rS the Con Recap

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Dress // Bag // Shoes // Earrings

WHAT IS RS THE CON?

rS the Con is annual blogger conference put on by rewardStyle. rewardStyle owns LiketoKnow.it and is a company by an influencer for influencers. They help connect bloggers and brands for partnerships and allow me to earn commissions through affiliate links when I refer a shopping to certain retailer’s sites. The conference is invitation only based on performance. When I first started blogging, being invited to this conference was a huge goal of mine! It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn and network both with brands and other bloggers.

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Tshirt (also here) // Skirt // Bag // Sneakers

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Jumpsuit // Earrings // Bag // Shoes

WHAT DID YOU DO?

The weekend is full of different brand meetings, events, and learning opportunities. I had several brand meetings where you talk with a brand rep and a rewardStyle rep for ten minutes about you and their brand. You talk about maybe you experience working with them in the past or potential opportunities for working together in the future. It’s a really unique way to get almost one-on-one face time with some huge brands! Learning opportunities come in the form of whole group presentations or smaller group classroom sessions. Whole group events may include information about new features of rewardStyle coming out, how to best use some things, and sort of the state of the union of the influencer world. They also have some inspirational speakers! Smaller classroom sessions are on different topics like how to improve SEO and use different things to grow your business, how to build your team, and strategies that have been successful for other bloggers.

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Dress // Boots // Bag // Bralette

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Dress // Shoes // Bag // Earrings // Lipstick

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

I learned SO much! One thing I learned a lot about was ways to use Facebook to grow my audience and business. I had felt kinda over Facebook when I got into Instagram, but now that they own Instagram it’s important that I understand how it works and use it! It’s made such a big difference in so many people’s businesses that I feel like I probably should have started focusing more on it sooner, but hey– better late than never.

I already knew this, but quality over quantity is so important. I don’t want to just send the heart emoji back to you guys in my DMs. I want to engage and connect. It’s better for me to have ten real conversations and respond back and forth to ten of you than send a hundred heart emojis. I ALWAYS answer all of my DMs and think they are so important. Making real connections is one of my favorite parts about blogging.

The biggest thing I learned is how much I still have to learn. There is SO much information out there and things are changing often, so it’s good for me to do research and learn on my own as much as possible. I love to learn, but don’t prioritize it as much these days because I am so busy between my two jobs, but it’s essential. No matter what your field, you can always learn more. Even if its just learning more about the world or a passion you have, learning is essential for growth of any kind!

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Dress // Shoes // Bag // Earrings

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

You may recall my post last year after the conference where I talked about dealing with social anxiety. These sort of things can be really intimidating. I am very thankful to have a good group of girls who I already know and love. I think coming away from big weekends like this always leave me with a little food for thought about SO many different things, both professionally and personally.

One of those thoughts that I can’t shake is how important it is to spend the majority of your time with people who love you for you and that make you feel like you can be yourself. We are all learning and growing day by day. Even in my thirties, I’m figuring out more about myself every day! I never want to feel like I have to do, be, or try something else to fit in or be accepted. You don’t need to look a certain way, dress a certain way, do your make up a certain way, or act a certain way for people to love you. The right people will love you for you, so be unapologetically yourself. You are beautiful just the way you were made!

Another thought is the importance of getting out of your comfort zone. Going somewhere you are unsure of and doing things that are uncertain can be so scary. Starting my entire blog was willingly putting myself out there knowing that I may get some hate or that I may fail. Taking that step of getting out of my comfort zone to start my blog has led to so much and it shows that risk really does pay off. I always feel a little bit of a pit of nervousness in my stomach or anxiety going into big things like this conference or fashion week. I always learn so much, have so much fun, and meet some amazing new friends– so getting over that worry always pays off, too!

Finally, a few other things that may be a bit cliche, but they are so so true and are really on my mind: 1) Comparison is the thief of joy– you do you and don’t worry about everyone else. 2) If you judge someone, you don’t have time to love them. 3) Everyone is fighting through (or has fought through) something. Be kind, be understanding. 4) Keep it real– but really. 5) Be straightforward. I live by the rule of never say something about someone behind their back that you wouldn’t say to their face. Being straightforward means you are upfront with people and are honest.

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Bodysuit // Pants // Hair Clips // Shoes // Bag

HOW WAS IT?

Overall, the conference was a wonderful experience and oh so much fun. I loved getting to be around and learn from so many amazing boss babe women who are so inspiring. The rewardstyle team is amazing and puts so much work into this event. I love every person that works there that I have gotten to know so much! I also loved connecting with some of what I consider to be the best brands in the industry. I left last year feeling so motivated and inspired and this year I feel the same way. I am excited to implement what I learned and hope to continue to find success in this little venture of mine. Without all of you, this wouldn’t be possible.. so thank you so much for supporting me! XO