<img class="size-full wp-image-3217 alignleft" style="margin: 8px;" title="SITS-125-button" src="http://writingtosanity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/SITS-125-button.png" alt="SITS-125-button" width="125" height="125" />Whether you are just getting started blogging, or you are a seasoned vet wanting to learn how to make money blogging, <a title="Bloggy Boot Camp" href="http://www.thesitsgirls.com/bloggy-boot-camp-how-to-blog-for-women/" target="_blank">Bloggy Boot Camp</a> is an excellent way to get the information you want efficiently and without huge cost to your pocketbook.  The one-day "camp" is an extended part of <a title="The SITS Girls Forum" href="http://www.thesitsgirls.com/forum/" target="_blank">The SITS Girls</a>, a site which many consider a force to be reckoned with in the vast pool of social networks for women.

While her reputation of being one of the nicest, prettiest people anyone  has ever met precedes her, there's one new tidbit that we learned about  <a href="http://www.onemomblogger.com/" target="_blank">Tiffany Romero</a> while at the <a title="Boston Bloggy Boot Camp" href="http://www.thesitsgirls.com/bloggy-boot-camp-how-to-blog-for-women/2011-tour-schedule/boston/" target="_blank">Boston Bloggy Boot Camp</a> yesterday: she <em>loves</em> a mic stand. And she rocked it.  Her partner in crime, <a title="Social Girl World" href="http://socialgirlworld.com/" target="_blank">Francesca Banducci</a>, brought her "A-Game" to Boston, as well.  It's this duo that have banded with other prominent bloggers, including <a title="Mama Kat's Losin' It" href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/" target="_blank">Kathy Bouska</a> (aka <a title="Twitter - Mama Kat's Losin' It" href="http://twitter.com/mamakatslosinit" target="_blank">@MamaKatsLosinIt</a> on Twitter), to run The SITS Girls website.
<blockquote>When The Secret to Success is Support (SITS) was founded in 2008, its  objective was simple: To create a space where bloggers could find their  tribe and grow their audience.  Although the site has evolved over the  years, its commitment to this mission has not changed.

Today, the  brand is managed by Tiffany Romero, Francesca Banducci, and Kathy  Bouska, three women who are passionate about blogging and creating a  resource for others to find support online and learn the skills they  need to become social media savvy.  Our network of over 8,000 members  comes to the SITS site daily to see who we are featuring from the  blogging community, learn the technical skills they need to be  successful online, and maybe even read up on a recipe or style tip.

We’d love to have you join us!

<strong>-- <a title="The SITS Girls dot com" href="http://www.thesitsgirls.com" target="_blank">www.thesitsgirls.com</a></strong></blockquote>
What am I coming home with?  Ideas that, if implemented properly, will propel me for the weeks -- maybe even MONTHS -- to come.
<h2>Know who you are as a writer.</h2>
What are your distinguishing personality traits?  What are your guiding principles and values?  What is your role on the Web?  What is your promise to your readers?  What is your story?
<h2>You do not have to be "published" to consider yourself a writer.</h2>
Writer's block?  Mind map.  Get up and go somewhere.  Get your "prompt" on by participating at sites like <a title="Mama Kat's Losin' It - Writer's Workshop" href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/writers-workshop-directions/" target="_blank">Mama Kat's Losin' It</a>.  Write a great headline by looking at magazines and learning from the pros.
<h2>You need to learn how to write pitches that don't suck.</h2>
Remember that small/local businesses can be just as important as the Big Name companies.  Pitches that suck talk only about what YOU NEED - brands want to know what's in it for THEM.  Speak fluently in the language of business: BOTTOM LINE/MONEY.  Don't beg - instead, DELIVER.  Use Linked In to discover contacts for the companies you want to work with.  Be professional and honest.  Know your audience.
<h2>Utilizing pictures will enhance your blog by creating "eye candy."</h2>
Choose one size and stick to it.  Candid shots are great because they appeal to the voyeuristic tendencies in all of us.  There are options for editing your pictures that aren't overwhelming, like <a title="Picnik.com" href="http://www.picnik.com/" target="_blank">Picnik.com</a> (which has great options in the no-cost version).  You don't need to have a huge, fancy camera to take great shots - a simple point-and-shoot or your iPhone will work!
<h2>Having a conversation with people will get them to your site.</h2>
You do not have to be active on Twitter of Facebook every day, but you should be active and regular with your engagement.  It's not always about YOU.  Embrace lifestyle blogging - it's the new awesome.  Promote interactive behaviors.  Relate with others.  Create community.  JUST BE AWESOME.  Be a listener and reader FIRST - then build your following.
<h2>Do good things for others.</h2>
Get involved - keep in mind that you do NOT have to commit to ALL causes.  Work with existing brand campaigns or build your own.  Showcase others who are doing good things by having them guest post and link it out on Twitter and Facebook.  Participate in charity drives at (other) events.  Volunteer.

As a Colorado native moving to New Jersey in 2009, I knew not one person.  I had to start over with my circle of friends, but it's blogging that has helped me build new relationships and it's events like Bloggy Boot Camp that keep the fires going.

<strong>Blog friends are real friends.</strong> Believe it.