build your blog conference 2015 wrap up

my outfit (day): sweater :: downeast basics // blouse :: silence & noise // skirt :: j.crew c/o uptown cheapskate // tights :: f21 // booties :: mossimo

kumquat's outfit: sweater, kitty t-shirt, purple tutu :: gymboree // tights :: cherokee // silver shoe :: gift

my outfit (evening): jumpsuit :: jbs c/o uptown cheapskate // cuff bracelet :: vintage // clutch :: too faced cosmetics bag // booties :: shi

The Build Your Blog Conference 2015 was held this past weekend at the Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City, and even though I missed part of the conference, I definitely felt the energy and passion from everyone in attendance. An atmosphere like that has a way of re-energizing and re-charging your batteries, and with so much creative energy flowing and great ideas being bounced around, it's pretty much impossible not to come away with a thousand new ideas and a renewed commitment to building your brand.

The key to making the most of all the advice and new ideas, though, is to take just a few things at a time and incorporate them into your blogging routine. Trying to completely overhaul your current system all at once can lead to serious blogger burnout and lead you away from your overall brand vision. It's important to stay true to yourself and the ethos of the brand you're trying to build, while continually learning and incorporating new ideas to keep things interesting.

With that in mind, I wanted to share a few of my favorite tips from my favorite class at the conference, "30 Tips To Get Great Growth" by Matt Cherry of iBlog Magazine:

1. Create and share more videos. Videos on landing pages convert 80% more readers.
2. Create and share podcasts - it's easier for a reader to download an audio file and pop in some earbuds than to read through an entire thousand word post. Record it!
3. Create a list of social media groups to share and participate in every day.
4. Find, follow and interact with the leading bloggers in my niche. Build a rapport with them and support each other.
5. LinkedIn! Beef up my profile, join and participate in some groups and connect with EVERYONE - even my icons and the people I'm too nervous to send a request to!

These are the top five things I'll be focusing on over the next month or so, and I'm especially excited to see what you will think of my first videos and podcasts. Are there any topics in particular you'd like me to discuss? Do you prefer videos, podcasts or the written word? Leave your thoughts and any requests in the comments!

All in all, Build Your Blog 2015 was amazing, and I will definitely be going back next year - after hustling my butt off in 2015 with the goal of deserving a Blogger of the Year award. I still have a lot more to share from the conference (including Blogger BFF deals & freebies, how to dress for a gala on a budget and tons more!). If you were at the conference, I'd love to hear about your favorite classes and the awesome new ideas you'll be implementing on your blog this spring! Leave your thoughts and your blog links in the comments!

P.S. I still owe you a winner from the Uptown Cheapskate giveaway last month! And the winner is....

Mayra Sissi Biggs

Congrats, Mayra! Happy shopping!

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in review: skullcandy fix headphones

gray draped blouse :: H&M (dying over this one) | red pencil skirt :: H&M (love the lace trim on this one) | burgundy skinny belt :: H&M (similar) | black studded wedges :: kardashian kollection (similar) | pocket watch necklace :: nine, via urban wear (similar) | floral cuff :: vintage | earrings :: walmart | sunglasses :: charlotte russe | messenger bag :: francesca's collections (get it here) | phone :: samsung galaxy | earbuds :: Fix in-ear headphones by skullcandy (get them here)

So I've mentioned my new SkullCandy Fix headphones once or twice, but I don't think I've fully understood just how badass they are until this moment - I'm sitting in the living room at my house, while my mother and brother simultaneously run the vacuum and drill less than ten feet away from me... and I had no idea what they were doing until the song on my YouTube playlist switched.

Now, I've said before that I am by no means an expert on audiowave technology, but my laptop is currently at less than half volume (more like one-third), and when the music is playing, I can't hear a damn thing outside of these blissful earbuds. Even when they're silent, they block enough noise that everything else is sufficiently muffled so as not to be too distracting as I type. On top of that, they're also surprisingly effective at keeping the noise in - meaning that my mom isn't complaining about the damage I'm doing to my ear drums because she can hear my music halfway across the room.

I don't typically like in-ear headphones - they tend to pop out of my ears (I have tiny ear canals) and I hate the way they feel wedged down in there. I wasn't loving on these babies until I got wise enough to switch the rubber ear piece for the smallest set in the package (it comes with a large, medium and small set), and now you couldn't pry them out of my ears if you tried. Perfect for drowning out real world distractions as I write, they're the newest and most valuable tool in my blogging kit. While nothing surpasses SkullCandy's Aviators in eargasmic sound transmission, the Fix in-ear headphones are definitely a more budget- and travel-friendly alternative.

SkullCandy markets the Fix line in two distinct styles: the lower cost alternative is a traditional earbud priced at $39.95, with a slightly higher-end in-ear design coming in at $69.95 (prices via skullcandy.com). While I'm sure the earbud is fantastic (let's face it - SkullCandy knows how to work the acoustic plane), I definitely recommend opting for the in-ear model. The design puts it more in line with your ear canal for optimal sound transmission, and the unique ear piece architecture + multiple rubber ear piece sizes mean that it's less likely to fall out (perfect for late night walks in the rain, but also more normal things like weekend hikes or working out at the gym).

In addition to the extra sizes of rubber ear pieces, the Fix in-ear headphones also come fully equipped with independent volume control and a mic, adding ultra functionality to their sleek look. The external packaging itself is pretty spiff, but - alas - not very purse friendly... which is probably why they also included a hard-but-snazzy black carry case for stashing and protecting them on-the-go.

And the best part? They come in lots of pretty colors! I'm currently rocking the red/chrome mix, but the in-ear design is also available in orange/grey, black/chrome and white/chrome, while the earbuds come in seven shades of stylishness. Find them all, plus the rest of SkullCandy's eargasmic selection, @ skullcandy.com.

be social - like SkullCandy on Facebook 

& follow them on Twitter @skullcandy.

Disclosure: Although this is not a sponsored post and is in no way affiliated with SkullCandy, these phenomenal earbuds were a gift from The Boy, who works at SkullCandy.

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