A little over a week ago, I attended the BlogHer 2010 conference in New York City. It was wonderful for a variety of reasons: the husband and baby girl went with me, I was part of a group of seven Latina bloggers sponsored by Vme TV, and there was an amazing vibe present amongst the bloggers attending.

On a personal level, I was able to connect and hang out with many people, both from the brand/PR side, as well as fellow bloggers. Many hugs, laughs, and conversations were exchanged. The bond between a group of women who “talk” on a regular basis online, was deeply strengthened.

This year’s BlogHer also afforded me some fabulous professional opportunities. From co-hosting the first-ever Latino BlogHer community party, Social Fiesta, and speaking on a panel, to being interviewed for the first time ever…then proceeding to two additional video interviews. All of this in just three short days.

Photo courtesy of TODAY Moms crew

The panel I spoke on, titled Latinas in Social Media, was very successful. As both a speaker and moderator of the panel, I am extremely pleased with the outcome and have received really positive feedback from those in the audience. Both bloggers and brand/PR representatives enjoyed learning about the Latina social media community and hearing first-hand from Latina bloggers. A dialogue ensued between the panel and attendees that could have lasted for many more hours, but unfortunately had to be cut short due to time limitations. However, it was a wonderful start to what I envision will lead to many more conversations via blogs and other social media outlets.

I’d like to create such an outlet here by sharing some highlights from the panel for those who couldn’t attend, and continue the dialogue so that both bloggers and brands can learn from each other.

First, the panelists that spoke at the BlogHer 2010 Latinas in Social Media session were:

• Lexi Esparza – La Primera Blog – @laprimera
• Monica Vila – The Online Mom – @theonlinemom
• Jeannette Kaplun – Todobebé – @jeannettekaplun
• Silvia Martinez – Mamá Latina Tips – @mamalatina
• Melanie Edwards – ModernMami.com – @modernmami

Some key facts we introduced at the beginning of the panel:

• Latinas have been blogging for an average of 4 years, some much longer
• Latina-owned blogs are written in English, Spanish, or a combination: 72% English, 69% Spanish, 8% Spanglish
• 37% of Latina blogs focus mostly on being Latina; 18% have never mentioned they’re Latina
• While all panel members are moms, many Latina bloggers are not and some are single and have never been married
• Variety of topics/niches amongst Latina blogging community: politics, food, coupons/frugal, culture, green living, etc.

*Source: Latina Bloguera Survey, July 2010 (over 900 Latina bloggers were surveyed)

Each panelist shared what inspires her to write and how being a Latina influences her writing, if it does at all. A consensus amongst the panelists was that being Latina does influence our writing, much in the same way it influences our daily lives. We all embrace our Latino culture and bring a variety of cultural values and traditions to our blogs. While none of the panelists particularly focus on Latino culture on their blogs, they all agreed with my statement that “I may not often write about being a Latina or my culture, but I share a Latina point of view on similar topics others write about.”

In addition to sharing our personal stories, the panel asked questions of the audience, since we were also interested in learning from them. Some questions we asked attendees included:

• Do you feel you need to announce that you’re Latina on your blog? Should we have to?
• For the PR and brand representatives: What do you look for when marketing to Latinas or reaching out to Latina bloggers? What about when seeking bloggers in general to join your campaigns?
• What is the value in collecting together as Latinas and working together?

From the comments shared, I learned that whether or not a blogger specifies she is Latina on her blog will depend greatly on the person and the content of the blog. For example, one blogger pointed out that when writing about political issues, announcing yourself can lead to privacy and safety issues – she herself had even received death threats via her blog. Others have no issues announcing their heritage and find it to bring about many more connections. I myself shared that when I began ModernMami.com in 2006, I did not specify I was a Latina. Those that knew Spanish or were familiar with the term, recognized the “mami” part of the blog name and would ask if I was Latina. However, about two years later, an online friend suggested that I incorporate being Latina more into my writing, and I proceeded to share that I am Latina on my about page. The change in how I was approached was evident almost immediately.

The PR and brand representatives that spoke up during the panel shared that mostly they don’t specifically look for Latina bloggers, but more so great content. They shared that when seeking bloggers to partner with on campaigns, they look at several factors:

1. Numbers do matter. While they’d love to say it’s not important, many of their PR clients and brands do ask for numbers.
2. Content matters more. They love to see personality in the content you write and prefer that as bloggers we incorporate personal stories into our blog posts rather than just copy and paste a press release.
3. Be professional. Above all, act professionally when working with brands and PR companies. After a good experience with a blogger on a campaign, it’s more likely they’ll reach out to you again for future campaigns.

As I mentioned, I’d like to continue the conversation held during the BlogHer panel. Whether you’re a blogger, PR or brand representative, and whether or not you attended the session during BlogHer ’10, please share your thoughts on the information and questions discussed. I think many from both sides can learn from each other.

Some more information concerning Latina bloggers that came about during or after BlogHer 2010 (video interviews found below):

• Bloguera Power!
• The Explosion of the Latina Blogger
• Latina bloggers on the rise – TODAY Moms interview Ana Lilian Flores, Carrie Ferguson Weir, and Melanie Edwards
• Women, The 5G Network via PepsiCo interviews Melanie Edwards

Videos:

TODAY Moms Interview

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

PepsiCo Interview

This post was co-written with Ana Lilian Flores of SpanglishBaby.

When I began blogging in 2006, it was hard for me to find other Latino bloggers. There were some, but in the last year and a half there has been an explosion in how many Latino-owned blogs are now published. In fact, the Blogs By Latinas directory had only 156 registered blogs in October 2009 and, less than a year later, has added 505 new ones, with that number increasing by the day. I think it’s all very exciting and couldn’t be happier about it.

I’ve been able to meet some amazing bloggers – and particularly women – who I wouldn’t have met otherwise. They are inspiring, smart, and generous. This is something that is not unique to them because they are Latinas, but the fact that they are, provides for an almost-immediate connection amongst us. We are able to relate on various levels, principally on living a bi-cultural life.

But you see, Latina bloggers are outpacing the general market in our growth. According to Sophia Mind, Hispanic women in the U.S. are one of the fastest-growing online demographics, and more than 85 percent of Latinas visit social networks on a regular basis. It makes sense then, that Latina bloggers are now seeing much more interest and engagement from brands and companies. Why? For the same reasons we connect with each other; we are Americans who easily maneuver two cultures – often times two languages as well – and we love our social media, which is perfect for spreading the right message.

Let’s take a look at two companies in particular that have successfully engaged with Latina bloggers: General Mills and V-Me.

This past May, General Mills invited 32 Latina bloggers from around the country – flying most of us to Miami at company expense – to participate in the re-launch of Que Rica Vida, its Hispanic-focused family website. The event was unique in that it was the first time in the blogging world that a company focused so heavily on marketing to Latinas. Through attending, we were able to learn about the brand’s initiatives, connect with other Latinos (bloggers and journalists), and use our social media presence to share relevant information with our various online communities.

In addition to the efforts of General Mills, there is a group of seven influential Latina bloggers who are being sponsored to attend the BlogHer 2010 conference by V-me, a Spanish-language TV network in partnership with public television. This is the first time any media company is sponsoring a group of bloggers at a major blog conference, let alone a group that is culture-specific. It’s a timely decision, as this year, there will be more Latina bloggers at BlogHer than ever before. We will also have a more active role in the conference with the inclusion of the first all-Latina panel session at BlogHer and the Social Fiesta, BlogHer’s first Latina-inspired community party in celebration of Latina and Hispanic culture.

By selecting these seven women, each with their own following and niche expertise, V-me is building a relationship in which the bloggers act as advocates and create awareness for a brand they already know and trust. “V-Me’s partnership with popular American Latina bloggers is a sign of what is to come — the massive recognition by corporations that Latina brand ambassadors are a smart investment in reaching a powerful market that speaks in two dominant languages and thrives in two cultures,’’ said Carrie Ferguson Weir, publisher of Tiki Tiki Blog, an award-winning site about growing up, and living, Latino in the United States.

So, who are these women that have partnered with V-Me? The seven Latina bloggers chosen by V-me to represent the network are:

• Ana Lilian Flores – SpanglishBaby
• Carol Cain – The Adventures of a NYCity Mama
• Carrie Ferguson Weir – Tiki Tiki Blog
• Melanie Edwards – ModernMami.com and 40weeks Plus
• Rory Lassanske – Mamá Contemporánea
• Roxana A. Soto – SpanglishBaby and MimosBlog
• Silvia Martinez – Mamá Latina Tips and Disneylandia al Día

You’ve already heard from some of these bloggers above, but what do the rest of these Latina bloggers have to say about the recent surge in marketing to Latinas? In their own words:

“Marketers and PR agencies are turning their attention to the Latina blogosphere in a big way because they have noticed what a diverse, opinionated and influential group we are. As the Hispanic population continues its upward trend, brands will continue to reach out to bloggers who capture the true spirit of this diverse group and that know how to talk to us in a way that reflects who we are. Such is the case with V-me’s decision to choose seven of the most influential Latina bloggers, each with a voice of our own, to represent them as Ambassadors during BlogHer 10. This is a huge opportunity for us to show how professionally we approach blogging as a career and how far our reach can go.” – Ana Lilian Flores

“I believe that the support of bloggers by major brands and corporations legitimizes and recognizes the work, dedication, passion, and enthusiasm that goes into so many of the blogs out there. Blogs are the products of many creative people, people who inspire, people who support, and people who have something of value to share. When brands support blogs – good, well written blogs- they also help the entrepreneurs and creative writers behind them.

When those bloggers are Latinas, or women of color, they support something more. A voice not often well-represented or heard. I am excited to be a member of the V-Me group not because it gave me a way to get to a conference, but because it gave me an opportunity to stand side-by-side other Latinas who, despite our common culture, represent a variety of interests, lifestyles, and voices different from my own. A difference that was specifically sought out and is enthusiastically supported. Together we represent the differences in our culture on many levels, just as V-Me does. This type of blog-brand relationship is one I hope to see more of in the near future.” – Carol Cain

Are you a Latina blogger? What has been your experience with brands so far? If you’re on the brand or marketing side, what appeals to you about engaging with Latina bloggers?

Disclosure: I attended the Que Rica Vida launch event in Miami, FL as a guest of General Mills. All opinions and thoughts are my own and I was not required to post about the event. In addition, V-Me TV is a sponsor of mine for the BlogHer 2010 conference.

Photos by Dariela Cruz and used with permission.

I’ve come across quite a few blog posts the past few days. I always seem to be sharing interesting articles with various people I think will like them, so I figured I’d share with everyone this time.

Here are some posts I’ve either bookmarked or stumbled this week. For more, take a look at my StumbleUpon or Delicious pages.

Social Media

How to Create a FaceBook Landing Page for Your Blog

5 Ways I’m Using Facebook to Drive Traffic, Build Brand and Increase Reader Engagement

10 Beautiful Social Media Infographics

Blogging

A Complete Guide to Finding and Using Incredible Flickr Images

Comment on other blogs!

The Number One Way to Flip Your Blog into a Business

Personal

Our Pre-Motherhood Self

Retroacculturation. Retroacculturated. That’s me. Is it You?

I’m still not White, but am I American Indian?

What posts did you come across this week that you think I should read? It’s ok if it’s your own.

By the way, if you’re Latina and a blogger, please complete this survey. We will be presenting some of the results during our BlogHer Latinas in Social Media panel and of course, the survey report will have a much larger impact as it will help many learn about the Latina blogging community.

Blogging without readers is about as much fun as throwing a party and having no one show up. Whether you’re blogging professionally or casually, it’s nice to get a comment and know that you’ve connected with others.

When building a loyal readership, it’s important to keep in mind that not all your readers are bloggers. In fact, readers who aren’t bloggers themselves are very valuable. Non-blogging readers aren’t busy tending to their own blogs and thus will have more time to visit and comment on yours. But how do you attract non-blogging readers? Where do you find them and how do you keep them? Here are 15 tips for building your non-blogging readership.

15 Tips for Attracting Non-blogging Readers to Your Blog

1. Make sure your blog is non-blogger friendly. Some non-bloggers are not technically inclined. Is the layout easy to follow for them? To test this, ask your grandmother or another older relative to visit your blog and give her opinion. You might be surprised by some very good suggestions for making your blog or website easier to navigate.
2. Don’t make commenting a challenge. Make sure that when people leave a comment, the only information they need to fill out is their name and possibly E-mail address. (URL should be optional not mandatory.) Also re-consider using captchas. A lot of people find them very frustrating.
3. Make it easy for them to return. Can they subscribe by E-mail and RSS? Do you have a distinct favicon so you’re easy to identify?
4. Don’t underestimate word of mouth. Do you include your blog link in the signature of your E-mails? Is it on your business card? How about in your yearly Christmas letter? Don’t forget to share your blog URL with your parents, siblings, relatives, friends, co-workers, and neighbors so that they can pass it on to their friends. Some of my most loyal readers were friends of my sister, and I didn’t even know it until I met them and they told me they loved my blog.
5. You gotta give some to get some. Leave meaningful comments on blogs that are similar in content to yours. You’ll attract the blog owner and their readers. (It isn’t stealing – it’s widening the community.) Guest blogging is another great option. Invite someone to guest post on your blog, and consider accepting the offer if someone asks you to guest post on their blog.
6. Leave a trail. Do you have a Facebook page? Twitter profile? Photos on Flickr? YouTube videos? Sell stuff on Etsy or Ebay? Review books on Amazon.com?… Make sure your URL is somewhere on all of your user pages around the internet.
7. Ride the buzz. Once in awhile, write about something that is a “hot topic” in the headlines or in the blogosphere. Of course, don’t do it unless it’s something of interest to you and your readers. If it doesn’t fit your regular content, then the readers you attract won’t stick around.
8. Write about something obscure. Is there something you’re an expert on that few people are informed about? Is there something you really love but you’ve noticed it’s hard to find information about it? When you search online for it, are there almost no results? Write about that and then when others go searching, you’ll be at the top of the results. (Again make sure it fits your content.)
9. Go find them. Non-bloggers hang out in forums, message boards, social networks and chat rooms. Join a conversation on a message board that is relevant to your blog, and make sure your URL is in your signature.
10. Study SEO and apply the knowledge. Knowing a little about search engine optimization will help you blog effectively so that you’re easy to find through internet searches. There are a lot of free tutorials online. You don’t have to get into anything complicated. Even applying a few basic SEO principles will help you.
11. Make yourself approachable. Your E-mail address should be easy to find on your blog in case someone wants to contact you privately. Also, try your best to respond to each and every comment left on your blog, whether they’ve asked you a question, shared something about themselves, given you a compliment or even disagreed with you.
12. Be compatible with social news websites. Consider adding buttons to your blog posts so they can easily be submitted to social news and sharing websites like Stumbleupon, Digg, Reddit, etc. (But make sure you don’t add so many buttons that it looks cluttered.)
13. Have a Giveaway. Honestly, most of the people that are attracted by giveaways are coming for the free stuff and they won’t be back, but you might grab a reader here and there. Besides, giveaways are fun. Everyone likes to play Santa Claus once in awhile, don’t they?
14. Watch your statistics. Some blog platforms come with built in “stats” that you can check, or you can use a third party stat counting website to track how people are finding you, where they’re coming from, and where they hang out on your blog. Keep an eye on this information so you know what’s working and what’s not. This will determine what you spend more time doing, and what you stop wasting your time on.
15. “Content is King”. It’s been said again and again, but maybe it can’t be said too often. The biggest rule to remember is that you need to make consistently good content and be dependable with how frequently you update your blog.

Happy blogging, and I wish you many comments!

I was recently asked by Jai of Mami’s Time Out about sponsored blogger events. She is going to be attending her first brand-sponsored event next month and wondered what she should expect. Just like attending a conference for the first time, attending a brand’s event can bring about many questions. I asked around and gathered a few more questions about sponsored events from bloggers like Carrie of the Tiki Tiki. While I’m not an expert, here I give you my personal opinion and experience from having attended brand events in the past.

Dos and Don’ts

Photo from Chromatic

• Do bring business cards. You never know who you will run into at such events. Other bloggers you meet and share your time with during the event, will more than likely want to keep in touch. Various brand/company representatives will probably meet with you at various times during the event and you’ll want to connect with each as they may work for different departments than the folks who initially contacted you about the event.
• Do bring a camera and video camera. You’ll find yourself wanting to document the entire event and of course, there will be plenty of photo opportunities with your new friends. You will also probably have the chance to interview different representatives of the brand or fellow bloggers.
• Do ask questions. Since you’ll be meeting with brand representatives, you have the chance to ask questions about the company, products, services, practices, etc. You can even bring questions that your friends, family, and blog readers might have.
• Don’t act as a company representative. Though you may be asking questions and will probably share information with your readers, you are not a company employee or contractor. They have PR people who can properly spread the message of the brand. You are not their PR person. Unless you have been hired to be a spokesperson or consultant, in which case, then perhaps you are their PR person.
• Don’t be shy. Get comfortable with the other bloggers and get to know them. You’ll be together for quite a bit of time while attending the event. It’ll be more fun if you interact with each other.
• Don’t get caught up in drama. Sometimes sponsored blogger events can bring about drama, especially on twitter. Many reasons can incite the drama: non-supporters of the brand, general objections of sponsored events, and even disagreements about who was invited to the event. Ignore it. Don’t get caught up in it and waste time and energy.

Photo by Lawrence Peregrine-Trousers

Other Questions

Can you hustle your own product or service at a sponsored event?

While I think that blatantly pushing your own products and services might be frowned upon, I don’t see anything wrong with the information being on your business cards and you talking about it. For example, as you network and talk with various people, it’s natural to exchange business cards. This may lead to a conversation about what you do, projects you’re working on, or products you sell. However, if you were to approach people with the sole intent of giving them your elevator pitch, then that’s probably not going to work at such an event.

What if you disliked the event/product? Should you write about it? Is it an obligation?

When you attend a sponsored event, there is no obligation to write about your experience, the products, or the brand. Not for the events I’ve attended, at least. Of course, the brand and PR company hope that you do, since that is one of the reasons they’re bringing you and the other bloggers to the event. However, they’re also bringing you so that you can get to know the brand, what they’re about, and build a relationship for future collaboration.

If you end up disliking the event and/or the brand/product, consider providing feedback directly to the PR and brand representatives. You can tell them in-person even, what it was you think they could have done better.

Do you tell other bloggers you’re talking to that they may be quoted or their experiences referenced? (Ex: When you talk to a reporter, you’re always on the record, but are you with a blogger at an event?)

Honestly, I had never thought about this. I know that I’ve had conversations with other bloggers and phrases like, “Is it ok if I blog about this?” have come up. I think it’s expected that any pictures and video taken during the event may end up on various blogs, Flickr, or YouTube. And, of course people tend to mention the names and blogs of other bloggers they met at the event. But, I’ve found that generally people ask if they can directly quote something you said. Maybe some of you can share your thoughts on this – especially if you have a journalism background.

My best tip? Have fun. The agendas for such events are normally jam-packed and you’ll be bombarded with tons of information about the brand, their latest campaigns, and products. You’ll meet lots of people – from the brand as well as bloggers – and you’ll be trying to take it all in while also thinking of any family you’re away from for the duration of the event.

Pace yourself, get to know others, and have fun. You’ll probably bond well with the other bloggers at the event, and come back home with new friends and new ideas.

If you’ve attended sponsored events, what suggestions or tips can you share for those attending their first event? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below.

[top photo source]

Photo by Martin Abegglen

There’s been a lot of buzz recently regarding moms who blog and whether or not we should get paid for hosting giveaways. If you’ve ever hosted a giveaway on your blog before, you know there’s a lot of work involved. And if you don’t know just how much, let me break it down for you. On average, if you want your giveaway to be successful, then for each blog contest hosted, you usually have to:

• Review the items/services.
• Write a blog post, many times including personal images or even video you create.
• Promote the contest via various social media outlets.
• Promote the contest on other blogs and sweepstakes sites.
• Draw a winner.
• Contact the winner.
• Contact the contest sponsor with winner’s information.
• Follow-up with winner and/or sponsor if necessary.

With all the other millions of things that busy moms who blog have going on in their lives (blogging-related or not), that can take a lot of time out of your week.

As many have said, when you’re writing about any product or brand, you’re helping to promote them. It may not be equivalent to the promotion they’d receive on a larger website or on TV, etc., but it’s still promoting them. And, a blog giveaway is promoting them multiple ways. Think about it.

Not only are you writing about them on your blog (which lives forever via search engines), you’re also talking about them on social media. If you tweet about your contest 3 times a day for a week (standard length of a contest), you’re already at over 20 mentions for that one brand. So, for any given blog contest, you’ll probably be promoting that product or brand about 25 times.

Most bloggers do all of that promotion and work for free.

Now, I know that many bloggers do it to increase their page views, or to provide a good promotion to their readers. For many, that’s enough reward. Others feel that receiving the product in exchange for hosting the giveaway, is equivalent to payment. My opinion? In some cases, it might be enough. But, it depends. It depends on your personal situation, what you feel is worth your time, and what you feel is valuable to your readers.

However, if you’re doing all that work in exchange for a $20 product, which you’ll then have to claim on your taxes as income – is it really worth it?

Recently, I was approached about a new blogger program in which this brand was looking to partner with “five influential bloggers” for a giveaway. The program pitch requested that you post on your blog 6 consecutive days, with a total of seven blog posts to be written. This included not only your own giveaway, but also cross-promoting the other bloggers’ giveaways. SEVEN blog posts – one each weekday (two the day of your contest), plus an extra introductory post. That is a lot of blog posts for one particular brand and will dominate your blog.

Of course, I respectfully declined participation in the program and let them know that it was entirely too much to ask of any blogger without it being a compensated or sponsored program. I just could not see myself participating and doing all that work, to then have to claim $200 worth of products on next year’s taxes with no money in my pocket to show for it.

I share all this because I really want PR companies and brands to think about what you’re asking from bloggers before you pitch them. Are you going beyond creating a mutually benefiting relationship with that blogger and taking advantage of the free ad-space?

I also want my fellow bloggers to think about how much work you’re putting into each giveaway and really consider if it’s worth your time. I know I’ve agreed to host contests in the past that in the long-run were not truly beneficial to either my readers or to myself. I’m starting to learn from those mistakes, though. Plus, like I said – whether you host a giveaway and put in all that work for free is your decision and depends on your personal situation. It might be worth it. All I ask though is that you think about it first before responding to the pitch.

P.S. If you happen to know the brand/pitch I’m referring to in this post because you too received the pitch and/or are actually participating in the program, please don’t mention the name in the comments. My purpose is not to slander any given brand, but rather to share my experience so we can all learn from each other.

Extra reading: Show Me the Money by Audrey Binkowski

I’m ecstatic to let you know about the first-ever Latino themed party at a BlogHer conference! This year, there will be a Social Fiesta kicking off BlogHer, hosted by some wonderful Latina ladies (including yours truly) and the BlogHer organization.

If you’ll be attending the BlogHer conference this year, then come join us as we celebrate Latinas and Hispanic culture at the Social Fiesta at BlogHer ’10 on Thursday, August 5th.  We’ll be reveling in the different Latin flavors, music, colors and art, with plenty of food and drinks, and of course, lots of dancing!  What better way could there be to kick off BlogHer ’10?

You’ll need to RSVP in order to attend the event, but, don’t worry, that’s just a formality. The fiesta is open to anyone attending the BlogHer conference. Everyone is welcome to RSVP and all will be part of our familia! It’s sure to be a fun night!

Details

What: Social Fiesta at BlogHer ’10
Date: Thursday, August 5, 2010
Time: 6 pm EST
Where: Hilton New York
On twitter: #socialfiesta

How to RSVP: Visit the Social Fiesta Eventbrite page and “register” to RSVP for the party. You’ll need your BlogHer conference ticket confirmation number.

Hosted by BlogHer and the following Latinas in Social Media:

• Ana Roca Castro – premiersocialmedia.com
• Silvia Martinez – mamalatinatips.com
• Melanie Edwards – modernmami.com
• Carolyn Gonzalez – caroincarolina.blogspot.com
• Monica Vila – theonlinemom.com
• Jeannette Kaplun – todobebe.com
• Lisa Perez – newyorkchica.com
• Lex Esparza – laprimerablog.com
• Migdalia Rivera – latinaonamission.com
• Mariana Perez – ridingwithnohands.com
• Denisse Icaza – ahorrosparamama.com
• Daisy Sutherland – drmommyhelpsyou.com
• Julie Diaz-Asper – dbestof.com
• Ana Lilian Flores – spanglishbaby.com

Blog Bling

If you want to let everyone know you’ll be at the Social Fiesta, use these buttons on your blog! Spread the fiesta love people.

160×300

Copy and paste the following code:

<a href=”http://www.modernmami.com/blogging/blogher-party-social-fiesta-2010″ mce_href=”http://www.modernmami.com/blogging/blogher-party-social-fiesta-2010″><img src=”http://www.blogher.com/files/Fiesta_160x300.gif” mce_src=”http://www.blogher.com/files/Fiesta_160x300.gif” alt=”I’m going!” /></a>

125×125

Copy and paste the following code:

<a href=”http://www.modernmami.com/blogging/blogher-party-social-fiesta-2010″ mce_href=”http://www.modernmami.com/blogging/blogher-party-social-fiesta-2010″><img src=”http://www.blogher.com/files/Fiesta_125.jpg” mce_src=”http://www.blogher.com/files/Fiesta_125.jpg” alt=”I’m going!” /></a>

I can’t wait to see you at our fiesta!

They say an electrical storm is going to change our lives forever. I keep hearing it on the news – over and over again they repeat it, “An electrical storm is going to wipe out the Internet…forever.” It’s like 1999 all over again when everybody was freaking out about the year 2000 coming and breaking down all computer systems. Of course, all was fine in the end, but we sure were paranoid for an entire year.

Now, the Internet itself is in danger and we only have one day left to tweet, email, and be called “mommy bloggers.” Only one more day of hearing that one phrase that will either make moms stand up taller with pride or cover their face with shame – depending on who you ask.

Where the heck is Al Gore anyway? If he invented the damn thing, can’t he save it? Pffttt…a lot of good he turned out to be.

Since I only have one day left to share with you – well, everything – I’ve decided to leave you with these “last words.”

• Go have fun with your families.
• Turn up the radio real loud and dance like crazy with your kids.
• And the husband.
• Keep a journal. One day the Internet might be back and you’ll have hundreds of blog posts just waiting to be posted.
• On that note, maybe you should print out your entire blog for memory’s sake.
• Learn how to use a phone book again since we can’t just look it up on Google anymore. We’ll at least still have our phones, right?
• Kiss your k….

Wait. Forget this. I’m going to go.crazy without the Internet! No more wasting time…quick…everybody leave your phone number in the comments so we can text each other with twitter-like updates!

This post was written as an entry for the Mabel’s Labels BlogHer ’10 Contest. The Internet is not really going to be wiped out by an electrical storm. Not today anyway.

Happy Friday! I hope you have had a productive and fun week. For me, it’s been a good mix of the two, which is great because that’s how I define balance.

I’ve been busy working on a couple of Blogher 2010 Room of Your Own sessions as well as a new blog. So, today, I want to share my new projects with you.

BlogHer 2010

BlogHer has Room of Your Own sessions that you can submit a proposal for, then people can vote on whether or not they’d attend such a session, and hopefully your room is accepted and added to the conference agenda. It’s a way to get different topics on the agenda that may not have made it to the main track sessions. This year, I am excited to be a part of two sessions with some great friends.

Cross Cultural Encounters of the Virtual Kind: Achieving Understanding, Tolerance and Maybe Even World Peace Through Blogging

This session will focus on how in addition to multiculturalism, the blogging community also creates and sustains “cross culturalism” through blogging. I was approached by the lovely Faiqa of Native Born to speak with her in this panel. It’s great because there’s diversity between her and I – from our cultural background, our lives, and even our blogs. It’s sure to be a great conversation…if it gets accepted.

Latinas in Social Media: Are we out there? Let’s start the conversación!

Focusing on Latinas as a group and how we are using social media to develop relationships and promote our businesses with a distinct flavor, this session will feature a great group of Latinas:

• Dr. Daisy Sutherland (@DrMommy) of Dr. Mommy Helps Moms
• Monica Vila (@theonlinemom) of The Online Mom Network
• Jeannette Kaplun (@jeannettekaplun) of Todobebé
• Silvia Martinez (@mamalatina) of Mama Latina Tips
• Lexi (@laprimera) of La Primera Blog
• And…me!

How can you help?

If these session topics sound interesting to you, then click on the titles of each session above, login to the BlogHer site (free, easy registration if you don’t already have an account), and click on the link at the top that says “I would attend this session.” That will count as your vote for the session and will help it have a better chance of being accepted to the conference agenda.

New Blog

Ahhh…yes. My new baby. I’ve started a new blog and am launching it today! It’s a great topic, and I’m already having tons of fun with it. I hope you’ll join me in the fun and become a reader. I’d love to have you!

Want to know what it’s about? Well, you’ll just have to click on over to find out!

********************************

Have a comment? Let’s hear your thoughts on these BlogHer sessions or share with us any fun and exciting projects you have going on. Just add your comments below!

And don’t forget to visit my new blog!

Disclosure: My trip to Blissdom was provided courtesy of Fleishman-Hillard and the U.S. Potato Board as part of participating in the TasteMaker Challenge.

This past weekend I attended the Blissdom 2010 conference and was able to get together with many other women to learn about various blogging topics, network, and have fun. There were many great points during the conference, like the live Potato #Tastemaker Challenge, a very fun dinner out with Carrie, Jennifer, Yolanda, Stacey, and Lizzie, and of course, the motivational opening keynote by Kevin Caroll (@kckatalyst). But, one session in particular, was very useful and provided some practical tips for bloggers. I took some notes and decided to share since they’re important points we should keep in mind.

Note: Keep in mind that these are my notes from listening to the panel and is not my personal knowledge. I still have to research this information more in-depth, and suggest you do the same. Of course, it’s always a good idea to consult a lawyer, accountant, or adviser if you have specific questions.

You Should Know Better: A Blogger’s Guide to Legal, Accounting and FTC Guidelines

Speakers: Susan Getgood (Marketing Roadmaps), Liza Barry-Kessler (Privacy Counsel LLC), Kristen Berman (Intuit)

• If you make any money from your blog, then you’re a small business. Consider your blog a small business.
• You can’t wait until you’re rolling in the money to start tracking it.
  • The government doesn’t like it.
  • Knowing what you make is the 1st step towards increasing it.
• Think about the last 5 expenses you had for your business. What were they?
• Use a balance sheet! Remember the formula: Assets = Liabilities + Equity
• Do you need a business banking account if you only make a little money?
  • It depends – How serious are you about your business? It’s important to separate business money from personal.
  • The speaker suggests that you do open a business banking account.
• How do you pay yourself?
  • Give yourself an actual salary or wage.
• Do you need an accountant? Do you need an accountant to use accounting software?
  • Again, it depends. How comfortable are you at keeping your own records/books?
  • You don’t need an accountant to use software.
• At what point do you have to start reporting blogging income to the government?
  • The government likes it if you report any income made – even if just $1.
  • Definitely after $600 as an independent contractor, it has to be reported.
  • For self employment taxes (social security, etc.), after $400.
• What do you need a tax ID number for?
  • If your business is serious, then yes, you should have a tax ID number.
  • Can apply for one online very easily.
• Sales tax
  • Some states collect sales tax on consulting services.
  • Need to collect on sales of goods.
• 1099 Form
  • If you made more than $600, you have to file one as an independent contractor.
• Schedule C
  • Use schedule C-EZ if expenses are less than $5,000.
  • It was suggested that we look up the details of this and acquaint ourselves with it.
• Business Write-offs – You can write off:
  • dinners for business meetings
  • business gifts up to $25
  • gas expenses if going to/from a business event
  • travel expenses
• Ask yourself: Is this expense both ordinary & necessary to the business?
• Is your blog a hobby or a business?
  • It’s a business if there’s a reasonable expectation of earning a profit.
  • The IRS considers it a business if an activity is carried on for profit and makes profit during at least 3 of the last 5 tax years, including the current year.
• If someone takes your work, fight it – if you don’t, you could lose your copyright.
• Registering your blog as a business:
  • Incorporation
    • Can be DIY
    • Secretary of State websites are a great resource
    • Cost varies
  • Blogging Alone: Sole Propietorship
    • If something goes wrong, you’re personally liable.
    • You may want to consult an accountant to make sure you understand business expenses.
  • Partnerships: LLP
    • Good for small groups.
    • If something goes wrong, the entity is liable, not the individual partners.
    • Have operating agreement
      • A written understanding of who owns how much/what, who invests how much/what, plans for business development, what happens if someone wants out.
      • Hire a lawyer to review the agreement, but can write up on your own to begin with.
  • Traditional companies: LLC
    • Have operating agreement
    • If something goes wrong, the entity is liable, not the owners.
    • Highly flexible way of controlling money
    • Profits “pass through” to owners’ individual tax returns
• Hiring People, even volunteers
  • Additional bloggers/writers need writer’s agreements.
    • Who owns the written material?
    • What happens if the site shuts down?
  • For other services (web design, accountant, etc.), need written contracts/proposals.
• Employees
  • If you make money on your blog, you’re engaged in “interstate commerce” – minimum wage laws apply to you, even if you’re a small business.
  • Overtime laws apply also, unless the person is salaried & is a business manager.
  • Unless you reach 15 employees, federal employment discrimination laws do not apply; your state may have different rules, though.
• Blog policies
  • It’s best practice to have blog policies so that your readers & potential advertisers know how you do business.
  • It’s not required legally, but if you do write policies and don’t follow them, you could be liable to the fair-trade agreement.
  • FTC considers it “deceptive trade practice” if you don’t follow policies you’ve established.
  • Types of blog policies: privacy, disclosure, advertising, comment deletion, point of view
    • First 3 highly recommended, others as they fit your blog.
  • Can change policies at any time; try to inform readers of change.
• Privacy policy
  • What information do you collect from your readers?
  • What do you do with it?
• Disclosure policy
  • How can readers know if a link to a product is part of an affiliate marketing program?
  • How can readers tell if a post is your opinion, compensated, came from donated product/service, etc?
  • Do you have current or former relationships that might influence your opinions?
• Ethical best practice (disclosure)
  • You don’t need disclosure if you bought the product yourself.
• Ways to disclose:
  • Blanket site policy
  • Statement within post
  • Statement before post
    • Not at end of post
  • Category or tag for post (ie, sponsored)
  • Easily identifiable hashtag for tweets (ie, #spon)
• For swag bags given to many people, then you don’t have to disclose. If product/goods are given to you personally, and you write about it, then you have to disclose.
• You should ask a company for value statement when sent on a trip or given lots of products. We need to know monetary value.
• Prizes won or products received that are high in value are considered income that you have to report. (If over $600.)

I hope that in sharing my notes, you find this information useful. I know that I learned a lot from this session and still have some follow-up research to do on a few of the tips provided to learn more. If you were at Blissdom and attended this session, feel free to add your notes or link to your recap post.