Was Blissdom09 Worth It?

As I sit here chomping on Chick Chocolates, something else I need to review when I get home, I contemplate the great question on the bloggy minds: Was the women's blogging conference Blissdom09 worth booking a plane & hotel room, flying away from family and the comforts of home, and joining several hundred other women talking about our common passion of blogging?

Honestly, I mean completely honest now, I would have to say, if I really had to spell it out for you, I would lean quietly into your ear and whisper the word: YYYEEEESSS!!! And, then your ear drums would be blown because my "YES" wouldn't quite be a whisper but instead a resounding shout because when you give a woman a chance to leave the norms of her daily life, as much as she loves her children and husband and perhaps day job and join women who love the same thing and talk about the same thing and muse over the same thing, whatever that same thing is, you get a beautiful thing.

I want to take this opp. to THANK Alli from Mrs. Fussypants, whose brainchild this conference was and to Barbara Jones of One2One Network for sponsoring and running the conference so incredibly. The panelists were too varied to thank by name but you all were wonderful with so many great things to say. Pictures will have to come after I get home.

I can't neglect to thank Jo-Lynne from Musings of a Housewife for encouraging me to come (and for the ride to the airport) and for Sarah from RealLifeSarah for rooming with us. (Ohh, and while the TY's are being spread on like raspberry jelly on a fresh baked croissant, I have to thank Maria Bailey of "Mom 3.0" for sponsoring our room. What a great lady.)

A few of the things I learned in Nashville include:

1) A room of women go a little crazy when faced by two gorgeous young singers (named Ender Thomas and Nathan Pacheco from Yanni's Voices Tour). Thank you guys!

2) Book deals and audience go hand in hand: You need to be able to show a publisher that you can help sell your own book. (At the moment I heard that, I remembered why I started blogging. I heard that little fact last year and thought blogging could become a way to develop an audience so that when I did write a book I would have enough sympathy readers to at least pay the printing. But blogging became so much more to me, I totally forgot why I started it in the first place.)

2) Readers count on your rhythm -- so DEVELOP one & stick with it if you can.

3) MEDIA KITS are very important when talking to advertisers!

4) Sites that do reviews & giveaways should have some sort of policy spelled out somewhere for PR people to look over. It helps them know what you are looking for and not bother you if their programs or products don't match your requirements.

5) PR & blogging is like the wild, wild west. Everyone is trying to figure it out.

6) Twitter is becoming increasingly important in the overall picture of the blogger's connectedness to the greater society.

7) Write asking yourself "What will readers take away from this?"

8) Have a great product and it will win out no matter what.

9) If I twitter everything I am doing, my husband is able to see it and comment. But, I love him so that's okay too. I really appreciate him taking good care of our two cuties this weekend!

What I personally got out of it:

1) LOTS of business cards - round, square, small, tall, glossy, smooth.

2) LOTS of greats moments connecting with familiar faces - putting the voice to the name.

3) A chance to meet my faves and make some new acquaintances. (GREAT to meet you Moriah and to see you Lisa, Dawn, Alyssa, Annie, Shannon, Robin and so many MORE!)

4) A chance to meet tons of frugal bloggers which I am hoping will REALLY help me with the new Frugal Living column I write for our local paper.

5) A much needed vacation where I met very cool, inspiring people at the same time.

6) FODDER for at least a couple more blog posts.

7) A chance to get a mani-pedi at Le Jardin in Collegeville before going. Lovin' the OPI color "Lincoln Park After Dark." Only one small chip so far! I hear light is in for the spring so this was my last chance to get a dark color manicure! I feel so pampered!

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and getting to know so many of you! Definitely something to STRIVE to attend next year, if I can get away with it again

Comments

[David Griner]

Thanks for passing on my comment about posting review/giveaway policies. It really helps the not-spammy folks make sure that we're not wasting anyone's time.

I'll be doing my own wrapup post soon from an outsider's point of view, but I think you definitely nailed a lot of the best tips. Great post!

[Heidi @ GGIP]

It's interesting to read everyone's posts on this conference. I hope you have a great time for the rest of the conference.

[Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt]

I'll second that YYYEEEESSS!!! Fabulous to hang out and gab with you (the first of many times, I hope).

[Mozi Esme's Mommy]

Sounds wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it...

[Amy]

Great recap! It was such a learning experience from me and my business is going to be so much better because of it!

[oh amanda]

I love the wild wild west comment...I've felt that way: that everyone is just scrambling (in a good way) to jump on board.

So glad I got to meet you!

[AnnieBlogs]

So glad I got to see you again!

[Jenny from Mommin' It Up!]

It was so great to meet you Sarah!!

[Barbara Jones]

Thanks for coming this year and I'm glad you had a good time and got a lot out of it. Hope to see you next year!!

[Sweetie Berry]

Great recap and so appreciated from one who didn't get to go after long planning to attend!
hugs
Sweetie

[Shannon]

So glad we got to chat over dinner. Good luck with the book! ;)

[Lora Lynn @ Vitafamiliae]

Ooo, I'm glad you recapped some of those points. I'd already forgotten a few! Lovely to meet you!

[Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam]

You are never going to believe the small world it is. I just put on Face book (yes, something I learned this w-end) about me going to a blogging conference. Karen Screnock read it and commented that a friend of hers was at a conference too....it was you. I reconnected with Karen through FB last month when I joined. We went to high school together. Can you believe that? I told her...sure I remembered who you were since you were starting that frugal living column that we talked about in line during lunch. Social media - guess that's where it's at...hee hee :)

[Jyl Johnson Pattee (Mom It Forward)]

Going through Blissdom Withdrawal and loving reading all of these summary posts. Thanks for yours :).

[Sarah (Real Life)]

Sarah, I had a blast talking to you! You are such a precious person, and I'm honored to call you my friend!

[Alyssa @ Life from my Laptop]

Yay it was great seeing YOU again too. Are you coming to She Speaks? I hope to be there.

[Holley]

It was great meeting you and I look forward to staying in touch!
Holley

[Melanie Nelson]

It was so great to meet you last weekend! I felt like I was having an out-of-head experience--I couldn't keep it all straight and I kept forgetting people's names. But the whole conference and the people attending were phenomenal!

[jessica - To Live Beautiful]

wonderful review of BlissDom. It's like you read my mind... only you wrote everything out - and I just quickly mentioned the sponsors and posted a few pictures! Wish I could have taken the time to write such a wonderful article like you did. Great job!