I’ve been reading a bunch of other posts about BlogHer 2012, and it’s pretty amazing how different each person’s experience was! I was one of the 60% new bloggers that attended this year, so there were a lot of us running around saying, “Holy crap, there’s a lot of people here!”
There are a few reasons why I went to BlogHer, and they are tied into why I started blogging in the first place.
At the “Newbie” Breakfast
Why I Blog
I’ve always liked to write, but since I had kids they have sucked all the free time out of my life it’s been difficult to find time to write. Blogging gives me a short form where I can get the words out, but without the need to fill up pages and pages. This blog is still a baby, but I had another blog that lasted for over two years, so I’m not exactly new to this blogging thing.
My reasons for starting this particular blog are not completely altruistic. Originally it was a branch of my business marketing efforts. I focused mostly on my jewelry in my posts, but that got completely boring. I mean, my beads are pretty, but I can only write so many posts about sterling silver, know what I mean?
So I decided to write about my life, with a bit of business stuff thrown in. And voila, My Charming Life! was born.
One of the many crowds…
Okay, that’s all great, but get to the point.
Right, so here’s why I went to BlogHer.
1. I wanted to meet other bloggers. I really like bloggers. They’re my people – we get each other. What better way to meet other bloggers than at a blogging conference! The fact that I sat down at the first table on the first day and met someone who reads my blog (HI, DEIRDRE!) was pretty amazing!
Ivy, aka @LWLH and her sister (who just came along for fun).
2. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone. As I approach *cough* FORTY *cough*, I’m trying to do things that scare me. Like hip hop classes, and attending conferences with 4,000 strangers. The thought of going to BlogHer terrified me slightly, so I felt I needed to go.
One of the Expo halls
3. I wanted to learn about blogging. I’m sorta-kinda savvy with blogging and social media stuff, but I have a lot to learn, and boy – did I learn a lot. I’ve got pages and pages of notes from the sessions, some of which I’ll be sharing with you all so you can learn too.
Martha!
Check out her shoes!
That’s it. Notice I didn’t mention “parties” or “swag” or “sponsors”. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy all the freebies (Dannon Oikos Yogurt is THE BOMB, by the way), or that I’m not interested in working with brands…some day. I went to one party, by Hasbro, and it was fun. Not great, but fun.
One of the games at the Hasbro party
The parties were tough for me. I could connect with others at the meals and sessions, but when I got to the parties I was just…alone. I popped into a couple of “official” parties at the Hilton, and the Hasbro party, but left quickly when I couldn’t connect with anyone.
My purpose for going to the conference was to learn and grow as a blogger. Parties and swag didn’t really fit into my agenda…but there’s nothing wrong with that! That’s the beauty of this conference – it can be different things to different people.
Katie Couric!
Check out her shoes, too!
So, Am I Going Next Year?
YES! If I can swing it, I will definitely be in Chicago next year. There are still many, many things to learn and hear, people to meet, and I’ve never been to Chicago, so I would love to see the city. I’m hoping by next year maybe I’ll know a few people so I won’t be entirely alone, but my focus will still be on connecting and learning.
BlogHer 2012 was an amazing experience for me – I was inspired and reinvigorated!
Tell me – did you go to BlogHer? What did you think? Do you blog? Why?
18 Comments
Twitter: suenvegas
| August 9, 2012 at 8:55 AM |
Thanks for sharing! This makes me want to go if It works out for me to! Would love to meet more bloggers myself and network with more!!
Twitter: katies_charms
| August 9, 2012 at 12:59 PM |
That’s great, Sue! Please let me know if you do go, It would be fun to meet IRL!
Twitter: PragmaticMom
| August 9, 2012 at 9:09 AM |
I was a newbie too and felt much the same way that you expressed so perfectly! I wonder if year 2 will be a different experience but the sheer size of it also makes it feel unmanageable. I think I am going next year … but I am also checking out smaller mom blogging conferences. Let me know if you are thinking about smaller ones too! Maybe we can meet up there!
PragmaticMom recently posted..Olympic Chapter Books & Non-Fiction For 4th Grade & 2nd Grade
Twitter: katies_charms
| August 9, 2012 at 12:58 PM |
I wouldn’t even know where to look for smaller conferences! Please share if you know of any…
I would love to meet up, whether at another conference or at BlogHer’13!
Thanks so much for your comment and for stopping by!
Twitter: Mommys_Busy
| August 9, 2012 at 9:15 AM |
Great post! I’m one of the 60% newbies who went to, and probably one of the few new daddy bloggers who went. I didn’t attend any sessions, though, I merely spent the whole time in the expo hall doing what you said, meeting other bloggers, though I spent a lot of time talking to brands specifically.
I’ve been to many other types of conferences over the years, and it holds true for most. The parties can be fun, but they’re really hard to get any work or networking done there. And if you don’t know anybody at all, you’ll certainly feel uncomfortable at them. Wait till next year, though. You’ll now know more people, so it’ll be more fun to hit up all the events.
Andrew Kardon recently posted..Why Every Daddy Blogger Should Attend BlogHer
Twitter: katies_charms
| August 9, 2012 at 12:54 PM |
I think that’s one of the best things of the conference, it really is what you make of it. There’s so much to do and see, if you have a goal in mind, you can really tailor it to fit your needs.
Thanks for stopping by and for the great comment!
Hey! Just found your post via the #blogher12 hashtag.
I’m glad you had so much fun! I was a newbie at BlogHer this year too, even though I’ve been blogging for 4 years. I agree that the swag/sponsors/party is not the gut of it and is just “okay”. Parties were super awkward for me too…I need WAYYYYY more drink tickets if i’m expected to let loose in something like sparklecorn, haha. I’m so glad you had a great time and were able to connect with some people!
Emily recently posted..BlogHer 2012: Initial Thoughts
Twitter: katies_charms
| August 9, 2012 at 9:10 PM |
Thanks! I didn’t even go to Sparkle Corn, even though it sounds like it was the best party…hopefully next year!
I wanted to go so bad. I bought the ticket and everything…then things just happened and I just could not go. I am planning to go next year no matter what! Looks like so much fun and I want to meet all my blogging buddies!
Twitter: katies_charms
| August 9, 2012 at 9:38 PM |
Oh no, that stinks! Hopefully you can go next year!
Twitter: canape
| August 9, 2012 at 9:07 PM |
I’m not a newbie. I’m old, crotchety, don’t do brands, blah blah blah. But I love blogging and all the people I’ve met through it.
And you know what? I love this post. I love that you came to BlogHer as a newbie. I love that you had a good time. The parties are hard (especially if you are sober, as I am), and definitely not a great place to connect usually. But dang. Giant unicorn cake? I’m pretty sure I’m not going to get to go to a party like that in real life – nor do I get a chance to do the middle aged white woman wave your arms in the air dance anywhere but at BlogHer.
Anyway, just wanted to high five you via your comments. And randomly? I got to eat lunch with the perogi sisters too one day. Super nice girls. Now I’m wondering if I was sitting at your table . . . and I scrolled back up to the picture – yes. I was. That’s my Diet Coke.
Thanks for a positive post about BlogHer!!!
Twitter: katies_charms
| August 9, 2012 at 9:42 PM |
I wish I had gone to Sparkle Corn, I might have had a totally different perspective on the parties…
I’m so glad you were there, and the other “old, crotchety” bloggers! Your perspectives are more relevant to me. I actually sought out tables with the…uh…”more experienced” bloggers, because I felt they were more meaningful interactions.
I tend to look at the positive side of most things – it’s not to say that there were things I didn’t particularly like, but my overall experience was positive, so I chose to highlight that. Also, I remember reading the abundance of negative posts last year, and I figured there would be enough out there to cover whatever I felt was lacking!!
Thanks so much for the comment!
Twitter: beezuskiddo
| August 9, 2012 at 10:12 PM |
I completely understand where you are coming from about the parties. I had a fine time meeting people in structured settings and at meals, but I knew that throwing me in a party full of people I don’t know would be a recipe for misery. I ended up getting my husband a expo/party pass and dragging him along, just so I could go to the parties and not have to worry about making new friends in a dark room with loud music.
Elizabeth recently posted..Bar Marco
Twitter: katies_charms
| August 10, 2012 at 8:11 AM |
I’m hoping my husband can come next year, it would be fun to explore Chicago with him (and nice to be alone for a few days).
Thanks for the comment!
Twitter: anotherjenb
| August 12, 2012 at 11:08 AM |
Finally getting the chance to read this post. I was also a newbie to BlogHer and, yes, it was a bit overwhelming. I mostly skipped the parties and swag as well. The connections during the lunches and panels (and in between) were amazing. Still going through my notes! Maybe we can meet up in Chicago!
another jennifer recently posted..Philanthropy Friday: The Thank You Project
Twitter: katies_charms
| August 12, 2012 at 12:08 PM |
Would love to meet up in Chicago!
I have never heard of Blogger2012…but I am 90 miles from Chicago…living in the Southern part of Michigan…I would love to learn more about blogging. Right now I use my facebook page and my email to send out inspirational or thought provoking events from the pages of my life. I would really like to learn more about blogging and I would surely love to attend this event.
Twitter: katies_charms
| September 8, 2012 at 9:08 PM |
BlogHer is a BIG conference – there were over 5,000 people there this year! Tons of info to learn, too!