Blogher ’12 was pretty much just what I thought it would be. This being my first time at Blogher, I did my research before I went. I joined Facebook groups, followed the Blogher12 hashtag on Twitter, read countless blogs about “what to expect at Blogher,” “what to bring to Blogher,” “what I learned at Blogher,” and “what to wear to Blogher.” I read some questions about Blogher that made sense (what sessions are you taking?), some that left me puzzled (can I bring a lighter on the plane?) and some that made me laugh (should I bring bottled water to New York City?).
The importance of women bloggers was made clear when President Obama spoke to us live via video to open the conference. Governor Romney was invited to participate but declined.
Here are the three most important things I learned at Blogher:
1. Blogher is for women bloggers, but it’s main focus is on mommy bloggers. This was made very clear to me when I would tell sponsors that I am a midlife and empty-nest blogger and their eyes would glaze over in disinterest as they looked past me for someone, well, younger.
2. Find the sessions that will give you the most technical information. For me personally those were the most informative and worthwhile, far more than the sessions in which bloggers shared their personal philosophies and experiences. Though I found the experiential sessions interesting, they didn’t convey much in terms of suggestions and solutions for my specific issues. By far the most useful and informative sessions I attended were Advanced SEO and Google Analytics. The others that I went to were either too chatty – the panelists liked to share a lot about their own blogs and refer the audience to their sites – or were too blogger (eg: mommy) specific.
3. It’s essential to find your tribe. I was fortunate to connect with other bloggers who are like me – and that made the whole weekend worthwhile. The absolute best thing about my experience at Blogher was the B(l)oomers Party, where I was among my (age 45+) people. Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chris Bradshaw and Audrey van Pentegem of Boombox Network did an amazing job of getting sponsors who (gasp!) were actually interested in connecting with women at midlife. Plus, they gave me a really fabulous gift bag – thanks ladies! And by the way, if Demeter wants to send me a lifetime supply of lavender and honeysuckle scented sprays, I wouldn’t mind.
Two of my new friends, Lisa and Mary Dell of “Grown and Flown”
I love the philosophy of one of the B(l)oomers sponsors: Not Done Yet! Perhaps this will become clear to the rest of the blogging world in the future. After all, hard as it may be to imagine right now, those mommy bloggers are eventually going to be…us.
The t-shirt I won from Not Done Yet.
I’ve been asked quite a few times in the past couple of days if I would attend Blogher again, and I have to be honest – I’m not sure I would. Unless the B(l)oomers have another party. Then I’d have to give it some serious thought. Because no matter the crowds, the crappy food, the mostly useless swag (well, except for the Trojan vibrators…all 5000 of them), the oppressive heat and humidity and the sheer hell that is New York City in August, meeting my virtual friends in real life was fantastic, and worth every penny and every moment.
These were all gone before the conference was over.
Interesting report of BlogHer. I have yet to go to a conference, but finally will on October. It sounds like you met a great group of “mid-life” bloggers which is totally where I would fit in. (Yes I am from the “totally” era.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Sharon, we can only say that meeting you and the wonderful women at the B(l)oomers party were highlights for us, too. Spending time with you made BlogHer12 so worthwhile and we could not agree with you more!
Grown and Flown recently posted..In Training for the Empty Nest
I’m hoping to go next year. Sounds like a great opportunity!
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It’s definitely something to do at least once!
Sharon,
The Bloomer Party made BlogHer for me, too! So glad to meet you and fun to read your report. (And I skipped the Trojan booth because I thought they were giving out condoms!)
Barbara Younger recently posted..Final BlogHer ’12 Report: Starstruck!
Sharon, thanks for this interesting point of view. I don’t know that much about BlogHer and the conference, and I was wondering if it was something I should get more involved in, even maybe go to next year’s conference. But like you I’m an “older woman” (61, actually) and I don’t have any children, so it sounds as though I’d feel a little out of place there. I’m not sure how much I’d enjoy those sessions, either. I’m glad to read your honest reactions.
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I didn’t feel so much out of place as I did kind of amused by it all…it’s a lot to take in, I have to admit! Thanks for reading a commenting.
funny and very interesting post-I’ll be looking for more b(l)oomers to connect with-thanks for the conference review!
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Hi Sharon,
In regards to your point #1, what I did to combat that was to tell them why Bloggers over 45 are even MORE relevant!
–We have more disposable income than any other age grou
–We finally have time to consume their product
–We are savers so we have $$ to spend
Still Blonde after all these YEARS recently posted..Great Hairstyles for Women over 45 Updos! July 2012 edition
I am happy to hear about BlogHer 12 and it looks like you hooked up with some great people judging by all the responses here. I will probably go to next years as it’s in Chicago and only a drive away.
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As an older blogger myself, I appreciate your candid honesty about the conference. I will probably only go to ones here in Texas anyway, but would love to meet you!
Lisa Weidknecht recently posted..Winner Announcements
OMG, what a hoot. I enjoy your blog a it relates to my everyday life, but this gave me such a
Laugh. Thanks for sharing
Now that was THE most useful recap I’ve read yet. As someone who’s not a 20 something mommy blogger… I appreciated that!
What I need to know that you didn’t answer… did you drink that NY water?
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Yes! New York tap water actually tastes good. I’m glad you found my post useful.
Even though I am actively parenting, I am older than many at BlogHer12. And like you, I felt invisible at times.
Your point #3 is spot on.
Lori Lavender Luz recently posted..Why I fight for adoptee rights
Yes, it would be a difficult experience without personal connections…so many crowds everywhere!
I was chagrined, but not surprised, to read that sponsors dismissed you when they learned you were “of a certain age.” As if women with grown kids don’t buy anything or have any consumer clout or have anything important to say! INFURIATING! My youngest is ten but I will turn 50 next month so I relate to both Mommy and post-Mommy bloggers. I’m glad you did find your tribe and that there are some sane sponsors out there who realize that sooner or later every blogger will be a midlife blogger. Hope to connect with the Bloomers next year!
I look forward to getting to meet you next year if I decide to go again – I love your blog!
Thanks for your honesty, Sharon. We debated about whether it was wise or not to attend. Your analysis will help us when the time to decide about next year’s conference rolls around. So you didn’t like summer on the East Coast, huh? Welcome to my (new) world!
If you do decide to attend, you should connect with Boombox Network, they’re the ones who had the 45+ party. Next year is in Chicago.
I think a lot of the difference in people’s experience is what their expectations were going in. I had never gone tot he full conference but was there for a day in 2010 and I tried to not let the negative people get me too worried. There were a lot of little things that were not ideal about the conference, but I took what I had to work with and made it fabulous!
Kameron recently posted..BlogHer 2012 I did it MY way!
I understand I do not want my niche as mommy, I want to be rounded and available for anything to grow
I enjoyed the honest recap, which mirrored quite well my experience last year (well, minus the vibrators). That glazing over of the eyes when sponsors hear you’re a mid-life or empty-nest blogger? Imagine it increasing exponentially when you add the word GRANDMA to that. So frustrating. I’ve attended Blogher only once (last year) and it is indeed an overwhelming experience. A friend (a former newspaper associate) and I went together, which helped. But, as she’s a decade younger than I am, finding my tribe was my goal. I connected with a couple great women, but sounds like the mid-lifers at Blogher12 are the ones I would have been most at home with. And I would have loved the B(l)oomer party with all you great ladies I admire so. Maybe next year. Chicago’s not too far from me, so I’m planning on being there. I hope you and other B(l)oomers will be, as well.
Lisa @ Grandma’s Briefs recently posted..Four ‘fun’ parental duties I didn’t find so fun
I just got back from BlogHer, too, and although I would go again, I’m realizing that it was more-so for the fun vacation time away from home. It was great connecting with other people and exchanging business cards. But I, too, felt that it was geared towards Mommy bloggers. Nothing wrong with that, but it wasn’t all-inclusive. I’m a DIY (do-it-yourself) blogger who upcycles thrift store furniture, and I think the Lysol sponsor was the closest sponsor that was relevant to me. Everything else was about stuff that had no relevance to me. But I still enjoyed the swag! But still……..
I did suggest to BlogHer after-the-fact that next year that really need to have a database of some sort of registered bloggers who will be attending and have the database searchable, so that we can connect with those relevant to us. I literally only met ONE other blogger who was a crafter/DIY’er. Out of 4500! I know there were more of us…..I just couldn’t find them.
Serena
Thrift Diving
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I was able to attend BlogHer 12 this year and it’s pretty much how you described it. The best part was experiencing NYC and hanging out with friends.
Thanks so much for the honest review. The cost of BlogHer has always confused me… as I wasn’t really sure what people were truly getting out of it, when most bloggers don’t actually make a living at blogging to justify the costs of attending…
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That’s such a great point, Katie. The cost of the conference isn’t too bad – $198 for early bird registrations – but the hotel, the airfare, and all that goes with visiting a city – it adds up. I doubt there were many at Blogher that could really afford to pay for the trip strictly from their blogging earnings.
wish I knew so many moms la members were there. sad I missed you.
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Sharon,
Great piece! I also loved meeting you @ the B(l)oomers Party!
This was also my first BlogHer and I showed up for the HealthMinder Day as well.
I am hoping next year that some of the tracks include information for care givers for seniors as well. Those of us over the age of 45 are a big market, Yikes!!! And we are sandwiched between our parents and our kids!!! Stay in touch!
Cheers, P.K.
This was my second year at BlogHer and definitely the more productive one.
Last year I went with my daughter and we had a great time, but I didn’t find it very useful for me as a writer. Thanks to BoomBoxNetwork I made more contacts this year with people who understand stand that we’re not done yet.
Young women have a lot to learn, don’t they? They don’t realize that one day they are going to get older! Ageing isn’t some unfortunately freak accident that happens to you because you aren’t smart enough to stay young.
I’ve never understood the swag whores. The swag isn’t that great. Toothpaste? Ibuprofen? I hardly am going to fly thousands of miles to get some free crap I could easily buy myself. Not even for vibrators since I’m now mature enough to just to buy them when I want them.
But I still had a great time. I’m not sure I’ll go next year. I think I’d like to attend more writer’s conferences. I think that would be a better use of my time. But then again. I wouldn’t want to miss out on seeing you and the other wonderful women I met at the B(L)oomer’s Party.
Chloe recently posted..What I wore to BlogHer 2012
I haven’t been to BlogHer since Chicago…but next year it’s in Chicago again, so maybe it’s time for me to give it a second chance.
Now you know why I stopped going to BlogHer, Sharon. They have gotten bigger over the years, but not more inclusive. I did a rundown in my comment on your Huffington Post column of my efforts to get them to turn at least a little bit of the spotlight on midlifebloggers. Suffice to say, I was unsuccessful.
So—I’m in the planning stages of the First MidLifeBloggers Conference. It will be in 2013…anyone wanna help? Email me at jane@midlifebloggers.com
Jane Gassner (@MidLifeBloggers) recently posted..My Molly Has Died
Jane – please email me with more details about your planned conference. It’s possible there may be many interested.
Wow. Goose flesh. Sharon, thank you. I knew that’s how we felt, Audrey, Anne-Marie and I, but you express it so wonderfully. It really is powerful to find your tribe! And, YES, B(l)oomers Party is coming to BlogHer13 in Chicago. We look forward to meeting even more boomer bloggers and finding even more companies and brands that WANT us all!
This year’s BlogHer sounds amazing. It’s the second informative post I read today about the conference (as opposed to the yearly posts about the cliques and the hoarders and all that) and I wish I could have been there!
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I agree with you. Thank you for sharing the update. It is interesting to have it discussed widely so that we can gain more objective opinions.
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