This past weekend, I went to BlogHer ’10. Simply put, it is a big conference for bloggers (predominantly women). In a nutshell, it was heavy on social and networking, but light on content.
BlogHer presented me with a great opportunity to meet women I have spent months connecting with online. I took full advantage of that. I went out for dinner in Times Square. I danced the night away. I met for coffee in the mornings and took a stroll through central park with a new friend. Those experiences made my trip worthwhile. Money well spent. The isolation I often feel as a stay-at-home mom disappeared as I was thrust into social event after social event. I needed that. Without a doubt, I needed that. I needed to be a woman for a few days without putting anyone else’s needs before mine. It was refreshing to only have to worry about myself.
That BlogHer was in New York City was bittersweet. I love the city, so during the conference I was constantly feeling the pull to wander off, explore, and take it all in. When I started to feel like I was really missing out, I took a few hours to myself and walked to central park where I sat enjoying a cool breeze and good book. I didn’t read as much as I watched people walk by – mostly tourists by my estimation. Someone asked me for directions and another struck up a conversation about the book I was reading. It finally made me feel connected to the city and the people in it. I took one photo while I was there and it was with my phone. One photo that captures the peace in the chaos. A beautiful park amid the city that never sleeps.
As much fun as I had at the conference, I can’t help but feel that BlogHer didn’t reach it’s potential in terms of information sharing and knowledge transfer. I know a lot of people go to BlogHer for the social and networking aspects, which is great. However, social media and blogging conferences can be about more than social networking. There is information to be shared beyond storytelling.
I have been to dozens of conferences and have had a hand in planning many. From that perspective, attending BlogHer was frustrating. It frustrated me that the conference did not not capitalize on the opportunity to share practical, applicable information.
The breakout sessions that I went to were disappointing. Though inspiring, they didn’t give me much to sink my teeth into. They were all panel discussions, which are great because they offer multiple perspectives and give voice to the audience. However, in order for the success of case studies to be transferable, they need to be supported by theory – steps that attendees can take away to help them achieve similar results. I came away with inspiration, but no tools to give it life.
I am a facilitator. I have been developing and delivering training programs for years and one topic that I trained was advocacy strategies. For me to go to a Change Agents session at a conference that offers no strategies or tools to replicate success was beyond frustrating. There was no practical information about:
- offline advocacy efforts complementing online
- calls to action
- influencing public policy
If the information is not applicable, what is the point? Where is the learning?
As much as I love my fellow bloggers, not everyone who writes well, speaks well. I would have liked to have seen professional speakers complement the stories and case studies presented by bloggers. I would have liked to have seen a variety of learning styles addressed and I would have liked to have seen real learning opportunities and meaningful exchange of information.
In October of this year, I will be attending Blissdom Canada and I hope that it is more well-rounded than BlogHer was. I hope that there is as much emphasis on applicable learning as on storytelling. There is no reason that social media conferences can’t match the caliber of professional conferences – I have seen it with My Charity Connects, so I know it is possible. There is a wealth of information to be shared and people who want to learn it.
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* I refrained from linking to all my blogging friends for fear that I’d unintentionally leave someone out. They know who they are and they can be found in the blogroll of my sidebar.
I haven’t been to BlogHer, so your perspective is interesting. I’ve heard some similar sentiments echoed by others.
I’m planning to attend next year, mostly for the socialization and networking. I am already looking forward to the chance to get away. But I can see that there is a potential for much more than that. There is a chance to learn from people outside of our spheres, and gain actual practical knowledge in new areas.
Exactly. There is so much potential! Maybe next year the session will improve, but I have heard this about previous years.
Have fun next year! San Diego… much easier for you to get to than the east coast!
Great post! I am now less sad that I didn’t get to go. Even though it was in my backyard.
I felt quite differently about BlogHer. While I might not have had lots of “take-aways” (i.e. do this and do that) I heard a lot that resonated with me and made me think about if I want to do this or do that. I wasn’t looking for the conference to tell me how to do things, I was looking to find out what others are doing and to think about how that could relate to me.
Now, I didn’t attend any of the advocacy sessions. I attended two writing sessions that have caused me to ask some big queestions about my writing/ blogging. I attended a great session on small blogs which showed me a lot of us with small blogs are struggling with the same questions. The session didn’t give me answers, but I left it with my own. I also attended a resource blogging session that, while not teaching me anything new, reinforced that we are doing the things that need to me done.
I really tried to take advantage of the sessions as much as possible and I really felt like I got a lot from the conference. In fact, I got more from the sessions then I did from networking.
From all the different posts I have read about BlogHer I am coming to believe that you get out of it what you are looking for. I went looking to learn from the sessions and I did.
Intersting perspective. I am glad you got a lot out of the conference. I also came away with some questions about my blog and it’s focus (or lack there of), but most of that came from informal conversations with other small bloggers.
Admittedly, I went to BlogHer with a critical eye. Though, I wasn’t actively seeking fault in the programming, I paid close attention to detail. I wanted to learn how the machine worked and why it garners the hype it does.
Interesting! From all of the feedback I’ve been reading, it sounds like it was only fun for the party-goers. Very low on content, but big on the social aspect. Which is good, too. But why not both, like you say?
Wow, your phone’s camera takes really clear pics – very pretty!
Thanks, Shannon! It was actually taken with my Blackberry. It does have a quality camera in it, I must admit.
Definitely! I have a Blackberry Pearl… The camera is the shits.
I have heard from so many that the sessions were a dssappointment, which makes me even happier that I didn’t go to any. I do wish I had seen Central Park up close and personal, but I guess I will just have to make a return trip to NYC one of these days.
I hope Blissdom Canada delivers more of what you were hoping for with BlogHer – and hopefully someday we all can have our own mini-conference up you way and have a lovely dinner together once again!!
You didn’t get to Central Park? That’s too bad. I would’ve loved to sit on a park bench with you there.
I have hopes for Blissdom, too… cautiously optimistic…
Great post, Sarah! And for the record, it was really wonderful to meet you last weekend.
I’m not really a good authority to comment on BlogHer, I spent much of the conference sick with the flu in my hotel room. I met very few people that I wanted to, missed most of the sessions, and generally didn’t get to experience what other conference-goers did.
That being said, I was *slightly* disappointed in what I saw. As someone who has been involved in marketing/conference planning in a past life, I agree with your points on what was missing.
I guess I sound like a wet noodle, but it seemed like much of the conference was about external parties/swag/socializing. NOT that that isn’t good, but I personally didn’t get invited to those parties (and admittedly didn’t try very hard to find out info on them, so that’s my fault) and I was a bit appalled at all the “stuff” floating around everywhere. As an environmentalist, I found it shocking and truly wanted very little of what I was given.
I went to a couple sessions and they were not bad, I really did enjoy the discussions in the Radical Blogging Moms session, but practical info? No, not really.
I’m not sure I will be attending Blissdom, not sure it will be my cup of tea and as I am heading back to work in a couple weeks, my focus is shifting away from blogging more and more.
But I will still continue to lurk and read blogs like this that I love
Yes! I couldn’t get over the excess. I brought a little bit home, but only stuff I will use. The amount of ‘stuff’ astounded me even though I was expecting it.
I have actually been cultivating a post about it… I’d love to read your perspective on in. Do you have a post in the works about it?
I think knowing I wouldn’t be able to go for the whole time (and only getting the parties pass) brought me in with different expectations. I am still new to blogging and am trying to figure out where I want to take my blog and where I fit into the big picture. I literally started as a journal for myself and family, but am thinking I want more. I almost wish I had signed up for the full pass and checked out some sessions, but feel that I would have been as uninspired as everyone else I am hearing from. I did enjoy the social aspect of it.
Even being a mom who works full time, I feel isolated. I “meet” more people through blogging who I relate to and have meaningful, yet on-line, relationships. It was nice to put voices to the words and find more people who I want to get to know. It was great meeting you!
It was go great to put voices and faces to my blogging friends! it was also great to meet new people (like you!) who I might not have otherwise connected with… well, maybe eventually.
Regardless, the weekend was fun and the people made it worthwhile – without a doubt!
What a coincidence! I met for coffee and a stroll through central park with a new friend!
I agree with everything you said here. I wanted to get so much more information out of the sessions, but got more than I ever dreamed in terms of the friends I got to spend precious time with.
Funny, that… what a coincidence!
You made my weekend worthwhile. FIRL, forevah!
I think you are right on the button about blogher
I loved blogalious for the community it supports and evo for the content it provides
Thanks, Niri! I am glad you stopped by. We haven’t had much access to things like blogalicious and evo in Canada, unfortunately. BlogHer definitely gets more hype. Though, like I said, I am not sure it’s entirely warranted.
Your wrap-up of BlogHer was the one I was most looking forward to reading! Very interesting- kinda what I thought it would be and why I didn’t want to spend the money.
I’m very on the fence about Blissdom Canada…
I would love to see you at Blissdom, but it is expensive. Early bird tix are sold out.