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Thoughts for Future BlogHer Events

Intro/Background

• This was a discussion topic at the BlogHer UnConference on Sunday July 29th. My goal in creating this session was to start a list of ideas that might be considered when BlogHer plans future events. My idea was purely to create a list that could be discussed in a more indepth way by the appropriate parties at a later date.
• We had a full table including Jory DesJardins of the BlogHer. I did not get everyone else's names, but please feel free to add yours to this wiki if you like.
• I had to leave to catch a plane, so I hope Sky, Jory & others will be able to document the commetns that were shared after I left.
• As you can see, I struggled with the formatting a little, but I hope I represented the ideas presented. Please feel free to edit or update.

Topic List

We started out drafting a list of topics we wanted to talk about in our alotted time

• What doesn't work

• What does work

• Future locations
• Speaker Policy
• Future sessions
• Verticals
• Sponsors
• Logistics

What doesn't work

• Having the event in a location separate from the hotels presented challenges for some attendees. There were also issues with the busses getting stuck in traffic.
• Signs with the bus schedules would have been helpful

• There needed to be at least a 5 minute (preferable 10 min.) gap between the beginning of one session and the end of another
• More global attendees
• More global speakers
• Not enough Networking - logistics of getting back & fourth to hotel precluded spending free time with other attendees.

• Room size did not work for some sessions
• No feedback mechanism in sessions
• AV issues
• Birds of a feather lunch (signs were too hard to read)
• Send welcome email earlier, including more specifics for newbies (i.e. clothing suggestions)
• Insure that speakers are comfortable with (or write their own) session description
• Vegan food choices were not easily accessible (having to ask for them felt like discrimination, made people feel different)
• Technology Track room was a challenge with the poles
• Technical track struggled often because it was hard to teach to the diverse skill levels
• Experiment with other modalities for sessions ("I'm over panels")

Later

• What about a greater mix of session types -- Specifically, not all Panel Discussions
• Incorporate unconference into the main conference. Introduce a narrow topic and then unconference for the next session?

What does work (ok, I can't get the list to work and I need to get leave shortly and I don't want you to have to wait until I get back later in the week :)

• Great Food
• Hotels had great discounts
• Chicago was a great locatin
• Eggs for breakfast were much appreciated
• Drinks a receptions were great
• Speed dating was better than anticipated
• Great Venue
• Sponsorship was appreciated but NOT over bearing
• Swag was great
• Speaker selection
• Museum was fun
• AOL Lunch
• Snacks
• Speaker Training
• Great attendees
• Great Internet access
• The Addition of the unconference
• Many of the moderators were great - Mary, Joy, Marie Nyles, Kristy Samas, Nina Smith were specifically mentioned

Future Locations

 

• Boston - specifcally the Hynes convention center

• Seattle

• Las Vegas

• Orlando
• Washington, D.C.
• Minneapolis

• New Orleans
• Philadelphia
• Puerto Rico
• International Locations
• Dubai
• Delhi
• Baharain

Speaker Policy All women?

Some thought this was appropriate and focused the brand

Some didn't think it was necessary

Some thought men would be appropriate for very specific topics (i.e. Father Bloggers)

Vertical BlogHers?

What about a 10 city BlogHer Road show

Similar to the Seth Godin book tour (you pay $X and when a certain number of attendees is attained, BlogHer comes to that city)

Other vertical markets

Mommy

Foodies

Crafts

Technical

BlogHers for social change

BlogHer Social Media

Being a Saavy publisher

Future Session Ideas

More practical hands on workshops many of these sessions had great ideas, how do we translate those into actions for our blogs

SEO for bloggers (Lee can recommend speakers here)

Building your brand

Writing class

Provide tracks (beginning Intermediate, advanced)

Expanding on Business sessions (more indepth on each topic)

Educating people about blogs (i.e. blogging for beginners)

Silenced bloggers (really address this topic) perhaps using a video link

A Session for publicists to interact with bloggers

Keynote ideas

Melinda Gates

More balance in whoever is a keynote speaker

A modern day Gloria Steinham (who is that)?

Reuniting America