Reflections After The 2013 Minnesota Bloggers Conference

This past weekend, I attended the Minnesota Bloggers Conference where I connected with writers, learned how to improve my blog, and gained inspiration.

If you have the opportunity to go to a blogging or writing conference, just go. I have found they are always worthwhile. Don’t hesitate to extend your hand and introduce yourself to others.

By far, the most rewarding aspect of blogging has been the people it’s connected me with. Some people say social media distances people and causes the breakdown of face to face communication, but I claim the opposite. Blogging and Twitter, in particular, have connected me with people I’d never run into during my daily life. I’ve learned that Twitters friends can become real friends and how important it is to avoid thinking of fellow bloggers as competition.

This particular conference made me reflect on the evolution of my blog content. When I first started An Herbalist Eats in 2011, I was in the midst of studying herbal medicine. It wasn’t long before I realized that I preferred writing about food. The next two years brought many changes. I got married, moved from my home state of Minnesota to North Dakota, and then to Iowa where we recently bought our first house and dog. Food writing is where I got my start and it’s what’s propelled my blog. Now I’m feeling compelled to share a broader range of experiences including whatever’s weighing most heavily on my mind, but think it’s best not to stray too far away from food.

For now, I’ll share it all on this blog until I can finalize a re-branding plan. Eventually, I might rename this blog and manage an additional one where I share non-food related posts regarding home and pet ownership. I may no longer identify myself as an herbalist, but I sure do eat.

Feel free to share any thoughts on if you prefer I keep this blog focused on food and create a new one for lifestyle posts or share everything on the same site.

Thank you for joining me on this journey and following me around the Midwest.

4 Comments

  1. Beth Ann Chiles

    So glad you made it to the conference and connected with others. It is a pretty neat world this world of blogging! I have not met one blogger I did not like! 🙂 I am excited about where you are going with your blog—good things are going to happen all along the way for you. I will read whatever you write –whether it is food related, pet related, new home ownership related—you have me hooked!!! 🙂

  2. Jeni

    Thanks Beth. The same goes to you!

  3. Val

    Glad to hear you went to the conference! I had wanted to go but I just can’t get away in October due to harvest. I’ve been to some agriculture social media conferences before and have always enjoyed them and have came back renewed. Sounds like the same thing happened for you!

  4. Jeni

    Thanks Val. I’m looking to getting to know the Iowa bloggers. Hope to see you at another social media breakfast.

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