CyberMummy2010: 2010

The CyberMummy Honeymoon!!

Wednesday, 10 November 2010

Tickets have only been on sale for a week and since then Twitter has been a buzz of excitement as people start to plan for next years conference.
Susanna even announced on Twitter last night that she had found the dress she was going to wear. Now that's planning!

Then today I came across something even more amazing....

Kez from Life Through A Sippy Cup threw caution to the wind when she bought her ticket on Monday (in much the same way as I did when I decided on a total whim to go to BlogHer in Chicago two years ago and without that trip CyberMummy would never have happened!).

And good on her too - because after ten years and four beautiful children together Kez and her partner Drew have decided to take advantage of their first ever child free night by getting married!

So you could really say that this is the first CyberMummy wedding!

Kerry and drew will be tying the knot on 24th June and then heading to London to spend their honeymoon with all of us!

Congratulations!!

Why go to CyberMummy?

For the scores of folks out there who missed out on CyberMummy this past year - either because of schedule clashes or because they weren't yet entrenched in blogging - one question you might be debating is "Why go?".

Potty Mummy, who writes the Potty Diaries was there last year and spoke at the Crowdsourced Keynote. She has this to say about why she's already bought her ticket for CyberMummy11 and planning to come all the way from Russia to attend:

Why I'm going to CyberMummy

How to get sponsored to attend CyberMummy

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

Some bloggers would like to come to CyberMummy (who doesn't?) but just don't have the resources to fund the ticket as well as possibly the travel and overnight accommodation if necessary.

The good news is that more and more brands want to work with bloggers and you don't have to wait for one to come to you.

CyberMummy Sian has posted some great tips on her site about how to target, pitch and secure a sponsor. (Hint: Don't offer to get their logo tattooed on your arm...or elsewhere.)

Get Sian's step-by-step advice on getting sponsored for CyberMummy.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So what's the schedule like for CyberMummy?

Friday, 5 November 2010

Woman Sitting at a Typewriter

Everyone is already asking about the sessions we have in store. Right now we're still putting them together and we'll be announcing them as soon as we can.

In the meantime, we've listened to the feedback everyone has given us on the last conference. More workshops, more advice that you can put into practice with your blogs, more nuts and bolts info, you said, and that's what we're planning.

In addition, there will be ways for more bloggers to get involved in the program on the day. We'll have experts, yes, but we also want more opportunities for the community to learn from each other.

You can expect sessions on:
* Finding your blogging voice
* Sharpening your technical skills
* Successfully working with brands
* Blogging for a charitable cause

and much more!

Do you have feedback or thoughts? We want to hear.

Can I bring my baby to CyberMummy 2011?

Thursday, 4 November 2010

There are no dumb questions. In fact, we think some are so important and pertinent that we'll be posting answers here on the blog. Here's one that we heard alot with CyberMummy 2010 so we wanted to answer it as you make your arrangements to attend on Jun 25, 2011.

Can I bring my baby and/or children to CyberMummy?

Babes in arms are absolutely welcome at the conference. We'll be setting up a baby changing area as well a comfortable place to breastfeed. Unfortunately we won't be able to offer a bottle- or food-warming area.

As for older children, we recommend you leave them at home with a willing (or even unwilling) partner, grandparent or friend. We'd love to be able to provide diversions for the miniature bloggers-to-be but we just won't have the facilities or capacity. They would be bored, you wouldn't be able to cruise the exhibition space talking to bloggers and brands, and chloroforming the children is frowned on these days, I can tell ya.

(Picture by Blottedcopybook.co.uk)

Getting Individual Sponsorship

Wow what a buzz our announcement made on Twitter last night - it is great to know that so many of you are as excited as we are. We have seen a bit of chatter about how to go about getting a brand to sponsor you - so here are the guidelines that we put together for last years conference.

How do I get a sponsored to attend CyberMummy?

One way to get your attendance paid for is to ask a company to sponsor your trip to CyberMummy. This can be mutually beneficial in many ways – you get your costs covered to attend to this fab conference where you meet other bloggers and further your skills, and the sponsor gets a blogger to help them engage with mum bloggers. It doesn't have to be complicated. Yet while this is a relationship between you and your sponsor and unconnected to the organisers of CyberMummy, we do have guidelines for what you can do for your sponsor on the day, as well as some tips. To find out more, read on.

Q: What can I offer a sponsor?
A: You will be the company’s representative at CyberMummy. You can be their eyes and ears at the event, act as their main networker and help them to develop ways to engage with other mummy bloggers. There are many services you can provide. It is important to clarify to your sponsor that they are sponsoring you individually, and that they are not official sponsors of CyberMummy 2011.

On the day:

You can wear sponsored-branded clothing or badges to the event ("Ask me about my CyberMummy sponsor!" will probably elicit queries).
If someone directly requests information about your sponsor, you can provide it (please read the question about brochures and samples for our guidelines).
You can include your sponsor's name and/or logo on your regular business card

On your blog:

You may want to offer your sponsor your consulting services on a project or for a period of time
You can provide ad space on your blog
You can create content on your blog in conjunction with your sponsor - a post, competition, review, a video of you dancing a jig while reciting a limerick about the brand. Whatever the two of you agree.

Q: Can I bring company brochures and samples?
A: You are only allowed to give brochures, business cards and samples to other delegates who request these from you. You are not allowed to leave any company materials around the conference anywhere (on tables or chairs or in goody bags). Any materials found lying around will be removed, and the cost for removal will charged to the responsible party.

Get ready: CyberMummy on June 25, 2011!

Wednesday, 3 November 2010

It’s coming! It’s official! Prepare yourself for CyberMummy 2011!

We’re thrilled to announce the CyberMummy conference for next year. We’ll be posting more details as they are available but for now mark your calendar and grab your early-bird ticket at the special £80 rate:

Saturday 25 June 2011
The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London
Early-bird rate until 31 Dec 2010: £80

You’re going to love the venue. (And no, not just because it’s a former brewery.) One of the reasons we picked it is because we’ll be taking over the building. It’s going to be wall-to-wall bloggers, along with the brands and social media experts who want to get to know you and speakers who will rock your blogging world. CyberMummy 2011 is going to be bigger, better and more exciting than ever.

One difference with the venue is that there is not a hotel attached. Never fear – we have scouted a few nearby. We haven’t tested these by staying overnight but a little Internet research shows they get good reviews.

Travelodge London City Road
A part of the budget chain of hotels. Great prices, no frills, and just around the corner from the Brewery. We searched for a room via the “sale” tab on the site and found a room for £59 that you can book now.

Hotel Ibis London City
A two-star hotel just outside Aldgate East station, a short walk or two tube stops away. We have a special place in our heart for Ibis Earls Court, which hosted us last year. Again, good prices, no frills. Book now for prices ranging from £74 to £99.99, depending on package and ability to cancel.

The Hoxton Hotel
A very groovy affordable hotel on Great Eastern Street, has free Wifi and a Lite Pret Breakfast is delivered to your room (yoghurt pot, fresh OJ and a banana). The hotel is still finalising prices for next year, so rooms won’t be available for booking until Dec/Jan (bummer, we know but what can ya do?). A sample rate from February 21, 2011 is £89 per night.

What to do now - your checklist:

• Book your ticket now to take advantage of the reduced rate
• Nail down a cheap hotel room at Travelodge or Ibis
• Let us know you’re going by posting on your blog or leaving a comment here
• Spread the word by Tweeting a message with #cybermummy11 hashtag
• Got a great idea for the conference - topic for a session, suggested speaker, what you’d like to happen on the day? Send us an email on info@cybermummy.com

CyberMummy11 info coming soon.....

Sunday, 31 October 2010

We will be making a big announcement about CyberMummy11 in the next couple of weeks. Why don't you sign up to our newsletter to be one of the first bloggers in the know?!

Call for graphic and web designers

Friday, 10 September 2010

We are all back from our summer break and cracking on with next years CyberMummy but we need your help.

We are looking for talented web and graphic designers who can think outside the box and work to tight deadlines.

Do you have what it takes to be part of our team?

Please email sian at cybermummy dot com with your details and some examples of your work.

Our fabulous event planner: No Stone Events

Saturday, 24 July 2010

We're busy thinking about next year's CyberMummy and reviewing some of the lessons we learned from this one. One of the biggest lessons is: get a fabulous event planner.

This year we were lucky to have Emma, founder of No Stone Events, handling all the details to make sure the day ran smoothly.

No Stone Events is a boutique events agency with a passion for combining inspirational and extraordinary moments in time with meticulous planning and attention to detail, to create sensational and seamless events for any occasion.

No Stone Events believes passionately that events should move, inspire, unite, and celebrate. We believe in creating engaging events with a long-lasting sense of occasion and purpose, so that clients and guests leave feeling fulfilled and empowered by their experience.

Emma did everything from making sure sponsors had everything they needed to liaising with the hotel to make sure we were all fed, watered and later plied with drink.

If you're thinking of putting on a conference, launch, award presentation, party, dinner, wedding, or family occasion, she's your gal for innovative ideas and high-octane organisation all handled with friendly chirpiness.

Get in touch with Emma via emma.clarke@nostoneevents.com
Read more about No Stone

Picture by John Clark

More Linky links: What you and fellow bloggers said about CyberMummy

Thursday, 8 July 2010

In case you missed the Linky over at Sian's blog Mummy Tips, here's a roundup of posts about the conference:

106 entries so far... you're next!

Click here to enter

Get your own FREE Linky Tools

The full list of Crowdsourced Keynote posts

Many people have said in the days after CyberMummy that hearing fellow bloggers' posts in the Crowdsourced Keynote was one of the highlights of the day.

We got so many great post nominations that it was difficult to select only those you heard. One nomination in particular was sweet, funny and charming but really worked better as a post to be read rather than read aloud. You didn't hear it on the stage that day but it was Ladybird World's Lord's Prayer (as said by her son) and if you haven't already seen it, go and read it on her blog now.

And, so you can revisit your favourite from the day, here is a full list of the bloggers who closed the conference with such aplomb.

Shireen Babul, Bees on Skis, blogging for 4 years

Holly Ward, It's a Mummy's Life, blogging for 6 months

Sandy Calico, Baby Baby, started blogging in May 2009, before that she didn't even know what a blog was

Antonia Clark aka Iota, Not Wrong Just Different, blogging since May 2007

Vicki Jeffels, Vegemitevix, blogging since last October

Lulu Campbell, Family Affairs and Other Matters, blogging for just over 3 years

Carol Smith, New Mummy, blogging 17 months

Kelly Cheesley, A Place of My Own, blogging for five years

Hannah Gray, Muddling Along Mummy, blogging since April 2009

Hazel Gaynor, Hot Cross Mum, she’s been bogging for 15 months, so she thinks that counts as a blogging equivalent of a toddler

Jen Walshaw aka Mummy Mad, The Mad House, blogging for a year almost to the day

Justine Baxter, The Potty Diaries (Life lessons and potty training from the front line...), blogging for 3 years

Victoria Leather, Modern Dilemma, blogging for 5 months

Maria Jose Ovalle, Mummy's Busy World by Little M, blogging since April this year

CyberMummy: It's a wrap

Wednesday, 7 July 2010

There were cupcakes and coffee, there were hugs and tears, there were prizes and jokes. On Saturday 3 July more than 175 bloggers descended on the Ibis Earls Court in London and made CyberMummy 2010 a great success.

We had fantastic speakers on the panels, including India Knight, Mumsnet’s Justine Roberts, Judith O’Reilly/Wife in the North, and many many more. We had funny, illuminating and moving speakers at the Crowdsourced Keynote. Most of all we saw old friends from online and made new ones.

Thanks for the kind words and the constructive criticism. We're taking notes. We’re already thinking about next year, so enter your details and we’ll add you to a mailing list for updates (cross our hearts: no spamming or selling your details).

Join the mailing list now!

Reliving the Moment

To catch up with what happened check out all the coverage online:

See the pictures on the CyberMummy Flickr group

Missed a session? Find out what happened with bloggers who liveblogged them:
How to create good content - Nixdminx
Stats and Influence - 3 Bedroom Blogging
Working with Brands - TheMadHouse
Site design - A Mother's Ramblings
Libel and legal advice - A Mother's Ramblings
SEO Basics - Young & Younger

Join CyberMummy on Facebook for more pics and links

If you have written a post about CyberMummy, please leave a link below. (NB: This is the same McLinky as on Susanna's blog) There is also a McLinky on Sian's.

Your CyberMummy pictures: where to put them

Saturday, 3 July 2010

This is not a suggestion involving a body part. Liz from LivingwithKids has set up a public CyberMummy Flickr group so you can share your pics with other CyberMummies/Daddies plus those who couldn't attend.

Go to the CyberMummy Flickr group and put in your best pics now!

Live-blog from Cyberlabs: SEO Basics & Twitter and Blog-to-Book

There was a lot to pack into this one-hour session on SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) Basics & Twitter, from Charlotte Smith at Glam Media, followed by Robin Harvie from Harper Collins giving some great tips on getting your blog turned into a bestseller. This was my first attempt at live-blogging, so be kind please! Head over to my blog, Young & Younger, for my post summarising this session. If it looks a little ragged around the edges, it's because I've not had a chance to correct all those glaring typos yet.

Congratulations to the Cybermummy organisers for an absolutely fantastic event. I'm already excited about next year's.

Young Mummy

Cyber Labs - "You B****!"

Pippa from A Mothers Ramblings again, I was also able to be part in the fantastically titled "You B****! What you can and can't say on your blog" Cyber Lab today where Gayle Trigg from Wragge & Co LLP told us just what we have to be careful with and what we should do if we find ourselves in trouble.

You can see the full post here, but please be warned that I need to spellcheck and make things a little more sensible....

Cyber Labs - Site Design

Pippa from A Mothers Ramblings here, I was lucky enough to be part of the brilliant Cyber Lab today where advice and tips were given by Yusuf Hoosain from Glam Media.

What makes a good website and handy tips on blog design and what helps people to remember you blog were discussed in this session. With real images of websites and blogs that got it right and got it wrong.

You can see the full post here, but please be warned that I need to spellcheck and make things a little more sensible....

Live Blog Working with Brands by The Mad House

Hi I am MummyMad aka Jen and I blog at TheMadHouse, I am have live blogged the Working with Brands session from CyberMummy. You can find my live blog post here

14:00 - 14:50 Working with brands and the tricky business of making money

How to successfully branch out, work with companies, and make your passion for blogging pay

Natalie Lue, http://www.bambinogoodies.co.uk/ (moderator)
Samanta from Leapfrog
MS and L, MS&L
Sian To, http://www.mummy-tips.com/ and As Clear As PR
Gina Garrubbo, Blogher
Eva Keogan from http://www.nixdminx.com/

Please come nad help me out by filling in any blanks.

3 Bedroom Blogging- Stats and Influence

Hiya it's me, Kat. I have just finished live blogging the Influence and Stats session. You can find it over here at the Bungalow. Look forward to seeing your comments!!

LIVEBLOG: The Content Session

Starting now: Our first session of the day, featuring a fabulous line-up of content experts talking about how to create good content, and discussing the ins and outs of writing for the web with all the CyberMummies in attendance.

Nixdminx is live-blogging as it happens. Visit her blog to see the up-to-minute coverage.

live blogging from Cybermummy 2010 - the content session

I'm here and in the content session and you can read my full commentary at nixdminx.com - this is brilliant, such a great range of women on the panel. Jump over and have a look

Win a 7-night family holiday with Keycamp

Friday, 2 July 2010

Here are some details of the fantastic Keycamp holiday you could win in the prize draw:

Keycamp Holidays has provided a seven-night break at a choice of its 100 plus parcs in Europe.

From action and adventure at a countryside retreat, relaxation alongside stunning beaches or sight-seeing in some of Europe’s best destinations – you’ll find all the ingredients for a great family holiday with Keycamp.

Your accommodation will be a stylish, well-equipped mobile home with an array of facilities on the doorstep, usually including a superb swimming pool complex and activities such as a spa, gym, golf, tennis, volleyball and even quad biking and canoeing, at selected parcs.

Many locations also offer Keycamp’s free Fun Station children’s clubs, which are the ideal opportunity for kids to get active and make some new friends, especially when you want to enjoy a little ‘me-time’. With up to five clubs for different ages, there’ll be something to keep everyone happy, whether you’ve got toddlers or teens.

Destinations include the ever-popular Brittany, stunning Italian lakes and the brilliant beaches of the Costa Brava, so you’re guaranteed to find the ideal spot at which to enjoy a good dose of family fun.

For more information about Keycamp, visit http://www.keycamp.co.uk/ or call 0844 406 0319.

Terms and conditions

The prize is a seven night self-catering holiday in mobile home accommodation (chosen by Keycamp), sleeping up to a maximum of 2 adults and 4 children under 18 at a Keycamp parc in Europe, excluding group B parcs, Greece, Denmark, UK and subject to availability. A return midweek Dover to Calais ferry crossing is also included. Brochure terms and conditions apply, and Keycamp reserves the right to exclude certain parcs. Travel insurance, car, petrol, meals and spending money are not included. Extra nights/ upgrades as per brochure prices. Alternative travel options are available at a supplement. The holiday can be taken on or after 31 August 2010 and completed before 9 July 2011, subject to availability. Prize is non-transferable.

Party prize giveaway: Things for grown-ups too

Yesterday I blogged about the great prizes we'll be giving away that the kids will love (and one that babies and mums will love)

But let's not forget about our grown-up identities. And what does a mature, intelligent parent need? I hear you saying "intellectual stimulation". I was thinking more along the lines of "free stuff".

So, in the last update about our prize draw before the big day, here are some of the things you could win that remind you it's good to be an adult:

* Gold sponsor Leapfrog is giving away £150 worth of Leapfrog products of your choice to keep your children entertained, providing you with some valuable "me time"

* Gold sponsor Glam is giving away a £550 BHS voucher at the Oxford Street store, which includes a personal consultation with a stylist

* Our Silver sponsor Biss Lancaster is giving away a bottle of Tanqueray 10 and a bottle of Ciroc Vodka (I know what you're thinking, but they'll be sending these out later to the two lucky winners, so there's no opportunity to crack these open at the party)

* Our Bronze sponsor Tommee Tippee will make all those nighttime feedings easier (and daytime, too) with hamper absolutely stuffed with bottle and breastfeeding essentials, including a Closer to Nature breastfeeding kit (including bottle warmer, breast pump and bottles), a Closer to Nature bottle feeding kit (including travel bottle warmer and steriliser), and a Weaning kit (including decorated bowls and plates)

* Our coffee break sponsor Garofalo will keep three lucky winners in pasta for a month

* Green clothing company Mini Myne is giving away a children's clothing gift certificate for £100

* Isklar Mineral Water (Norwegian glacial mineral water) is giving away an Isklar tote bag, designed by Giles Deacon, worth £100

* Five people will win copies of "William's Progress: One man, one woman, one year, so many ways to screw up" written by Sunday Times writer Matt Rudd and occasional daddy blogger of Alpha Mummy

If you ain't in it, you won't win it, so remember after the Crowdsourced Keynote to fill out your feedback card and drop it in the bowl on your way into the party. You must be present to win.

Read the full Terms and Conditions.

Meet our sponsors and win a hamper : Johnson's Baby

Another great sponsor, with another great chance to win some goodies. Read on to find out how you can work with Johnson's Baby and enter to win a hamper full of baby products. Johnson's Baby says:

With 100 years of baby expertise behind them, the team at JOHNSON’S® Baby know that being a mum can be both exciting and scary. JOHNSON’S® Baby are delighted to be sponsoring the CyberMummy event and the team look forward to talking with you about exciting developments from the well loved brand. These include the launch of a new, very fun and bubbly product and also plans for a brand new website. Look out for us at stand 7 or call or email 0845 070 7613/ Johnsonsbaby@redconsultancy.com for more information on any of our brands.

JOHNSON’S® Baby Hamper text
With 100 years of baby expertise behind them, the team at JOHNSON’S® Baby are giving you the chance to win a hamper of classic JOHNSON’S® Baby products at this year’s Cybermummy event.

The hamper includes JOHNSON’S® Baby Oil, JOHNSON’S® Baby Skincare Wipes, JOHNSON’S® Baby Lotion, JOHNSON’S® Baby Softwash, JOHNSON’S® Baby Bedtime Lotion, JOHNSON’S® Baby Powder, JOHNSON’S® Baby Sun Protection Lotion SPF 50+, JOHNSON’S® Baby Kids Sun Protection Spray SPF 50, JOHNSON’S® Baby Bedtime Wash, JOHNSON’S® Baby Bath, JOHNSON’S® Baby Shampoo, JOHNSON’S® Baby Soothing Naturals Rich Bath, and JOHNSON’S® Baby No More Tangles Spray.

To be in with the chance of winning simply enter the prize draw on the day.

Who has won the photo competition?

Thursday, 1 July 2010

The CyberMummy Gallery competition got loads of great, moving entries. This has been a production of Tara at Sticky Fingers, Sian at MummyTips and Photobox.

On the day you'll see some of the entries in a gallery but you can go see the top three winners now.

Image: Francesco Marino / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Meet our sponsors and win an iPad : Glam

Those of you looking to expand your techie skills will meet some of the Glam experts in CyberLabs. But there's a lot more to Glam and its network. Here's what they say about what they can do for you as a blogger. And read to the end for information on how to win an iPad.

Why become a publisher with the Glam Family Network?

Running ads on your site is a big commitment. Your personal blog is your space -- your baby. You’ve spent a lot of time perfecting it and making it a place of your own. When you run ads, you are in essence “renting out” real estate on your blog to sponsor. Glam recognises this commitment, and will take very good care of your space. You’re in good company, Glam’s Family Network gets 3.6 million unique users each month. The ads are nice looking, too. Joining the ad publishing team can help to raise your profile, and you can help make your passion for blogging pay as well.

By becoming a publisher in the Glam Family network, you will:

1. Gain a partner to help you grow your site. Glam wants your site to grow and will give you access to resources that will help you reach your best. Focus on being a really good blogger, and Glam will help open doors to the rest.

2. Monetise your blog. With Glam, you earn a higher (premium) CPM. The amount you earn is based on traffic, so as your site grows, your revenue will too.

3. Plug into a larger network. As a blogger, you are often a “one-woman show”, having to be your own reporter, editor, IT support and marketer. Glam offers you access to a wider community of expertise and resources. Some of these include SEO and design workshops, tech support when you can’t get your ads to work, and networking events. You will be introduced to bloggers outside family blogging as Glam also represents other women bloggers in multiple verticals including fashion, food and entertainment.

4. Work with a top publisher. Glam ranks #1 in lifestyle, and #2 in family & parenting sites WORLDWIDE (according to Comscore). That is cool.

5. Be associated with the best. Glam only works with premium brands.

6. Have control over your ads. With Glam, you have complete control over which types of ads you want to run on your site. Everything is open and transparent.

7. Have fun and enjoy blogging. Blogging is supposed to be fun and with Glam you will have access to industry events where you can meet other bloggers, explore possibilities with sponsors and even enjoy occasional freebies.

For your chance to win an I-Pad with Glam, please leave your details with a member of the Glam Publisher Team located at the Glam Stand.

Party prize giveaway: Xplory stroller

Ya'll should know just how much buzz CyberMummy is making not just among bloggers but also among companies who want to get to know and talk to bloggers. We keep getting calls from companies who want to know if it's too late to get involved. We're fully booked in the sponsorship realm with some really supportive and great brands. But it just shows how every blogger is contributing to make parent blogger a social force.

We've been announcing some amazing prizes to be given away at the party. Now one of our existing sponsors, Stokke, has found it can't contain itself. In addition to giving away one of their fabulous Tripp Trapps (we have a red one at our house, where it's the most comfortable and stylish computer desk chair we've had), it has thrown in one of its striking Xplory strollers along with accessories of a summer kit, foot muff and changing bag (a value of more than £1,000).

I saw a demo of one of these at BlogHer last year and it (almost) made me want to have another baby.

To be entered into the draw for all these fabulous prizes, you'll need to fill out your feedback card and drop it into the bowl on your way into the party. Remember, you have to be present to win.

Read the giveaway's full Terms and Conditions.

Party prize giveaway: cool kiddie goodies

Here at CyberMummy, we haven't forgotten about the kiddies, left at home so we can all gather together on Saturday. Neither have our sponsors. We have loads of fantastic prizes you can win at the prize draw that your babies and kids will love.

* Plum Baby has provided a bumper pack of more than 15 pouches of tasty baby food to help you develop your baby's epicurean side. Dishes range from minted peas with lamb and redcurrants to lemon chicken with sweetcorn and tarragon and crunch breadsticks.

* OXO, the maker of indispensable kitchen gadgets and other household necessities, is giving away a set of funky nightlights (example of nightlights above).

* Tomy is giving away two Animal Magic Sounds Aquadoodles and two Travel N Doodles.

* Stokke, purveyor of hip, well-designed nursery furniture and strollers, is giving away a Tripp Trapp chair, suitable for children and adults (example pictured).

* Micro Scooter has two of its fabulous scooters and new matching Micro backpacks to give away.

* Trunkie, maker of cute and practical kids travel accessories, is providing a bumper set of Trunkie goodies.

* Mookie Toys has a Tailball Game that needs a home.

* Little Me + Mum to Be Organics is providing a slew of luxury baby and parent products, including Shhh Sleepy Head, Hair & Body Wash, Yipee Playtime Bath Bubbles and Mum to Be Organics Pamper Me Gift Set.

* Club Penguin has Penguin goodies familiar to anyone who's visited Club Penguin: a puffle key chain and plush toy, Club Penguin membership and flash drive.

* Mebby is giving away a mum and baby skincare bundle.

As a reminder: We'll be doing the prize draw during the end-of-conference party. You must be present to win. Winners will receive a certificate on the evening with information about how to arrange delivery of their prize. To save your aching shoulders and laden handbags, no actual prizes will be given out on the evening.

Read the full Terms and Conditions.

Earl's Court tube closures: read this update

If you're planning on arriving at Ibis Earls Court on Saturday morning rather than staying at the hotel, you need to take a look at this info from TFL about planned closures. The Circle line is completely closed and several other lines around London are affected.

The westbound section of the District line, which goes to Earl's Court and West Brompton Tube station, is shown on the TFL's site as operating normally.

Here's the TFL update:

There are several tube lines affected by engineering closures on the London underground this weekend. The main ones to affect Cybermummy are full closure of the Circle line and sections of the District line. The Piccadilly line arriving at Earl’s Court is still open.

Anyone arriving by tube and train on Saturday, especially if via mainline stations such as Euston, King’s Cross, Liverpool St, Victoria should check the Transport for London website for alternative routes to Earl’s Court.

Full details of all closures are on Transport for London’s website at:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews/realtime/track.aspx?offset=weekend

Here's the hotel website with area map.

Three bus lines also stop just in front of the hotel on Lillie Road. PDF map

Speakers at CyberMummy: Eva Keogan

Wednesday, 30 June 2010

We've had a bit of restructuring with the panels, including a last-minute addition to the Working with Brands session. We're delighted that Eva Keogan, aka Nixdminx, will be sharing her experiences of working as a social media consultant.

With a healthy following on Twitter and a high-profile lifestyle blog focusing on her life as a single mum in London, she covers parenting, travel, fashion, beauty, humour and more. She belongs to handpickedmedia, the boutique blogging community, and is an active member of British Mummy Bloggers, the pioneering group for blogging parents in the UK. She also writes for mumsrock, powderroomgrafitti and goodtoyguide, among others. She is a corporate social media specialist by day and has recently completed a year long project to build the social media marketing efforts for lastminute.com.

Welcome, Eva. We're looking forward to your insights.

CyberMummy is officially sold out!

Tuesday, 29 June 2010

The badges have been printed, the goodie bags are being assembled, but if you haven't already nabbed your ticket for CyberMummy, you'll have to console yourself with attending the conference virtually via our liveblogging, because we are SOLD OUT!

The response to the conference has been phenomenal and phenomenally supportive. We're just excited about getting all these mum bloggers in one place to talk and exchange ideas (and perhaps eat a biscuit or drink a glass of wine).

If you're still looking for a ticket try haunting Twitter #Cybermummy - we've seen a few pop up from folks who's plans have changed.

Otherwise, keep up with the latest on the day via the blog and Twitter, and be prepared for some good stories to make the rounds on the days following.

T-minus 4 days and counting...

Speakers at CyberMummy: Samantha Harris

Who better to talk about how companies want to work with bloggers than an expert at a company with natural ties to mums and dads? Samantha Harris, marketing manager at LeapFrog, will be sharing her knowledge and experience in the 14:00 session about how to branch out and work with companies.

Harris has worked in the marketing department at LeapFrog for over 3 years and is responsible for the UK marketing campaigns and promoting the connected experience that the LeapFrog range offers. In addition she is currently overseeing the launch of the exciting new learning gaming console called Leapster Explorer. Samantha comes from a toy industry background, having worked on the Crayola brand, before moving to LeapFrog and working on their innovative toy range.

Look forward to seeing Harris on what's sure to be an engaging and informative session!

Liveblogging at CyberMummy: don't miss a moment

Monday, 28 June 2010

Now that we're SOLD OUT and have folks on the waiting list, not everyone who wants to come and be a part of the discussion on the day will be able to be there. In addition, a lot of our blogging friends have other commitments, family holidays or are just not able to make it.

But that doesn't mean they will entirely miss out. Thanks to some fabulous liveblogging volunteers, anyone can tune in for up-to-the-minute running commentary of the sessions. Even if you're at CyberMummy, there are some great speakers talking in different rooms at the same time, so you'll want to catch what you missed.

We'll post these again on the day, but here are the bloggers who will be bringing you CyberMummy, live - aka The CyberMummy 5:

* Nixdminx - 11:00 - 11:50 Content session: what makes a great blog post?

* 3 Bedroom Bungalow - 12:00 - 12:50 Influence and Stats

* A Mother's Ramblings - 12:00 - 12:50 CyberLabs: Libel and then Design advice

* The Mad House - 14:00 - 14:50 Working with brands the tricky business of making money

* Young and Younger - 14:00 - 14:50 CyberLabs: SEO & Twitter Advice, then Blog to book

Tune in to these fantastic bloggers who have offered their time so you be a part of CyberMummy, wherever you are.

Speakers at CyberMummy: Yusuf Hoosain

Is your blog ready for its close-up? So often we talk about the content of our posts, that we can neglect the aesthetic side of our blogs. The way your site looks can be your calling card, an extension of your taste and personality, a thing of beauty.

To help you craft a gorgeous site, Glam's Yusuf Hoosain will be holding a CyberLab on design at 12:25 in Room 2.

Hoosain is Glam Media’s Senior Designer, responsible for the design and build of online advertising across the Glam Media site network, and bringing creative briefs and ideas to life. He is a Chelsea College of Art & Design alumnae, and majored in Graphic Information Design at the University of Westminster, before starting his own creative design studio, and later joining Natmag’s Hearst Digital Network as a Digital Designer.

Yusuf’s expansive scope of projects spans across art, design, fashion, music, film, mobile and interactive for brands such as Burberry, LK Bennett, Clinique, Cosmopolitan, and Harpers bazaar.

Get tips and advice on giving your blog a makeover at his CyberLab.

Speakers at CyberMummy: Charlotte Smith

While we've got some fabulous speakers scheduled for Room 1, you mustn't forget about the CyberLabs in Room 2: a slightly cozier venue where you can learn practical tips and get real-world advice on being a better blogger. This is where you can turn theory into practice.

At 14:00 to 14:25, the knowledgeable Charlotte Smith will be taking you through essential SEO tips and Twitter shortcuts that you truly can't live without.

Smith is Glam’s Recruitment and Community Manger, responsible for a network of key influencers on the web from large long tail sites to bloggers. She is also the founder of Stylecartel.com, which is a consortium of trend spotters. She holds an MBA specializing in Fashion Industries and Luxury Brands; her fashion background stems from fashion styling to Marketing and PR and has worked for KCD worldwide in Paris.

The community of publishers have named her Madame Blogger because of the passion that she has for the blog sphere and social media.

If you need SEO and Twitter advice, Smith's session is a don't-miss.

Party prize giveaway: books and techie goodies

CyberMummy has its own version of summer reading. We've got a collection of mum-friendly books to give away at the party, generously donated by sponsors.

* Tana's Kitchen Secrets
* A set of Moomin picture books
* A set of signed books by Annabel Karmel

Alongside these, we also have some techie goodies:

* Snapfish has donated 5 £60 vouchers for photo services
* 3UK has a wireless modem to give away
* Kodak is providing 2 Kodak Pulse Digital Photo frames

Trips you could win at CyberMummy

Sunday, 27 June 2010

"Go away!" is the message some companies have for mummy bloggers. Specifically, take a holiday, enjoy a day out or otherwise take a break and have some fun.

A host of companies and generously donated trips and outings** so that some lucky attendees at CyberMummy can do just that. We'll be pulling out names for these lovely getaways at the end of the party so don't leave early and miss out on knowing how you could spend your summer.

* Kickers is offering 4 tickets to for a fun family visit to Legoland Windsor

* The O2 has a pair of tickets to the new In the Night Garden Live

* Disney is inviting 4 people along to the glamorous London premiere of Toy Story 3

* Madame Tussauds has a family pass to give away to see your favourite celebrities in wax

* London Dungeon has a family pass for winner to enjoy the horrors of Great Britain

* Haven Holidays is offering a four-night break for a family of four in superior accommodations**
Haven, the leading provider of UK family holidays and breaks, has 35 award-winning parks nationwide with pools, direct beach access at most properties, free kids clubs and sports and leisure activities.

* Key Camp Holidays is ofering 7 nights for up to 2 adults and 4 children**
Key Camp holidays offer high-quality accommodation throughout Europe, in relaxed easygoing parcs that range from countryside to lakeside to beach.

* Grecotel has a 4-night break at its kid-friendly luxury Creta Palace in Crete**
The hotel's new Grecoland - a special section of its bungalow village for children - includes activities, youth programme for 13+ during peak summer months and the Tasty Corner kid-friendly buffet, serving from 11am to 5pm. Plus families have access to the beach, freshwater and seawater pools, tennis courts, water sports and other hotel leisure activities. Read more about the prize on the CyberMummy blog, including Ts&Cs.

** Some prizes have additional Terms and Conditions

Win a Luxury Break for you and your family at the Grecotel Creta Palace

The elegant Creta Palace in Rethymno, Crete provides the perfect retreat for families, giving parents the time to relax, safe in the knowledge that their little ones are being well looked after and entertained in style.

One lucky family will have the chance to win four nights accommodation in a Family Bungalow on a half board basis. The five-star resort hotel is situated on a glorious 14km sandy beach in the heart of the Cretan Riviera.

Offering exceptional restaurants and an impressive selection of swimming pools, the resort also houses an Elixir Spa and a new specialist Ayurveda Center. The newly built high-tech Grecoland kids club, located in the lush gardens of the resort is a paradise of fun for children aged 3-12 years old. Children can enjoy an abundance of activities here including cookery and gardening as well as a constant supply of fresh, tempting food and drinks at the all-day, free Tasty Corner.

The lucky family will also be able to experience traditional Cretan life with a visit to the nearby organic Grecotel farm, Agreco. A privately owned 40,000sqm estate, Agreco Farm showcases an innovative display of environmentally friendly cultivation methods including olive pressing and traditional wine making.

For more information please visit http://www.grecotel.com/crete/creta-palace/welcome_91.htm.

Terms & Conditions
1. This prize is for up to two adults and two children (0-12 years) sharing a Family Bungalow for four nights on a half board basis at Grecotel Creta Palace, Rethymno, Crete.
2. All extra incidentals including telephone calls and laundry and food & beverage etc. must be paid for directly by the prize winner.
3. This prize is valid from September 2010 until 15th July 2011, according to availability. Please note the hotel closes in the winter.
4. The prize winner will be issued a voucher which can be exchanged for the free holiday by contacting the PR Department at Grecotel, Athens, telephone number: +30 210 72 80 352 or email: press@grecotel.gr quoting ‘British Mummy Bloggers competition’.
5. Flights and travel insurance cover must be obtained separately by the prize winner.

Win tickets to Wicked with MS&L

Saturday, 26 June 2010

Do you have a Wicked side? MS&L certainly hopes you do as we have five pairs of tickets to give away to the West End’s favourite show, Wicked: the Musical.

Experience this unforgettable, award-winning musical and discover that you’ve not been told the whole story about the land of Oz...

Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire that re-imagined the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, WICKED tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Goodand the Wicked Witch of the West. Discover more at http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/.

To win, simply fill in your details at the MS&L stand at the Cybermummy Conference and we’ll draw names at the end of the day. Personal details will not be passed on to third parties.

All bloggers who enter will have an additional chance to win a place on MS&L’s new and exciting ‘Team Mum’. This exciting group will bring selected Mum bloggers and their families to London twice a year for a fun-filled chance to enjoy weekend experiences while providing valuable feedback on some of the UK’s biggest brand names. Enjoy museum and theatre outings, sporting events, outdoor adventures and family-friendly dining simply by doing what you do best – speaking your mind and telling us what you think!

We look forward to being Wicked with you – and good luck!

Meet our sponsors : Ready for Ten

Friday, 25 June 2010

We are wrapping the conference up with a rather fab Pub Quiz courtesy of our sponsors Ready for Ten. It's all a bit of fun but a bit of extra swatting wouldn't go amiss if you want to bag a prize!

Ready for Ten is a parent-powered website for mums and dads of 6-9 year olds. It’s a place to connect with other parents and share advice and support on the highs, lows, and uncharted territory of the years
before ten.

Ready for Ten is sponsored and owned by Fruit Shoot, which as the leading UK kids' brand is a dedicated champion of the 6-9 age group. In 2009, Fruit Shoot launched a new initiative to help kids get active and learn new skills. These activities were very popular with kids – so much so that this year, in addition to running all sorts of skills activities for kids, Fruit Shoot decided to provide something for parents: Ready for Ten, which brings you the best of the parenting web. Find out more at readyforten.com

Lunchtime hostess: Toni Hargis

Wednesday, 23 June 2010

We've already got several tables designated as lunchtime discussion tables. Not every table is themed this way - after all, we figured y'all might want to do some table hopping, talk about topics of your own choosing, or mingle at the sponsor booths, where there will be lots of interesting things to talk about.

But the option of having a discussion about blog-life balance was just too irresistible. After all, all of the delegates coming to CyberMummy are already parents. Many of you also have part- or full-time jobs or side projects that keep you busy. You have adult relationships you need to maintain. Oh yeah, and you also spend a lot of time blogging and keeping up with your friends online. Who do you do it all?

We're thrilled that Toni Hargis will be leading this table discussion. Hargis is a Brit who has lived in the United States for twenty years. She currently lives in Chicago, with her three children (two teens and a seven year old), an errant pup, and an American husband in a house with too many stairs.

Toni blogs as Expat Mum, co-hosts the Pond Parleys blog, and writes for Mad Manic Mamas, PowderRoomGrafitti, and Expat Focus to name but a few.

In 2006 Toni published her first book, Rules, Britannia: An Insider's Guide to Life in the United Kingdom (St. Martin's Press) and is supposed to be working on a few more. In her spare time, Toni established Caring Kid Connections in November 2009 to provide funding for a small school in Ghana.

She is looking forward to learning a lot about blog/life balancing at lunch time!

Read Expat Mum's post about her table on her blog

Meet our sponsors: SuperSavvyMe

Tuesday, 22 June 2010

You can hear from the editor of SuperSavvyMe during our Content session (she's a longtime journalist and content creator), but are you familiar with the site itself?

Over to SuperSavvyMe:

Launched a year ago, supersavvyme.com (from Procter & Gamble) set out to provide women with insights, tips and wisdom from a combination of real women and experts in order to help make them even savvier. Recognising the growing contribution of mummy bloggers, we commissioned three prominent bloggers to offer their perspective on the daily challenges facing today’s mums. We are now working with over thirty mummy bloggers to help us compile our supersavvyme guide to the school summer holidays which is all about having more fun for less money. Like mummy bloggers, we understand the importance of relevant and engaging content.

supersavvyme.com celebrates the growing influence of this distinct and unique group of women – the Mummy Blogger - and is proud to sponsor the Cybermummy Conference 2010.

supersavvyme.com combines editorial on parenting, home, fashion and beauty with a platform where real women can exchange ideas, inspiration and wisdom. Women can also sign-up to receive the latest samples and promotional offers from some of Procter & Gamble’s leading brands including Ariel, Fairy, Max Factor, Pantene and Olay.

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