The cool thing about BlogWorld Expo is that almost everyone there is sharing their experience in real-time updates via photos, video, tweets and blog posts throughout the event.
From sponsors to speakers to attendees, you can get a great overview of the event highlights, from a variety of perspectives. Each individual person has their own objective and of course unique experiences, creating an interesting collage of updates from around the web...
Note: You can view various feeds (twitter, flickr, etc) on the BlogWorld Expo website, which will give you access to multiple sources in one easy spot.
I had a couple of objectives for this particular trip myself. I spent most of my time in conversation, meeting new people and getting an idea of who was who and who did what - and of course, how we might be able to benefit each other. I was there primarily for connections & content.
I also had a specific micro-objective, which was to meet Patrick O'Keefe author of Managing Online Forums. I bought the book on Chris Brogan's recommendation several weeks before the event. While I didnt get the opportunity to do a video interview with Patrick (aka @iFroggy), we did meet up and swap thoughts & questions in the New Media Lounge for a bit.
I asked Patrick his take on discussion forums, now that so many other social media properties have entered the scene. His reply: "Forums are the foundation of the social web." I couldnt agree more.
The book focuses mainly on community management, and is incredibly resourceful for anyone who is managing an online community of their own. I'll share more on that with you in an upcoming book review here at ClickNewz.
I managed to attend two sessions - the last two sessions of the event, actually. I ended up spending the majority of my time in the New Media Lounge talking to various bloggers and ebusiness owners.
Highlights include meeting Wendy Piersall (aka @emom) along with her entire Sparkplugging team (above), Coach Deb, Mari Smith, Denise of BlogSquad, Warren Whitlock, Suzie Cheel, Ricardo Bueno aka @Ribeezie, Kim Dushinski, Michael Brito and Jonathan Fields.
There were also several from the StomperNet team in attendance including David Bullock, Dave Taylor and Tom Ham. Kristie McDonald, who is a Featured Stomper on page 41 of the premier edition of The Net Effect was also there - and a real pleasure to meet and talk to.
I had opportunity to say a quick hello to Jason Falls and Chris Brogan in passing, and then sat in on a session that included Lee LeFever and Darren Rowse towards the end of the last day.
I cant possibly remember everyone off the top of my head (I'm actually on the plane home as I write this), but I cant go without mentioning Barbara Rozgonyi aka @wiredprworks. She just happens to be a phenomenal note-taker, and so I was actually following her real-time updates on Twitter throughout the sessions.
I have more videos & notes to share with you about specific people and conversations that were particularly noteworthy, so definitely stay tuned π
Best,
p.s. Here is a quick video from Saturday night, during and after the Opening Party at the BlogWorld Expo event:
About Lynn Terry
Now that #bwe08 is over I have to go back and see what happened there online!
Great meeting you, Lynn. I did get the link to your ebook so I will attack it as soon as possible, and will definitely be in touch. Thank you for imparting your tremendous wisdom to me.
It was great to meet you as well, Susan! I really enjoyed our chat and look forward to talking more and staying connected. I look forward to your feedback on the Fast Cash Strategy - thanks π
Sounds and looks like you had a good time. I already told Kev I was going to be there with you next year. Looking forward to hearing all about it today at the webinar. Nice to have you back.
Thank you Angie π Yes - plan on it, and plan to room with me. We'll have a blast!
Where are the pics of the stars of BlogWorld... ProBlogger, ShoeMoney and JohnChow? :p
I just got in from all day travel last night at midnight, so I'll post the rest of the photos & video over the next couple of days.
That said, I didnt get photos of those three specifically. But I'm sure you can find some on the BlogWorld feed that I linked to above in the original post.
I was on a mission to meet and talk to very specific people (and types of people). As I said, everyone had a unique objective at this event...
I won't have anything resembling a recap up for days, so nicely done. π Thanks for the mention. It was really great to meet you and I'm glad we had that time to talk. I'm looking forward to the review.
When I gave that foundation line, I was basically repeating what my good friend Lee LeFever said in his advance praise of the book. Just wanted to mention that. π
Thanks again,
Patrick
Wonderful to meet you, Lynn! Thanks for being so generous with your abundant knowledge. Your passion and enthusiasm for internet marketing success is contagious! Looking forward to learning more from you.
RE: BlogWorld08 images, check out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/bwe08/
over 3,440 uploads as of this moment!
Lynn, that photo is awesome! Definitely an all-star cast!
From the sessions to the people in the hallways, blogworld was definitely worth being at. There's nothing quite like taking on-line connections off-line and the information dished out was worth absorbing.
I hope that you got everything, if not most, of what you were hoping for! Oh, and I'll be sure to share the interview I took with Patrick (I just have to review it) π
Talk to you soon Lynn!
its my dream too to join this expo . . .
How our world is changing. I get to stay in my jamies and send you to do all the hard work!! Thanks for sharing some of what you learned. I look forward to reading more, once you get upacked and feet up! π
LOL Harmony - Its true though that you can get much of the experience from home just by tuning in to all the various feeds. Videos, photos, updates & more - it makes for a great overview!
That said, the experience was well worth the travel. I really enjoyed BWE, and look forward to returning for the 2009 Expo.
My pleasure Barbara - I really enjoyed our conversations and hope we get to do that again. Hopefully we can meet up at bwe09 π
Ribeezie (Ricardo) - definitely keep me posted on that interview, and I'll work on getting those photos over to you. I wish we'd had more time to talk. I'm especially interested in your thoughts on Social Marketing. We may just have to schedule some phone time to catch up a bit!
STOKED I got to meet you "in person" at BWE08! You were on my Top 10 list of people I HAD to meet in person!
What a dynamic, powerful business woman you are. Thanks for all the great introductions to other killer people!
Can't wait til' next year's event annnnd this upcoming year where we power up & help as many business owners as possible (before passing out!) LOL
PS: The Answer to your video question = 23
You were definitely at the top of my list as well, Deb - it was great to finally have opportunity to hang out in person (ie in more than 140 characters π ).
I look forward to your upcoming book release, and continuing to connect with you on Twitter until the next event!
Wow that is awesome. What a great opportunity to be able to go there and meet all those amazing people.
Thank you for sharing it with your followers.
You guys must be few of the luckiest in the blogging community and I like the idea of a BlogWorld Expo, in fact, we just had the Pinoy Blogging Awards here in my country - Philippines. The sad thing is, I even didn't get any nomination. Anyway, I'm really not that active because I have so much work outside of my PC world.
Thanks for sharing your experience here on your BlogWorld Expo 08, Lynn.
Yay, Lynn!!!
What a treat to meet you in person!! π I really enjoyed our connection and certainly look forward to the next time!! Hopefully long before #bwe09!
Cheers,
Mari
@marismith
Hi Lynn,
I have to agree with Harmony - that although I plan to be at BWE09 live next year (to hopefully meet you in person too Γ’ΛΒΊ), it almost felt as though I was there. The real-time twitter updates during sessions, from multiple people I follow, was truly remarkable. And I loved how each one captured the great nuggets in just a slightly different and unique way.
How great it must have been to meet the likes of Ms. Mari Smith, Coach Deb, Kim Dushinski, Wendy Piersall and so many more dynamic blogging/social media powerhouses. And by the looks of your comments above they are all saying the same thing about you!
Γ’ΛΒΊ
Amy
@amymiyamoto
Thank you Amy - it would be awesome to see you at BlogWorld next year for sure! I have to agree with you that the updates from everyone were really cool - even while I was right there at BWE08 myself. There is no way you can be everywhere at once, and even when 2 people are in the same room they each take away something completely different!
I am still busy following up on the great connections from this trip... truly powerful. I would definitely recommend BlogWorld as a must-attend to anyone interested in blogging & social media.