Keep Portland Weird: The Blogcademy Recap

Kat

Made U Look Studio

May 1, 2013

After a solo long haul flight, an epic Q&A livestream and a whistle stop tour around Portland's least reputable establishments, I barely had time to catch my breath and it was time for the next leg of The Blogcademy World Tour. Portland is a weird little town, but one I felt an instant affinity with. I loved all the independent stores selling all manner of crazy creations, and the candy-coloured houses and walls obviously made my little heart sing!

Copycat

Kat

Milou and Olin

April 30, 2013

Hi Kat, I hope your well. I really need some help and don't know who else to ask that will give me a straight answer. I have huge respect for you, your morals and your attitude. I hope you'll be able to find the time to reply. I launched a wedding blog less that 2 months ago. Without going into too much detail (and using up more of your time) a lot of blood, sweat, tears and money has been put into it. I've created a team of contributors as well as showcasing local wedding businesses. It was a huge risk but since it launched its hit 23k views already and we've been getting enquiries for advertising! I'm really excited about where it's going.

Business Bites: Striving to Improve

Kat

April 26, 2013

I know it's geeky, but I really love reading anything and everything I can get my hands on about blogging or running a small business. I mean, if we're not constantly striving to improve or better ourselves, how do we ever expect our businesses to flourish and grow? So do yourself a favour, take a break, and spend some time reading up on how you can make some positive changes. Today.

How Couples in the UK Plan Their Weddings & Pick Their Suppliers

Kat

April 23, 2013

Last June, Liene Stevens of Splendid Communications kindly allowed me to publish some of the hugely insightful findings of her annual wedding & lifestyle market research. Each year she interviews thousands of engaged and newly-married couples to find out exactly what matters when it comes to their weddings, how much they're really spending and which factors actually determine how they select their suppliers. The results went down a storm, with many of you commenting that after reading the findings that you had plans to make some serious improvements on certain areas of your businesses.

Business Bites: Make the Web Expensive

Kat

April 19, 2013

Damn, it's been so long guys. I HAVE MISSED YOU! It feels like we haven't spoken in so long but I'm so thrilled to be back posting my Business Bites links. Have you missed me too?

Just Go! Why Fear of the Unknown is Holding You Back

Kat

Milou and Olin

April 16, 2013

I'm not a seasoned traveller and I've never had wild dreams of far flung adventures. I had no internal yearning to fly off to Thailand after school to 'find myself', nor a burning desire to backpack around the world, drinking in all it has to offer. The mere suggestion of solo travel like that terrifies me. The slow and steady safety net of home was quite enough for me - or so I thought.

Offline

Kat

April 11, 2013

It’s getting to be quite the regular occurrence for me when I’m travelling. Every time I return home after some far flung adventure, I start to daydream about the benefits of spending less time online and more time, you know, actually out living my life. I don’t know if it’s the sunshine, spending so much time with friends or all the new experiences, but I always land at Heathrow with a surge of ambition to spend more time away from the artificial glare of my computer screen.

Networking Like a Pro

Kat

Sacco & Sacco

April 9, 2013

Another one of those topics that I seem to get asked about over and over is networking. "How do I get my name out there?", "How do I network without coming across as a a weirdo?" and "How do I get people to know I exist?!" With the majority of us doing a most of our business online these days, thinking about networking and meeting people 'in real life' can be a scary and intimidating thing. But (and this is a big but!) I honestly believe that getting my backside off my computer, out of the safe confines of my house and going to meet people in real life was the number one thing which truly got my name out there

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Kat

Juliane Berry

April 4, 2013

"It's not you, it's me..." "Let's just be friends..." "I'm just not ready for a relationship right now..."

Remembering Why…

Kat

Juliane Berry

April 2, 2013

Why did you start your business? What was it that made you want to leave the security of a regular paycheck, employee benefits and never having to calculate your own tax? For me it happened by accident. I started this blog to document my wedding planning. I always loved to write and wistfully pondered a vague notion of one day finding a topic that I was passionate enough about to properly pursue... and them baaamb! I felt in love with weddings, but more so with wanting to inspire other brides to do things their own way.

Your Brand Is Not What You Say It Is…

Kat

Juliane Berry

March 28, 2013

Your brand is not what you say it is, it is what other people say about their experience of you. You are not good at something because you tell people you are, your strengths are defined by what other people decide about you on their own. Your weaknesses are not your internal soul-crushing insecurities, they only become a problem when they are visible to the outside world.

The Blogcademy: Live in your Living Room…

Kat

Shell de Mar

March 27, 2013

The Blogcademy online Q&A session is starting right now. Sign up now for the bargain price of $7 to watch and participate in the action. If you can;t tune in now though, don't worry your ticket will give you access to a recording of the action forever. I do have to warn you though, I only got into Portland late last night so I'm pretty darn jet-lagged... it may not be a pretty sight. Thank God I have Gala & Shauna to keep me awake and excited!

Six Rules Every Business Owner Needs to Obey

Kat

Juliane Berry

March 26, 2013

As bloggers, designers or photographers running our own businesses there are a million and one things to juggle and keep track of. It can sometimes feel like you have 27 balls in the air at once. Here are the six rules that I think you need to follow so that you drop as few of them as possible.

Here I go Again On my Own…

Kat

March 25, 2013

Bright and early tomorrow morning I'm grabbing my hot pink suitcases and hitting the road for the first stop on The Blogcademy World Tour. I've actually never flown long-haul solo before so I'm excited but also a little bit nervous about the whole thing. I have complete faith in Virgin Atlantic to get me there in one piece though, don't let me down Richard!

We’re Having a Digital Party… And You’re Invited!

Kat

March 21, 2013

Next week, on Wednesday 27th March, The Blogcademy headmistresses are having a digital party... and you're invited! This live online Q&A is your chance to get the inside track on The Blogcademy and to ask us any of your burning blogging or business questions.

Jennifer Lawrence: Actress, Oscar Winner… & Business Guru!?

Kat

March 20, 2013

It seems that everywhere you turn these days people are is gushing about Jennifer Lawrence. How down to earth she comes across, how refreshing she is and how we all want to be her BFF. And for once I can't help but agree with them. I love her for so many reasons (not least of all because you know she'd be so fun to get drunk with) but I also think there a a huge number of things we, as small business owners, can learn from her too. Stick with me here...

The Blogcademy World Tour & Live Online Q&A!

Kat

March 19, 2013

Sometimes you have a little crazy idea but you just know you have to run with it. The butterflies in your tummy tell you that you're onto something exciting and pretty darn life changing. That's just how I felt when we came up with the The Blogcademy, and its exactly how I'm feeling today as I'm here to tell you that we're announcing a world friggin' tour and an online Q&A livestream!

How do I Make Money from my Blog?

Kat

Brooke Davis of Blush by B

March 12, 2013

This is probably the question I get asked the most, either by nosy types who seem to think it's perfectly acceptable to ask someone how much money they earn, or by newer bloggers wanting some advice. It's also one of the biggest areas of The Blogcademy and certainly the section that garners the most discussion.

Dear Internet, I am Cranky…

Kat

Made U Look

March 6, 2013

I don't know why... but sometimes you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed you know? So instead of sitting here in a strop, resisting the urge to post passive aggressive tweets all day, I'm going to log off, take Gareth for lunch and blow of some steam. Internet, I love you, but I don't really like you very much today. And by the way, it's not you, it's me...

Build Your Own Eiffel Tower

Lisa Devlin

Devlin Photos

March 5, 2013

Sometime late last year I got an email from Kat asking if I wanted to go to Paris to do a shoot with her, Gala & Shauna. My answer was of course an enthusiastic "Oui ma Petit Filous!!" The'd bagged themselves a fabulous apartment that we shot in, but of course I also wanted some photos by the Eiffel Tower. On the Eurostar on our return, I got to thinking about the tower and its purpose in the city. Sure, it's a big tourist pull, but I started to wonder how on earth it got built in the first place and why it's even there at all. So I did some research on the most recognisable iconic landmark in the French capital.