1. Have the mindset that you ARE going. This mindset is what I adopted even though when I learned it would be in NYC - I didn't know "how" financially I would pull it off yet. But you start with setting down the framework of a plan and not the "see what happens" mentality. Start this plan by buying the "early bird" ticket. You know the message of The Secret. Now put it into action.
2. Budget time for enjoying the city you are visiting. I had a day and a half to see some of NYC and it was mostly due to the fact I booked my flight later and there were no Wed/Thursday flights so I HAD to leave on Tuesday - turned out to be great otherwise I would not have fit in any sightseeing because there's so much going on during the conference.
3. Set your agenda. Are you there to learn? Are you there to network? Are you there to party? Maybe a little bit of each - but thinking about this helps you determine which activities you participate in and outlines your commitments.
4. Reach out to sponsors early. Figure out what you can possibly offer in return to help cover the costs. Since I had my airfare covered with my miles I needed to just seek out a couple of small sponsorships to cover my hotel stay. What I offered in return was ad space and taking note of bloggers I met that could be a good fit to guest post for them. This was a great win-win because they didn't have to afford the time or money to attend and even getting just a couple of blogger introductions would help.
5. Have some good ice breaker questions ready. This will make your conversation less robotic and switch things up from "what do you blog about? Where are you from? How long have you been blogging?"
Good ice breaker questions: (and feel free to steal them)
What do you do for fun?
What are you hoping to accomplish here at BlogHer?
Who inspired you to start your blog?
Any of these will help you make an impression with the person you're talking to.
6. Prepare a media kit for brands, get business cards to swap with bloggers, walk the walk, don't just talk the talk.
7. Follow the BlogHer hashtag for the current year to find some people who are attending that you want to meet IRL - in real life.
8. Search for a Facebook group of bloggers who are attending to share ideas, find people to befriend, look for roommates, share cabs to/from airport.
9. Schedule one on one meetings with either people you know or should get to know. Sometimes we think the best and believe we will cross paths, but based on my experience too often it is hard to try to meetup for one or both of you unless you schedule it in. Two of my three face to face networking hopeful meetings happened because we scheduled it.
10. Outline your budget for ALL the costs of attending - then focus on each item individually as you work to raise the money for conference pass, airline ticket, hotel stay, cab fare, eating (dinner, snacks, or tourist days), shopping and sightseeing. It all adds up and you want to know your expenses before so you know what to work towards. It also helps to have this itemized expense list for when you go to set your agenda - remember item #3 from above. When you see the investment you (or your sponsors) are making in this experience you may also value each activity you choose to participate in more wisely.
Happiness
Showing posts with label BlogHer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BlogHer. Show all posts
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Mommy, I did it! I attended my first BlogHer Conference - 4 reasons to attend
Shoot. Where do I begin? I am one of those analytical types that immediately wants to give feedback on things like a conference and have yet to get a feedback form, so I'll save that for another post ; ) I'm gonna focus on the FUN!
I had just given birth two weeks before BlogHer11 to my new blog and the first post was appropriately about my desire and decision to stay the night away from the family during the conference. Since I live local it seemed silly, but the closer it got to the actual conference the more I felt the need to soak it all in and let loose at the BlogHer parties... which I did! My youngest child is 2 and a half and his favorite phrase right now is "Mommy, I did it!" with arms raised up high in the air. Aside from staying in the hospital when I delivered my second and third child, it was the first time I spent the night away from everyone. Now let me go on about my take aways from this "Big Girl's Summer Camp" as Maegan of Beyond the Bandaids puts it.
First, the swag! I had actually called my favorite local morning radio show AJ in the Morning for the "Why you smiling" segment and gave a shout out about going to BlogHer, the fun and the swag I was anticipating... but still I had NO idea! I think some of the ladies basically made up for their conference pass in swag. That's what I call smart. I know someone who won an iPad! I think the trick is to hang around the booth long enough that you find out about all their little deals. After talking with someone for a little longer at a booth, she handed me a little something extra and said, "This is for the special people." I hit the expo right as I got in on Friday morning. But, where I really scored was going back on day two when everyone was more relaxed and I went into video mode. More on that later. Honestly, I haven't even gone through all the swag still, but the kids love all the cool kids stuff! After being away for a couple of days I made sure to come home bearing gifts. Some of my personal favorites were the Hotwheels toy cars for the boys, the Hallmark card I sent my daughter, and the Loews craft kits to create birdhouses! Oh, wait, the favorite one for me that I couldn't get over was 3M's Scotch Restickable Shapes which I can now use to hang my children's artwork on our stainless steel refrigerator. That right there is a small giveaway item, but life changing because I always felt like I didn't have a space to display their creativity properly. Come on, there is no better home than the family fridge to hang those precious works of art. If one wants to go to BlogHer for the swag, it's totally legit. Hit that up!
Second, the sessions! I did my due diligence and attended all the 3 sessions lined up on my schedule (I say that as if I planned them out with great skill. Nope. I'm bad when it comes to picking breakout sessions... I worry I'll miss something great, therefore stress over it and pick very last minute. For this conference it worked out okay. Next year though I'm doing my homework. I don't want to sound environmentally unfriendly but I can't get the whole picture via computer screen, I'm a touchy feely type that wants to flip back and forth between real pages). Every single session I attended was a panel. I guess this is a theme with BlogHer, I'm not 100% sure since this was my first. I totally don't mind having an expert get up there, put together some power point and feed me some of their tried and true tips. But, I get it, blogging is about community, a panel with a moderator is a community way to share knowledge. One I attended that was really good was about making a PR pitch. Coming from PR people themselves. I was grateful for their insight and took great notes - which I'll need to remember to take with me to the post BlogHer Tweetup I'm attending tomorrow. I learned it is really common for people to "bounce" in and out of sessions at BlogHer - hmm. That's too bad. I did it once cuz I was so not sure what to go to and once I decided I walked into the wrong one! But lucky for me another blogger I had just met and who had pleasantly waved me over decided it wasn't for her either. Haha! So although I hate that it is widely done, I am guilty of the same dang thing. Hypocrite. If one wants to go to BlogHer for the learning, you'll walk away having fulfilled on that.
Third, destination! Come on, if you've been to conferences elsewhere, this is just the best place to wrap education up with fun in the sun. Yes, I'm totally biased cuz I live here in San Diego, but seriously who didn't love how quick and easy it was to get from one party to the next? I'm really trying to push for the Signing Time Academy conference to be in San Diego next year, cuz if I have to travel to New York for BlogHer12 and travel for the Signing Time conference, somethings gotta give. I heard there were way more sponsors and way more parties last year when it was in NY City.... so of course I'm gonna totally go despite the huge travel expense. That's how the whole sponsorship thing comes in handy. I just hope that San Diego makes it in the rotation to be a regular destination, because truly it makes for a great staycation (I know Sugar Jones, you don't like that word). You know part of the reason I attended was for some "mommy me time", so if that's what's calling you to BlogHer, you're not alone!
Forth, the parties! I did my first party hopping ever! At first when all these invitations began to pop up for sponsored parties I thought what a shame that all this competition was going on... but there is no way that all 3,000 bloggers could go to one or even two of these parties, so the more the merrier! What I learned from Nicole who blogs at Red Lotus Mama is that I need to research these things in advance, find out what the objective is so I know if I'll gain anything out of it other than just another party or luncheon. Girl, you gave me the best post BlogHer advice so far! Having said that though, you can never have too many parties to go to, right? I know, I know, some didn't even go out the next night because they still hadn't recovered from the previous night! Is your inner party girl feeling neglected? Use that as your reason to go to BlogHer!
I don't know about you all but it looks like a lot of dang work to put that big deal together. I wouldn't wanna take it on but am sure glad for the women at BlogHer that do this! Can't wait for next year!
As stated earlier, more is to come when I went into video mode at the sponsor booths!
Did I miss a critical piece of the pie in why one attends a BlogHer Conference? I really want to know!
I had just given birth two weeks before BlogHer11 to my new blog and the first post was appropriately about my desire and decision to stay the night away from the family during the conference. Since I live local it seemed silly, but the closer it got to the actual conference the more I felt the need to soak it all in and let loose at the BlogHer parties... which I did! My youngest child is 2 and a half and his favorite phrase right now is "Mommy, I did it!" with arms raised up high in the air. Aside from staying in the hospital when I delivered my second and third child, it was the first time I spent the night away from everyone. Now let me go on about my take aways from this "Big Girl's Summer Camp" as Maegan of Beyond the Bandaids puts it.
First, the swag! I had actually called my favorite local morning radio show AJ in the Morning for the "Why you smiling" segment and gave a shout out about going to BlogHer, the fun and the swag I was anticipating... but still I had NO idea! I think some of the ladies basically made up for their conference pass in swag. That's what I call smart. I know someone who won an iPad! I think the trick is to hang around the booth long enough that you find out about all their little deals. After talking with someone for a little longer at a booth, she handed me a little something extra and said, "This is for the special people." I hit the expo right as I got in on Friday morning. But, where I really scored was going back on day two when everyone was more relaxed and I went into video mode. More on that later. Honestly, I haven't even gone through all the swag still, but the kids love all the cool kids stuff! After being away for a couple of days I made sure to come home bearing gifts. Some of my personal favorites were the Hotwheels toy cars for the boys, the Hallmark card I sent my daughter, and the Loews craft kits to create birdhouses! Oh, wait, the favorite one for me that I couldn't get over was 3M's Scotch Restickable Shapes which I can now use to hang my children's artwork on our stainless steel refrigerator. That right there is a small giveaway item, but life changing because I always felt like I didn't have a space to display their creativity properly. Come on, there is no better home than the family fridge to hang those precious works of art. If one wants to go to BlogHer for the swag, it's totally legit. Hit that up!
Second, the sessions! I did my due diligence and attended all the 3 sessions lined up on my schedule (I say that as if I planned them out with great skill. Nope. I'm bad when it comes to picking breakout sessions... I worry I'll miss something great, therefore stress over it and pick very last minute. For this conference it worked out okay. Next year though I'm doing my homework. I don't want to sound environmentally unfriendly but I can't get the whole picture via computer screen, I'm a touchy feely type that wants to flip back and forth between real pages). Every single session I attended was a panel. I guess this is a theme with BlogHer, I'm not 100% sure since this was my first. I totally don't mind having an expert get up there, put together some power point and feed me some of their tried and true tips. But, I get it, blogging is about community, a panel with a moderator is a community way to share knowledge. One I attended that was really good was about making a PR pitch. Coming from PR people themselves. I was grateful for their insight and took great notes - which I'll need to remember to take with me to the post BlogHer Tweetup I'm attending tomorrow. I learned it is really common for people to "bounce" in and out of sessions at BlogHer - hmm. That's too bad. I did it once cuz I was so not sure what to go to and once I decided I walked into the wrong one! But lucky for me another blogger I had just met and who had pleasantly waved me over decided it wasn't for her either. Haha! So although I hate that it is widely done, I am guilty of the same dang thing. Hypocrite. If one wants to go to BlogHer for the learning, you'll walk away having fulfilled on that.
Third, destination! Come on, if you've been to conferences elsewhere, this is just the best place to wrap education up with fun in the sun. Yes, I'm totally biased cuz I live here in San Diego, but seriously who didn't love how quick and easy it was to get from one party to the next? I'm really trying to push for the Signing Time Academy conference to be in San Diego next year, cuz if I have to travel to New York for BlogHer12 and travel for the Signing Time conference, somethings gotta give. I heard there were way more sponsors and way more parties last year when it was in NY City.... so of course I'm gonna totally go despite the huge travel expense. That's how the whole sponsorship thing comes in handy. I just hope that San Diego makes it in the rotation to be a regular destination, because truly it makes for a great staycation (I know Sugar Jones, you don't like that word). You know part of the reason I attended was for some "mommy me time", so if that's what's calling you to BlogHer, you're not alone!
Forth, the parties! I did my first party hopping ever! At first when all these invitations began to pop up for sponsored parties I thought what a shame that all this competition was going on... but there is no way that all 3,000 bloggers could go to one or even two of these parties, so the more the merrier! What I learned from Nicole who blogs at Red Lotus Mama is that I need to research these things in advance, find out what the objective is so I know if I'll gain anything out of it other than just another party or luncheon. Girl, you gave me the best post BlogHer advice so far! Having said that though, you can never have too many parties to go to, right? I know, I know, some didn't even go out the next night because they still hadn't recovered from the previous night! Is your inner party girl feeling neglected? Use that as your reason to go to BlogHer!
I don't know about you all but it looks like a lot of dang work to put that big deal together. I wouldn't wanna take it on but am sure glad for the women at BlogHer that do this! Can't wait for next year!
As stated earlier, more is to come when I went into video mode at the sponsor booths!
Did I miss a critical piece of the pie in why one attends a BlogHer Conference? I really want to know!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Mommy, I pee you? The result of selective hearing.
"Mommy, I pee You?" This is what my 29 month old just said to me as I struggled to get a Pull-Up onto him (just for the record I don't think pull-ups actually do us justice in the potty training process, they're just easier to put on the kid and it is a step in the direction of moving into underwear). Now, my 2 year old loves Pixar's CARS, so do you think he wants to give up these Pull-Ups? No, not really. Oh, and his preschool teacher might be a little baffled as to why I'm putting a Pull-Up on him instead of underwear since he went to school 2 whole months in underwear and did GREAT... only 3 accidents. Things are just easier for the teachers to follow through on than the parents, I suppose. I have 3 kids all very close in age and I pull that card when it comes to potty training. I'm sorta getting off topic... let's start over.
I had just said to Owen "Tell Daddy you have pee-pee and need a new Pull-Up." No reaction from the cushion anchor (much nicer than couch potato. Honey, it's just a term of "I'm-putting-up-with-it-cuz-I-love-you" endearment. Owen proceeds to pull off his nap time Pull-Up which has that obvious soggy look. Nice visual, right? And as I am focused on something else (BlogHer details at the computer) Owen manages to pee on the floor and shares with me his accomplishment. "Babe, look, now I have this mess to clean up, can you get your son a new diaper" (Yeah, we still refer to them as diapers, not sure why it seems easier, but notice I made it a point to advise here that he does wear Pull-Ups because when our kids get to be about 2 and a half we want it to appear that we are progressing in the potty training business). Hubby is still comfortable with laptop is perfect position and making sure he doesn't miss anything in the special segment about the last season of Entourage. What's up with that Sex-in-the-City show for men, anyways? What a copy-cat.
Now, before said toddler steps into the puddle of pee on the floor and smacks his head, I feel compelled to take action. The darn exciting details my friend Hip_m0m has unveiled for a treasure hunt must wait. It seems most of the things I want to get done must wait. There was a time I would get to do what I wanted when I wanted and it lasted from the time I was 16 (I was an emancipated minor - don't be jealous) til about the time I got pregnant. Yeah, not when I became a mom, cuz that whole pregnancy thing changes what you choose to do, and your body just takes over. I became pregnant at 27 so that was a little over 10 years of this wonderful do what I want when I want (except for the working hours at Pac-Bell, which became SBC, and then AT&T, they watch you like a hawk on the clock and finally I had to part ways with the crazy) luxury that I just cannot afford with these 3 lovely munchkins. I've been working very hard on this the past year and half to realize that I need to take time for myself in order to be a better mommy - not perfect, I gave up that notion a long time ago, like around the time Owen was born. Then when he got to be about a year old I took this Redirecting Children's Behavior course that should really be called Redirecting Parent's Behavior but then none of us would sign up for it. My favorite take away from the 5 weeks was this -- Take time for yourself. Seems easy, right? I mean who doesn't want to take time for themselves, and furthermore who needs it more than us moms who spend ALL hours being ON CALL? When you're a mom whether you work or stay at home or have a little break to go do something while a sitter or dad watches the kid, the truth is, you're still ON CALL, right? So the occasional date night, the hair appointmentt that you've been meaning to squeeze in for 6 months (gasp!) or the MNO you skip out on because baby is not taking a bottle... All of these things you truly need to do to refuel. In fact 3x a week! Yep, you just got your freedom pass, ladies! I won't share more than that regarding the RCB course because I highly recommend it, I'm actually taking follow-up workshops with Happy, Healthy Hip Parenting now. I don't think there is a workshop devoted to taking time for yourself as a parent - though if you think about it - we could all learn something valuable from that topic. Speaking of topic, I've gone on a tangent.
I now have the diaper, or whatever you wanna call it and Owen on my lap cuz he simply refused to step into it. He's attempting to squirm away and I hear him say "pee" so I simply state "Owen, don't you pee on me" to which he beams and looks at me "Mommy, I pee, you?" Hey, he's not quite 2 and a half but he does pretty good with getting the full point across... even with the missing "on". NO! Do not pee on me! Oy. I'm all worked up now and shoot that glance, glare, whatever, over to the couch and say a phrase that is all too common in my vocabulary "Did you not hear me?" I already know the answer because my husband suffers from this hard to diagnose ailment that I"m sure a lotof other wives haven't been able to put their finger on... selective hearing (loss) to which there is no known cure. And the discussin lasts about a minute (once upon a time it would be a dramatic 20 minute argument) but these days with a lot on my plate I don't waste a lot of sleep (or waking hours for that matter) over his ailment.
This selective hearing of my husband's had me pause for a minute and fast forward 2 weeks to the BlogHer Conference, and I had an epiphany! I've considered it, fantasized about it and now I'm just plain ready... 3 kids and almost 6 years into this parenting roller-coaster, I've just decided I'm going to spend the night away by myself, doing something for myself and have about 48 hours off duty. Getting Mommy a slice of the pie, if you will.
And for the record, Hubby scored major brownie points earlier today by bringing home my favorite Iced White Mocha w/ no whip from Starbucks. Don't believe me? Just see my tweet. He's a great catch, and think he won't put up an argument when I present him with this decision later tonight... when the timing is right, wink!
If you're going to BlogHer 2011 I want to hear what you're most looking forward to. If you're not going to BlogHer, what do you have on your calendar that you're looking forward to in order to take care of yourself?
I had just said to Owen "Tell Daddy you have pee-pee and need a new Pull-Up." No reaction from the cushion anchor (much nicer than couch potato. Honey, it's just a term of "I'm-putting-up-with-it-cuz-I-love-you" endearment. Owen proceeds to pull off his nap time Pull-Up which has that obvious soggy look. Nice visual, right? And as I am focused on something else (BlogHer details at the computer) Owen manages to pee on the floor and shares with me his accomplishment. "Babe, look, now I have this mess to clean up, can you get your son a new diaper" (Yeah, we still refer to them as diapers, not sure why it seems easier, but notice I made it a point to advise here that he does wear Pull-Ups because when our kids get to be about 2 and a half we want it to appear that we are progressing in the potty training business). Hubby is still comfortable with laptop is perfect position and making sure he doesn't miss anything in the special segment about the last season of Entourage. What's up with that Sex-in-the-City show for men, anyways? What a copy-cat.
Now, before said toddler steps into the puddle of pee on the floor and smacks his head, I feel compelled to take action. The darn exciting details my friend Hip_m0m has unveiled for a treasure hunt must wait. It seems most of the things I want to get done must wait. There was a time I would get to do what I wanted when I wanted and it lasted from the time I was 16 (I was an emancipated minor - don't be jealous) til about the time I got pregnant. Yeah, not when I became a mom, cuz that whole pregnancy thing changes what you choose to do, and your body just takes over. I became pregnant at 27 so that was a little over 10 years of this wonderful do what I want when I want (except for the working hours at Pac-Bell, which became SBC, and then AT&T, they watch you like a hawk on the clock and finally I had to part ways with the crazy) luxury that I just cannot afford with these 3 lovely munchkins. I've been working very hard on this the past year and half to realize that I need to take time for myself in order to be a better mommy - not perfect, I gave up that notion a long time ago, like around the time Owen was born. Then when he got to be about a year old I took this Redirecting Children's Behavior course that should really be called Redirecting Parent's Behavior but then none of us would sign up for it. My favorite take away from the 5 weeks was this -- Take time for yourself. Seems easy, right? I mean who doesn't want to take time for themselves, and furthermore who needs it more than us moms who spend ALL hours being ON CALL? When you're a mom whether you work or stay at home or have a little break to go do something while a sitter or dad watches the kid, the truth is, you're still ON CALL, right? So the occasional date night, the hair appointmentt that you've been meaning to squeeze in for 6 months (gasp!) or the MNO you skip out on because baby is not taking a bottle... All of these things you truly need to do to refuel. In fact 3x a week! Yep, you just got your freedom pass, ladies! I won't share more than that regarding the RCB course because I highly recommend it, I'm actually taking follow-up workshops with Happy, Healthy Hip Parenting now. I don't think there is a workshop devoted to taking time for yourself as a parent - though if you think about it - we could all learn something valuable from that topic. Speaking of topic, I've gone on a tangent.
I now have the diaper, or whatever you wanna call it and Owen on my lap cuz he simply refused to step into it. He's attempting to squirm away and I hear him say "pee" so I simply state "Owen, don't you pee on me" to which he beams and looks at me "Mommy, I pee, you?" Hey, he's not quite 2 and a half but he does pretty good with getting the full point across... even with the missing "on". NO! Do not pee on me! Oy. I'm all worked up now and shoot that glance, glare, whatever, over to the couch and say a phrase that is all too common in my vocabulary "Did you not hear me?" I already know the answer because my husband suffers from this hard to diagnose ailment that I"m sure a lotof other wives haven't been able to put their finger on... selective hearing (loss) to which there is no known cure. And the discussin lasts about a minute (once upon a time it would be a dramatic 20 minute argument) but these days with a lot on my plate I don't waste a lot of sleep (or waking hours for that matter) over his ailment.
This selective hearing of my husband's had me pause for a minute and fast forward 2 weeks to the BlogHer Conference, and I had an epiphany! I've considered it, fantasized about it and now I'm just plain ready... 3 kids and almost 6 years into this parenting roller-coaster, I've just decided I'm going to spend the night away by myself, doing something for myself and have about 48 hours off duty. Getting Mommy a slice of the pie, if you will.
And for the record, Hubby scored major brownie points earlier today by bringing home my favorite Iced White Mocha w/ no whip from Starbucks. Don't believe me? Just see my tweet. He's a great catch, and think he won't put up an argument when I present him with this decision later tonight... when the timing is right, wink!
If you're going to BlogHer 2011 I want to hear what you're most looking forward to. If you're not going to BlogHer, what do you have on your calendar that you're looking forward to in order to take care of yourself?
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