In Which I Officially Shift My Focus
Filed Under: Blogging Rocks!, Thriving
I’m back from BlogHer08 (photos here) and reflecting on my experience, which was quite different from last year.
Last year - my first at BlogHer - I was excited, nervous, and intent on finding a few new friends to tag along with so I never had to walk around looking like a lost puppy. This year I spent a good amount of time wandering around alone, in search of new people, making eye contact and introducing myself. And still there are SO MANY people I never got to meet, or only shared an all-too-brief squee with.
It seemed to me that the BlogHer receptions (Friday and Saturday nights) were attended by a lot of mommy bloggers, but not by the tech bloggers. And while I love me my mommy blogging friends, I really wanted to spend some time with the women who have been inspiring me of late, like Gwen Bell, Tara Anderson, Tara Hunt, and Laura Mayes.
I’ve written before about my increasing discomfort with blogging about my kids and my desire to pursue a career in social media marketing and blog design. I had decided to try to mash it all together on this blog, but being at BlogHer around all those brilliant women helped me to admit something that I’ve known deep inside for awhile now: I have to focus. It can’t all work the way I want it to under the name “PHAT Mommy.”
I recently read an interesting article called “We Need Social Media Interpreters, not more Evangelists.” Shey makes a good point. There are many bloggers who would love to understand more about social media, building their blog traffic and increasing their revenue stream, but who have little interest in becoming “experts” or “evangelists.” They can use someone to show them the ropes… to interpret, as Shey says. I think I have a lot to offer in that space, so that’s where I’m headed.
I love the internet. I love information. I love designing and coding (well, maybe not so much the coding). I love social media. I love marketing. THAT is where I need to be now.
Note: I’m especially interested in social media “camp-type” events held in the NYC area. If you know of any, drop me a comment.
PHAT = Parenting, Homeschooling And Technology. That about sums up my life at the moment. 
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Diana | Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
We talked about this in the session on Branding I led with The Inadvertent Gardner at the UnConference; how you essentially create your own glass ceiling with the name of your blog. I’m going to “rebrand” as well, I think, it’s intimidating.
ByJane | Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
First, it was a big plus for me about BlogHer this year that we shared a room. So, thank you for that.
Second, I vote for the rebranding cf Diana’s comment. Everytime someone asked me who I was rooming with, I felt compelled to say (in one breath), “PHAT Mommy, that’s p-h-a-t.” ‘Cause it doesn’t sound great unless one knows the spelling. And though you know what the anagram means and how it relates to what you do, there is nothing about the name that says it to the uninitiated.
ByJanes latest blog post… BlogHer’08: MidLifeBloggers’ A Room of Your Own
Sleeping Mommy | Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
I’ve been thinking of “rebranding” too. For a really long time actually, but I haven’t been sure what I would call my blog–my self, essentially.
I do know I regret the “sleeping mommy” monicker and wish I had done more learning about blogs before leaping when I signed up on Blogger so many years ago.
Amanda Petite Mommy | Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
This is something I’m serious considering when Fall gets here. I need something to really define me and my businesses.
Good luck.
Kelly @ Pass the Torch | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
It’s hard to find the right balance, isn’t it? I’ve thought about this so much, regarding my own blog. Too many hats, and focus going in so many directions. But for me, the personal blog angle is the only way I truly enjoy writing the blog. It’s the stuff of life that I’m inspired to write about, so I think I have to continue in that way.
I love the social media conversation - I think that sounds like a great direction for you. I could use a little straightforward talk about that.
I wish I could have gone to BlogHer. I know it would be so insightful. Maybe next year…
Kelly @ Pass the Torchs latest blog post… Wisconsin Dock Jumping - Part 2
Tom Sawyer | Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
Suzie | Jul 29, 2008 | Reply
Next year I wanna go to blogher. It seems like it gave you some great focus
Suzies latest blog post… Can I Have The Envelope Please
Shey | Aug 3, 2008 | Reply
Glad you enjoyed the post, thanks for stopping by
Sheys latest blog post… I Chose The Echo Chamber
GeekMommy | Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
So I’m checking back - curious to see if you’ve decided on rebranding yet or if it’s too hard to let go.
I did it last year - and it was very hard for me to let go of a name that I had used on the internet for nearly a decade.
But it did change the perspective people had of me in Social Media. Isn’t it funny how we started out just thinking ‘yep, this is it’ and then along the way have to reevaluate - but find ourselves worrying what the impact will be?
Talk to Wendy Piersal tho over at Sparkplugging - she went through a lot of excruciating indecision when rebranding from eMoms.com - and yet it has worked out better for her.