A week from today I fly out to Atlanta for the 2015 Haven Conference.
It will be my first Haven, and more than that, my first blog conference ever.
Last year as Haven approached, I debated with myself and with my husband about whether or not to attend. The cost is significant, once you add up the conference fee, hotel cost, and airfare, and then there is always the issue of who will stay with my kiddos while my husband is at work when I leave town. In the end we decided attending wasn’t right for me at that time. Our finances were stretched, and our summer calendar was already planned and pretty full, so I let it pass without signing up.
As the conference buzz started for this coming summer, I found myself not really interested in the idea of attending . . . which surprised me. Maybe it was the new direction my business was taking as a Fusion Mineral Paint Merchant, or maybe it was blogging fatigue that caused my disinterest–I’m not sure. But for whatever reason, I let it go.
Until about a month ago, when I happened to see that Marian, aka Miss Mustard Seed was going to be teaching a workshop at this year’s Haven Conference. You all know I am a huge fan of Marian’s work, so my interest in attending the conference was piqued again by the chance to hear Marian teach.
So over a two-day process, I looked into flights, hotel costs, etc, and talked through the idea of attending with my husband. He was on board with my going, as long as I was sure it was what I wanted to do. He said I wasn’t allowed to attend the conference then come back complaining that it was a waste of money . . . I had to commit to being all-in.
You may be wondering why in the world a DIY/Home Decor blogging conference may seem like a waste of money to a DIY/Home Decor blogger . . . Well, I have a secret to tell you–I am really not a blogger.
Yes, I have a website. Yes, I write regular posts on that website. Yes, I respond (although often delayed) to comments on that website. Yes, I occasionally host giveaways on my website. And yes, I often participate in links with other sites where I promote my posts.
All that considered though, I still have a really hard time defining myself as a blogger. My commitment level to all of this wavers considerably, and I’m not sure I want to go full-steam ahead into taking this website to the proverbial “next level.”
In comparing myself with other women of the DIY/Home Decor website world, I feel woefully inadequate. I am often poorly planned, and my home certainly is not magazine-photo worthy, like so many others are. I worry that I can’t produce the level of commitment really required to be a Blogger, if that makes any sense.
I actually really don’t like the computer, or technology in general. What I do like though is sharing what I’ve learned with others and writing as a creative outlet . . . so it’s sort of like I tolerate the computer so that I can do those other two things.
I primarily see myself as an antique dealer and furniture painter.
I started LostandFoundDecor.com as a way to help promote my local business, to give people a place to land when considering my work and my finds. As my business has grown, this blog has grown and adapted as well.
People ask me all the time if I make money off my blog, and the clear answer is no. Very little direct income comes from this site (not counting online sales of Fusion paint).
It’s hard to quantify though, but I am certain that a good bit of indirect income comes from my blog, in the form of custom work referrals, people visiting my booth because of seeing my site, and Fusion paint purchases in store.
So I’ve always seen this blog as not the end in itself, but as the means to the bigger end of profiting my business as a whole.
Now do you see more why I have a hard time committing all the way to this blog thing?
Well, I have decided that it’s time for me to make a decision on where I really want to take this site–do I really want to be a blogger? Ultimately I am attending the Haven Conference to help answer that question.
I am hoping that at Haven I will have the opportunity to learn from other, bigger named bloggers about what it really takes to succeed in Blog-land. I am hoping to clarify my blog goals as I learn just what it will take behind the scenes to get my site “out there.” I’m hoping to decide if I want to be all-in, or if I don’t.
That is my primary reason for going to the Haven Conference.
I know it will have other benefits for me–learning some new DIY skills, making new friends in my field, meeting some other Fusion Merchants and having the chance to promote Fusion to other furniture painters. And let’s not forget the chance to get all dressed up and be out of the house for a few days during summer break!
I am hopeful though to walk away from Haven with a clarified business purpose, and a better plan of where I want to go and how I want to get there.
To all of you who are so gracious to follow and read this blog, I am so thankful for you. Your support has been amazing, and your patience with me as I grow has been merciful. I live for the occasional comments that come which say something like, “I was just about you start this project and your site has been so helpful!”. They make this worth it for me.
So, check back in about 10 days to hear how Haven went. I am going alone–don’t know anyone and a little nervous about feeling on the outside. But I’m going to put my “big-girl pants on,” as my husband says, and do it.
Let’s see what happens.
Congrats to you for going “alone”. I’m sure you will meet many friendly, and like-minded people there. I hope you enjoy it, learn a lot and come back with some clarification of what you want out of blogging! Good luck.
Thank you Arli. I know it will be fun and I’m hopeful to learn more about what the future may hold.
Dear Melanie, I can not tell you how much this blog has meant to me. Why? Because I am going through some of your situations. I am in a very small town with about 5 Vintage/Antique stores surrounding me. My husband and I have exhausted our finances and I still haven’t met my quota for my FMP line. We are so sure that our area needs this paint product and are so in love with it. I am not a blogger, we have always worked in offices for the government and now here I am. I have a long road ahead of me, but it is what I love. I can’t wait to hear back about the Haven and I know you are going to have a great time. You have given me my encouragement for the day. Thanks and many Blessing.
Hi Brenda! Your comments are so kind and encouraging, and I am so glad you decided to join in and become a Fusion Merchant! Hang in there, it’s so hard starting up a new business but Fusion is such a fantastic product I know you will be able to gain a following soon! I am actually at Haven right now and have been able to have so many conversations with other bloggers about Fusion and I can’t wait to see what kind of buzz comes from all of this once everybody makes it home and has a chance to try the paint. And thank you for sharing your video story! I know I need to make some but am terrified of looking crazy on camera 🙂
Hi Melanie – I can so relate. I started my blog two years ago and I also don’t really call myself a blogger either. I don’t fully commit to regular posting. With getting furniture orders out, there is just no time to spend countless hours blogging, etc. For me my blog/website is really a tool to validate what I do and something potential clients can refer to. It does not bring in direct income but without it, it would be harder to sell furniture painting services. I’ve often thought about going to Haven too but being in Montreal it just seems so far away. The “anglophone” blogging community here is almost non-existent so I feel disconnected with bloggers. That’s great that you made the decision to go this year and from what I hear it is a warm and inviting atmosphere. I’m sure you will come back refreshed and with new ideas and it is definitely a great platform to meet people. Can’t wait to hear about your experience and, who knows, maybe I may attend one year.
I do think Mary that blogging in our field while also running a retail business (furniture, paint, antiques, whatever) does result in things looking a little different for us than others who may not have a retail component. I’m at Haven now and have been asking several other bloggers who retail what their balance looks like and how their blog functions, and learning more about how they can serve one another. The beauty of your furniture speaks for itself though and I am sure those gorgeous photos bring lots of clients your way!
Have fun at Haven. You have my number. Give me a text…you know me. I’d love to see ya and give you a hug.
Thanks Suz 🙂 I’m here now, it’s fun, but also overwhelming! I just scored a free Kreg jig though–bonus!!
Excited for you and looking forward to reading all about it! Off to look at your Fusion colors — I’m very intrigued! 😀
We will have to meet up at some point. Like I mentioned on Facebook, I also hope this clarifies my goals. I knew blogging would require a great deal of effort, but I can easily spend 30 hours a week on it, and that’s just creating and editing content, not working on actual projects. Add in trying to keep up with social media, reading and commenting on other blogs, and the linking parties (which I dislike and rarely do), it easily feels like it’s taken over my life. I enjoy it, but I would really prefer to just focus on writing and decorating. I told myself when I started to give it a year and see how I feel about it. I think your Haven objectives are excellent ones. It is a big financial commitment, so I also hope it’s beneficial.
I’m sure you will love the conference! As someone who used to go to Atlanta every summer to attend the gift show to buy for my store you will at the very least enjoy no cooking and having the remote control all to yourself. Enjoy!!!!
mel,mel,mel …….you just need to give yourself a big boost of confidence ….i love your blog and your work, i am not a blogger nor will i ever be one but i am a reader of blogs and if i sign up for one and after a few weeks see i made a mistake for whatever reason i just unsubscribe and i am still with you because you explain things clearly there is not a bit of pretense to you and your work is wonderful you will have a blast and also you will come home with a boat load of stuff so bring an empty suitcase lol xx
I hope every blogger can have a follower as encouraging as you are Chris! Thank you for your kind words. I’m here at Haven now and am enjoying myself, although feeling a little overwhelmed too! Lots of information to learn and lots of people to meet, taking it one event at a time though 🙂
Hi Melanie. I sent you a comment on your blog about how I was having the same thoughts as you and how your blog actually gave me encouragement. Well, I got so involved with this technical stuff that we actually did my first youtube…let me just say I was so nervous. I read from my laptop, (they do that on cooking shows), and I called one of our paints by the wrong colour…we set it up on the computer and now I can not remove it and I am so worried that I called “prairie sunset’—“sunset prairie” I am the new kid on the block so I will have to do much better the next time. It was kind of fun, but after watching it, I would love to remove it. Of course, my hubby had no clue that I called the wrong colour. Thought I would give you a little laugh.
You just go girl!!!! We will be anxious to hear about your adventure.
Well your really realistic!!!… the reasons you mentioned for going to the blog conference are really sound(:… Let me tell you something God helps those who help themselves, I have read other blogs about you too where you talk about your business and managing personel life and hire babysitter(spend money) so you get time to do business, and a family vacation you had which was not fancy due to budget… You a hardworking, smart business women, honest too and I am sure that conference is a good thing for you, it will be a enriching experience. I can to some extent connect with you, let me tell you you need to go alone and feel independent to bring out the best in yourself…and learning about other blogging, getting clarity in that, meeting other fusion merchats will do you good in the long run. Would love to know your experience in the conference, it is inspiring to see women battling time between family, work and budjeting, we generally tend to sacrifice, but if the heart says go, its a sign that it is indeed a thing to teach you cool stuff, new stuff, it will sure be fun and exciting… good day(:
Thank you Maria! I am excited to be heading out and know I will learn so much. Thank you for your encouragement!
Thanks Maria! I’m here now and learning so much! It’s a little overwhelming but I know I will be able to walk away with more clarity on my blog and hopefully a few new skills as well.