BlogHer 2010 - Photo's

BlogHer was everything I thought it would be. I met my favorite bloggers and attended parties. I did some sight seeing in New York City and walked to the point of exhaustion. I hailed cabs Sex in the City style and ate New York style pizza. There were a lot of hugs, kisses and squealing. I’m not one to use the expression “squeeeee” but I couldn’t help it. It was surreal to see someone you know, then when you both realize who each other are, commence the “squeeee.” It was unavoidable.

I have spent the week reading other’s BlogHer recap posts. Women were happy, sad, disappointed, healed, loved, nurtured and tired. I believe any experience is what you make of it. I had an amazing time!!! See you in San Diego.

Me and Ree @ThePioneerWoman

Me and Maria @BoredMommy

Oh yes we did!

Amazing cake by Ace of Cakes at the Sparklecorn party

Me and Angel @TheMommyTsunami

Me and Heather @Mamaspohr

Me and Kate @lonek8

Me and Lex @laprimera

Me and Lotus @SarcasticMomLC

The Plaza Hotel

Love this picture

Love the reflection

Taping for the Rachel Ray Show

The Twitter Gourmet worked magic with 5 crazy ingredients.

This is my attempt at fancy schmancy photography

View of Central Park from Top of the Rock

Empire State Building from Top of the Rock.

Cupcakes!

Eventually I will add more photo's to my Flickr account. http://www.flickr.com/photos/chantelligence

Show me your BlogHer Photo's, link up in the comments section.

 

BlogHer and Social Media

I went into BlogHer to meet my on-line friends, attend the parties, explore New York and be a small part of a large community of amazing women bloggers.

As I said in my pre-BlogHer post, blogging, Twitter and Facebook go hand in hand. I am a fan of Social Media. I use Social Media on a daily basis. One aspect of the conference I was excited about was the integration of Social Media.

After my love and I unpacked our bags, we headed to the hotel bar for a Pomegranate drink and fruit Kabob. There we met the face behind the Twitter account for Hilton New York. We also met the VP of Operations, Julie Torres. We sat down and talked for over an hour. We discussed the power of Social Media and how they are harnessing it for their business. They get it.

I know that BlogHer understands Social Media and they used it throughout the conference to keep us informed. Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm were sponsors of BlogHer. I was kept informed of their activities during the conference from their tweets. I however, only found their tweets by searching the BlogHer hashtag.

As I walked through the second floor of the Expo, I came across this.

It was the first time I saw a Brand represented at the conference that made it simple to find them on Twitter or Facebook. They even tossed in Foursquare which made me beam! I spent a lot of time talking to the four representatives about their company’s use of Social Media.

I wish all the other Brands did this. I can’t say no one else did because obviously I didn’t make it to every single solitary booth but I did hit up at least 97% of them. This blatant obvious large poster spoke to me as a consumer. In my opinion Eggland’s Best is willing, ready and able to use Social Media to interact with their customers. I didn’t have any other companies verbally tell me how to follow them on Twitter or “like them” on Facebook. Nor did I receive anything by hand other than free products and brochures.

When I was interviewed by PepsiCo for an internal video memo on how Brands can interact better with women, this was my main point. It was before I came upon Eggland’s Best booth. I am active on Twitter. If I have a question, concern, complaint or tale of excellent customer service, Twitter is the first place I’ll go. I will not call your company’s 1-800 number, spend 15 minutes pressing 1, then 3 then 4 and so on, in hopes of finding a human being. Twitter and Facebook are reality. I hope other companies who are not currently represented online in Social Media, jump on the bandwagon. Dare I say it’s becoming a mandatory?

In addition to Brands and Sponsors communicating they “get it” in regards to Social Media, I would love to see more technical workshops or sessions. Perhaps something with tips and tricks for Wordpress or Blogger?

I am only one person and this is my perspective and opinion. I would love to hear your thoughts on how you experienced Social Media at BlogHer. Do you think that the companies represented had a one track mind (giving away as many free products as possible) in regards to their presence at the conference. Or is it merely a stepping stone towards building a relationship. And if so, for what purpose? Think back to a few of the booths in the expo hall that you enjoyed. Do you know how to contact these companies on-line?

Let’s discuss!

What I Learned at BlogHer 2010

I'm back home after four incredibly busy days at BlogHer in New York City. I didn't have the full conference pass and I regret this decision. I would have liked to attend the keynote and a few of the sessions. Breakfast would have been a nice touch as well. I am still processing the experience. I don't know if I can put into words how much fun I had. The conference was everything I expected it to be and more. I have a few posts in mind to share with you this week. To get started, here are a few things I learned as a BlogHer virgin:

• Never leave your hotel room until you are dressed in decent clothes, hair done and makeup on. I decided to wear shorts and t-shirts during the day. I would leave my hotel room for what I thought would be a few minutes. Inevitably I would run into bloggers on my “I HAVE to meet her” list while looking a hot mess. Then there was the time when I was asked by PepsiCo to answer a few questions for an internal memo on what women want from Brands. That was completely unexpected, and I was on video looking shitastic. I did have some valid points which I’ll share tomorrow.

• Four days away from home is the perfect amount of time to miss your kids (regardless of their age) and your own bed. I’ve spent plenty of time away from my kids whether it was a quick weekend getaway, a weeklong stay in Jamaica or a 4 day jaunt to Vegas. BlogHer was overwhelming on all counts. When Sunday rolled around I was done. Talking to my kids on the phone tugged at my heart strings. Four days is the perfect balance of guilt free not in mommy mode time and gives you a chance to miss the little buggers.

• Eating food and drinking water is something I do on a daily basis. Except at BlogHer. I was constantly on the go and I barely ate. I had two sit down meals total. Add in a cupcake from Magnolia Bakery, Halal or “Street Meat” from the cart outside the hotel, a few slices of pizza and snacks from the Expo. That was it. Bring snacks and buy water for your hotel room. One can not exist on Cranberry and Vodka forever.

• Never ever walk barefoot through the streets of New York City. Sure your feet are swollen and in pain from walking from party to party in high heels. This is why cabs were invented. Spend the money, save your feet. That’s my new motto. I left Aiming Low’s EZPZ party and walked barefoot to BarHer. I initially felt relief from taking the shoes off. However, pounding the pavement barefoot is absolutely disgusting and actually bad for you. When I left Ray’s Pizza carrying a slice of pepperoni in one hand and my shoes in another, a friendly New Yorker made sure to tell me I was doing serious damage to my feet. Who knew there were street Podiatrists offering free advice at 2:30 in the morning! Only in New York.

• Bloggers are people too. Just like you and me. Small, medium or large blog. 5 readers or 5,000. It doesn’t matter. Don’t be intimated by anyone! I went to the Expo alone as well as a few parties. When I saw a blogger that I read and love, I went right up to them and introduced myself. I went in knowing they wouldn’t haven’t a clue who I was and that was okay. Step out of your comfort zone. You only live once. There will always be that one blogger who thinks she walks on water and is too good to speak to you. It happened to me. I had about twenty bloggers I wanted to meet. I just wanted them to know that I enjoyed their blog, they make me laugh, or they take amazing pictures. Out of twenty women only one blew me off. The other 19 were friendly, endearing, offered up hugs, exchanged business cards with me and were humbled by my compliments. Considering this is a conference for women, by women and women can be bitches, I consider this a win-win.

Come visit me tomorrow when I share my thoughts on BlogHer and Social Media. Later in the week I’ll share pictures, the parties, and an abundance of exclamation points!!!!!!!!

My Official BlogHer Post

As with most things I'm a day late and a dollar short but alas here is my BlogHer post.

At 8:30 Thursday morning, my Love and I will be boarding the Bolt Bus from DC to New York. I am so thankful for the every hour bus service to New York. Driving in the city should really be left in the capable hands on the cab drivers.

As you can see, I don't blog very often. It's really a shame too because I have a lot of things I want to say. I just haven't dug deep enough to find the courage. I joined Twitter before I created this blog. I couldn't express myself in 140 characters. I found myself tweeting 5-6 times ending each tweet with (cont'd). Now that I have my blog, I spend more time on Twitter. I'm hoping the BlogHer conference (my first) will re-ignite the spark inside of me. I used to write all the time. I definitely miss it.

In my world Twitter and Blogging go together. Which is perfect because you don't have to have a blog to attend the BlogHer Conference. Or you can be like me and have a blog and post a few times a month.

I'm going to New York to meet in person my friends who live in my computer. It's a few days, in a great city to connect in person with women who have become my closest friends over the past year. I am beyond excited! For some in my circle, this will be our first BlogHer conference. For some friends it will be there first time in New York. It's going to be a big giant love fest filled with hugs, kisses, screaming, squealing and I can not wait!

Before we meet in person here are a few things you should know about me:

* I always choose comfort over beauty. During the day I'll be in capri's, a t-shirt and tennis shoes exploring the city.

* At night for the parties I'll be the one not wearing a dress or skirt. I can dress up jeans or capri's like nobody's business. I'll even throw on some jewelry and makeup.

* I work in the Financial Industry. A lot of my clients are in NY and I have this urge to just show up and visit them. As myself of course. If you're out with me and we pass certain companies, I'll most likely mention the hell they give me at my job. Feel free to remind me I'm on vacay and to shut up!

* When I see you, I'll probably call you by your Twitter name. I'll know your real name but it will escape me. Please don't be offended.

* My only fear is that no one will have any clue who the hell I am. Even my friends. It's me, Chantel. Please recognize me.

I'm not concerned about private parties, swag or drama. My goal is to explore the city, meet my girls, make new friends, laugh, smile and just be me.

See you there!