WordCampDallas Business Panel

Filed Under Business Life, Strategy, Successful Blog | 1 Comment

An Exceptional Experience

I’m not a fan of panels as presentation format. I’ve been on them and attended them, and in both roles, I’ve found that the experience is often less than it might have been with a well-prepared speaker. Still I was honored when I was invited to join the business blogging panel at WordCampDallas 2008.

Had I know John Pozadzides before that event, I might have known this panel would be an exception.

The original panel was to be Aaron Brazell, Mark Ghosh, and Liz Strauss – that’s me. What fun when the panel started and Matt Mullenweg came up to sit down along with us in the big chairs at the Frisco City Hall.

The rest is history. John moderated the panel as well as any television host. He played devil’s advocate to get the discussion going. He was sure to connect the thoughts from one question to the next so that the discussion went well beyond the surface chat of most panel discussions.

Watch the video. Even if you don’t blog for business, seeing a panel this well done is an exceptional experience.

Thank you, John P.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

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THAT’s Reader Appreciation!!

Filed Under Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog | 13 Comments

Not Everyone Would Do This Much

Ronald Huereca, of The Reader Appreciation Project, was in the audience of WordCamp Dallas. This week he posted a 25-page transcript, called Liz Strauss at WordCamp Dallas Transcript. Imagine the incredible work typing and rewinding the video to get 45 minutes into a transcript. Ronald did it so that folks who don’t hear well could participate in the session.

Wow! That’s Reader Appreciation! If you have a minute, click the logo to go over and leave a comment.

The Reader Appreciation Project

Ronald deserves some appreciation for a job well done! He’s an example of everything we like about the blogosphere!

Thank you, Ronald.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

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See the WordCamp Dallas Videos at Your Leisure.

Filed Under SOB Business, Successful Blog | 7 Comments

Word Camp 2008

Some folks have emailed asking where they might see the WordCamp Dallas presentations. Here are the videos released so far.

Liz Strauss WordCamp Dallas 2008

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Liz Strauss - Cmon, Lets Talk! It was a totally bad hair day, but the words went well — Well most of them.

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Lorelle VanFossen - WordPress Power Tips

Jonathan Bailey — Detect and Stop Content Theft

WordCamp Dallas 2008: The WordPress Podcast

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Cali Lewis and Neal Campbell

WordCamp Dallas 2008: John Pozadzides’ 45 Ways to Power Up Your Blog

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Matt Mullenweg, WordPress 2.5 and Beyond

Thanks to the folks who did the video and to John P. for posting them.

– ME “Liz” Strauss
Image source: John P.
Need help with writing? Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. All of that expertise in one room! Register now!

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5 Things I Learned about Bloggers from WordCamp Dallas

Filed Under Basics, Community, Successful Blog | 19 Comments

Investment and Return

WordCamp Dallas Logo

Being a part of WordCamp Dallas was something I especially looked forward to — it’s always fun to be part of a conference where folks are deeply committed, even more to be part of one right before I’ve got one of my own about to launch in a few weeks. It’s an opportunity to learn, to connect, and to improve.

Still any trip is an investment. It means preparation. It means time doing something I don’t usually do — and the “usually dos” still need doing. So I make sure that go to find the value. Since I work on the people side, connecting businesses to clients and customers. For me, the value was getting to know more about how bloggers and learners and the way they respond to learning things new. At WordCamp Dallas, that wasn’t hard to see examples everywhere. Here are just three of the things that I learned about bloggers at WordCamp Dallas.

  • Bloggers work hard and rise to the call. Matt Mullenweg began the event with his “State of WordPress” conversation and the announcement of the relsease of WordPress 2.5. The fact that he was recently parted from four wisdom teeth didn’t stop his investment or what he offered to the group all weekend. A strong product stands on the shoulders of a strong man. Do check out the features of 2.5. They’re a reflection of the man who spoke about them.
  • Bloggers value great content. From John Pozadzides presentation — 45 ways to power up your blog – to Jonathan Bailey’s explanation of how to handle content theft folks were engaged and paying attention. They were there to get the quality content. Alex Frison said so.
  • Bloggers are smart people with forward-thinking views. Conversations between sessions with folks, such as Mark Hopkins, Aaron Brazell, and Mark Ghosh, gave me new things to think about. That’s a value you can’t find just anywhere.
  • Bloggers participate. Charles Stricklin had this idea for WordCamp Dallas. He got the ball rolling. Participation made it happen so well. John P. pulled together an entire team to make it operational. Lorelle put herself into helping find great speakers with the best content. She interviewed, asked questions, presented, and talked to every person there. Charles’s live podcast on Sunday was all about participation. He kept the program rolling from the microphone.
  • Bloggers support each other. While I was gone some great bloggers at home helped me keep SOBCon08 and this rolling forward. They include: Jesse Petersen, Mother Earth, Terry Starbucker, Easton Ellsworth, JC Hutchins, Lorelle VanFossen, and Rick Cockrum

Whether I’m presenting or participating as an attendee, I always have to measure what I’m investing before I go to a conference or a seminar. Any such trip means doing something more and keeping what I do going at the same time. So I want to make sure that the investment will have a return.

None of these WordCamp learnings are new things. Yet the people, the thoughts, and the interactions were underscored each value in a new way. Every connection was worth every minute I invested to get and be there. It’s a worthwhile investment when folks bring us back to remembering what’s important about gathering together.

People like to do business with other people, not companies. We learn from each other because of the reasons the bloggers at WordCamp brought to the event.

Thank you WordCamp Dallas for reminding me of what I already knew.

What do you want to remember not to forget?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

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