CyberMummy2010

The CyberMummy Honeymoon!!

2010-11-10T14:32:00.003+00:00

Tickets have only been on sale for a week and since then Twitter has been a buzz of excitement as people start to plan for next years conference.
Susanna even announced on Twitter last night that she had found the dress she was going to wear. Now that's planning!

Then today I came across something even more amazing....

Kez from Life Through A Sippy Cup threw caution to the wind when she bought her ticket on Monday (in much the same way as I did when I decided on a total whim to go to BlogHer in Chicago two years ago and without that trip CyberMummy would never have happened!).

And good on her too - because after ten years and four beautiful children together Kez and her partner Drew have decided to take advantage of their first ever child free night by getting married!

So you could really say that this is the first CyberMummy wedding!

Kerry and drew will be tying the knot on 24th June and then heading to London to spend their honeymoon with all of us!

Congratulations!!

Why go to CyberMummy?

2010-11-10T09:00:00.002+00:00

For the scores of folks out there who missed out on CyberMummy this past year - either because of schedule clashes or because they weren't yet entrenched in blogging - one question you might be debating is "Why go?".

Potty Mummy, who writes the Potty Diaries was there last year and spoke at the Crowdsourced Keynote. She has this to say about why she's already bought her ticket for CyberMummy11 and planning to come all the way from Russia to attend:

Why I'm going to CyberMummy

How to get sponsored to attend CyberMummy

2010-11-09T20:09:00.002+00:00

Some bloggers would like to come to CyberMummy (who doesn't?) but just don't have the resources to fund the ticket as well as possibly the travel and overnight accommodation if necessary.

The good news is that more and more brands want to work with bloggers and you don't have to wait for one to come to you.

CyberMummy Sian has posted some great tips on her site about how to target, pitch and secure a sponsor. (Hint: Don't offer to get their logo tattooed on your arm...or elsewhere.)

Get Sian's step-by-step advice on getting sponsored for CyberMummy.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So what's the schedule like for CyberMummy?

2010-11-05T13:32:00.005+00:00

Everyone is already asking about the sessions we have in store. Right now we're still putting them together and we'll be announcing them as soon as we can.

In the meantime, we've listened to the feedback everyone has given us on the last conference. More workshops, more advice that you can put into practice with your blogs, more nuts and bolts info, you said, and that's what we're planning.

In addition, there will be ways for more bloggers to get involved in the program on the day. We'll have experts, yes, but we also want more opportunities for the community to learn from each other.

You can expect sessions on:
* Finding your blogging voice
* Sharpening your technical skills
* Successfully working with brands
* Blogging for a charitable cause

and much more!

Do you have feedback or thoughts? We want to hear.

Can I bring my baby to CyberMummy 2011?

2010-11-04T13:00:00.002+00:00

There are no dumb questions. In fact, we think some are so important and pertinent that we'll be posting answers here on the blog. Here's one that we heard alot with CyberMummy 2010 so we wanted to answer it as you make your arrangements to attend on Jun 25, 2011.

Can I bring my baby and/or children to CyberMummy?

Babes in arms are absolutely welcome at the conference. We'll be setting up a baby changing area as well a comfortable place to breastfeed. Unfortunately we won't be able to offer a bottle- or food-warming area.

As for older children, we recommend you leave them at home with a willing (or even unwilling) partner, grandparent or friend. We'd love to be able to provide diversions for the miniature bloggers-to-be but we just won't have the facilities or capacity. They would be bored, you wouldn't be able to cruise the exhibition space talking to bloggers and brands, and chloroforming the children is frowned on these days, I can tell ya.

(Picture by Blottedcopybook.co.uk)

Getting Individual Sponsorship

2010-11-04T12:01:00.000+00:00

Wow what a buzz our announcement made on Twitter last night - it is great to know that so many of you are as excited as we are. We have seen a bit of chatter about how to go about getting a brand to sponsor you - so here are the guidelines that we put together for last years conference.

How do I get a sponsored to attend CyberMummy?

One way to get your attendance paid for is to ask a company to sponsor your trip to CyberMummy. This can be mutually beneficial in many ways – you get your costs covered to attend to this fab conference where you meet other bloggers and further your skills, and the sponsor gets a blogger to help them engage with mum bloggers. It doesn't have to be complicated. Yet while this is a relationship between you and your sponsor and unconnected to the organisers of CyberMummy, we do have guidelines for what you can do for your sponsor on the day, as well as some tips. To find out more, read on.

Q: What can I offer a sponsor?
A: You will be the company’s representative at CyberMummy. You can be their eyes and ears at the event, act as their main networker and help them to develop ways to engage with other mummy bloggers. There are many services you can provide. It is important to clarify to your sponsor that they are sponsoring you individually, and that they are not official sponsors of CyberMummy 2011.

On the day:

You can wear sponsored-branded clothing or badges to the event ("Ask me about my CyberMummy sponsor!" will probably elicit queries).
If someone directly requests information about your sponsor, you can provide it (please read the question about brochures and samples for our guidelines).
You can include your sponsor's name and/or logo on your regular business card

On your blog:

You may want to offer your sponsor your consulting services on a project or for a period of time
You can provide ad space on your blog
You can create content on your blog in conjunction with your sponsor - a post, competition, review, a video of you dancing a jig while reciting a limerick about the brand. Whatever the two of you agree.

Q: Can I bring company brochures and samples?
A: You are only allowed to give brochures, business cards and samples to other delegates who request these from you. You are not allowed to leave any company materials around the conference anywhere (on tables or chairs or in goody bags). Any materials found lying around will be removed, and the cost for removal will charged to the responsible party.

Get ready: CyberMummy on June 25, 2011!

2010-11-03T17:07:00.004+00:00

It’s coming! It’s official! Prepare yourself for CyberMummy 2011!

We’re thrilled to announce the CyberMummy conference for next year. We’ll be posting more details as they are available but for now mark your calendar and grab your early-bird ticket at the special £80 rate:

Saturday 25 June 2011
The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London
Early-bird rate until 31 Dec 2010: £80

You’re going to love the venue. (And no, not just because it’s a former brewery.) One of the reasons we picked it is because we’ll be taking over the building. It’s going to be wall-to-wall bloggers, along with the brands and social media experts who want to get to know you and speakers who will rock your blogging world. CyberMummy 2011 is going to be bigger, better and more exciting than ever.

One difference with the venue is that there is not a hotel attached. Never fear – we have scouted a few nearby. We haven’t tested these by staying overnight but a little Internet research shows they get good reviews.

Travelodge London City Road
A part of the budget chain of hotels. Great prices, no frills, and just around the corner from the Brewery. We searched for a room via the “sale” tab on the site and found a room for £59 that you can book now.

Hotel Ibis London City
A two-star hotel just outside Aldgate East station, a short walk or two tube stops away. We have a special place in our heart for Ibis Earls Court, which hosted us last year. Again, good prices, no frills. Book now for prices ranging from £74 to £99.99, depending on package and ability to cancel.

The Hoxton Hotel
A very groovy affordable hotel on Great Eastern Street, has free Wifi and a Lite Pret Breakfast is delivered to your room (yoghurt pot, fresh OJ and a banana). The hotel is still finalising prices for next year, so rooms won’t be available for booking until Dec/Jan (bummer, we know but what can ya do?). A sample rate from February 21, 2011 is £89 per night.

What to do now - your checklist:

• Book your ticket now to take advantage of the reduced rate
• Nail down a cheap hotel room at Travelodge or Ibis
• Let us know you’re going by posting on your blog or leaving a comment here
• Spread the word by Tweeting a message with #cybermummy11 hashtag
• Got a great idea for the conference - topic for a session, suggested speaker, what you’d like to happen on the day? Send us an email on info@cybermummy.com

CyberMummy11 info coming soon.....

2010-10-31T19:00:00.002+00:00

We will be making a big announcement about CyberMummy11 in the next couple of weeks. Why don't you sign up to our newsletter to be one of the first bloggers in the know?!

Call for graphic and web designers

2010-09-10T14:11:00.000+01:00

We are all back from our summer break and cracking on with next years CyberMummy but we need your help.

We are looking for talented web and graphic designers who can think outside the box and work to tight deadlines.

Do you have what it takes to be part of our team?

Please email sian at cybermummy dot com with your details and some examples of your work.

Our fabulous event planner: No Stone Events

2010-07-24T22:46:00.005+01:00

We're busy thinking about next year's CyberMummy and reviewing some of the lessons we learned from this one. One of the biggest lessons is: get a fabulous event planner.

This year we were lucky to have Emma, founder of No Stone Events, handling all the details to make sure the day ran smoothly.

No Stone Events is a boutique events agency with a passion for combining inspirational and extraordinary moments in time with meticulous planning and attention to detail, to create sensational and seamless events for any occasion.

No Stone Events believes passionately that events should move, inspire, unite, and celebrate. We believe in creating engaging events with a long-lasting sense of occasion and purpose, so that clients and guests leave feeling fulfilled and empowered by their experience.

Emma did everything from making sure sponsors had everything they needed to liaising with the hotel to make sure we were all fed, watered and later plied with drink.

If you're thinking of putting on a conference, launch, award presentation, party, dinner, wedding, or family occasion, she's your gal for innovative ideas and high-octane organisation all handled with friendly chirpiness.

Get in touch with Emma via emma.clarke@nostoneevents.com
Read more about No Stone

Picture by John Clark

The full list of Crowdsourced Keynote posts

2010-07-08T09:31:00.004+01:00

Many people have said in the days after CyberMummy that hearing fellow bloggers' posts in the Crowdsourced Keynote was one of the highlights of the day.

We got so many great post nominations that it was difficult to select only those you heard. One nomination in particular was sweet, funny and charming but really worked better as a post to be read rather than read aloud. You didn't hear it on the stage that day but it was Ladybird World's Lord's Prayer (as said by her son) and if you haven't already seen it, go and read it on her blog now.

And, so you can revisit your favourite from the day, here is a full list of the bloggers who closed the conference with such aplomb.

Shireen Babul, Bees on Skis, blogging for 4 years

Holly Ward, It's a Mummy's Life, blogging for 6 months

Sandy Calico, Baby Baby, started blogging in May 2009, before that she didn't even know what a blog was

Antonia Clark aka Iota, Not Wrong Just Different, blogging since May 2007

Vicki Jeffels, Vegemitevix, blogging since last October

Lulu Campbell, Family Affairs and Other Matters, blogging for just over 3 years

Carol Smith, New Mummy, blogging 17 months

Kelly Cheesley, A Place of My Own, blogging for five years

Hannah Gray, Muddling Along Mummy, blogging since April 2009

Hazel Gaynor, Hot Cross Mum, she’s been bogging for 15 months, so she thinks that counts as a blogging equivalent of a toddler

Jen Walshaw aka Mummy Mad, The Mad House, blogging for a year almost to the day

Justine Baxter, The Potty Diaries (Life lessons and potty training from the front line...), blogging for 3 years

Victoria Leather, Modern Dilemma, blogging for 5 months

Maria Jose Ovalle, Mummy's Busy World by Little M, blogging since April this year

CyberMummy: It's a wrap

2010-07-07T23:16:00.005+01:00

There were cupcakes and coffee, there were hugs and tears, there were prizes and jokes. On Saturday 3 July more than 175 bloggers descended on the Ibis Earls Court in London and made CyberMummy 2010 a great success.

We had fantastic speakers on the panels, including India Knight, Mumsnet’s Justine Roberts, Judith O’Reilly/Wife in the North, and many many more. We had funny, illuminating and moving speakers at the Crowdsourced Keynote. Most of all we saw old friends from online and made new ones.

Thanks for the kind words and the constructive criticism. We're taking notes. We’re already thinking about next year, so enter your details and we’ll add you to a mailing list for updates (cross our hearts: no spamming or selling your details).

Join the mailing list now!

Reliving the Moment

To catch up with what happened check out all the coverage online:

See the pictures on the CyberMummy Flickr group

Missed a session? Find out what happened with bloggers who liveblogged them:
How to create good content - Nixdminx
Stats and Influence - 3 Bedroom Blogging
Working with Brands - TheMadHouse
Site design - A Mother's Ramblings
Libel and legal advice - A Mother's Ramblings
SEO Basics - Young & Younger

Join CyberMummy on Facebook for more pics and links

If you have written a post about CyberMummy, please leave a link below. (NB: This is the same McLinky as on Susanna's blog) There is also a McLinky on Sian's.

Your CyberMummy pictures: where to put them

2010-07-03T21:00:00.000+01:00

This is not a suggestion involving a body part. Liz from LivingwithKids has set up a public CyberMummy Flickr group so you can share your pics with other CyberMummies/Daddies plus those who couldn't attend.

Go to the CyberMummy Flickr group and put in your best pics now!

Live-blog from Cyberlabs: SEO Basics & Twitter and Blog-to-Book

2010-07-03T18:49:00.000+01:00

There was a lot to pack into this one-hour session on SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) Basics & Twitter, from Charlotte Smith at Glam Media, followed by Robin Harvie from Harper Collins giving some great tips on getting your blog turned into a bestseller. This was my first attempt at live-blogging, so be kind please! Head over to my blog, Young & Younger, for my post summarising this session. If it looks a little ragged around the edges, it's because I've not had a chance to correct all those glaring typos yet.

Congratulations to the Cybermummy organisers for an absolutely fantastic event. I'm already excited about next year's.

Young Mummy

Cyber Labs - "You B****!"

2010-07-03T16:02:00.000+01:00

Pippa from A Mothers Ramblings again, I was also able to be part in the fantastically titled "You B****! What you can and can't say on your blog" Cyber Lab today where Gayle Trigg from Wragge & Co LLP told us just what we have to be careful with and what we should do if we find ourselves in trouble.

You can see the full post here, but please be warned that I need to spellcheck and make things a little more sensible....

Cyber Labs - Site Design

2010-07-03T15:55:00.000+01:00

Pippa from A Mothers Ramblings here, I was lucky enough to be part of the brilliant Cyber Lab today where advice and tips were given by Yusuf Hoosain from Glam Media.

What makes a good website and handy tips on blog design and what helps people to remember you blog were discussed in this session. With real images of websites and blogs that got it right and got it wrong.

You can see the full post here, but please be warned that I need to spellcheck and make things a little more sensible....

Live Blog Working with Brands by The Mad House

2010-07-03T15:03:00.002+01:00

Hi I am MummyMad aka Jen and I blog at TheMadHouse, I am have live blogged the Working with Brands session from CyberMummy. You can find my live blog post here

14:00 - 14:50 Working with brands and the tricky business of making money

How to successfully branch out, work with companies, and make your passion for blogging pay

Natalie Lue, http://www.bambinogoodies.co.uk/ (moderator)
Samanta from Leapfrog
MS and L, MS&L
Sian To, http://www.mummy-tips.com/ and As Clear As PR
Gina Garrubbo, Blogher
Eva Keogan from http://www.nixdminx.com/

Please come nad help me out by filling in any blanks.

3 Bedroom Blogging- Stats and Influence

2010-07-03T12:55:00.000+01:00

Hiya it's me, Kat. I have just finished live blogging the Influence and Stats session. You can find it over here at the Bungalow. Look forward to seeing your comments!!

LIVEBLOG: The Content Session

2010-07-03T10:55:00.002+01:00

Starting now: Our first session of the day, featuring a fabulous line-up of content experts talking about how to create good content, and discussing the ins and outs of writing for the web with all the CyberMummies in attendance.

Nixdminx is live-blogging as it happens. Visit her blog to see the up-to-minute coverage.

live blogging from Cybermummy 2010 - the content session

2010-07-03T09:47:00.001+01:00

I'm here and in the content session and you can read my full commentary at nixdminx.com - this is brilliant, such a great range of women on the panel. Jump over and have a look

Win a 7-night family holiday with Keycamp

2010-07-02T08:54:00.004+01:00

Here are some details of the fantastic Keycamp holiday you could win in the prize draw:

Keycamp Holidays has provided a seven-night break at a choice of its 100 plus parcs in Europe.

From action and adventure at a countryside retreat, relaxation alongside stunning beaches or sight-seeing in some of Europe’s best destinations – you’ll find all the ingredients for a great family holiday with Keycamp.

Your accommodation will be a stylish, well-equipped mobile home with an array of facilities on the doorstep, usually including a superb swimming pool complex and activities such as a spa, gym, golf, tennis, volleyball and even quad biking and canoeing, at selected parcs.

Many locations also offer Keycamp’s free Fun Station children’s clubs, which are the ideal opportunity for kids to get active and make some new friends, especially when you want to enjoy a little ‘me-time’. With up to five clubs for different ages, there’ll be something to keep everyone happy, whether you’ve got toddlers or teens.

Destinations include the ever-popular Brittany, stunning Italian lakes and the brilliant beaches of the Costa Brava, so you’re guaranteed to find the ideal spot at which to enjoy a good dose of family fun.

For more information about Keycamp, visit http://www.keycamp.co.uk/ or call 0844 406 0319.

Terms and conditions

The prize is a seven night self-catering holiday in mobile home accommodation (chosen by Keycamp), sleeping up to a maximum of 2 adults and 4 children under 18 at a Keycamp parc in Europe, excluding group B parcs, Greece, Denmark, UK and subject to availability. A return midweek Dover to Calais ferry crossing is also included. Brochure terms and conditions apply, and Keycamp reserves the right to exclude certain parcs. Travel insurance, car, petrol, meals and spending money are not included. Extra nights/ upgrades as per brochure prices. Alternative travel options are available at a supplement. The holiday can be taken on or after 31 August 2010 and completed before 9 July 2011, subject to availability. Prize is non-transferable.

Party prize giveaway: Things for grown-ups too

2010-07-02T07:11:00.006+01:00

Yesterday I blogged about the great prizes we'll be giving away that the kids will love (and one that babies and mums will love)

But let's not forget about our grown-up identities. And what does a mature, intelligent parent need? I hear you saying "intellectual stimulation". I was thinking more along the lines of "free stuff".

So, in the last update about our prize draw before the big day, here are some of the things you could win that remind you it's good to be an adult:

* Gold sponsor Leapfrog is giving away £150 worth of Leapfrog products of your choice to keep your children entertained, providing you with some valuable "me time"

* Gold sponsor Glam is giving away a £550 BHS voucher at the Oxford Street store, which includes a personal consultation with a stylist

* Our Silver sponsor Biss Lancaster is giving away a bottle of Tanqueray 10 and a bottle of Ciroc Vodka (I know what you're thinking, but they'll be sending these out later to the two lucky winners, so there's no opportunity to crack these open at the party)

* Our Bronze sponsor Tommee Tippee will make all those nighttime feedings easier (and daytime, too) with hamper absolutely stuffed with bottle and breastfeeding essentials, including a Closer to Nature breastfeeding kit (including bottle warmer, breast pump and bottles), a Closer to Nature bottle feeding kit (including travel bottle warmer and steriliser), and a Weaning kit (including decorated bowls and plates)

* Our coffee break sponsor Garofalo will keep three lucky winners in pasta for a month

* Green clothing company Mini Myne is giving away a children's clothing gift certificate for £100

* Isklar Mineral Water (Norwegian glacial mineral water) is giving away an Isklar tote bag, designed by Giles Deacon, worth £100

* Five people will win copies of "William's Progress: One man, one woman, one year, so many ways to screw up" written by Sunday Times writer Matt Rudd and occasional daddy blogger of Alpha Mummy

If you ain't in it, you won't win it, so remember after the Crowdsourced Keynote to fill out your feedback card and drop it in the bowl on your way into the party. You must be present to win.

Read the full Terms and Conditions.

Meet our sponsors and win a hamper : Johnson's Baby

2010-07-02T06:38:00.003+01:00

Another great sponsor, with another great chance to win some goodies. Read on to find out how you can work with Johnson's Baby and enter to win a hamper full of baby products. Johnson's Baby says:

With 100 years of baby expertise behind them, the team at JOHNSON’S® Baby know that being a mum can be both exciting and scary. JOHNSON’S® Baby are delighted to be sponsoring the CyberMummy event and the team look forward to talking with you about exciting developments from the well loved brand. These include the launch of a new, very fun and bubbly product and also plans for a brand new website. Look out for us at stand 7 or call or email 0845 070 7613/ Johnsonsbaby@redconsultancy.com for more information on any of our brands.

JOHNSON’S® Baby Hamper text
With 100 years of baby expertise behind them, the team at JOHNSON’S® Baby are giving you the chance to win a hamper of classic JOHNSON’S® Baby products at this year’s Cybermummy event.

The hamper includes JOHNSON’S® Baby Oil, JOHNSON’S® Baby Skincare Wipes, JOHNSON’S® Baby Lotion, JOHNSON’S® Baby Softwash, JOHNSON’S® Baby Bedtime Lotion, JOHNSON’S® Baby Powder, JOHNSON’S® Baby Sun Protection Lotion SPF 50+, JOHNSON’S® Baby Kids Sun Protection Spray SPF 50, JOHNSON’S® Baby Bedtime Wash, JOHNSON’S® Baby Bath, JOHNSON’S® Baby Shampoo, JOHNSON’S® Baby Soothing Naturals Rich Bath, and JOHNSON’S® Baby No More Tangles Spray.

To be in with the chance of winning simply enter the prize draw on the day.

Who has won the photo competition?

2010-07-01T14:21:00.003+01:00

The CyberMummy Gallery competition got loads of great, moving entries. This has been a production of Tara at Sticky Fingers, Sian at MummyTips and Photobox.

On the day you'll see some of the entries in a gallery but you can go see the top three winners now.

Image: Francesco Marino / FreeDigitalPhotos.net