This October, BlissDom Canada held its second blogging and social media conference for women in Toronto. Blogging, public relations and social media professionals gathered together at the Hilton for two days of networking, business development, community building and inspiration.
Many who attended have written about their experiences post-conference. Some shared their bliss while others shared what they missed.
I didn’t attend the conference last year but I can say with confidence that in just a year, blogging and social media has changed so much. This is the reason why I think perhaps the conference resonated differently with so many.
And every year will prove to be different. We should never expect to get comfortable in this online industry because it is constantly evolving.
It’s tough to pack two full days of topics that cover the entire scope of blogging and social media. But I think BlissDom did a wonderful job of covering some key points: the art and the business of blogging/social media.
Having said that, I probably should have pulled a George Costanza – remember the episode where he decided to do the opposite of what he thought he wanted?
Rather than attending the business/monetization sessions, I realized afterwards what my soul really craved was the much-needed inspiration that I would have likely received from the creative/writing sessions.
The success stories shared were inspiring and wonderful to hear but I think some would have loved to hear even more about how those successes came to be, including the challenges and mistakes along the way.
The social aspect of the conference is what draws many; I enjoyed seeing online friends and meeting new ones. The networking and connecting in real life is the most fun of all.
Although it may have seemed to some that the wave of the future is bloggers/social media personalities partnering with brands, I think the conference showed that many are going back to #OSB – Old School Blogging. Many attended simply – and refreshingly – for the love of writing.
The conference is just a part of much larger picture – that blogging and social media in general is shifting. Whether you are a brand, blogger, social media specialist or PR person, it’s important for all to remember that everyone will take away something different from blogging and social media conferences.
And while the industry is constantly changing, knowing that, embracing it and enjoying the natural flow, along with maintaining one’s authenticity, is the key to success.
7 Comments
For me blissdom happened in the hallways and meeting areas where I was able to chat with so many smart women face to face – pick their brains and share mine. I also loved the screening of MissRepresentation and the discussion that followed about how we as publishers represent women. Very dear to my heart.
Thanks for commenting Erica. Connecting with so many amazing women was the best part hands down. Being able to socialize with them during the parties was the most fun of all. Sadly I missed the MissRep screening – so important for us to pave the way for the future generation of women.
I spent my first day in the writing side of things and it was so good. The second day I was in the business/monetization side and it was not quite as clear cut in terms of the value I took away. I’m philosophical about it though, in the sense that I learned something in each of the sessions that I didn’t know, so there WAS value even if my expectations were different than what was delivered. In some cases, that was a really good thing. For me, the best part was getting to connect face-to-face. I can’t regret a moment of Blissdom Canada because the value I got out of that isn’t something I can even quantify. It was wonderful.
I agree, there are learning opportunities everywhere… I realized that although the business side is important, I need to continue focusing on writing. I was inspired to get back to writing – and finishing that novel! Thanks for your comment 🙂
I too had amazing chats in between the sessions sitting on those couches in the suites, real life is so much better than remaining square avatars to each other.
“And every year will prove to be different. We should never expect to get comfortable in this online industry because it is constantly evolving.”
True true true!!
🙂
Thanks Shash! I agree, the mingling and connecting is the best part of it all. I saw so many people I met online and now have come to know in real life which is amazing. Happy to have met a few new people IRL as well! It’s awesome to be part of this strong community!
Connecting with so many amazing women was the best part hands down. Being able to socialize with them during the parties was the most fun of all..Its really enjoy meet a lot of people..