Bloggin' It - Vegas Style

I don't need to say it although I will - my blog has been less than impressive lately in terms of posts and content.  I just started a new job my company about 6 weeks ago and it was around that time that my creativity hit a wall and my blog took a vacation. I'm blogging today from Las Vegas - I'm at the Blogworld New Media Expo and boy have things changed since I attended this event in 2008.  Blogging is no longer for geeks - its mainstream.  Lots of different age groups are represented here at the conference and its so lovely to see a travel blogger track this year (which is where I have been spending a lot of my time so far). 

I'm hoping the conference will give me a kick in the butt and help me get back to the blogging game.  And with a trip to Hawaii less than one month away, now is a perfect time to kick into high gear!

One of the things I learned at the conference today (although its really a no-brainer) is use your own photos on your blog - its much more compelling for travel writing than taking other people's content off the Internet. You'll notice I don't have a photo on this post - because I need to get down to the strip and capture all that is Vegas on my own!  Hopefully I'll be able to share some with you early next week (yes I forgot the cord for my digital camera). 

Hawaii - Researching, Writing, Reading

I have been on a "staycation" for the last week and have spent some time thinking about how to spice up my blog. I have been able to get in contact with some great Hawaii bloggers recently and I am working on a few different posts about these bloggers and what Hawaii means to them. I have also been watching the conversations on Twitter as they relate to Hawaii - there is a LOT of talk going on, mostly positive. It's hard to be constantly involved in these conversations while being in Seattle (although these conversations are online). That's something that I need to work on. I think it's important to be involved in the conversations, but you also need to listen to what others are saying - communication is a two-way street!