Sunday, February 19, 2012

Social Media Week Hong Kong Wrap-Up & Blogging 101

Last week, I participated in my first international Social Media Week as both observer and speaker for the Blogging 101 panel. I thoroughly enjoyed the Social Media Week Hong Kong events I managed to attend; How Social is Empowering Global Movement was especially inspiring and thought-provoking.

Speaking at Blogging 101 was incredibly fun, even if I get really self-conscious when I have to speak in public. Yes, I AM aware I say "um" a lot, which makes me even more self-conscious and then I say it even more! Public speaking is a work in progress for me...


Speaking at Blogging 101, photo courtesy of Matthew Chong

The Blogging 101 panelists were tasked with discussing the various ways in which we started our own blogs, gained our audience, and what blogging tips we could advise other bloggers. To be honest, I wasn't sure what sage advice I would be able to bring to the discussion, but I spoke from the heart and my best piece of advice was that other bloggers do the same.

Here are some other interesting comments and blogging advice made by the Blogging 101 speakers:


Speaking with fellow Blogging 101 panelists (from left to right): film critic; James Marsh of Marsh Attacks, food blogger; Janice Leung of e_ting the world, and Razlan Manjaji of You Got Me Blogging
  • : "Don't just broadcast - build a conversation! feeds us great blogging advice at Blogging 101!
  • : "Story ideas are everywhere... don't be afraid to look at others for ideas" says
  • Use catchy titles and key words so that people can search and find you (but no pathetic blog titles) says 
  • "If you want to be a famous blogger,you must have great content" says
  • : Know your audience, be timely, relevant and respond, interact, encourage. Blogging tips to live by   
  • "Adding ads takes away from what I want to do, which is inspire" says (I know would agree too!)
  • Stats and analytics- it's about the quality of the clicks, not just the numbers says
  • "A blog cannot survive without interaction with your readers" wise words from
  • : So true!! 'You don't have to be a techie to be a blogger' says
  • "Reply to all comments, don't be afraid of negative comments," says at Blogging 101
  • : "As much as you love blogging, you MUST get offline to meet your readers" says
  • : Big theme of #SMWHKblog: You gotta love what you blog!   
  • : How to get readers? Easy! Be social (online and offline), guest blog, share, interview and learn from others advices
  • Friends, word of mouth, twitter and facebook are vital tools of promotion says

I also received a very special surprise from the folks at Nokia_Connects during my presentation. Knowing that I was currently using an ancient Blackberry as my mobile device, the nice guys from Nokia presented me with a brand new Nokia Lumia 800 SmartPhone! I was completely shocked and surprised, not to mention excited to be given the opportunity to live in the present!


Out with the old and in with the new, thanks to Nokia_Connects

Thank you again to everyone who joined us for Blogging 101! It turned out to be a great event and sounds like some people left with some good insight and inspiration, myself included!

If you are interested in watching the recording of Blogging 101, or any of the other Social Media Week Hong Kong events, check out Jay Oatway's Youtube channel. At the time of posting, the Blogging 101 videos have not yet been uploaded but Jay promised that they would by this week.

**Update** Jay has posted the Blogging 101 videos for viewing. Catch them HERE!

A special thank you to Casey Lau for organizing the event and inviting me to speak on the panel!

*All photos, unless otherwise noted, used with permission by Yon Chung of Very Photography. To view the full album from Blogging 101, please go to Very Photography's Facebook page.

© Connie Hum 2012

11 comments:

  1. I tuned in from Singapore and really enjoyed the panel. It was great to see such enthusiastic and honest advice from yourself and the other speakers.

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    1. Thanks so much! Glad to hear that you were able to connect from Singapore!

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  2. Thank you for doing this wrap-up Connie. SMWHK2012 was fun & so was being on the panel with you!

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    1. Thanks, Janice! Same to you! Your slides put me to shame!

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  3. Wish I have been in some of the events and especially the blogging related ones, but at least could follow all the activity through #SMWHK and #SMWHKblog. Good exposure for your blog and getting to know more people IRL :) I do need the same but sometimes, seems not enough hours during my day, hehe

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    1. Not enough time? Story of my life! Don't forget that you can catch up on the #SMWHK events via Jay's YouTube channel linked in the post above!

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  4. Thanks for sharing the blogging advice. Timely for me as I just started to blog. There is so much to learn. Your traveling adventures look interesting too, I'll have to read more about them.

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    1. Glad to be able to help! Link back with your blog. I'd love to take a look as well!

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    2. Thanks. I'm just beginning. I am using blogging as motivation to write down some of my stories and memories as well as share some of my photos.

      http://boggedbefore.blogspot.com/

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  5. I love your blog, Runaway Juno introduced me to it. I didn't go to SMWHK this year because everything cost money unlike last year...:( Glad you had fun speaking!

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    1. Hi Meaghan! Thanks so much! Yes, it was a little unfortunate that most of the Social Media Week events were pay-to-attend events. I understand the need, though I did wish that more events were free. Too bad you weren't able to make it!

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