Category Archives: News

Want To Know How To Score A Free Seat At The Blogcademy?!

Little-known fact about The Blogcademy?  We give away one free seat — to one very deserving babe — in every class.

The reason is simple: we know that everyone’s financial position is different… And if you dream in turquoise, can rattle off The Blogcademy Manifesto from memory, and have our tour schedule taped to your wall, you clearly need to be a part of our girl gang!

…But you won’t just get a ticket by emailing us a sad story.  We want to see your passion, your excitement, and your commitment to the cause!

HERE’S HOW TO WIN A SCHOLARSHIP

We get off on creativity.  It thrills us to the core.  So — you guessed it! — get creative!  Write us a poem, make us a video, draw us a comic, or paint your entire face turquoise.  Get your friends to spell out B-L-O-G-C-A-D-E-M-Y with their bodies, write and record a blogging-related jingle, or bake us turquoise cupcakes.  Whatever it is, make it epic!

Then, be sure to post about your entry on our Facebook page.  (Otherwise, we’ll never know!)

WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING?

Spread the word on social media.  Because — trust us — this will make us much more likely to pick you!  Just be sure to hashtag it with #theblogcademy!

You could try a tweet like the following… Or sizzle up something of your own!

  • If I win a scholarship to @theblogcademy, I think I will BURST!  Check out my entry: http://facebook.com/theblogcademy  #theblogcademy
  • I dream in turquoise.  I fantasize about WordPress plugins.  I’ve gotta be at @theblogcademy!  #theblogcademy
  • I’m one step closer to forming my ultimate blogger posse… @theblogcademy, here I come!  #theblogcademy

You get the gist, no?

BORING DEETS

Entries are due a month before the date of the event.  (Be sure to tell us in your entry which class you want to attend!)  The winner is chosen a few days later.  No purchase is necessary to win.  Your headmistresses are the judges, and our decision is final!  Boom!

Okay… Good luck!  Make us proud!

 

With love,

Gala, Shauna and Kat.

We’re Big In Britain!

Last time we were in London, it was the middle of January. It wasn’t just cold, there was a freaking blizzard. And still, The Blogcademy show went on!

Shauna and Gala are psyched to hop on a Virgin Atlantic flight and head back to jolly old England… And we know Kat is excited to have us!

And now we’re even more thrilled, because — after selling out thirty Blogcademy seats — we’ve added a second class!

That means we’re teaching two British workshops back to back, on Thursday and Friday (the 5th and 6th of September), and Saturday and Sunday (the 7th and 8th of September). Sure, it’s a little nuts… But it’s worth it to meet DOUBLE the babes and have (at least!) DOUBLE the fun!

Okay, so now, if you were unable to attend the weekend class because you’re, say, a wedding photographer, or a frazzled mother, or a freelancer who booked into a weekend juggling workshop months ago, you have no excuses!

“The Blogcademy is fucking life-changing. I sold half of my wardrobe (no joke) in order to attend and I’d sell the other half and show up in nothing but my undies and black eyeliner ten times over: these women are legit. Their energy is through the roof. Their knowledge is powerful. Their commitment is palpable. And they will give you the necessary kick in the ass you need to own your identity, no matter how scary that might be. Between the sparkles, sea of hair colors, and resounding tribal spirit, I kept waiting for Jessie J to burst through the window on a Tarzan rope belting out ‘Just be true to who you are’. (I wouldn’t put it past these three. I believe them capable of anything). But all in all, whether you have to walk 500 miles, subsist on Ramen noodles for a month, or fly on a broomstick to get there…GO. Stop thinking about it. GO. I kid not when I say it will alter the course of your professional career and, by extension, your life.” (Madelin Adena Smith)

 

If you’re curious about what goes on during class, or even better, afterwards, check out our interviews with Veronica Varlow and Latanya Rene. These are two blogcadettes who are rocking the blogosphere in their own unique way! Jess Lively recently interviewed Shauna about how we design The Blogcademy with intention, too.

And remember: Austin is our last US date for the year. You don’t want to miss it. It will be magical to the max.

So excited! Can’t wait to see you!

Gala, Kat and Shauna.

Join Us In Austin For Major Alice In Wonderland Vibes!

Sweet blog babes, I’m not totally convinced that we have adequately expressed to you our sheer excitement over visiting Austin next month.  Incredibly, it’s our last US date of the year, and we plan on making the most of it!

Thankfully, that won’t be difficult.  Our venue, Vuka, is a co-working space in downtown Austin, and it was described as “the equivalent of Alice’s Wonderland for creative professionals” by Culturemap Austin.

But a picture’s worth a thousand words, right?  Here then, are several thousand words…

Simply put, it is a sublime space…  Only the best for our blogcadettes!  Clocking in at a whopping 7000 square feet, and decorated with old schooldesks and fabulous vintage furniture, Vuka is truly unique.  We’re in love with their enchanting light fixtures and their magical garden.  We can’t think of a better place to get down and dirty with y’all (“y’all”!), as you discover how to give your blog a beautiful (and loving) kick in the rump!

“If you’re a baby blogger, consider this workshop your official initiation. If you’re a seasoned pro, think of it as your finishing school.” — Alexandra Franzen

If you’re stateside, this is — without a doubt — the best place to be on the weekend of August 17th and 18th.  We only have a few spaces left, so throw your cowboy boots in a suitcase and scoot on over here!

Much love,
Gala, Shauna and Kat.

Hey There Twin Cities!

Hey there future Blogcadettes! Your headmistresses touched down in your fair city last night and we are so excited to meet you in class tomorrow!

If you’re coming along here’s a little reminder of when, where and what you’ll need…

♥ The class is being held at Public Functionary. The address is 1400 12th Ave. NE Minneapolis, MN 55413. Class kicks off at10am – don’t be late!

♥ Remember to bring a notebook and something to scribble down all those notes with.  If you prefer to type on a laptop or iPad feel free to bring those too. The studio has wifi (of course!)

♥ You’ll also need a camera. While we are no longer teaching a technical photography section, the workshop is sure to be packed with many Kodak moments so don’t forget to bring something to capture them with! If you don’t have one, don’t worry, the camera on your phone will be totally adequate.

♥ Nom, nom, nom, don’t forget about your belly. Be sure to bring some snacks and a lunch. We’ll be providing a few treats for munching on throughout the day but feel free to bring your own too. There a couple brilliant places to buy lunch locally (within a 5 minute drive), but if you prefer to bring a packed lunch, be our guest!

♥ Business cards… Because you never know who you might meet!

We are SO EXCITED to meet you all,

Much love from your enthusiastic headmistresses,
Kat, Gala & Shauna

It’s Up To You, New York!

We feel like we’ve done a full circle over the past few months. After starting our Blogcademy journey in this fair city, here we are again! On Wednesday Kat and Gala were reunited with squeals and hugs a-plenty, and Shauna touched down just this morning. We’ve been ferociously writing report cards, tweaking our presentation… oh and we had a little time for some shopping too of course!

If you’re coming to class tomorrow here’s a little reminder of when, where and what you’ll need!

♥ The class is being held at the ridiculously cool Rent Patina! The address is 7 St. Nicholas Ave, Brooklyn NY 11237 which is just a couple of minutes walk from Jefferson subway station. Class kicks off at 10am – don’t be late!

♥ Remember to bring a notebook and something to scribble down all those notes with.  If you prefer to type on a laptop or iPad feel free to bring those too. The studio has wifi (of course!)

♥ You’ll also need a camera. While we are no longer teaching a technical photography section, the workshop is sure to be packed with many Kodak moments so don’t forget to bring something to capture them with! If you don’t have one, don’t worry, the camera on your phone will be totally adequate.

♥ Nom, nom, nom, don’t forget about your belly. Be sure to bring some snacks and a lunch. We’ll be providing a few treats for munching on throughout the day but feel free to bring your own too. There a couple brilliant places to buy lunch locally, but if you prefer to bring a packed lunch, be our guest!

♥ Business cards… Because you never know who you might meet!

We are SO EXCITED to meet you all,

Much love from your enthusiastic headmistresses,
Kat, Gala & Shauna

Join us Live From New York!

We thought it was high time to give our online Blogcadettes another class so we’re conducting another livestream so that YOU can get your questions answered.

Our last one was a huge success, with lots of questions, plenty of laughs, and over 1,000 viewers!

Join us Monday 24th June
10am PST / 1pm EST / 6pm GMT

The three of us will be talking about some of the lessons we’ve personally learned from teaching The Blogcademy, and engaging in some lively debate about changes we’re making to our own blogs.

After that, we’ll be taking your questions! You’re more than welcome to submit them in advance, but we’ll be answering ’em on the fly, too. (If you can’t attend the live event, but will be watching the recording later, we recommend submitting your questions ahead of time!)

Tickets are a minuscule $7 and if you can’t tune in live, don’t worry, your ticket will give you access to a recording which you can watch over and over again at your leisure! Sign up below by clicking the orange button below…

 

What’s The Blogcademy All About, Then?

With excitement very much mounting for the next leg of our World Tour in New York and Minneapolis over the next few weeks, we wanted to refresh your memory as to what The Blogcademy is all about!

Calling all aspiring blog queens and small business owners. The heartfully headstrong, the radically rambunctious. The devilishly demure. The loud ones, the quiet ones, the sweet ones and the vixens. And every single up-and-coming BLOGGING BABE IN BETWEEN.

Whether you’ve been blogging for forever, or just getting started… THIS IS THE BLOGCADEMY.

Because blogging is no joke, and it’s time to take yours to the next level. It’s where three A-list bloggers, thirty A-list students, and the magic of in-person collaboration combine.

Enough fooling around.

It’s time to make a living with your blog.

And we’re coming to your city… TO SHOW YOU EXACTLY HOW.

The Lowdown

Contrary to popular belief, blogs aren’t just online diaries for stylish mavens in six inch heels; they’re an essential tool for anyone who owns a business, wants a business, or wants to do business… Period.

Bloggers are the ultimate “it” girls: They sit front row at fashion week, they launch magazines to wild acclaim, and they are able to make a living in a way that leaves the 9-5 crowd for dead.

There’s just one little thing…

It takes strategy. Insight. Technique. And talent.

Because you might be the best at what you do, but if you aren’t the best at blogging about it… You don’t exist.

And that’s precisely why we’ve created The Blogcademy: to help every single hard-working wonder-woman get the recognition she wants — and the lifestyle she DESERVES. We’ve only got one go around at this thing called life. We might as well give it EVERYTHING WE’VE GOT — turquoise sequins and 80’s dance-offs very much included.

About The Blogcademy

The Blogcademy is a wildly fun, fiercely smart, two-day workshop tailored to bloggers who want to elevate their online presence and business up a level — or fifteen. Taught by three of the world’s most high-profile bloggers, Gala Darling (Gala Darling), Kat Williams (Rock n Roll Bride) and Shauna Haider (Nubby Twiglet), we take your hand and give you a backstage pass to the blogosphere.

Everything you ever wanted to know about blogging strategy, branding, monetization, personality and (so much!) more is covered in this exclusive, never-before-done workshop — now taking place in various cities around the world. At The Blogcademy, there’s three of us and thirty of you (not to mention some of the sauciest goodie bags this side of Venus).

We provide personalized guidance, big heaps of encouragement and one massive dose of inspiration to all levels, from absolute beginners to total pros. It doesn’t matter whether you do it for the love, to support your business, or if it’s your full-time gig; all that matters is that you have a wild-crazy passion for this thing we call the blogosphere.

Your three headmistresses have very distinct personalities, and an entirely different approach to each of our online identities, which gives a savvy, holistic, insider’s view of exactly what it takes to thrive online — no matter who you are.

If you’d like to use your blog to attract new clients, we know the best way to do it. If you’re feeling frustrated by creating content, we can help you bulldoze through the obstacles that are standing in your way. If you want to get a newspaper column, a magazine feature or a book deal, we can show you the ropes. If you want to be inspired, make your blog design really pop, refine your branding and get bigger and better, we’re right there with you — no ifs, ands or buts.

If it exists as a benchmark within blogging, we have either done it or are doing it right now. Gala has been writing online since 1997, Shauna got started in 2001, and Kat began her blog in 2007. In our 31 collective years of experience in the world of blogging, we have truly dealt with the good, the bad and the ugly. We want to share our greatest lessons with you in the form of two uncontrollably fun, action-packed days of knowledge, wisdom, tricks, tips, deep insights and good-old fashioned bonding.

And it doesn’t end there. After the last B-shaped balloon is packed away (tear!), the community remains. Regular, real-life meet-ups, a thriving forum and access to constantly-updated resources are all at your glittery fingertips. The Blogcademy may zip by in two days, but the relationships you’ve formed can (and will) last a lifetime.

What Will I Learn?

Day One:
We’re busting out the need-to-know, can’t-be-skipped, you-don’t-want-to-miss-this blogging essentials. On day one we cover everything from layout basics to learning how to create and refine your digital persona. In the excitement of starting a blog, these important fundamentals often get glossed over, but they’re crucial to your success. We discuss finding inspiration and picking the right topics for your blog, creating brilliant content, extracting the maximum juice out of social media and conducting a digital brand audit. (More useful than it sounds — we promise.)

Day Two:
After a jolly good night’s rest, we crack on to day two where we go deep on the topic of monetisation, from advertising to creating your own products (and everything that falls in between!). We give you the skinny on building a brand from scratch, how to network without feeling like a sleaze, how to take great photos, essential business documents and creating a blogging action plan that won’t just sit in your drawer — but get you noticed, get you seen, and get you making MONEY.

At The Blogcademy, our focus is not just on being online; we understand the importance of establishing legitimacy in the offline world, too. Woven throughout the two days, we’ll be driving home lessons on discovering your own voice and showcasing your personality, making brand connections and working on campaigns, as well as dealing with the not-so-nice bits of blogging.

We’ll tell you everything we know about dealing with big brands (and maintaining a sense of self and integrity!); getting a newspaper or magazine column; self-publishing and digital products; creating a magazine (as well as editing, designing and distributing it); blogging managers and agents, and how to get a book deal. We’ll teach you how to write your own blogging business plan, and encourage you to set goals to keep you motivated.

But it’s not all function and no form: we also share essential design tips and elements to enhance the look and feel of what you do. It’s one thing to have a cohesive look across all your online properties, but it’s another thing entirely to know if they accurately represent you or your business. Shauna has half a decade of real world experience at top ad agencies and design studios, which have given her a sophisticated and beautiful view of design, both online and off. She brings this expertise to class and one thing’s for sure: you — and your blog — will never be the same.

Finally, the headmistresses will personally be critiquing your actual blog and giving you customized recommendations on what you can do to be better, do better, and blog better.

This is an unbelievable opportunity to have your work appraised by some of the best in the business, and if you take our advice, you will see incredible growth. Pinky swear.

What’s Included?

  • 16 hours of class time
  • Custom 40+ page workbook (she’s pretty AND action-packed)
  • Activities and exercises designed to help you get clear, and get GOING
  • Top Secret Student Forum — because two days is never enough!
  • Personalized Report cards — 1:1 attention is a guarantee
  • Graduation Certificate — to remind you of your new skills, and give you insta-confidence anytime
  • Curated Goodie bag — have we mentioned how much you’re going to LOVE yours?!
  • Class Photo — because no workshop would be a workshop without an unforgettable collection of stellar snapshots

So what are you waiting for? We can’t wait to see you there!

Meet Our New York & Minneapolis Scholarship Winners!

We offer one scholarship spot in every city and we just love browsing through all those creative entries in order to pick our winners. This latest batch certainly didn’t disappoint, with both of our favourites flexing their artistic muscles and creating these utterly brilliant pieces.

Kirstin’s comic book for the New York class stole our hearts with it’s creativity and humour…

And Amber’s quirky poster designs convinced us that this was a babe we wanted to meet in Minneapolis!

Congratulations to you both, we can’t wait to meet you in New York and Minneapolis really really soon!

If you’d like to try out for the scholarship spot in Austin, London, Brisbane, Melbourne or Auckland it really couldn’t be easier. Simply pull together a blog post and let us know, in whatever format you like, why you should win!

You could draw a picture, make a video, create an animated gif, start a Facebook campaign, get a tattoo (we’re only half joking!)… Anything that your crazy little brain can come up with. Remember: the more creative the better!

Publish your entry on your own blog and then simply post a link to it on our Facebook page. Applications are due 30 days before the date of the class you’re applying for and make sure you state in your entry which city you’d like to attend.

PS If you’d like to book in to either the New York or Minneapolis classes in June, don’t delay. There are not many sleeps to go (and yes, we are counting!)

Paying in Installments

Photography: Made U Look

Did you know that you can pay for the class in installments? We know that not everyone has the full cost of the workshop just burning a hole in their pocket, so we decided to offer a super-simple payment plan. This is for those of you that would like to reserve your spot without having to stump up all the cash right away.

If you’d like to make two payments, you can do so by simply clicking the ‘two installments’ link under the city of your choice on the register page. If you’d like to make smaller and more regular deposits, we can accommodate that too. Just get in touch and we’ll sort it out for you right away!

We can’t wait to meet you, SO much love
Kat, Gala & Shauna

New Dates: Austin & Melbourne (again)!

Your headmistresses always aim to please, and when we announced the full wack of dates back in March, there were some outcries that we weren’t going down to any of the Southern US states… Well, your wish is our command and so we’ve added an extra date in Austin date during August. YEY!

But that’s not all…The Melbourne class sold out so speedily, that we’ve decided to add a second date on our way home from Australia. It means we’re pretty much going to be away from home for a whole month (!) but hey, know you’re gonna make it worth our while! Our poor suffering husbands will just have to hold the fort at our respective homes a little while longer I guess…

If you’d like to hop on the school bus with us, you can book your spot on either of these classes via the registration page. As always, for the two new dates we are offering an earlybird special price if you book before midnight Wednesday 15th May. Spaces are limited to 30 graduates per class and remember, all our previous classes have been sell-outs, so speed is of the essence!

We can’t wait to meet you!