When it comes to blogging, there is no road map. The blogosphere is like the Wild West, with everyone carving out their own individual path. As wonderful as this is, it can also be extremely daunting!

Real talk: I’ve been to about a billion blogging conferences, & I seldom learn anything new. Every time I walk out, I say to whoever is standing next to me, “It makes me crazy that they always start from scratch at these things. I’ve heard the same thing so many times I think my ears are going to bleed!”

I don’t know why there isn’t more in-depth information available to bloggers. The industry is new, but it’s not that new… & there are plenty of people who are doing very well from their blogs. Maybe people who have seen some success are afraid to give away their secrets. It’s definitely not just luck or random chance that propels some blogs to stardom while others languish in the shadows.

Well… I’m not afraid to tell you what I know! I’ve been writing online since 1997 & I’ve had this blog for almost six years. You better believe that in that time, I’ve learned a trick or two!

Introducing…

The Blogcademy is a killer weekend retreat for bloggers, held by me, Kat Williams of Rock N Roll Bride, & Shauna Haider, who you probably know as Nubby Twiglet!

The Blogcademy is a real nuts & bolts masterclass for people who already have the basics of blogging licked & want to take it to the next level.

We’ll be covering some of the blogging essentials, like finding inspiration and picking the right topics for your blog, how to discover your own voice and showcase your personality, growing your readership, advertising and how to make money from your blog, how to make brand connections and work on campaigns, leveraging social media, dealing with the not-so-nice bits of blogging, PR and networking, branding tips and techniques!

…But where we really excel is in pushing ourselves further. It’s not just about being online, it’s about establishing legitimacy in the offline world, too. We want to tell you everything we know about dealing with big brands (and maintaining a sense of self and integrity!); getting a newspaper or magazine column; self-publishing and digital products; creating a magazine (as well as editing, designing and distributing it!); blogging managers and agents; how to get a book deal; selling your own products, and even the ins and outs of internships!

Beyond all the strategy and insights mentioned above, we will be sharing essential design tips and elements to enhance the look and feel of what you do. It’s one thing to have a cohesive look across all your online properties, but it’s another thing entirely to know if they accurately represent you or your business. Nubby’s five years working in renowned ad agencies and design studios have given her a sophisticated and beautiful view of online design.

On Sunday, you’ll be sitting down for a photography and editing lesson with Lisa Devlin, British Journal of Photography’s wedding photographer of the year! She is one of our favourite photographers and we know you will absolutely LOVE learning from her!

Finally, the headmistresses will be assessing your blog and giving you personalised recommendations on what you can do to take your online presence to the next level. This is an unbelievable opportunity to have your work appraised by some of the best in the business, and if you take our advice, you’ll see incredible growth!

When is the Blogcademy?

The event is being taking place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October. Each day starts at 11am. We plan to wrap at 5pm each day, although we are happy to stay late to answer your questions!

Where is the Blogcademy being held?

It’s happening at The Silk Studio on East 4th Street in New York City.

How much does the Blogcademy cost?

The two-day event is $550 if you register before September 1st, and $600 after that. You can book your spot through PayPal on our registration page. If you’d like to pay via installments, drop us an email!

I really want to come along, but I can’t afford it!

We hear you, baby! Don’t fret, we’d love for you to be a part of it: The Blogcademy is offering a scholarship spot to one very deserving babe. It’s easy: just make a video telling us why you think YOU should be part of the first graduating class of Blogcademy, upload it to Youtube and send us the link by Sunday 16th September. We’ll pick our favourite entry and you’ll be invited to hang with us all weekend!

Blogging isn’t just what I do for work, it’s something I am incredibly passionate about. Even though I’ve been online for what feels like forever, I credit at least some of my success to the fact that I am not content to sit around & do the same thing over & over again. There is always something new to learn, something else to try, something original to strive for.

The Blogcademy has been a long time coming, & we’re extremely excited about getting to teach what we know & love! We are SO super-psyched to hang out with you for two days… We can’t wait!

Be sure to click through to the Blogcademy site for more information, & if you have any questions, you can always hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!