Boston – The truth About Love and Entrepreneurship

Last weekend, I went to my first Women in Travel Summit in Boston. To be honest, the conference really appealed to me, but I was apprehensive that I might hate being there.

I’m an introvert, I’m not good at networking, and I generally lose the “How many countries have you visited?” contest. I didn’t want to have to justify my existence to other more experienced bloggers.

I wanted to meet new people, share about our passion for travel and just generally enjoy to be in Boston.

Well, this is exactly what happened.

Was that some kind of “law of attraction”? …I don’t think so. I now believe that women entrepreneurship is inherent with love.

Three speakers catch my attention and gave us tips we can apply not only in our business, but also in our lives.

(And I couldn’t resist putting pictures of my highlights in Boston here and there…)

1. Catrice M. Jackson – Cashing in On You

Catrice started her conference with a simple-not-so-simple question: “What would you do differently if you knew for sure that the only REAL currency in life is YOU?”

If you were in a situation where there’s no money except your personality, your soul, the way you interact with people, to get what you need and what you want, what would you do?

Catrice asked that question to help us find our brand, our unique way of blogging and doing business. For her, “A brand is an experiential relationship with your clients that’s deeply anchored in your core values, that directly and inherently tells people what they can expect to experience every time they engage with you as a result of who you are, what you believe in, what you stand for and why you do what you do.”

Those words resonated in me.

I think a majority of women entrepreneur and bloggers decided to do what they do because they need to have a job where they don’t have to dissociate their corporate self with their self. Catrice pointed it out.

Her secret formula for success can be applied whether you’re an entrepreneur or not. I add a question in italic to show my interpretation of how it can be applied in life and not just in business.

– WHY you do what you do and why you are the best at what you do – How do you live your life and how does it make you feel complete

– Know exactly WHO you are and who your products and services are for – Know who you are and what you want to bring in your life and in your relationships

– Master HOW you do it and make that the highlight of what you promote – Be the person you want to meet. Act like your best self.

– Showcase that your brand experience is like no other – Be yourself, be unique, in any situation

Whether you are a blogger, an entrepreneur or a traveler, be sure that what you project in life, the way you act, is always aligned with your deep self.

Connect with Catrice: Web | Twitter

2. Brooke Roberts – How to Make Google like You

We all want to rank higher in Google and Brooke Roberts showed us how to do it, with a lot of love.

“Making Google like you is all about creating great content that people love, love to share, and do it again, and again, and again…” Do you want to be friend with someone who is pleasant on your birthday, but harsh the rest of the time?

No. You want to be friend with people who are positive and smily the majority of the time. It’s the same thing with Google.

Focus on communication and speak the language of your audience. Once you have done your research to see what keywords you need to target, never forget that you are writing for human. Please don’t overload your text with keywords so it becomes unreadable.

“Create content for an audience that like what you like. We want long-lasting relationship!” If you truly want to help your readers, and you’re full of empathy, people will feel that. If you blog about your passion, people will feel that too. Start with a good and positive intention.

Finally, you want to rank better in Google? Make friends! The more back links you have, the better you rank. Guest posts on other blogs. Spread your looooveeee…

But again, make friend with people who like the same thing that you like. …Just like real life, you know.

Connect with Brooke: Web | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

3. Kate McCulley – Gender inequality in Travel Blogging

Known as Adventurous Kate, one of the most popular travel blog over the internet (Oui, oui!), Kate McCulley beautifully closed the summit with a talk on gender inequality.

Is there such thing as gender inequality when you are your own boss?

Many people don’t think so. BUT, what about the safety concern we have to carry with us anywhere as women? What about the criticism we get on our appearance instead of our writing?

Travelling, for women, will always be different than for men, and so is blogging about it.

“When you are a women entrepreneur, you are going against everything you’ve been told to be your entire life.”

In order to make things right, Kate resume 5 easy things we need to do as entrepreneur or blogger:

• Brand ourselves like an expert
• Support female photographers
• Know our financial value
• Apply for more awards
• Cut down the infighting

Don’t you think these are advice we should use as traveler too?

In my point of view, travelling as women is a feminist statement.

Taking control of our location, our move and our presence in the world is empowering us. It is telling the world that we are free.

Connect with Kate: Web | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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Thanks to all the people at Go Girl Travel Network (now known as She’s Wanderful) for the organization of the Women in Travel Summit that taught us not only to be better bloggers, but to be better human.