If you aren't familiar with BlogHer, just wait.
BlogHer '13 will take Chicago by storm July 25-27, 2013. The group has put dibs on McCormick Place, which gives you a sense of scale. These (primarily) female bloggers bring with them the potential to shine a very positive light on our city and, more specifically, its burgeoning digital scene. BlogHer is reported to be the world's largest conference of women in social media.
I just returned from the BlogHer '12 conference in New York City, and let me tell you, these ladies are serious -- and they know how to network. Registration was closed the day the conference opened on Thursday because the meeting space at the Hilton New York was at capacity -- 5,000 bloggers and representatives from what can only be described as a Who's Who of corporate brands.
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Photo credit: BlogHer.com
Headliners at this year's BlogHer jamboree were design maven Martha Stewart and broadcast journalist and soon-to-be syndicated show host Katie Couric. President Obama opened the conference by live video feed reminding the group that "women's issues are front and center" this election year. (For the record, BlogHer is non-partisan. Representatives from both the Obama and Romney campaigns participated in panel discussions.)
Pretty wild when you consider that the network of bloggers has only been in existence for seven years. Lisa Stone, Elisa Camahort Page and Jory Des Jardins founded BlogHer in 2005 after wondering “Where are all the women bloggers?” In annoucing the decision to hold its next meeting in Chicago, Page (pictured above with Stewart) seem truly amazed herself at what they've created. The first meeting in 2005 was held in San Jose and attracted 300 writers, which Page told the New York gathering was impressive at the time considering it was held on relatively short notice.
Since those humble beginnings, Lisa Stone told the convention's closing business session that BlogHer has paid $17 million in earnings to the now 3,000 bloggers who participate in the group's ad network. For those advertisers, BlogHer cites traffic that puts it in the top tier of brands on the Internet: 40 million unique vistors a month (April, 2012, Nielsen Site Census).
The vibe at this year's conference was casual and informative. And you just got a sense that this is a group that knows its clout. Sponsors included Pfizer, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Johnson & Johnson, Samsung, Verizon Wireless, Dodge, Dannon, Harley-Davidson, Lysol, Quilted Northern, McDonald's, PetSmart and the list goes on and on. You get the picture.
So the blogging ladies are headed to the Midwest. It will actually be their third time here and judging by the comments I heard in reaction to the news on the convention floor and those left on the website's message board, the membership could not be more excited. I don't think I'm overstating it to say that it's on par with welcoming all the journalists who came to town to cover NATO. These are women who usually stick close to home to take care of the kids or aging parents. Coming to Chicago will be a sacrifice and a big deal.
Let's welcome these influential writers to Chicago with open arms.
