapy for having us all in your (work) home!

And for all of you attendees that are looking for a little blogging push, Blog Out Loud is consulting with companies and brands to get their blogs up and running. So if you need a little help, click here to learn more.

We also are doing Blog Out Loud workshops focusing on the how-to's of Twitter, facebook and more. These small workshps are a perfect chance to get one-on-one help from a social media consultant. Click here to learn more or email us at info@blogoutloudevent.com.

::images 1 - 4 by Emilie Elizabeth::

>>3rd Blog Out Loud tonight!! Come Rain or Come Shine!

2009-10-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, LA ad and media friends, we'll see you tonight at the 3rd Blog Out Loud event sponsored by Wiredrive and hosted at Therapy. We have some great giveaways, cocktails and, of course, lovely panel. Click here for directions. See you at 7pm!

>>people may read your blog before your website

2009-10-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

Earlier today, I read an article titled Business Week's Finalists for America's Young Entrepreneurs featuring the top 25 under 25. Impressive group, to say the least. From the founder of Tumblr, an online personal shopping service for men, a group texting platform, an intern pool network, an online advertising platform to even specialty mushroom growers, I noticed that almost all of their company websites had a blog.

Since I personally am not familiar with how, say, group texting works featured on Tatango's company site, I would go to the blog first to get a sense of the people behind their company, what they are like, etc. If they appealed to me, seemed passionate about their company and happy to work with new clients, then I would definitely continue on to their professional site. More and more, people are looking for and reading company blogs to get a sense of who you are behind your company.

::image via Business Week::

Introducing Blog Out Loud Workshops Twitter Workshop & Social Media Workshop

2009-10-12T23:51:00.001-07:00

Twitter, Wine and Cheese
Email workshop@blogoutloudevent.com for to sign up.
(limit 20 people per workshop)

Social Media Success
Email workshop@blogoutloudevent.com for to sign up.
(limit 20 people per workshop)

>>What to expect at the 3rd Blog Out Loud event Besides free POMTINIs, a little goodie bag and a great giveaway!

2009-10-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

we are *excited* for this week's 3rd Blog Out Loud event sponsored by Wiredrive. We've had an incredible response from you and the panel is ready to go (beta blockers aside)!

This Blog Out Loud event is a special evening for the advertising world to encourage brands and companies to get to blogging and get to building up the community. The more blogs there are, the more opportunity there is to create a substantial dialogue about what is going on in the community, behind-the-scenes stories and inspirations. There's no magic formula to blogging. It is, after all, your online journal. What you put into it is what you'll get out of that. The panel is here to share their experiences and stories about blogging and, in turn, encourage you all to get going or keep it up.

And aside from a little goodie bag, a Therapy tee and delicious POMTINIs, we have a special giveaway so bring those business cards. We are raffling off 2 gift certificates worth $175 in value for the brand spanking new Koncept67 Salon in Culver City.

See you Wednesday!

>>Blog World Expo 10.15 - 10.17

2009-10-11T09:04:00.001-07:00

I am heading to Las Vegas on Thur to attend Blog World, which is the first and only industry-wide conference, tradeshow and media event for all new media. Wow, that's a mouthful. This looks to be a huge show with tons of established bloggers speaking about how they, well, get to be so established. Click here to check out more about Blog World and here to see the schedule. I'll definitely be sharing a lot of the event with you guys so stay tuned!

And, although the expo costs money to attend, the event website is free and full of online videos from the keynote and conference speakers! What a free treat?? Click here to catch up on what the top bloggers and blogmakers are talking about.

Rebecca

>>Big Huge Labs

2009-10-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

Not all of us have access to helpful software like, 'Photoshop'. Thank goodness for sites like Big Huge Labs. The site allows you to upload your own photo or grab one from your flickr account, create a montage from the chosen photos, and then allow you the option to load it back to flickr or your own desktop.

You can choose the layout based on how may images you want to use.

You can also pick the color and space between each photo to give you further creative control.

It's such a fun tool and best of all {my favorite price} It's free!~

>>blog inspired! Blog To Share Your Story

2009-10-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

While blogging is a powerful and free marketing tool for your company, it really is an online journal, a place to share your story with a community of like-minded people.

While doing research for my writing job, I came across Le Papier Studio, a lovely etsy shop full of custom silhouette products. I clicked through the site and found the owner, Vana's, blog. I love what she has to say about why she started blogging, "In this blog I share my journey and the journey of other artists on balancing motherhood and creative work." So while her professional site is paper products, her blog is about her inspiration and journey.

If you want to start a blog for your brand, take some time and think about why you personally are attached to the brand and how it inspires you and your clients. This is a great starting point for creating your blog.

>> your online presence is now

2009-10-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

I was checking out Time's Top 50 websites of 2008 the other day (I got linked to it via a blog) and discovered that not only was Apartment Therapy listed (rated by you and listed at #26) but 2 other websites that the owners, or editors or whatever-you-call-the-people-behind-the-whole-damn-thing happen to be personal friends of mine and are also listed in the top 30 (rated by you and listed at #21 and #28.) It's pretty amazing to be part of this whole world wide web thing. While these examples are of functioning websites, think of your blog as your own opportunity to make your online presence bigger. Your unique voice is what makes your blog special! And if you are ready to start but aren't sure how, we can help you. We are now offering consulting packages, working with brands and companies to extend their online presence via blogging.

::image via TIME.com::

>>fill your blog with inspiration

2009-10-05T22:16:00.000-07:00

Once you define the foundation of your blog voice, you'll most likely evolve and expand on this as you get blogging, filling it with inspiring gems. I love checking out UO's blog. Instead of talking about products from their stores, they highlight the cool happenings from major cities that UO shoppers live in - fun! And it's a cool way to inspire city dwellers on what's happening around the world, like this band out of NYC.

>>FTC regulates blogging and sponsor freebies A Blogging First

2009-10-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

Today, the FTC announced that they are requiring bloggers to disclose a "freebie" when posting about products. Basically, the FTC "will require that writers on the Web clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products. The commission also said advertisers featuring testimonials that claim dramatic results cannot hide behind disclaimers that the results aren't typical."

What does this mean to you? If you receive a gift or product to "try out" simply include that in your post and you are good to go. This is the first of any regulation regarding blogging and I am curious to see how the FTC will be policing this? You can read more information right here.

>>creative inspiration a click away The 99 Percent

2009-10-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

When writers block happens just click here to find a ton of inspiration by way of 100 Tips To Improve Your Life. These ideas will definitely get you posting along your merry way. And while you are there, spend some time on The 99 Percent site (which is part of the Behance) and is about making ideas happen. Behance is a creative network that organizes the creative world to make ideas happen. Go spend time there.

>>Blog Out Loud Interview Jess Constable of Jess LC and Makeunder My Life

2009-10-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

We are happy to share our latest Blog Out Loud interview with you featuring talented and inspiring jewelry designer and blogger, Jess Constable of Jess LC and Makeunder My Life. I spotted Jess's blog this summer through links from other blogs and think I spent, oh, about 2 hours on it the first time I was there. Her sincere writing and thoughtful series (she has a few weekly series) are full of ideas about living your best life with the best intentions. Yes!! And her jewelry is gorgeous, selling at some of the hottest boutiques in the country. (Boutique owners - you must carry Jess's lines - they are lovely!)

You are a great example of Blog Out Loud's mission statement of blogging to enhance a creative business. Your professional site is Jess LC and your blog is Makeunder My Life. How have you used your blog to promote your lovely jewelry line while infusing your personality into it?

The funny thing is that a) before December, I didn't read blogs, and b) when I started MakeunderMyLife.com in late January, 2009, I didn't intend for there to be much (if any) crossover with Jess LC. I started MakeunderMyLife.com as a way to consolidate my ideas for an eventual book called Makeunder Your Life. I thought that collecting stories and ideas for the book on a blog would be an easy way to get started along the path towards publication. In fact, I didn't even imagine that anyone else would begin reading and interacting with the blog until after the book was written. Needless to say, within the first week of writing the blog, readers found my posts and loved what I shared. That's when I realized I didn't need to write a book to share my idea, I just needed a blog! And if at some point in the future a book evolves out of the blog, that will be icing on the cake.

Over time, I also changed my feelings on incorporating Jess LC into the blog. Rather than keep the two passions separate, I chose to incorporate Jess LC into the blog topics whenever there is something new to share in terms of product design or business advice. I also make sure to mention the jewelry in a way that is not "selling" the jewelry. I write MakeunderMyLife to help people design a life with intention. It just so happens that by helping people simplify, they also become customers and supporters of my jewelry. I believe this happy coincidence is a byproduct of going after my dream. If I help people, the world finds a way to help me at the same time.

We love your series - Design Your Life - of guest bloggers "from all walks of life that share their intentions and tangible, actionable ways they design their life accordingly." (We love this!!!!) Why did you decide to create a weekly series and include guest blogging? How have you been feeling about it?

The DESIGN YOUR LIFE series is my most popular feature. I decided to incorporate this segment because I believe that MakeunderMyLife should be a community of people improving their lives through simplifying. If I am the only voice of that mission, the community becomes stale. Guest participants provide a fresh perspective weekly. And I like to learn from readers and contributors myself! So it works out for everyone.

We also love your weekly series - Business Advice - where you offer small space business advice. What a neat way to give back to your readers who are also small business owners! How has this been rewarding for you as a blogger and also as a business owner?

As a blogger, it's great to share advice about something I've done for 10 years. Especially since I know a lot of my readers are interested in going full-time with their own businesses. I happened to fall into my business as a 15-year-old and learned as I went along. I took risks, and failed. A lot. Now that I've come so far from my start, people wonder how I got to this point in my career. The Small Business Advice section is where I share the nuts and bolts of that process. As a business owner, this sections is a way to reflect and see the progress I have made as an entrepreneur as well.

We love the look of your blog. It's full of great content but feels super accessible. How important was it to create the design of your blog? What advice would you give to new bloggers regarding design who want to start simple?

Oh, I have a lot to say about this! When I began in January, I had two tech friends who told me to start my blog on Wordpress.org (where I am now). I was intimidated by the self hosting, sophisticated templates, and just wanted to start writing! So I started on Blogger for the first few months. But I quickly became head over heels in love with blogging and I was no longer satisfied with the design abilities of a normal Blogger template. I wanted something unique and customizable. So, about two or three months after I started Blogger, I switched to Wordpress.org. The process was not easy (read: hard) and without the help of many tech friends, I don't think I could have done it on my own. But now that I've made the move I'm so happy with the results. It's actually a lot like moving from my old studio apartment with my boyfriend to our new two bedroom. The extra space and freedom is awesome.

Here is my recommendation for people who want to start blogging: start on Wordpress.com. Wordpress.com (not Wordpress.org) is easy, simple, and free, just like Blogger. And once you are ready to switch to a custom template on Wordpress.org, converting your content and comments is seamless. My other personal preferences in blog design (for free templates or custom templates) are:

Light, neutral backgrounds (white, light gray) and dark text (dark gray, black, or navy).
Simple, clean fonts are best and easiest to read.
Make an interesting logo or banner - this is like the accent pillow on a really classic couch, make it pop!
Match your content to your blog design. I went with a very clean look since I write about simplifying. If you are writing about interior design, consider using a pattern or texture from fabric as a banner accent and so forth.

Thanks, Jess! Please visit and support Jess at Jess LC and Makunder My Life!

Want even more inspiration? Check out more Blog Out Loud Interviews with successful business owners who have seamlessly integrated blogging into the mix.