Thank you, thank you, thank you! You guys I cannot believe it, but this little blog WON BIG at the Design Bloggers Conference. We took home the award for Best Blog Writing 2017 and it was a pretty wonderful moment. Here I’m recapping some highlights that I think you’ll be interested in too, and I’m sharing the blogs of the other three winners who took home Best Overall, Best Graphics/Photography and Best New Blog.

First, let me just say that I signed up for this conference not knowing (in the least) that I’d be nominated for a blog award, and I honestly went as a last ditch effort to try and understand if blogging is really “worth it” for your business. As honestly, it’s a second job you feel you’re never keeping up with! I was pleasantly surprised that the universe seems to be encouraging me to keep at it (and you all do too!). I think investing in yourself and your business with a trip to a conference like this (or in your industry) is TOTALLY worth it. I left feeling energized, inspired, motivated and supported. Plus, hello it was in California at The Beverly Hilton!

All of the speakers were wonderful, but I think my biggest take away was they are JUST REAL PEOPLE that work really hard, caught onto something, used their other life experience to benefit their work, got help and made their dreams happen. Everyone on Instagram seems like a celebrity, but let me tell you, it’s a scam. Everyone (and I mean everyone) has personal struggles, doubts, caters to what their audience wants to see, etc. This was really refreshing for me, because it made me feel like anything is possible! Meeting some of your idols in-person humanizes them in a way watching from afar cannot.

Everyone agrees that social media is hugely important to their design business (find the channels that work for you and focus on growing those) and that creating a network of support with other bloggers and design industry friends is essential to success. I also was excited to find out about multiple design podcasts, a new designer/architect team and stylist to follow.

Don’t miss the following people if you’re interested in design or the business of running a design firm:

• Stacey Kunstel – Well-known interior magazine stylist and owner of Dunes and Duchess (home decor products)
• Brooke and Steve Giannetti – Designer/Architect team with two books, an incredible blog Velvet and Linen, and a gorgeous farm compound called Patina Farm. Anthropologie just shot their latest catalog at Patina Farm!
• LuAnn Nigara – A Well Designed Business Podcast (I’m going to be on an upcoming episode!) LuAnn interviews successful designers about their business skills, not their design talents.

Here are my fellow bloggers that also won awards:

• Best New Blog – Farmer’s Daughter Interior Design
• Best Overall Blog – Sunny Side Up
• Best Photos/Graphics – Drive By Decor

If you’re interested in more tips on where to go if you’re visiting the LA area my blogger and designer pal Bria Hammel, of Bria Hammel Interior Design wrote a few posts about where to SHOP and PLAY on a visit to LA.

Maybe I’ll see you next year at the conference?!

XO – CLAIRE

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