Talking About Blogging at BlogHer
Last Friday, I was invited to speak at BlogHer ’12, the eighth annual convention of BlogHer. BlogHer is a community and media company that was created in partnership with women in social media. In 2005, Lisa Stone, Elisa Camahort Page, and Jory Des Jardins, were wondering where all the female bloggers were and founded BlogHer to satisfy their curiosity. BlogHer has become the largest community of women who blog: 40 million unique visitors per month. They are drawn there to seek and share advice, opinions, and recommendations. If you’re a female blogger, or are interested in blogging, visit BlogHer.
1 BlogHer 2012 was held at the Hilton in New York City.
2 I was the Lunch Keynote on Friday and Katie Couric appeared on Saturday. Other speakers included Soledad O'Brien, Christy Turlington Burns, and Malaak Compton-Rock.
3 In the green room, before my appearance, I met with bloggers Elisa Camahort Page, Lisa Stone - Co-Founders of BlogHer, Catherine McCord - http://weelicious.com/, Jaden Hair - http://steamykitchen.com/, and Elise Bauer - http://www.simplyrecipes.com/
4 These female bloggers loved my orange shoes and insisted on taking this fun photo.
5 Following the green room, I was led to the Grand Ballroom where my Q&A with Elisa Camahort Page took place.
6 The ballroom was set up for lunch and the room was filled with women blogging, Tweeting, and eating.
7 I made my entrance and took a photo of the crowd with my Blackberry. I always have some sort of camera on hand so that I can Tweet and blog.
8 After my introduction, Elisa Camahort Page began asking about my involvement with social media. I confessed that I only allow 5 minutes per day for Twitter.
9 I think that Twitter is amazing for research and instant surveys. I recently posted a question and received thousands of answers from all over the world in 30 different languages!
10 I have always been fascinated by technology and bought my very first computer when I was still a caterer. I even took a class at Columbia University to learn how to use it in my business.
11 Elisa commented that my blog is very personal, revealing much about my life and even brought up a hugely popular posting about when my dog, Francesca, sent me to the emergency room with a bloody split lip. http://www.themarthablog.com/2011/12/my-emergency-room-experience.html
12 We laughed about how I photographed the floral ceiling border in the ER and said that it needed updating. The updates have been made and Northern Westchester Hospital has a brand new amazing emergency room.
13 We also laughed about our funny TV bloopers and I explained how difficult it was for the producers to find enough bloopers to put together a loop because things were done so well the first time.
14 I mentioned that I would really like to have a late night comedy talk show and might approach PBS with the idea.
15 I also talked about a discussion I had that morning with Hannah Milman, our Executive Editorial Director of Crafts, about what a good blog should be.
16 Hannah and I agreed that a blog should be personal, passionate, and sharing. It should have a friendly openness and a real quality. The blogger should be a reporter with good communication skills.
17 We then discussed what has changed in business for women since I first got my start.
18 Sadly, in major businesses, there are only 4% of women CEOs. But, the number of women entrepreneurs has risen drastically. And the treatment of women in business has improved, as well.
19 Elisa introduced the audience to our upcoming Martha Stewart's Cooking School show on PBS and shared a video clip. I am very proud of this show.
20 She also showed a video featuring the iPad version of Living. Everyone in the audience was given a digital subscription to each of our magazine.
21 These photos flashed on the screen of me as a model, a stockbroker, and a caterer. I'm still all of those personalities, as they helped form who I am today.
22 I invited the guests to share their blogs by Tweeting at me or by emailing my Web site.
23 There were many interesting booths set up at BlogHer, including this great one of Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery booth, featuring our line of office furniture and supplies available at Staples.
24 These products can really help you get organized!
25 I was interviewed about this fabulous line by Nancy Spears of http://www.genconnect.com/#
26 I posed for a lot of photos.
27 And I signed blank journals from the Avery line.
28 Dole had a colorful booth with fruit carving demonstrations.
29 A closeup of carved apples
30 A lot of booths provided free manicures. Who doesn't like a manicure?
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Interesting!
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | August 7th, 2012 at 12:45 am
Just another great event that you have shared here with photos and video.Thank you and if you went to Harvey's party, can't wait to hear about it here. You look wonderful and current LIVING will be treasured for that great cover shot of you in those orange pants..
Posted by: ann | August 7th, 2012 at 6:42 am
What an interesting topic, the world of female bloggers. I follow several of them including you Martha, but you're first one I check every morning! I never knew you wanted a late night comedy show Martha, I shouldn't be surprised, you have a wonderful sense of humor! Loved seeing the photos of you as a model, stockbroker and caterer. Beautiful, smart and creative, that's you and hello!! those orange shoes are cute!
Posted by: Cindy F | August 7th, 2012 at 7:13 am
Martha,
What a fun picture of the shoes, your orang pants and shoes look great together! Your such a fashionista! Thanks for sharing this blog.
Trish,
Thanks for wishing me a happy birthday yesterday it made my day.
Posted by: KLBrown | August 7th, 2012 at 9:29 am
Hi Martha, I am not a blogger, but I do follow your fantastic blogs and the Daily Wag every day and enjoy seeing all of the great subjects you share with us! We get such a super variety of inspiring subjects that you share with all of your awesome photos from not only your fabulous homes but from all over the world! I feel like a real traveler every time I see your terrific blogs! This blog about Blogging at BlogHer is another fantastic event and the video you shared is perfect as well as inspiring! These photos are once again wonderful to see and you look so cute in those orange shoes and pants-awesome! Not only do you look great but you sound great whenever you are teaching us something new! I would love to see you on TV everyday if possible and to add a nighttime comedy show would be so special and fun to see! You are an awesome, intelligent person! Sure was fun to hear you live on Sirius RadioXM110 yesterday and I still listen to your reruns everyday on Sirius! Sure hope you have another great day! Off to check out The Daily Wag "Hiking Around Little Long Pond"! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | August 7th, 2012 at 9:49 am
Really enjoyed the interview...I agree that too many texts, etc., have resulted in much less conversation between people and the art of social speaking. Especially our youth of today. I am disturbed when I see young girls standing or sitting next to one another and instead of a verbal conversation between them, they text one another even being side by side. How crazy is that??? Social skills are being replaced with the touch of a button. How sad is that???
Happy Birthday Martha...and if I could say it instead of write it...I certainly would
Posted by: Becky | August 7th, 2012 at 11:48 am
Hi Martha,
Sorry I’m a little late to the table today but my browser was driving me nuts this morning. It kept hanging up so I left it hanging and went out to do some yard work. I’m getting rid of small white rocks in the garden which I want to replace with mulch and it’s a big job. I can’t believe we put so many rocks down when we started the garden years ago! #Mistake.
~
It looks like you were a big hit at BlogHer ’12, as if that is new news. You’re always a big hit! Maybe there weren’t so many women bloggers in 2005 but there are plenty of them now. As you already know as a pinner, most of us who pin connect with a lot of them through Pinterest, but Twitter also, and they are great sources for finding different recipes, crafts and whatever. A blog would have been nice for me back in the day when I used to do a lot of crafting and sewing but I wouldn’t have much to contribute if I blogged now.
~
There are some extraordinary women out there for sure though who not only blog but write cook books too – Brette Sember is one that comes to mind. I first ‘met’ her on one of your community message boards some years ago and then we followed each other on Twitter. At first I thought she blogged only about the recipes of yours that she cooked but then came her books. I recently bought her muffin tin cookbook. Anyway, I don’t know who the first person was to start a blog but in my opinion, you have always been the leader of topics in the domestic field. We only need to go back to your first book “Entertaining” to figure that one out, and now YOU and your company, in my opinion, are responsible for a world full of not only domestic type bloggers but new entrepreneurs as well. On top of that, you will be awarding one American entrepreneur $10,000 to help promote their American Made product/business and they will be featured in an issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine. I think that is fantastic – I’m all for American Made! I can’t wait to vote and find out who the winner is – here’s the link and thanks for this interesting blog. http://americanmade.marthastewart.com/
Trish
Posted by: Trish | August 7th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
To KL Brown...I had already Blogged before your entry, so I missed that Sunday was your birthday, so...
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!
And, may you be Blessed with many more.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | August 7th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Martha,
You look wonderful!
Posted by: SheriNJ | August 7th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Martha! It was really a lifelong dream to get to hear you speak at BlogHer last week (and on your birthday no less!). I was sad I didn't get your signature on my book....I was already envisioning framing it for my craft room, but it's ok....I understand you are a busy lady! Thanks for making time in your day to speak! You are my favorite.
Posted by: Emily @ Peck Life | August 7th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Thanks Gloria G!
Posted by: KLBrown | August 7th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
I'm probably one of the few men that writes a blog that very many women are interested in. I love the connectivity of the new media. I read your blog first thing every day! Check out my blog at http://www.thedecoratedtree.blogspot.com. I haven't been spending as much time on it as I used to, but please peruse my blog archive if you have the time. Also, I've created a print-to-order book based on my blog here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3433522. I gave you a small mockup of my book idea at a book signing you had here at the Atlanta aquarium a few years back and I've made it into a reality. I MUST SAY MARTHA STEWART OMNIMEDIA has been my GREATEST INSPIRATION in so many ways! Thank you!
Posted by: Darryl Moland | August 7th, 2012 at 8:50 pm
I sure do miss you on NETWORK TV. Made working at the computer so much more enjoyable. I don't have cable TV the Women In Photography International organization takes up so much time. Barely have time to check into FB once in a while! So.. Yes.. come back to Network TV. Just do it..!!
Posted by: Jean Ferro | August 7th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
I really love this video. I read your blog every day...and catch up when I miss. I have read it for three years, It has shaped my understanding of blogging and social media. It has helped me personally and professionally. I get the how to's in the content from all your mult-media outlets but from this tool I get you a little better. More importantly, I am concerned as you emphasized about the trend of the younger generation to only email and text. Good communication takes practice. I hope that you keep saying that message...it is about face to face, phone, hand written letters plus the new technology not minus. How do we become better at communication if we eliminate certain forms? Please keep talking about the need for balance. Thank you for your leadership, Martha! And all that you do for us. This observation is really keen to becoming from you and your generation. Really keen bridge to all the tools that you mastered from the generations before you which are now gone. It reminds me of the power of your words in Professor Gates' show on your family history. So much there, there that we have to bring forward to the next generation as they transform us into the changes from the technology.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | August 10th, 2012 at 10:43 am
I was there! I saw you and learned so much! I was sitting at the table with all the teachers. There were 12 of us that have blogged together on http://www.teachingblogaddict.com for over a year and we had never met in person before until BlogHer. It was so great to all come together from around the United States and finally meet these amazing teachers who blog. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and encouragement with us all Martha! You are an inspiration to so many.
Posted by: Tamara Chiver | August 10th, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Martha, I was so impressed by your appearance at the conference! You looked wonderful and I loved the color of your slacks and shoes! But most importantly, your intelligence and business acumen really shone through, with a side of charm.
You are clearly a woman with tremendous foresight and strength and I congratulate you on your many, many achievements. Your ability to thrive, not just survive, is a theme I have been encountering a lot lately, so hearing you speak was particularly timely for me. Thanks for taking the time on your birthday to be with us.
Posted by: Marie | August 12th, 2012 at 8:16 pm