**This is my final repost of last year. This is my favorite. Because in October an amazing thing happened. I held a conference. {brain explodes} It was amazing. I fell in love with about 75 women. I wanted to share some of the things that I took away from our weekend.**
How can I properly describe how mind blowingly amazing BlissDom was? I've spent the week digesting everything I learned. It's important that I share my personal thoughts, my memories, but also, what I learned business wise. It would be impossible to share it only once.
BlissDom was like being forced to sprint through Disney as a kid. I wanted to slow down a savor every moment. Megan, Tsh, Nester and I look so happy in this beautiful photo from Mishi. We were having a blast!
And just to show what an amazing photographer she is, look at her mosaic I stole from her site. {with permission, of course} She is a talented contributor at Photo Bliss over at Blissfully Domestic, too.
As I drove to the hotel Friday night I was full of butterflies. I realized that I was a little worried. I was about to meet so many women for the first time. What if someone was a weirdo? Or a big jerk? You never really know till you can hang out in person. Would the camaraderie we share online carry over to real life? If not, I knew my concept of the community of women bloggers would be crushed.
I walked in my hotel room and found Tsh, Megan, Robin and Heather. My heart just blew up right there at that moment. They were perfect, all even more amazing than I imagined. Bliss.
The whole weekend I found myself throwing my arms around the fabulous women I met. It just happened automatically because I LOVE these people. I love their stories, their vision, and I loved the fact that they came so far to share the day.
Even more important than all the tips I learned, more than our plans to take over teh interwebz, was the overwhelming sense of sisterhood. We spent our time encouraging each other, sharing our knowledge and banding together.
In a panel I told the crowd, "Blogging is not a zero sum game." My success doesn't cause someone else to not be successful. Your success builds mine, and vice versa. Our successes and influence build us all up. We all blog for different reasons: to share our hearts and thoughts, for attention, because we are lonely at home, to support our families. Whatever the reason, it is of utmost importance to remember that we are a community, and our voices are growing stronger everyday.
Because of traffic based ad networks and the newness of the blogosphere, we believed our success as bloggers was based on our stats. I want to go climb a mountain with my megaphone and yell, "It's not your traffic, it is your voice!"
Some sites have a readership in the hundreds of thousands, some have one hundred; it is what we do with our sites that is important. Do we share our lives in a way that opens someone's eyes? Do we share an experience that starts a grassroots movement to change a company policy? Maybe we use our sites as platforms to launch a book, develop a support group, launch a business or support a cause.
That is the measure we must use. It is all about finding your voice, letting your wonderful personality come through and building your dream for your self and your site. It is influence. It is NOT traffic.
My motto is "Respect the Brand." You are a brand, your sites are part of your brand. What does your brand stand for? Where do you see yourself, your site(s) and your reach in one year or even five years?
It's time we rethink what makes this platform work for us. I don't know all the answers, but as I learn them, I want to share them with you. Who wants to join me?
Please, please share your thoughts in the comments. Don't be afraid. What are your thoughts about your brand, your site(s) and your future? What do you think about the traffic vs. influence concept? Or just say, "Hi". I'm done talking, so talk back to me ladies! 
I love to hear from you. xo, Alli
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I know you started by saying this is a repost, but I’ve just started following your blog. This is very interesting to me. I am three years into my blog and I haven’t found “my voice.” I don’t think I even have a focus for my blog. How would you recommend someone find their voice and what makes them unique in this brand new world called the blog-o-sphere?
Hugs,
Melinda
I really am blogging first and foremost for personal reasons, not for profit or fame or any of those types of things. And I do have a handful of very loyal readers who are so kind to read me each day and comment on every post. Still, I am feeling a little sorry for myself as I continue to write away in obscurity, while I watch bloggy friends grow and grow with the “formula” of giveaways and product reviews and snarky commentary.
I just suck at the social networking part of it, I guess. It takes so much time and effort to get out there and visit new blogs and comment, etc. although I have to say that seems to be the most effective technique for connecting with other bloggers who might want to read my blog.
Anyway, I totally agree that the key element to writing a good blog (and enjoying the process) is to find your voice and use it! I’m not sure if, in these days of Dooce and Pioneer Woman, it’s enough. You have to be pretty savvy and persistent and commercial to make it to the big leagues. Unless you know Miss Fussypants ; )
Oh this makes me want to come to Blissdom even more!!! Maybe next year. Until I can, I will continue to read yours and other blogs that teach me so much, daily! Thank you!
Testify, Mrs. FP! I’ve been blogging for four years and my stats are nothing to brag about–but I enjoy writing and have developed enough of a readership. I’m a blogging legend! In my own mind, that is.
On top of that, there are the friendships. Which are amazing.
Looking forward to Blissdom09!
Beautifully put. The story is only as good as the story teller so yes, it is your voice-let it show the true you!
~K
I love it! I have stumbled upon your site and couldn’t be more pleased. Thank you for your insightful words and thoughts. It is truly about finding our voice and “branding” ourselves, being ourselves. Love it, love you, love the whole thing!
Thanks for this post. I was getting dumb with the numbers…Tried a couple of things to just to try like giveaways and stuff. But I found just writing for my friends and family about my life in Germany was just fine. I am an American married to a German in Germany. If someone else finds that interesting, that’s cool. But why I had to ask again why I started blogging? Mainly to journal my time here and keep up with my toddler’s life for the fam. Thanks for the encouragement Alli! It is worldwide;)
I love this, and I would LOVE to be able to come to Blissdom ‘09. I have two blogs: one to chronicle the daily things my girls do and one for myself. Both are journals for me. Even if no one else ever reads it, one of my best friends reads it and is so supportive of everything I post. More than anything, though, is the release I get for letting my emotions, thoughts, and ideas out. I’m not good at writing down my thoughts, but I can type. This is the longest I have ever stuck with any type of journaling. I guess the biggest thing for me is that my husband reads my blogs (while he is at work), and lets me know how very proud of me he is.
Thanks for all you do, Alli! You rock!
wow, my first time to visit you (just starting clicking away!)
love this: It is influence. It is NOT traffic.
comments are great, but for me it’s the heartfelt emails that come after the comments, or the many questions women have.
connection, love and helping one another.
loved this post and fun to see your smiling face
sandy
Ooooo oooooo oooooo …. I do Fussy. I do. I want to join you. Been thinkin the same stuff lately … wondering where I am going with the blog – the only thing I know for sure – I don’t want to be boring. I’ve seen the bad blogs…the blogs that make me yawn and I don’t want that. Rather NOTHING than boring.
I agree with your politics and I like that you speak your mind.
Still afraid to do that really.
And I think about the sweater I wear everyday at work – it’s FREAKIN COLD in my office – it’s frumpy, Fussy, and I hate it.
I think of you everyday as I loose the battle against frumpiness.
Thanks, this post got me excited about blogging again, cause I always worry about those low numbers. I’m excited about staying true to my brand though. Need to do more of that. Thanks Mrs. Fussy.
Thanks, Ally, good stuff! Reminds me of when I was a missionary teacher. I had to go out and raise my own support. I worked with a faith based mission and for 8 years I was the brand. So, all of what you shared here in this post is not new to me.
Yet, I find myself feeling uncomfortable really allowing my true personality shine through in my blog. And, I’ll tell you why. You’ll probably laugh. Here it is…I’m thinking of safety. I want to protect myself from those unsavory types who are looking through blogs for vulnerable people to hurt. See – - – you’re laughing.
Striking a balance between “Hi Ya, World! Here’s my personality!” and safeguarding myself from those people-with-too-much-time-on-their-hands-disturbed-enough-to-hunt-me-down-through-my-blog-to-hurt-me-is-proving-to-be-difficult. Okay, now I sound paranoid. Really, I’m not.
It may be time for me to come out of my shell and shine. This is much easier for me to do face-to-face. I am no stranger to public speaking. Not just in the classroom, but whenever I would be invited to share about my ministry.
Why am I not teaching as a missionary now? I married and moved to Australia. But, that’s a whole other story for another time.
All this to say, “I hear ya!” And, thank you for speaking the truth in love…it is our voice…not our traffic. I will make a cross-stitch sampler of that and hang it on the wall over my computer. Now, to put my computer up against a wall…
G’Day, from this American gal in Australia!
Deborah @ Comfort Joy Designs
comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com
comfortjoydesigns{AT}gmail{DOT}com