Recap of Blogalicious Panel at the Black Public Relations Society of DC Fall Meeting (Photos and Video Links)

BPRS-DC Fall Meeting with Blogalicious

The Black Public Relations Society DC (BPRS-DC) and Hager Sharp, a DC-based public relations firm, hosted BPRS-DC Fall meeting on September 20, 2011.  It featured a Blogalicious panel discussion on ways to merge traditional media tools with new media concepts in order to augment results and maximize message penetration in the digital age.

The event began with welcome greetings given by Dedra Owens, President of BPRS-DC, and Kimberly Varner, Hager Sharp’s Account Supervisor.  The panel discussion was moderated by PR professional Xina Eiland.  The panelists included:

• Stacey Ferguson, co-founder of The Social Niche and Blogalicious Weekend, technology attorney, and veteran lifestyle blogger,-
• Leticia Barr, founder of Tech Savvy Mama Media and a social media strategist who advises technology and education companies, brands, app developers, and small businesses about working with bloggers and creating brand awareness in the online world, and
• Ananda Leeke, founder of Digital Sisterhood Network, innerpreneur, author, artist, coach, and yoga teacher.

BPRS & Blogalicious Meeting

Blogalicious Team at BPRS Fall Meeting

Blogalicious Panel at BPRS Fall Meeting

BPRS attendees chatting at the Fall Meeting

Click here to see more event photos.

Watch event videos (very short) below.

• Video #1 – Stacey Ferguson & Leticia Barr share their favorite social media
• Video #2 – Leticia Barr shares how she makes money from her blog
• Video #3 – Leticia Barr & Ananda Leeke share their blogging experiences

Check out the Twitterstream from the event below.

beblogalicious

@Blogalicious thank you SO much for having us. we had a great time. hope to see you at #blogalicious11! @kim_varner @bprsdc @hagersharp

kim_varnerKim Varner

@beblogalicious — It was a pleasure hosting your panel discussion for @bprsdc at @hagersharp last night! Kudos! We earned a lot!

kim_varnerKim Varner

@BPRSDC It was our pleasure!! I learned a lot from @beblogalicous!

BPRSDCBlack PR Society DC

A special thank you to Kim Varner and Hager Sharp for hosting BPRS-DC Annual Fall Meeting. We had a great meeting… http://fb.me/NsygOJld

OWiseOra Wiseman, Ora-tor

Great meeting you at @BPRSDC panel! Let’s stay connected! @TLHargrove @StratCommSimone @tebowie

StratCommSimoneRT @BPRSDC: “LinkedIn recommendations are a great currency” – @techsavvymama #blogalicious11

StratCommSimoneRT @hagersharp: @justicefergie says aside from Facebook & Twitter, digital photo apps are taking off for bloggers #Blogalicious11

StratCommSimoneRT @BPRSDC: Bloggers are about relationships NOT one-stop deals. #blogalicious11

hagersharp@BPRSDC panelists say Twitter and Facebook can be beneficial for building relationships with journalists and reporters. #blogalicious11

BPRSDCWe started Blogalicious b/c brands were not targeting people of color. They were using same bloggers over and over. #blogalicious11

cshantelcooperBranding & Sponsors for the #blogalicious11 conference are numerous!

hagersharpRT @BPRSDC: Disclosures: At the end of the day, all you have is your name online. You are your moral compass. #blogalicious11

BPRSDCDisclosures: At the end of the day, all you have is your name online. You are your moral compass. #blogalicious11

hagersharp@BPRSDC @techsavvymama panelist admits as a brand it’s the relationships that mean so much, it’s more than a one time deal #blogalicious11

BPRSDCBloggers are about relationships NOT one-stop deals. #blogalicious11

BPRSDCBlack PR Society DC

PR practitioners need to be on Twitter, read blogs, and reach out! #pitchtips #blogalicious11

BPRSDCBlack PR Society DC

Disclosures: At the end of the day, all you have is your name online. You are your moral compass. #blogalicious11

BPRSDCRT @hagersharp: Panel member @techsavvymama says there is a huge ROI for brands who work with bloggers #blogalicious11

DigiCommGalLive tweeting @BPRSDC panel #blogalicious11. Follow me over there )

hagersharpPanel member @techsavvymama says there is a huge ROI for brands who work with bloggers #blogalicious11

misstorilynnConnect with the right blogger and they will be a champion for you. #blogalicious11

BPRSDCBrands recognize the value of bloggers. They know they are reaching thousands through one blogger ~ @justicefergie #blogalicious11

hagersharp@justicefergie of @beblogalicious says the first way she promoted her brands was to serve as a “spokesblogger” #blogalicious11

hagersharp@justicefergie says aside from Facebook & Twitter, digital photo apps are taking off for bloggers #Blogalicious11

BPRSDC“LinkedIn recommendations are a great currency” – @techsavvymama #blogalicious11

BPRSDCBlack PR Society DC

Great turnout tonight @hagersharp. Welcome back to BPRS-DC!!! http://twitpic.com/6nzxhr

misstorilynnTori Lynn

Great kickoff mtg for @BPRSDC with #blogalicious11 panelists.

BPRSDCBlack PR Society DC

Blogging has great perks! Hearing amazing personal & professional stories from @techsavvymama @justicefergie @anandaleeke #blogalicious11

BPRSDCBlack PR Society DC

Cinchcast is a great audio blogging tool ~Advice from @DigitalSisterhd founder @anandaleeke

BPRSDCExcellent tips from @beblogalicious! Thank you to our host, moderator, panelists and members.

BPRSDCThanks for coming out! Glad you enjoyed the mtg and panel @LeAmberRose

BPRSDCAttending social media conferences is the way to connect w/ influential bloggers. #blogalicious11

BPRSDC

My blog is about being who I am and showcasing what I know ~ @techsavvymama Former Montgomery County teacher

BPRSDC

Blogalicious isn’t a Black or Hispanic or minority conference. It’s a conference about diversity.

StratCommSimoneGr8 panel discussion “@BPRSDC: “Celebrating diversity in social media” #blogalicious11“

TLHargroveRT @BPRSDC: 2011 Blogalicious Weekend will take place at the National Harbor this Oct. 21-23rd. http://t.co/WvJWzLSo #blogalicious11

BPRSDC“Celebrating diversity in social media” #blogalicious11

BPRSDC2011 Blogalicious Weekend will take place at the National Harbor this Oct. 21-23rd. http://t.co/WvJWzLSo #blogalicious11

BPRSDCThanks to long-time member @xeiland for serving as tonight’s moderator! #blogalicious11

krsprofAt pre #blogalicious11 panel hosted by @bprsdc featuring @beblogalicious @techsavvymama @anandaleeke

BPRSDCBlack PR Society DC

Our host Kim Varner of @hagersharp welcoming BPRS members to the annual fall meeting.

Blogalicious News: “Justice Fergie” Stacey Ferguson & “Tech Savvy Mama” Leticia Barr Featured on Fox News

Photo Credit: Xina Eiland

DC’s Fox News 5 anchor Tony Perkins interviewed “Justice Fergie” Stacey Ferguson, co-founder of The Social Niche and BeBlogalicious.com, and “Tech Savvy Mama” Leticia Barr, founder of Tech Savvy Mama Media, this morning.  They talked about blogging and the upcoming Blogalicious Weekend Conference on October 21-23 at the Gaylord Hotel.  The ladies rocked the color purple!  Click here to watch the video of the interview.

Many thanks to PR guru Xina Eiland for making it happen!

Get ready for the Blogalicious DC Meet Up on September 20

Blogalicious will co-host a DC Blogger Meet Up with the Black Public Relations Society of Washington, DC (BPRS-DC) to discuss ways to merge traditional media tools with new media concepts in order to augment results and maximize message penetration in the digital age.  Click here to register for the free event.

WHAT:  Blogger meet up co-hosted by The Social Niche and BPRS-DC

WHEN:  Tuesday, September 20, 6:00  p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

WHERE:  Hager Sharpe Public Relations, 1030 15^th Street, NW, Suite 600E

SPEAKERS:

• Stacey Ferguson, co-founder of The Social Niche and Blogalicious Weekend,, is a technology attorney and veteran lifestyle blogger. Recently named one the 2011 People of Color Impacting the Social Web, Stacey is regularly featured in both online and traditional media for her roles as a personal brand and digital visionary.

•  Leticia Barr, founder of Tech Savvy Mama Media, is a social media strategist who advises technology and education companies, brands, app developers, and small businesses about working with bloggers and creating brand awareness in the online world. Leticia’s clients have included companies like Location Labs, BitDefender, Comcast, PBS Teachers, Virtual Nerd, ChicaLogic, and Steaz.

•  Ananda Leeke, founder of Digital Sisterhood Network, is a lawyer turned “Jill of many trades”: innerpreneur, author, artist, coach, and yoga teacher. Her mission is “Empowering U2BU through creativity coaching, Reiki, self-care, social media, volunteerism, and yoga.” In July 2011, she was named by Black Enterprise as one of the Black Women in Tech You Should Follow on Twitter.

DETAILS:  Social Niche is a company devoted to raising the profile of women of color online. For the third consecutive year, Social Niche bloggers Nyasha Smith and Stacey Ferguson will continue the tradition of celebrating online diversity and further expanding the blogosphere with Blogalicious Weekend, taking place at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland on October 21-23, 2011. Black Public Relations Society of Washington, DC (BPRS-DC) is the premiere professional organization in the nation’s capital for African Americans in the field of public relations. Members represent every specialty within the public relations industry. This panel will give proper insight into how to use new media to your personal advantage as well as and your clients’.

Join BeBlogalicious.com’s #BeUplifted Chat with Ananda Leeke on 9/1 @9pm ET

BeBlogalicious.com badge

Start September with BeBlogalicious.com! Tonight Ananda will be featured as BeBlogalicious.com‘s guest during the #BeUplifted Twitter chat at 9:00 pm ET.  Join her for a conversation about the power of the BeBlogalicious community, her role as a Blogalicious Weekend 2011 conference blogger ambassador, digital sisterhood, blogging,online fundraising, peer networking, and publishing a book.  Use the Twitter hashtag #BeUplifted on Tweetchat.com or Tweetgrid.com to follow the conversation and Ananda’s @digitalsisterhd tweets during the chat.

Digital Sisterhood Network Founder Ananda Leeke Becomes A Blogalicious Weekend Conference Ambassador

Beblogalicious.com logo

Justices Ny & Fergie

Last week, Justice Fergie and Justice Ny of The Social Niche, the creators of BeBlogalicious.com,  selected Ananda Leeke, Digital Sisterhood Network founder, to serve as a 2011 Blogalicious Weekend Conference Ambassador!

What is BeBlogalicious.com?

BeBlogalicious.com is an online community of thousands of women. It celebrates diversity in social media and helps women:

• To connect,
• To learn about social media and other tech related issues,
• To share information,
• To create successful digital platforms for their creative endeavors, careers, and businesses,
• To champion causes near and dear to their hearts, and
• To impact the digital landscape.

What is the Blogalicious Weekend Conference all about?

The Blogalicious Weekend conference was established as a three-day celebration to honor  the diversity of women of all ethnicities in social media. During the 2009 and 2010 conferences, a fabulous group of savvy, influential, and talented women bloggers ignited a sense of unity within the multicultural blogging community as well as educated marketers on the importance of their demographic in today’s marketplace. They did all of this and more while networking, building relationships, and promoting inspiration and success for each other.

BeBlogalicious.com badge

The 2011 conference will be held on October 21-23 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center.  The conference theme is “Making Masterful Connections.” See links below.

• Click here to register for the conference.
• Check out the Conference blog.
• Make your hotel registration by clicking on this link.
• Read more about the dynamic speakers and agenda.

What is Ananda’s Role as a Blogalicious Weekend Conference Ambassador?

As a Conference Ambassador, Ananda will use the Digital Sisterhood Network blog and Twitter page, #Digitalsisterhood Wednesday weekly Twitter party, and Digital Sisterhood Radio’s Stroke Diva Fabulous Show to promote the conference agenda, speakers, sponsors, registration process, weekly #BeUplifted Twitter Chats (Thursdays at 9:00 pm), movie, local meet ups, and alumni.

Check out a video below that expresses Ananda’s enthusiasm for Blogalicious (it includes Xina Eiland; skip to the last minute of the video). It was created by Lamar Tyler of Tyler New Media during the Blogalicious DC Meet Up in February 2010.

Why is Ananda excited about the Blogalicious Weekend Conference?

The Blogalicious Community personifies the essence of digital sisterhood. Ananda discovered this amazing community of women and a few good men two years ago while attending the Blogalicious 2009 opening night reception in Atlanta.  Her first digital sisterhood moment happened while sipping cocktails and recording a video interview with Xina Eiland.  During the interview, they learned they were both born in Michigan and currently reside in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  Throughout the conference, they reconnected with each other and other women like“WhimsiGal,” founder of Whimsicard, LLC from the DC area.  When they returned home, they used social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in touch. They also discussed their Blogalicious experiences on Ananda’s TalkShow.com program called Sisterhood the Blog Radio.

Ananda & Xina @ Blogalicious 2010 Open Mic Luncheon - Photo Credit: Carol Cain

And then it happened. They reached out by telephone and agreed to meet in person. Their first meeting occurred on a Sunday afternoon at the U Street Café in DC.  Xina, “WhimsiGal,” and Ananda sat at a table for a few hours discussing their lives, 2010 goals, ways they could support each other,  and ideas for a local Blogalicious meet up.  That one conversation paved the way for their Blogalicious DC community building efforts.

Together, they were able to help Blogalicious founders organize two meet ups in February and April for DC area women.  Xina played a major role in securing space and media coverage, promoting the events on Facebook and Twitter, identifying speakers and sponsors, developing the agenda, and obtaining in-kind donations for both events.  Ananda served as panel moderator for the April meet up.

Xina & Ananda at Blogalicious 2010

In addition to supporting the Blogalicious DC community, Ananda and Xina also made a professional commitment to support each other and their 2010 business goals.  They launched their commitment with a face-to-face breakfast meeting at Busboys and Poets, a popular DC hangout,  on January 2.  Seated on comfy chairs with herbal tea and delicious breakfast items to keep them company, they shared their  expertise.  Xina became Ananda’s public relations coach and convinced her to follow her instructions on how to better package herself as a speaker, author of two books, artist, yoga teacher, and creativity coach.  Ananda became Xina’s creativity coach and helped her develop a social media plan to support her intention to blog and learn more about social media tools.  Since then, they have met monthly to assess their progress and to seek feedback on their endeavors.  They also attended several DC social media meet ups, hung out at the Red Pump Project and Blogalicious’ Say RED: Cocktails and Conversations event, and live blogged with the Blogalicious DC B-Link members during President Obama’s education reform speech at the National Urban League’s Centennial Conference.  See video of Xina at the National Urban League below. They also attended Blogalicious 2010 and co-moderated an open-mic luncheon sponsored by McDonald’s.

One of the Greatest Blogalicious Blessings

One of the greatest Blogalicious blessings Xina and Ananda received was their peer mentoring connection that encourages them to step up their “A”  game and pursue new opportunities.  Through their peer mentoring, they share information, insights, and introductions to people in their network that can support their efforts.  They also laugh, learn, and listen to each other when they achieve and struggle.  Their Blogalicious bond has created a digital sisterhood that exists IRL — in real time!

Flashback to Blogalicious 2010 – Reflecting on Open-Mic Luncheon Sponsored by McDonald’s

Blogalicious 2010 logo

The 2010 open mic luncheon featured a soulful discussion about the power of digital sisterhood.  Everyone listened to stories told by women who were Blogalicious newbies and alumni.  These amazing women opened their hearts and spoke with such passion, clarity, candor, and humor.  It was a beautiful experience filled with wisdom, laughter, lessons learned, and a plethora of blogging experiences that revealed how women discovered their authentic selves online and offline.  Check out the photos taken by NYCityMama Carol Cain below.   Carol is the official Blogalicious photographer. She did an amazing job documenting Blogalicious 2009 and 2010!

 

What Will You Receive When You Attend the 2011 Blogalicious Weekend Conference on October 21-23?

BeBlogalicious.com conference badge

Digital sisterhood is one of the many gifts you will receive when you attend the Blogalicious Weekend Conference.  It’s contagious. Some say it’s magical.  And it happens without you even knowing it.  That’s the beauty of Blogalicious.  Through the celebration of Blogalicious’ diversity, women own who they are through the content, connections, communities, and commerce they create as they share experiences, insights, opinions, humor, creativity, expertise, and information.  The Blogalicious digital sisterhood lays the foundation for building local digital sisterhood communities.

Watch the trailer video for the Be Blogalicious, the Movie created by Ronnie and Lamar Tyler, founders of Tyler New Media, to learn why Blogalicious is one of the best investments you can make this year!

Be Blogalicious: The Movie Coming to DC/MD/VA on January 14

The Digital Sisterhood Network is gearing up for a grand digital sisterhood celebration on January 14.  Why? “Be Blogalicious: The Movie” will make its debut at Eggspectation Resto Cafe and Bar, 923 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland (a few blocks from the Silver Spring Metro Station) from 6:00 pm (film screening begins at 7:15 pm with a Q/A at 8:00 pm).  Click here to purchase your tickets for $15. They are only a few left so buy them NOW! “Be Blogalicious: The Movie” is a Tyler New Media film project that explores how women celebrate their diversity in the blogosphere during the annual Blogalicious Weekend conference.  See the video trailer below.

Photo Credit: http://www.mamalawmediagroup.com

Blogalicious was created by the MamaLaw Media Group.  The 2009 conference was held in Atlanta, Georgia.  Miami, Florida played host to the 2010 conference.  Washington, DC is the location for the 2011 conference.  Visit the My Blogalicious Community for amazing articles and helpful information.   Check out the Blogalicious b-LINK Marketing Network too!