Christmas Crazy in July
I spent the greater part of last week in Chicago for BlogHer's annual conference. It's a whirlwind of crazy fun every year, and I kicked things up a notch this year by speaking. I was part of a panel that discussed "UnMarketing," which was basically us yelling I AM NOT A BRAND! at the top of our lungs.
It was a great session that definitely left me with some things to ponder. If you're curious, the transcript is available over here.
If you happened to be in attendance (in which case, THANK YOU SO MUCH!) or if you read the transcript, then you know that I let a little kitty out of the bag and let it run around the room for a second.
Sometimes I work with brands. I'm not a brand and I don't consider this website to be a brand, but I will occasionally work with companies to help them promote their products and services ... but it has to be a mutually beneficial situation.
If you've been around here for any length of time, you know that I define "mutually beneficial" very loosely. I want there to be something for me in the situation, but I am truly happiest when that "something for me" means that someone else is benefiting.
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER.
Last month I was contacted by Staples. They wanted to know if I would review a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 and write about back to school. The whole thing got me thinking -- back to school is a nightmare for us because OMG ALL OF THE THINGS COST SO MUCH MONEY. But ... we're OK. We can make it all work out so that Alexis gets what she needs.
I remember what it's like for things to not be OK.
And then I remembered that the kids who are living in domestic violence shelters definitely know what it's like for things to not be OK.
So ... I'm giving away that Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, but there is a catch. It all has to lead to the kids who receive services from Center for Victims getting what they need for back to school. My review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is over here, as are the instructions for entering to win that tablet.
We're going to take care of some kids, y'all. It's going to be excellent.
(Y'all have a tradition of exceeding my expectations in situations like this. If that happens again, anything extra will be used towards the usual Christmas Crazy shenanigans. Santa season will be here before we know it, so maybe we'll have a jump start.)
Thanks, you guys. You make this whole blogging thing worthwhile.
Now go enter to win that tablet, will ya?
Monday, July 29, 2013
Reader Comments (3)
I am off to read transcript bc it sounds great....and I like the message = you, me, others - we are not a brand.
Also - I like that your daughter is your daughter and not a brand or a hashtag.
I was at the UnMarketing session (the first one) and it was really great. Thank you for letting me sit in a room full of other people who all think it's okay not to feel I should be busy branding myself.
oh how i hated the idea of branding oneself. so happy that this was a session...and that others feel the same way!