16 things I learned at Blog Camp

I spent yesterday at my 3rd Blog Camp event. As ever it was full of insights, fun and cake. But we were also there to Learn Stuff. Stop learning and you stop living.

So here are 16 things I learned:

1. Even Google+ people know that Google+ isn't working as well as it should.
2. You can ask a question or give feedback about Google+ and it will be answered by a human being. This, apparently, is very unusual for Google, but I guess it's because they've realised that people talking to people is THE FUTURE.
3. Rich Snippets are an important thing for Google, though I'm buggered if I can understand why.
4. People react strongly to faces, so have lots of pics of them on your blog. I have a big moony face so I should be aces at this, but alas it also scares children so I might have to think on about that that one.
5. Cross pens are not cross at all but rather good and could well be my new stationery obsession.
6. If you meet a guy called Stuart don't congratulate him on his apps blog because that's the other Stuart.
7. We all need a StumbleUpon account, or at least to resurrect the one you opened three years ago.
8. Make sure your social media sharing buttons include a StumbleUpon sharing option - I had to add it to a couple of my Wordpress sites last night and I'm still looking for it here on Typepad.
9. StumbleUpon needs a 'Meh' button. I might send that in as feedback.
10. StumbleUpon can be a good alternative to Google if you're a journalist researching a topic. It hadn't occurred to me to use it as a research tool but I think that's a good tip.
11. This is resonating well with me is young Eurospeak for I like this, but they couldn't fit it on a StumbleUpon button.
12. Too much focus on brands and PRs can suck the fun out of blogging, even if not many people are ready to admit it.
13. Shut Up and Write (c) Keris. I liked that one.
14. Don't paparazzi the speaker via Instagram when he's minding his own business tweeting, not even if Actually Mummy eggs you on. It will be funny for a nanosecond and then you will feel like shit for the rest of the day.
15. Don't pap the speaker and then put the picture up on your blog
16. Oops! Too late!

Comments

[PippaD @ A Mothers Ramblings]

He was a lovely thing to take pictures of though...

[Joanne Mallon]

Pippa, is that a confession that you have your own *private* album? Did you remember to upload it intantly to G+?

[Ellen Arnison]

Excellent things. I'd never have though of using StumbledUpon for research. I have however revived my account and am about to find an 'interesting and informative' button to click.

[Actually Mummy...]

I reckon he's used to being papped. If not, he'll have to wise up quick because Annie is on his trail ;)

[Keris]

I don't think I actually said 'shut up'... :D

[Nickie]

I think you'll find that the picture you took of Stu was when he was tapping a caption in to Instagram about being scared of women...
https://twitter.com/stuheritage/status/246176638616887296 - so I say he's fair game!

[Rob]

Excellent list - many thanks for sharing this. Why didn't the peeps from Google think that Google+ is going well?

Also intrigued to find out more about the buzz around stumble upon - is it becoming more relevant nowadays?

Thanks for posting and sounds like it was a good day.

Rob..

[Aly]

I didn't go but it'll be at the Bristol one coming up in a few months.Use ACES! more please.

[Joanne Mallon]

Woah! Thanks for all the comments!

@Ellen - if you link it into your Twitter account then it will follow all those people, so that gets you started. Must admit I am loving all the random websites it keeps chucking at me.

@AM - I think he's now under police protection

@Keris - I never let the facts get in the way of a good soundbite

@Nickie - Make that Witness Protection

@Rob - I got the sense that what they want it to do in theory doesn't match up with how people are using it in practice. I don't think it'll ever tip open into the mainstream until they make it a lot more intuitive to use. As for Stumbleupon, they do seem to be going through a bit of a revival so definitely worth looking at.

@Aly - Hope you have a good time in Bristol. I think that because it's a free event, you can't fail to get value out of it. ACES OF SPADES!