Blog, Flog and Log
Lucy Wightman
“BlogHer.” That is catchy. My mind immediately jumps to “FlogHer,” “LogHer,” and “BangHer.”
Today in AdAge there was a report on the BlogHer Conference in New York.
Billed for the “tech-savvy” woman, it had “record attendance.” Reading on I became increasingly disgusted and developed a manageable rash.
The AdAge summary described the attendees as the “mommy market” in sentence number one. BlogHer is said to include 2,500 blogs receiving over 20 million hits each month. How adorable to describe the conference as a way for marketers to meet “mommies.’
More disturbing and rash-producing was the VP of strategic alliances for the entity called BlogHer. She said, “The BlogHer woman wants to know what is happening. Marketers have to give her greater value, they have to be authentic, and they have to listen to her.” Then comes the irresistible prediction; “If the brand brings value to this woman, she will love that brand and advocate for that brand, in her words, in her way.”
Who writes her copy? Let me give it an opposing try. “The BlogHer woman prefers to remain clueless, oblivious actually, to what is going on. The more things cost, the better, even if the brand or product is worth pennies, and better yet if you sell fakes.” Overstating the obvious, again.
The agenda for the two days included speed dating “BlogHer style,” resume writing, food, sex, and a host of writing and photo taking workshops. The deepest, most stimulating menu item was um, uh, not sure really.
Blech.
Maybe I am just a bit jumpy, looking for a debate. I understand that gender differences are real. I hear the complaints decades after my college women’s studies classes. We do it to ourselves. It is not “their” fault.
Of course we are limited because we do not leave the starting stalls even though we huff, puff and paw at the gate. High-gloss stupidity is unbecoming to any gender, or combination of the same. Authentic stupidity simply cannot be helped.
Here is a rewrite.
New York City hosted a BlogHim conference for 2,500 daddies that blog, earning them a coveted spot on the FlogHim blogroll. The tech-savvy daddies really want to know what is happening and demand greater value. If it is not authentic then forget it boys! No one will buy your things so pack up and go home. Give some one else your tradeshow cubicle.
But if he loves what you sell at the conference, he will fall all over it, and then stand back up, brush off his trousers and promote it using his very own words. He will even do it his way. Any sponsor would be lucky to have a captive audience of daddies busy networking and tittering.
Attend a beginner’s workshop where you can learn how to blog, realize ways to use your voice and even outline your memoirs. Meet the real Pillsbury Dough Boy, get involved in sandwich making, learn about the diaper genie or relax and decorate postcards. Tons of your favorite daddy brands right under one roof.
Rash gone.
