BlogHer is a great place to meet other women who are trying to change the world with their blogging.
Everyone you meet there has some kind of expertise and insights to share. Almost everyone there can find someone else who blogs about similar issues, and get connected to a tribe. There are many ‘domestic’ bloggers who write about home, marriage, family, and parenting. There are political bloggers who address government, policy, campaigns, and party politics. And there are lots of advocacy blogges, who work to create supportive communities around an issue. All of these bloggers are plentiful at BlogHer and can find their tribes easily.
Sadly, though, it can be really hard to find your tribe if your tribe is small.
In my experience at BlogHer9 last year in Chicago, it was virtually impossible to find women who blog about leadership, organizational change, and the world of work.
We women are out there– I see us on Twitter all the time. But I want an easier way to find each other at BlogHer this year. I want a way to find our tribe!
4 Ways to Find the Leadership Bloggers Tribe
1. Add your name, url, and twitter handle to the comment section below. I’ll gather these to create an email list where I can send any update about a meetup location.
2. Cluster in the top left quadrant during the “Speed Dating” introductory event (details below).
3. Help to create a “Birds of a Feather” table at lunch on Friday.
4. Meet in a specific spot at one of the open parties.
1. Add your name, url, and twitter handle to the comment section below.
I’ll gather these to create an email list where I can send any update about a meetup location. Also, we can share this list to find and follow each other online.
2. Cluster in the top left quadrant during the “Speed Dating” introductory event.
On Friday morning, in the first session, there will be an activity called speed dating– where we line up in a double circle (a circle within a circle) facing each other, and then pair by pair introduce ourselves to the person opposite us. If we gather in the same general location on that circle, we’ll be more likely to meet more people in our tribe rather than just a completely random set of interesting women bloggers.
To find the top left quadrant, face the stage, stick our your left hand, and wave it from your nose to your left ear.
3. Create a Birds of a Feather Table
in past years, BlogHer has organized some lunch tables around certain themes (e.g., feminism, autism, crafts). Anyone could sign up on a list to take a seat at that table, and be guaranteed to find some women in her tribe. I made two great friends this way last year. If I can, I’ll try to get Leadership Bloggers as a topic for BOF– if not, we can do this informally by sitting near each other at the open tables. if you do #1, I can find you electronically and let your know what’s happening.
4. Finally, there’s the “Let’s Party” option.
There are lots of parties to attend, but often no one you know to talk to. Sure, your can be brave and meet people, and you can also look for folks you expect to be there– lie other women Leadership Bloggers. Again, if you do #1, I can find you and let you know of any party plans.
Other ideas? Please let me know via email or Twitter
@cvharquail use #Blogher hashtag
harquail at authenticorganizations dot com