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Rapidly Approaching

If you’re wondering where my American Idol recap is, well, we had some technical difficulties with the DVR last night.  I think it has something to do with the fact that I turned off the recording last week and watched it live so that I could tape the DWTS results show.  And that canceled all the AI recordings permanently.  So perhaps a more accurate assessment of the situation is user error, although I prefer technical difficulties; it gives me something or someone else to blame.

My misfortune wasn’t contained to just last night.  This morning after I got the kids off to school, I gleefully made my half-pot of coffee and waited anxiously for it to brew.  As soon as I heard those 3 beeps signaling the end of the brew cycle, I poured myself a cup and added cream and sugar.  But before I even had a chance to take a sip, I proceeded to bump the mug and dump the entire contents all over my counter, down the side and all over the floor.  Oh yes.  It was a glorious start to my morning.

In other news, I was interviewed for Profitable Mommy Blogging last week and I just discovered my interview.  Unfortunately I haven’t been able to listen to it in its entirety because I have a 3-year-old who has gone all Dr. Jekyll on me, and at the moment I couldn’t hear a plane overhead if there was one.  I am ignoring her in hopes that lack of attention will diffuse the tantrum, but so far, no dice.  This is one of those times that I’m glad I’m a blogger and not a podcaster.  Since there appears to be a dark cloud hovering over my head this morning, let’s move on to the topic of today’s post.

she-speaks-logo1She Speaks is rapidly approaching, and I couldn’t be more excited.  I’m nervous for my own speaking portion but so excited about seeing everyone — reuniting with old bloggy friends and meeting new ones.

I just found out that Jennifer Rothschild will be the Saturday night keynote speaker, and Cheri Keaggy will be leading praise and worship this year.  I’m not even going to pretend that I know who these lovely ladies are, but I’m willing to bet a lot of you DO, and I hope that this information will inspire you to make your reservation if you haven’t already.

The word from Lysa is that there are only 100 spaces left before they are sold out.  So if you’re on the fence, you better get your tushy in gear!  You wouldn’t want the conference to sell out before you get around to registering.

I’m so excited about She Speaks having an entire blogging track this year!  Last year I was there when Shannon, Melanie, and Sophie led a few blogging sessions, and it went so well that this year they have an entire track of blogging sessions from “Blogging for Beginners” to “Technical Delights for Serious Bloggers.”

My session is called “Getting Products to Review and Give Away,” and we are going to discuss:

  • How to grow your blog traffic
  • How to get your blog taken seriously
  • How to initiate relationships with marketing companies and small business owners
  • How to run a giveaway

If you are a blogger who is just starting out or has been at it a while, and you would like to know how to get products to review and give away on your blog, this is the class for you!  I hope to see many of you there!!

And also.  Whether or not you can come, I would LOVE some suggestions about what exactly you would like to learn if you were going to attend my session.  Be as specific as possible.  What would you like to know about growing your traffic, initating relationships with PR and marketing peeps, running giveaways, writing reviews, making policies, and anything remotely pertaining to those topics.  I have to fill an hour — AN HOUR — and I don’t want to run out of material.  And most importantly, I want to make it worthwhile to those who are commiting the time and money to attend.

Join The Conversation

11 Responses

  1. ok, so you didn’t miss much with Idol, the night did not excite me – I had to MUTE Adam – his screeching is rattling my last nerve! We vote for Kris – a LOT!

    As for your class (I’d LOVE to go)
    I would like info on how to REACH the PR people. I’ve recently found some PR sites – I’d like to know about more of them, or the good ones to join. How to write about your blog that will draw the pr people to you. And how to REALLY write a good review – is it better to write a long review, or short and to the point? How to write a review when there isn’t much to say other than “the shampoo smelled great and made my hair really bouncy” LOL

    Wow, I’m wordy today aren’t I?

    ~TidyMom

  2. Sounds like a great session – wish I could go! If I was there, I’d be interested in learning what companies are looking for from blogs. Do they look for a certain # of followers or regular comments, and are there any specific blog design tools that could make our blogs look more professional (and desirable for potential giveaways). Good luck – I’m sure you’ll do great!

  3. OH I wish I could go! Cheri Keaggy, you really don’t know who she is? Anyway I’ve got so much on my plate these days but I’m considering taking my blog a bit more seriously, maybe to the next level and a conference like that might be good. I’ve had so much success with my photography business lately that it’s inspiring me in other areas 🙂

  4. I am not going, but if I was I would love to learn about the initial contact with marketing people. How do you reach out, what companies do you choose and how do you wean out the wrong companies.

  5. I agree with the other ladies that (a) I’d love to see you speak but also (b) about their questions.

    How to reach PR people? WHat’s appropriate to ask for/suggest? Do you pitch them or let them know you’re interested in doing something with you?

    Also the truth about traffic numbers – how many are enough and what if you have low numbers but high involvement? How do you sell that?

  6. Yay!!! I’m so excited for SheSpeaks!! 🙂

    I would like an honest answer about how much TIME your suggestions will take – you know, is it even worth it, is it possible, that sort of thing. Because I keep thinking that all this review stuff sounds like a big bundle of fun, but it just might be a whole lot of work…

    Hey – have I asked you this before – do you need a roommate? Or know someone who does? My friend who’d hoped to go can’t…

  7. Oh how I wish I could be there with you all – can you fit me in your pocket? – probably not!

    You seem to have covered most angles there, and if you leave plenty of time for questions I somehow don’t imagine the audience will be too shy about asking questions!

  8. I bet your session is going to be fantastic! Wish I were going to be there to hear all of your brilliance. 🙂

    Some questions/points of discussion you could consider:
    (1) What do I do with press releases that end up in my inbox? Is a response warranted every single time or only when I am addressed by name or only if it is a personal e-mail, etc.?
    (2) Should I require payment for hosting giveaways and, if so, how much?
    (3) What’s your take on “paid posts”?
    (4) What’s your take on giveaways with “multiple entry” paths (for twittering, subscribing, facebooking, etc.)?
    (5) How can you write reviews that “stand out” from the crowd?

    Best wishes! I hope you’ll post a re-cap of your session on your blog.

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