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Sunday, July 28, 2013

The Biggest Thing I Learned at Blogher

Hi friends!!  I'm back home after a great trip to Chicago!!!

It was a whirlwind, and it was wonderful, and I'm excited to tell you more about my experience in the next few days; but, tonight I wanted to pop in and share the biggest thing I learned at Blogher...

Yes, I learned a lot about the blogging industry and felt both challenged and inspired by some of the "experts" in the field; but, more than anything else, I realized while I was there that I care a lot more about connecting with YOU than I do about connecting with big brands or big bloggers....

I know absolutely nothing about search engine optimization (and I really have no interest in learning it), I don't have an email newsletter for my blog (nor do I plan on starting one), and I'm pretty much doing Twitter and Facebook totally wrong. 

BUT, despite all that (and maybe partly because of it), we've got a good thing going here.

I don't just write for myself.  As I've said before (and many of your mentioned again in the comments of last week's post), if I wanted to just write for myself, I would keep a journal.  I also don't just write for free stuff, fame, or money.

I think all of those things are awesome "bonuses" to blogging.  Writing makes me happy and helps me process things in my life.  It's fun to get free stuff or have a stranger say "I read your blog" in the elevator.  And, as little as it may be, it is nice to be recognized and (occasionally) compensated for the time and energy I put in to blogging.

But, FAR beyond any of those things, I blog because of YOU.

You guys - my fellow mommas, teachers, girlfriends, and formerly Type A hot messes - you guys, are my people.

So, thanks.  Thanks for making this fun.  Thanks for genuinely caring about me and the people I love and write about.  Thanks for leaving comments, and sending emails, and just showing up. Thanks for making me feel like my voice is worth being heard, and that I'm not the only one wearing a bathing suit bottom as underwear because I haven't done laundry in a week (oh, maybe that really is just me). 

Thanks for being my people.

P.S. My roommate for Blogher, Heather (from Desperately Seeking Sanity), has been reading my blog for a while.  On Saturday morning, after she had to drag me  out of bed like a teenager for an appointment I was clearly going to be late for, she said (with love and in good humor): "I used to think you really did have it together from reading your blog; now that I've spent time with you, I realize you aren't exaggerating when you say that you DO NOT." I felt kind-of proud. ;)

17 comments:

  1. Ha!!! That's a great story in the PS there. :) Hilarious. Love you and your bathing-suit-bottom-wearing self!!

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  2. Hey, that was me who recognized you in the elevator!! :) So glad I ran into you! Wish we had seen more of each other. Love this post and this takeaway. Look forward to hearing more about your experience and hope to see you at the next BlogHer (or whichever next conference)!

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  3. Yes, when one gets all wrapped up in the biz of blogging, i find myself to lose interest in their blog. I think that is why i don't do twitter. I don't want to be shouted at all the time.

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  4. haha your rooomate's comment is so funny! Glad you had fun and can't wait for you to share some tips with us!
    Lauren

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  5. Love you... and I'll drag you out of bed for appointments at every conference we room together at in the future... and clearly, you saw how together I was when unbeknownst to me, I smuggled my husband's pocket knife on the plane...

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  6. What your roommate said is hysterical. :) I've been reading your blog for years and I'm glad you have a blog opposed to a private journal! I'm looking forward to hearing about your experience at the conference!

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  7. Thank you for sharing your life. I went through and read a bunch of your pregnancy posts the other day because I'm due with my first baby in days. It is so great that we can share our stories. It gave me comfort to read yours. I love that you don't have it all together. Nobody does, but you're doing it with humility.

    Can't wait to read more about your time at Blogher!

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  8. I LOVE LOVE LOVE READING YOUR BLOG! You keep it REAL! And I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one that wears swimsuit bottoms when all my undies are dirty. I hate doing laundry.

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  9. I see your bathing suit bottom underwear and raise you a pair of boxer briefs - yup wore a pair of Trev's ginch under my maxi dress the other day cause apparently I'm more interested in reading your blog than doing laundry (or anything else productive). will 1000+ followers you're clearly doing something right. xo

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    Replies
    1. OMG!!!! I am judging Sara so hard right now!!!!!! HAAAAA!!

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    2. they're surprisingly comfy (wedgie free all day).

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  10. Love your blog, love you, and wish we lived closer so we could have mommy coffee dates while Jeff and Andrew watched the kids. Keep up the great work friend!

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  11. Love you so much honey!! I am truly the lucky one to have you as my daughter!!
    Oh, and just to let you know... I was so impressed with your house the day you left for the conference...I kinda had to look around to make sure I was in the right place!!Hahaha! When I saw Jeff a couple days later, he ask me if "I had done it!" See, you can get your house together, beautifully! I am so glad you are home, and cannot wait for our beach trip in four days!!!!!

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  12. Oh Yes! I'm glad I found your article today. I recommend it to everyone .. Thank you for your work!

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  13. I love this! I feel the same way about my blog. :-) Look forward to reading more about the conference!

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  14. I'm so glad you had a good time. Really enjoyed seeing your pictures and knowing you were having a blast!

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Your comments are what makes this thing fun! I LOVE to hear from you and do my best to respond to everyone! THANK YOU!


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