I certainly didn’t want to offend anyone with my comparison of BlogHer and She Speaks. They are really like comparing apples and oranges. Certainly there are Christians who went to BlogHer and didn’t lose their testimony. I want to thank all my Christian bloggy buddies for chiming in about BlogHer as well — thank you for your perspective! To me, if you need filled up inside, then She Speaks is for you. You will meet God there in a very real way. If you are filled up and want to learn more about blogging, then BlogHer would be the way to go. It all greatly depends on why you blog and what you’re looking for.
Last week I started a couple of different posts on Bloggy Purpose. Emily @ Chatting at the Sky and Nester @ The Nesting Place gave a wonderful session at She Speaks on Defining and Refining Your Blogging Purpose. I have so many good notes from them and I also have so much to say myself — that I couldn’t write comprehensively last week. Oh, I was procrastinating on balancing the books here too — so God mixed up my words I think 
Hopefully this week I’ll go into greater details about Bloggy Purpose but if you don’t know yours, then please start praying about it now. It may take awhile for you to figure it out, but once you do — your decisions will be much easier. Like Nester said her blog is about “it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.” She went to her blog one day and saw a picture of a beautiful sofa next to a Ragu ad. There’s nothing wrong with Ragu — it just didn’t go with the sofa or the purpose of her blog. So she took off the ads.
What I’m missing
I’ve been to She Speaks and I’ve been to BlissDom. The things that I’m missing from these conferences (whether they are at one or the other or missing totally) have to do with those ladies who blog for ministry. Whether their ministry is to their family and keeping in touch over long distances or whether their ministry is in their writing, ladies want to get together with other ladies who get them. They want tips on how to write blog posts better. They want to know a little about the technical stuff — enough to float a picture over here or there. They want to make their blogs better for themselves. These ladies aren’t interested in stats, pr people or free products. They don’t want ads on their blogs to take away from their writing. They aren’t even looking for a book deal — they just want to write.
She Speaks is actually the closest I’ve come to this, but all their writing sessions had to do with writing for magazines or publishing a book. Quite frankly, the price is steep for the conference. I totally don’t mean to scare you off here as I totally believe if God wants you there, He’ll make a way for you to be there. But the conference is geared more towards professionals or want to be professionals. What about the mom blogger who just wants to blog better? Who wants to catalog memories for her kids to read one day? The one who’s on a seriously tight budget and always buys stuff for her family before herself?
I had the privilege of talking with Amy Bayliss for a few hours on Friday (she’s the one I blurted out to over lunch the last day of She Speaks). She and I have similar hearts. We want to see women share their stories online. We want to see them be confident enough to not let technology get in the way. I’m so blessed to have spoken to her for so long because even as I rambled along to her, I started getting a clear picture of what I want my blog to be — what I want to write about, what I want it to look like around here. I’m also blessed that Amy and I are going to start working together. Perhaps we will be able to build an online conference for those ladies I feel are being left out — overlooked. Perhaps we can even develop a conference IRL (in real life) because I think there’s a lot to be said for actually reaching out and squeezing a neck or two
What kinds of things would you like to learn about at a blogging conference?
Great post Lisa. And I’m not just saying that because you said nice things about me. Honest. No really.
I agree with you, really. I would love to go to a conference called “Blogging for Writers” or something like that. She Speaks came close-ish, but all the writers wanted to go to the writers tracks, and rightfully so. Still, I love what you said about giving the women the courage to share their stories without technology getting in the way. And all that other stuff you said too. Especially the stuff about me. Just kidding. Not really. No, really.
Let me just say… I’m a dolt and I have to apologize. There was another SimplyHis on my following lists of blogs… just realized today when I went searching for yours because I haven’t seen you post and was wondering how you were–that it wasn’t your blog! And that is why I haven’t seen you post! D’oh! I know, I need to get with it.LOL
Since I am new to blogging and really sharing what I write and how God has spoken to me, I guess, really, I just need to know if I’m coming across too… preachy. Does that make sense? As of right now, I can only write one way… the way my heart flows, but I want people to see what God is doing on this journey of mine, ya know. I guess really, I’d like to know how to reach others with my story. What is too much on a page or not enough?
I’d love to see an online conference for bloggers. I feel God has lead me to starting this, I don’t know if I want to say ministry or not. I’m praying about that.
You are one precious lady, Lisa! Don’t forget that!
What Emily said! I promise I came to write the same thing.
Seriously, I would love to see (lead, even) a Creative Writing session at one of these conferences. Rather than highlighting how to make money, what if we were highlighting how to be quality?!
I would love some conversation relative to the blog world about tone, voice, style, and word economy. I love LOVE a session straight out of Strunk and White’s Elements of Style!
Can I get a witness?
Looks like a great opportunity that is MUCH needed.
Amen corner -> Woot-Woot, Ditto, etc….
I think this is a great idea, Lisa. Some of us do view our blog as our ministry AND are blessed by God to earn money to support our families–all through blogging. I am one of those probably rare types of bloggers.
I have no intention of purposefully hitting it big with blogging, landing a book deal or having free products sent my way. The money is a blessing by God at a time that I need it and I am humbled by how God has provided.
There are those of us out here who are just sharing our hearts and passions with women and are letting God use the blogs for whatever purpose HE intends. It is a different perspective.
Come to think of it, I actually spoke about this at Amy’s conference online earlier this spring…I refined my passion in life (I didn’t even realize I had something God could use!) through blogging and have viewed any opportunity that has come my way as a possible request from God to minister through my own niche. I never imagined what God could do with my willingness to talk about the passions he placed in me.
I think Amy is the right go to girl to bring a new dimension of help and support to a different breed of bloggers.
I think there is definitely a need!
Blessings Lisa!
Melissa
I have been holding the details of BlissDom10 close to my chest for many reasons. Mainly, to avoid the floodgates (of sponsors, attendees, speakers, etc…) opening before I am ready and have the concepts all set in stone. Our hope is to be very thoughtful in our approach this year. Last year was our ‘trial run’ and what a success it was!
If I may say so myself.
Yes, BlissDom will have a HUGE focus on the writing this year. Our survey will go out soon to all alums, BD contributors and those who have signed the form at the BlissDom site. This survey will allow us to make sure our ideas match those of our attendees.
We will also have an emphasis on learning the techie side of things. Video, Photography, WordPress/Typepad and so forth.
The focus of BlissDom is community and finding your ‘bliss’ in your blogging.
It is my sincere hope and goal that I deliver that and much more with BlissDom this year.
xoxo, Alli
ps- My goal with the making money part of Blissdom last year was to have an open and frank discussion of how *normally* making money with a personal blog is as likely as getting drafted by the NFL. I tried to explain my belief that a blog is a great platform to launch businesses, prove to publishers that you could rock a book deal, etc… That’s why I took all ads of my personal blog.
Awesome insight, Lisa. I think your analysis is spot on…:D
although i have never been to any type of blog conf. (and i would love to go if the opportunity ever presented itself), i have read a ton about them.
i, personally, blog for my own sanity and faith. i blog so i have somewhere to compile my thoughts, share my Jesus, and update family and friends. i blog for me!
when i first started blogging, i got caught up in trying to make my blog popular. . .well known. . .heck, i wanted all the free stuff. you know what? in seeking all of that, i lost myself and my purpose for creating my online journal. . .i lost the voice of God in my writing. . .it became less of a passion, and more of a popularity contest. i pulled all of the advertisements and got real. i feature my heart and things that i believe in. i will sometimes do a review on a product, but i no longer seek out the products. . .i let God bless me so i can bless others.
i would love to attend a conf. that features writing seminars, over money making seminars. i would love to lead a seminar on helping new bloggers just be themselves. . .blog from their heart. . .sometimes trying too hard spells defeat. i would love to attend a seminar on blogging for ministry instead of blogging for freebies. it’s not always about what i can get, it’s about what i can give. understand?
i know we have never met, but i felt lead to voice my opinion. thanks for asking the question and being open to the honest responses!
be blessed,
amy honestly
Um. Am I allowed to lowly bow my head back in here and say that I am so grateful that so many get to make money from their blogs! Mercy to goodness, it was not my intention to say anything about money making as a negative thing. I one hundred percent see it as a blessing.
I only mean to say that I would enjoy a session on quality writing.
Now, I can add another idea: How about a session on clarity in writing. Geeze Louis, please forgive my cocky comment.
LOL @ Amber.
Silly, I didn’t even read your comment when I left mine! Your comment didn’t seem at all ungrateful. You are the sweetest woman.
That, on top of being one of the best writers on the scene, is pretty impressive!
xo
Thank you all for leaving your comments (please leave some more especially if you haven’t chimed in yet!)
@Amber: I LOL’d when I read your second comment. Probably because I met you and you are anything but cocky — you are a very humble, quiet spirit
I know your passion is writing — creative, beautiful writing at that.
@Amy: Thank you so much for your comment and posting your heart. I think you hit it on the head — it’s all about focus. If you are focused on God then He can turn your passions into enough money to provide. That all gets out of whack when you don’t focus on him.
I am not saying that it’s wrong to make money on your blogging, but it seriously comes down to focus and purpose. If your passion is traveling and you’re focused on God, He might just bless you with a free trip to Disney World. But if you are focused on getting free stuff, everything else will suffer — your writing, your readership, your offline life.
Please continue this discussion
It’s exciting for this to be happening on my blog 
Ohhh Lisa,
I have been telling a certain lady this whose name shall remain nameless (want to know lisa, just email me or something) for months. I totally want a CHRISTIAN BLOGGERS Conference about your blog being your ministry or blogging for ministry or blogging for Christian business, something along those lines because it is WHO I AM. I’d love to host one, I love planning, I love facilitating and I love teaching. The only missing piece … MONEY! I hear these conferences are $$$. But …just know I’d totally be there if someone planned one. And in addition as an “old” blogger (blogging since 2005) I think I’d love to speak at a conference like this. I have been blogging for ministry for 4 almost 5 years and I LOVE what I do. I have been involved with Amy and LOVE what she’s doing so much that I wish I could be MORE involved and want to start some of my own “online conferences” even.
Thanks so much for this fabulous post! I’m giving it a stumble.
I loved what you said here Lisa:
“I am not saying that it’s wrong to make money on your blogging, but it seriously comes down to focus and purpose. If your passion is traveling and you’re focused on God, He might just bless you with a free trip to Disney World. But if you are focused on getting free stuff, everything else will suffer — your writing, your readership, your offline life.”
Great discussion and all such great points.
When I read Alli’s post, especially “We will also have an emphasis on learning the techie side of things. Video, Photography, WordPress/Typepad and so forth,” I almost screamed with excitement, because these are all areas I want to learn more about and feel to me to be extensions of my writing call.
I write for an online magazine for women writers and one of the things I do is blog. I don’t have my own blog yet and there’s so much to learn. A blogging conference would be great for that. Among other things, I need to define the purpose of my future blog. I’m sorry I missed ‘Defining and Refining Your Blogging Purpose’ at She Speaks because that would’ve been so helpful to me right now.
I’d *LOVE* to see this happen!