Today my friend and BlissDom Canada Conference Companion (it’s pretty much an official title at this point), Candice MacAulay posted her session choices and thoughts about each. As we get closer to the conference and really start gearing up for it, I thought this was a really great idea. I’m fairly determined to make the most out of this experience and thus want to head into it as prepared as I can be. I also think that this would be a good opportunity to find out what other conference goers are thinking about the sessions and who’s planning on attending what.

So, without any further garble, I present to you my session breakdown:

Content I: If a Blog Falls in the Forest? : How to get your blog to make a sound
OR
Content II: Kicking It Up A Notch: How to be a Content Creating Ninja

I look at these two sessions as the jumping off points for the rest of the conference. As per the titles, both seem like they’re going to cover a lot of similar, core content, just at different levels. I think I’m probably going to go for Content II as I feel like I’m in a place both personally and professionally where I’m ready to learn more about taking blog content to the next level.

I also happen to be, as mentioned at least a couple of times on this blog already, a big fan of Catherine Connors. Seeing as she’s presenting this one, I pretty much feel like I can’t miss this it.

Oh, and it has ninja in the title.

Priorities, people.

Collaborative/Community Sites: Is Bigger Better? : Citizens of Sisterhood or Lost in the Crowd?

I’m really on the fence about this one. I think exploring the different qualities of individual vs. community blogs is a legitimately interesting topic, but I’m not really feeling jazzed about it. There are definitely other sessions that I feel like I would get more out of, so this one isn’t exceptionally high on my list.

Work/Life Balance: Peaceful Coexistence Between Life and Laptop

Lets say I had to choose between this session and the previous one (like I’m thinking will probably be the case) – I would choose the previous one. It’s not that I don’t struggle with work/life balance concerns, but for me social media isn’t an exceptionally big part of that problem. I also have the feeling that this one is going to be gear more toward the mommy and family bloggers in the crowd and, being decidedly childless, I’m not convinced it would be a good fit.

Monetizing I :Making Money From Blogging: Fiscal Fact or Fiction?
OR
Monetizing II:Cashing In with a Reality Cheque

Not that I’m necessarily expecting that this blog is ever going to start generating any income, I’d like to be prepared should the opportunity so arise. I also think that, as a PR professional, this topic could be useful for in my client work as well.

As much as it pains me to say, this isn’t a subject I know much about (obviously in experience but also as a concept), so I’m probably going to have to go with Monetizing I. I say that it pains me not because I’ve got a massive ego (I’m cool with admitting when I need to learn a thing or two), but because Eric Alper is presenting Monetizing II and I really want to meet him. Eric, if you’re reading this, will you promise that our paths might cross before the conference ends? Because that would be extra cool.

I’m also going to miss Alli Worthington on the panel. GEEZE.

Being honest with yourself can be such a pain sometimes.

Women Entrepreneurs & Canadian Business Basics: What the Blogging M.B.A. would be… if it existed.

I’m with Candice 100% on this one; it sounds like such a cool session! It sounds like it’s going to be as engaging as it will be informative. I’m anticipating some quality discussion here.

Blogging for Social Action, Community And Empowerment: The Beauty of the Butterfly Effect

I also share Candice’s concern that this session and the aforementioned one will be running at the same time because I’m really not sure which one I’ll choose if they are. Social justice and community empowerment have always been a huge part of this blog and my social media presence in general. This session feels like it would be right up my alley.

Decisions, decisions…

Brand Building. Your Brand is More Than Your Tagline : Managing Perception & Reality

Ditto to Candice’s comment on this one. At the risk of sounding young and inexperienced (read: ignorant/naive/etc), I feel like I deal with this subject enough already working in the PR industry that this session probably isn’t the best use of my time at Blissdom.

That having been said, I would highly recommend this one to anyone who is just starting to establish their personal brand. This is need to know info!

Are you headed to BlissDom Canada on October 27th? What sessions are you planning on attending? What piques your interest? What are you hoping to get out of the conference? Make your own sessions post and link it up in the comments section! (or just share your thoughts there, I’m not picky ;) )

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