There is a wonderful convention for bloggers and online publishers in the Orlando area called FLBlogCon. We have entered NatureCoaster.com in the Community/Events category for a 2019 Sunshine Blog award.

Please click here to vote for NatureCoaster now. On to the story…

When we began NatureCoaster.com, the Citrus, Hernando and Pasco Tourism agencies asked Diane Bedard to join Robin Draper on a VisitFlorida sponsored FAM tour.

A FAM tour is a familiarization tour for media to help them discover the awesomeness of an area and is usually funded by the tourism agency sponsoring it. Then the writer promotes the destination with their skills, people interact with the content and decide to visit the destination. A win-win.

We toured some of the Nature Coast’s best spots, including a trip to the Crystal River Archaeological State Park with its temple mound complex and a tour of King’s Bay by the Friends. We stayed overnight at Chinsegut Hill and kayaked the Weeki Wachee River. We toured the Pithlachascotee and enjoyed a great meal at Gill Dawgs and more.

Robin Draper was publishing AuthenticFlorida.com at the time, and when we met, she began mentoring me in developing NatureCoaster.com.

Meeting Robin was definitely a win for NatureCoaster, as she had successful experience in creating a growing an online audience, as well as a generous and giving manner. Over the years, we have become good friends.

That fall, Robin spoke at FLBlogCon and I went to see her. There I met “my people,” and made contacts and friends who work in the same field as I do.

I learned how to grow our online magazine with new tools and better organize and plan for business growth. I learned new techniques for creating content and legal issues to be aware of.

Last year, we entered NatureCoaster.com in FLBlogCon’s award contest for the Local/Events category and WE WON! What an thrill it is to win an award for the best Local/Events Blog in the State of Florida!!

One of the things Robin taught me was to keep trying no matter what. And to set my bar high!

Vote for NatureCoaster.com to win the 2019 Sunshine Blog Award

So we are trying again – please click here and vote for NatureCoaster.com in the Community/Events category to win the 2019 Sunshine Blog Award. The last day for entries is September 4, 2019, so PLEASE take a moment and vote now and share with your friends! Tell them to vote.

Thank you for joining us on the journey to connect with the best of Florida’s Nature Coast through this publication.