So I’m a tech blogger of the new media persuasion. And there’s a conference that many new media bloggers are going to — perhaps you’ve heard of the one Mike Arrington and Jason Calacanis is putting together, TechCrunch 40.
Now, I’m *not* going to TechCrunch 40. Its not because I don’t want to (because I’d love to see what Hammer has to say about new media). Its because of a lot of things really. I can’t get time off my day job as a medical resident. My parents and my wife’s parents are out of town, so no babysitting help for my wife. Flights to SF aren’t cheap. And so on.
Translation? I don’t really do *this* (points to blog) as a living — as a sole thing that I do.
So, does not flying across the country to go to a tech conference where “major” tech bloggers are going … does that not make me a “real” blogger? I mean, if we use Jason Calacanis’s recipe for being an A-list blogger, going to a couple conferences a month (actually the original post says “per week”)Michael Arrington of TechCrunch and not me is part of the prescription, right?
Clearly then (at the risk of dredging up that horrible blog convo that won’t go away) I’m not an A-list blogger, but does not going to major conferences not make me a “real” blogger?
I don’t really know the answer to this, except that I used to think that whatever notion of the “kind” of blogger I am rests in the perceptions of you — my readers. And while its true, we are judged by the content of our posts, its *also* true that the promotion of your blog is an equally important activity.
And the promotion and marketing of one’s blog is often determined by how many people you know, and how well they know you; and its only made a whole lot easier and more powerful when those connections are made in person.
I’ve been blessed with being able to meet some pretty interesting and relatively important blogging folks in my time blogging. And I don’t know where this blog would have been without those relationships.
But if you never met any people “live” though, and made all of your relationships virtually — well, *could* you, and still be regarded a “real” blogger? I suspect the answer is a hearty “yes”, albeit that its probably harder.
Harder to make connections, harder to really report on what’s actually happening, harder to convince people about who you are, and harder to make who you are memorable. Because all you’ll really have is your writing, and your ability to connect online.
Which, I suppose, is what we all started with, and are eventually, judged upon.
September 16th, 2007 at 11:06 pm | Permalink
Going (or not going) to a conference does not change anything frankly. People who are loyal to your blog are not leaving because you aren’t in SF. I said this morning at the brunch that I wish I could afford to go and cover every conference. But I have to be so picky and choosey (new word) because of it.
And actually, sometimes being away can give you an interesting perspective. For example, let’s say 30 bloggers write about the demo they just saw from abc company - you can sit back and read all, and actually look at some number of products and provide a more comprehensive review.
For me, I prefer to sit with a startup, learn about who they are, what they do and I try to always offer insight and guidance, so this format is a bit tough, Plus I think it will be a madhouse in terms of schedule. One glitch and the whole schedule is borked - either no lunch or overtime. But the energy should be electric i think.
Either way, don’t get down about not being at any conference, I know we wish we could be at them all, but no worries.
I tell you a quick story my uncle used to tell me - as a young man, he walked past the cadillac dealership everyday to work and everyday said one day i will own one of these. twenty years later he finally had enough money to buy one and guess what - he bought a ford. why? he said it was because he thought he wanted one because everyone else thought he should have one.
what does that mean? well the truth is you are what you believe you are. believe you are a-list, and you are. believe you are crap, and you are. and who decides what rank you are? as long as you are serving the mission you put out, staying true to it, and being loyal to your readers, then you are the top of the class.
remember tony - this ain’t brain surgery. :-P
September 16th, 2007 at 11:16 pm | Permalink
I’m not going to TC40 and I’m right here in the Bay Area. $2,500 a ticket for is way outside my personal budget, and my employer is not willing to pick up the tab either.
I’m trying to get to the BlogWorld thing in Vegas in November, though.
September 16th, 2007 at 11:17 pm | Permalink
But if you never met any people “live” though, and made all of your relationships virtually — well, *could* you, and still be regarded a “real” blogger?
———
I sure the hell hope so or I’m screwed trying to explain why I spend so much time doing this blogging thang … :)
September 16th, 2007 at 11:33 pm | Permalink
In this day and age, what is an “A-List” blogger anyways??? If you go back and look at people had that title a year ago they certainly don’t have the influence they used to, and they certainly aren’t writing as often as they used to.
It is all a bunch of crap anyways, we are people, it is not like a seperate race was created just because of a new “content management system.”
September 17th, 2007 at 12:13 am | Permalink
going to these things can help further your blog’s prospects as real life interactions can add different elements to networking and relationships - however I think that conferences can also be quite a big distraction and take you away from the core tasks of writing a successful blog.
I would get to 1-2 conferences a year maximum and have found them to be valuable - but the distance I needed to travel and the time needed to prepare and recover from them meant that I was effectively away from my blogs for 2-4 weeks just to attend them. I sometimes wonder what impact I could have had if I’d put those weeks into some other activity to grow and improve my blog.
I guess one needs to weigh up the pros and cons.
The other thing I’d add is that it would depend upon the conference and the topic of your blog. For you as a new media blogger there would be more reason to attend TC40 (as there might be for me) but for 99.9% of bloggers out there it’d be a complete waste of time because their blogs don’t touch on the topics covered in the conference. Them not attending definitely doesn’t make them any less of a blogger for not being there.
Sorry - just a few random and jumbled thoughts :-)
September 17th, 2007 at 12:13 am | Permalink
Tony,
I’m in the same boat. Too much going on in my “real job” to get away for blogging conferences. Bloggers like you and I have to keep up by focusing on our readers and the content that keeps those readers coming back. Keep that up as you have thus far and you will continue your blogging success!
Brent
September 17th, 2007 at 12:32 am | Permalink
I think the conference might not be worth the time and trouble. Make sure you enjoy what you are doing, and keep your original blogging purpose in mind–that’s all. Amy
September 17th, 2007 at 1:39 am | Permalink
Going to conferences is great, but you do write a very good blog, Tony. That conversation we had by IM while I was on an Amtrak train coming home to Portland from Gnomedex was sure better than no personal connection at all! I would love to meet you face to face some time, whether your lack of conference attendance is a character flaw or not :)
September 17th, 2007 at 1:40 am | Permalink
Going to conferences is great, but you do write a very good blog, Tony. That conversation we had by IM while I was on an Amtrak train coming home to Portland from Gnomedex was sure better than no personal connection at all! I would love to meet you face to face some time, whether your lack of conference attendance is a character flaw or not :) Just teasing.
September 17th, 2007 at 2:23 am | Permalink
Gee, I sure hope not. I again am in the Bay Area and haven’t the time or $$$ to attend all these conferences (although - in retrospect I shoulda checked out WordCamp … next year perhaps).
Actually, for some strange reason many of the blogs I read are up in your neck of the woods… I’m starting to think all the *real* bloggers are in Canada.
September 17th, 2007 at 10:24 pm | Permalink
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