It’s hard to believe that two weeks have gone by since I sat inside the most magical blogging conference of the year–the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. I learned so much in four days that I could probably spend the next month writing a new post every day and STILL not fully cover this incredible event. So while I’m still working on unpacking, post-vacation laundry, and my in-depth recap, I thought I’d tell you  Five Things I Learned At Disney Social Media Moms Celebration

 

At Disney Social Media Moms Celebration I learned #1:

Many social media moms are shy, just like me.   I know, incredible, right?  But it’s true. While social media is sometimes given a bad rap for giving people a sense of anonymity, I think this “anonymity” also allows shy introverts, such as myself, who would not usually voice their opinion, a means to convey their message and reach out to others. I would never dream about going up to a total stranger and offering my opinion about taking an infant to Disney–heck, I won’t even call to order pizza, but my blog has allowed me (and others) a way to offer my expertise with the hopes of  helping other people facing the same challenges, and feel comfortable about doing so.

I never realized, however, that many people who blog are just as introverted and shy as I am. It was really comforting to know that I was not going to be the only person feeling awkward in a room full of strangers……maybe that’s why they serve cocktails at the Welcome Reception?

At Disney Social Media Moms Celebration I learned #2

Donald Driver is not only a football great but a fabulous speaker too!  Okay maybe I’m a little biased here, being a Packers fan and all, but Double D’s presentation was really inspiring. His message was one EVERYONE could use–not just bloggers, but anyone who uses social media. He discussed some really personal experiences and illustrated for us the power social media can have on people. It only takes a minute to type a tweet or post, but the damage you can do to someone in that minute can last a really long time.  Donald said “If you are not inspiring or making a change, why do it?” and “Don’t blog for attention, blog for a reason”.  These points really spoke to me…which leads me to my #3

 

At Disney Social Media Moms Celebration I learned #3:

Blogging isn’t (or shouldn’t be) a popularity contest. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in the numbers (followers, likes, and shares) that we forget that behind every like, share, or follow is a person, a person looking for help in some way , shape, or form. Whether it is about starting a running program or taking a baby on a Disney trip or dealing with a chronic illness, we, as bloggers have the power to inspire and the power to change people’s lives.  So use your powers for good, not evil 🙂

At Disney Social Media Moms Celebration I learned #4:

That social media is about me! Okay, that’s not as egocentric as it sounds–I promise. I started this blog in 2011, with the hopes of it giving me a bit of an edge when it came time to apply for the Disney Parks Mom’s Panel (which it does NOT, BTW).  Four years and four panel rejections later, I have discovered that while I may not be Disney’s pick for offering park advice, I really do enjoy writing. My blog has evolved from one containing just Disney related posts into a blog that truly covers things I am passionate about–family, healthy eating, running, in addition to Disney advice.

A blog, twitter, Facebook, Instagram…etc should be about YOU. What are you passionate about? What message are you trying to share? Who are you trying to inspire? I learned that social media should be about me (or you). Like Donald Driver said “Write about things you are passionate about”.  My social media presence (no matter how small) will reflect who I am, what I care about, and the life lessons I want to share with the world with the hopes of reaching out to someone looking for help.

At Disney Social Media Moms Celebration I learned #5:

That “Even Little Guys Can Do Big Things Too”.  My oldest used to be a huge Veggie Tales fan and sometimes those little song snippets that I listened to for hours and hours on end make their way to the forefront of my brain. Usually its in some random, unrelated way, but this time I think Jr Asparagus makes a point. Going into this event I was pretty nervous about being a little fish in a big pond. I’m not a big name blogger. I don’t have sponsors or have brands beating down my door, asking me to promote their product. I’m a mom, a nurse, a runner, a Disney lover, a vegetarian, and  a photographer. I write about what I know and you know what, that is okay.

The biggest gift I received from this experience was not the free bags or Memory Maker (although those were all really really nice and much appreciated), it was the feeling of contentment about myself and my blog. I realized that I don’t need to have thousands of followers or big, flashy blog in order to make a difference in the lives of others through blogging. If I am able to help one person with a post, then I have succeeded.

So there it is, my five important take away points. Disney Social Media Moms Celebration is an incredible experience for the whole family.

Have you attended Disney Social Media Moms Celebration? If so, what was your most important take away from the event?