Last year’s Resolution to use Twitter
Here’s a look back at some of my favorite moments. memories and people who made a difference for me in 2009 .
One year ago today, I sat, much like I am now - legs tucked up under me, late night, eyes closing, headache setting in.
I had a little website - ExtraordinaryMommy.com. When I first started it, it wasn’t a blog - it was merely a site. I wanted moms to remember that extraordinary something sitting in their soul, even on their most challenging days. So I created the site. It took months for me to understand that static content is not interesting enough to keep people coming back.
So, about 18 months ago, I began to learn about blogging. But I was overcome by questions - how do I inspire people to come back? Is the content of the site interesting? What should I write about?
I didn’t know the answers. Exactly 12 months ago, I was searching for guidance online. About this time of year, I get antsy…I start hunting for avenues to improve.
It was during this very process that something small happened. I was scouring the wide world web - looking for ‘goals’ and ‘resolutions’ to set me on the correct path towards engaging with people online. I was following a bread-crumb trail of tips. I couldn’t retrace it if you paid me.
With one last click, I landed at Jessica Smith’s site. I didn’t know Jessica - but in a particular post, she was talking about resolutions she had made the previous year (yes December 2007). She said one that had made a difference for her - committing to Twitter. I thought, “Twitter? I’ve heard of it…but what is it?”
And then, as I continued to read Jessica’s post, and the success she experienced in 2008….I snapped to attention and thought - “OK, this seems like a good start - tackling Twitter it is. It seems easy enough. It isn’t a scary, impossible, lofty goal. It is just Twitter.”
(I was able to share this story of my ‘beginning’ with Jessica last this year at the TypeAMom Conference)
I truly had no idea how Twitter worked or how it would change so many things in my world. I called a friend who could provide a little guidance. And I hit the ground tweeting. The Domino Effect has been tremendous.
It was through Twitter that I learned about Blissdom last February. And it was at Blissdom that I met dozens of amazing people who have helped to shaped this past year for me.
I set the personal goal of speaking at this very conference in 2010. (Goal accomplished - Yippee!)
Blissdom was the thread that connected me to my co-host on Why Moms Matter on Blog Talk Radio - Josh Unfried of MomFaves. And that was simply the beginning.
I learned about the launch of MomTV via Twitter. I have had The Spin Cycle on MomTV since they kicked off.
Since then…there have been conferences: BlogHer, TypeAMom, Blog World Expo and the 140 Conference in Los Angeles.
By far, one of the biggest thrills of my year was covering the 140 Conference at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles for DeVries PR….it was the opportunity to get back to my reporting and video roots - and I’m grateful to Stephanie Smirnov for having faith in me.
And I can trace that very experience back to both Twitter and Blissdom.
I am grateful for the new friends I have made.
I am thrilled by how much I have learned and excited about the opportunities I have been given.
I continue to be inspired by the amazing things so many of these women (and men) have accomplished and all they continue to do on a daily basis.
Thank you for welcoming me into this Social Media Community, for embracing by quirks, and for supporting my desire to engage with you via video.
I am truly excited about the future.
Related posts:
- On Blissdom….In the beginning… In the beginning, there was Little Me. Little Me had...
- Make a Difference Monday In just a matter of days I will pack up...
- Twitter brings out the Sun I don’t claim to know why everyone uses Twitter, but...
- Life Lessons Learned at TypeAMom I am home. My family may or may not have...
- Blissdom and Harry Connick Jr. Exactly one year ago, I was excitedly planning to attend...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Thanks for being here!!
Danielle,
I am truly honored to have met you a you are a really positive influence in my life. I look forward to spending more time with you and developing our friendship and learning from you. Happy New Year!
Danielle,
I’m so glad we met! You are such an inspiration! Can’t wait to see you at this years conferences! Happy 2010!
You are definitely one of the bright stars out there and so very happy that it shines at MomTV.
♥♥♥ YOU!
~ Stephanie
2009 has been an amazing social media year for me and seeing you at conferences has certainly been one of the highlights. Can’t wait to hear you speak at Blissdom!
Danielle you are so awesome! I’m so glad we have had the chance to meet and look forward to seeing more of you in Texas in a couple of weeks for Genesis Today along with Blissdom!
Danielle, I still get all misty thinking about those few moments at Type-A Mom when you told me about how finding my blog post helped start the ripple effect.
Here’s the original post where I talk about my December 2007 resolution to start a blog (and get on Twitter!) http://jessicaknows.com/home/2008/12/8/15-days-of-new-years-resolutions-with-jessica-knows-launchin.html
I am so excited to hear you speak at Blissdom and I know, I am confident that this very post you wrote here will inspire someone else…someone who finds it and takes action…
I’m so grateful to call you a friend and have enjoyed watching your star shine brighter as each day goes by!
Happy New Year!
You’re a gem and what a remarkable progress you’ve had! Congratulations!!
I love what my Pastor shared today at church…”Go through the process and be devoted to COMMIT to that process and you will experience the greatest progress in your life.” Oooh, I loved that and it’s been really encouraging me to stick w/the process whatever it is I’m believing for and set out to do in 2010 (be devoted to the process) Can’t wait to hear where you land by end of 2010. I am so grateful to have met you Danielle. I’m wishing you the greatest success and everything you put your hands to this year will prosper and succeed!!
Happy New Year, a New Decade…and New possibilities awaits you my friend!!
@duongsheahan
Great post and great slideshow! It brought back memories for me. Ironically it was just about a year ago that I really started using Twitter also. Months before I had gotten a Twitter invite from Kelby which I excepted but then didn’t touch it for years. She was the one person i was following.
I too decided one day “I am going to check out what this twitter thing is all about and I am so glad that I did.
I don’t think that we actually met at Blogher here in Chicago or at the Type-A Mom con, but your photos are awesome and make me feel like I’m there again. Hopefully we will run into each other somewhere this year.
You are awesome, and I love reading your posts. Although we met through twitter, I am sure I would have loved reading your posts before then too. Hopefully one day I can make it out to one of these events so we can meet in person.
Your friend,
Therese
Danielle, It’s great that you are taking time to pause to take in all that you experienced last year. Your videos and your big heart are always an inspiration. Happy new year.
let me tell you why you accomplished all these goals:
Because you are genuine. Because you really do listen to people when they speak and you give a damn.
Your energy is so warm, so welcoming, that it doesn’t surprise me at all that you have come so far in such a short period of time. I look forward to seeing more of you.
xo
Hi Danielle!
Okay, Twitter IS a bit scary and un-nerving to me, so your post is quite inspiring. While my site is growing, I have not embraced Twitterville.
And now I think I should begin to get over my twitter-phobia.
I have considered Blissdom, but truthfully, while I am a VERY out-going person, I often find the blogger conferences work best for people who already know each other. It is not like me to sit off to the side, I’m not shy at ALL. I just don’t want to get there and be hanging out all alone ya know?
I’d love to know how you launched into the groups of bloggers who already seem to have their posse. It makes me feel like the high school cafeteria.
Anyway, congrats on your growing site sister!
And _I_ met you through Twitter! So see? What better recap for 2009 right? *wink*
Seriously though, Jaeli taught me that Social Media - and especially the “real time availability” via Twitter is not something to underestimate. At ALL.
Angela (AngEngland)
Love you, dearly!
can’t wait to see you in a month!!!!!!!
I love this post Danielle. I am working on my goals for 2010 now and this post is truly an inspiration to me!