It’s kinda like ‘camp’ for women bloggers.

We’re in the preparation stage right now – planning what we’ll do there – the parties we’ll attend, who we’ll meet and, very importantly, what we’ll wear. It’s a pilgrimage of 1000+ women bloggers and the companies who want to ‘be our friends’ and share their products and brands with us so we might help promote them to the hundreds of thousands of people in our blogospheres.

This is my third BlogHer (conference for women bloggers, etc.). I’ve also attended other seminars (Blissdom, SobCon, Podcamps, etc.) as well as I participate in an active social media community here in Cincinnati (and really, Cincinnati rocks when it comes to social media community!). So, how is this one different?

It’s pretty impressive to walk into a huge convention room of 1000+ people and see everyone on their laptops, notebooks (mini laptops) and smartphones – usually on Twitter. It’s overwhelming to be in a sea of social media mavens, each with an unique view of building community off- and on-line. And, it can be kinda crazy to navigate the conferences, presentations, demonstrations, special guests, booths, sponsors – much less the dozens of sponsored parties. It’s ‘camp’ – on digital steroids!

Why do we go? What do we benefit from in this wild and wacky gathering? I go for the connections. The people I meet and the conversations I have can’t be replicated online. The face-to-face expressions and hugs really are better in person than the virtual kind. Conversations overheard, lessons learned in classes, introductions to blogger girlfriends, the opportunity to find out about companies and their products and the totally covet-able swag bags are better in the flesh.

So, I’m getting ready. I’m following the Twitter chatter on BlogHer and just starting to think about what I’ll wear. I’ve RSVP’d for a few parties and am totally geeked about being one of the hostesses for BOWLHER - a super fabulous party on Saturday night sponsored by One2One Network, Collective Bias, GNO as well as Hershey’s, etc.

Aside from all the fun, festivities and ’stuff,’ I’m going for two things: to meet potential sponsors for Girlfriendology (gotta grow the community and looking for great partners who ‘get it’ and can benefit this community of women) AND to meet/see/enjoy friendships.

Are you going to BlogHer? What are you doing to get ready – any tips? Who are you excited to see, meet, party with? What are your goals for this conference? See you there girlfriends!

p.s. I loved camp. The memories I’d made with old and new friends, the adventures I’d have off on my own in a new place with fun people. At BlogHer, I don’t have to worry about if I’ll get stuck on a bottom bunk or if the cabin will have a clean bathroom, but I do have to think about my wardrobe and, like crafts or canoeing, the activities that will fill my days and nights. And, there won’t be any ticks in Chicago. Thank goodness.

p.s.s. Congrats to the winners of the BlogHer SlimPerfect LBD (little black dress) contest!

Tags: Blog, BlogHer, cincinnati, Facebook, On the Web, Online Communities, social media, Social network, twitter

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 16th, 2009 at 8:03 am and is filed under Be a Better FRIEND, Crafts and Creativity. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.