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.