Visibility and the Internet

Visibility and the Internet

ProBlogger in 2013 was my first big blogging conference. One of the things that shocked me the most was being recognised by people. I’m not saying I’m like, totally famous, or anything, but being a blogger with small stats (I average 1000 hits a month, good thing I write mainly for me!) it does surprise me when people know who I am.

 

I guess I was also surprised that the very old photo I use on myself online is still valid enough to look like me. My photo is old. I hate having my photo taken and while I’m sure I “should” have a professional (or at least current) headshot I just hate it and don’t want to deal with it! I like being behind the camera….

Visibility and the Internet

 

Anyway, I’m so excited about ProBlogger coming up soon. It’s a glimmer of hope & fun in what has been a bit of a tough year. Just before ProBlogger last year I had weird dreams about being in the wrong place and missing the conference a few days ago I had a similar one! In fact, right now I have a glimmer of hope that I may even be able to keep my booked room and be able to afford to stay at the QT, if I get a roomie (I don’t know for sure yet, but hoping to know for certain soon!). It’s so exciting, like a holiday. Can you tell I really need a freaking holiday?! 

 

I also have a confession to make: I still haven’t listened to all the recordings from last year. I know, slack much?! Especially after all those posts I wrote on how to choose sessions. I blame the fact my iPhone somehow deleted them all & I haven’t synced it to the new computer yet because I don’t trust it to not wipe everything that’s on my phone. I know there’s a way to prevent that from happening, but there’s a lot of effort in looking that up!

 

So, if I will be seeing you at ProBlogger this year, please note: I am terrible at name/blog name/face combinations and I will apologise in advance for probably making a ton of  recognition-based mistakes or being weird. Seriously, I’ve been at my part time job for four months now and I still can’t work out all the faces to names. I know the faces, and I know the names, but matching them…yikes! I just smile and try not to stare too hard at other women’s breasts while I look for name tags/security ID photos. Yes, that does make work awkward.

 

I’m actually kind of hoping that the ProBlogger event team took on my feedback from last year and will have avatars on the event lanyard thingy, because I would be more likely to recognise people if I saw their Twitter or Facebook avatars! And I think it would save all kinds of weird moments for all of us who are trying to transition from behind computer friends to in person friends.

 

Will I see you at the ProBlogger Conference in 2014?

 

22 Replies to “Visibility and the Internet”

  1. Oh, what comfort this post has given me! Yes, I will be at Pro-Blogger, this will be my first time! I am terrified about recognising faces and connecting blogs/avatars/social media to real life people. I am hopeless with names and faces also. My cleaner just quit. In the text someone else sent on her behalf, I discovered that she is not Melissa, even though I have been texting and calling her that almost since the start. She is Maree. I am hoping that she is leaving for the reasons stated, not because I’ve been using the wrong name. In my defence, who doesn’t correct someone when they are called the wrong name??? Really!

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      The good thing is there will be 549 people in the same situation as you 🙂

  2. Have fun. I love your avatar suggestion!
    I am not going this year – I put the money towards a plane ticket to NYC instead. Can’t wait to hear all about it though.

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      Seeing friends and family is also a very good way to spend the money!

  3. I’ll be there! Phoebe may be with me too but I’m hoping that during the sessions she will be asleep in our hotel room. I’m looking forward to the Conference too. I walked away from last year’s thinking anything it possible. It will be good to see you.

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      Yay! I can’t remember if we met last year or not! I really am terrible at such things haha. And 550 people this year wow, last year felt hectic enough 🙂

  4. you won’t see me, but the avatar idea is brilliant! We had a party and I introduced people and they’d look at each other blankly, and then I’d explain their fb pictures (he’s the coffee cup, she’s the scene from Psycho) and they’d get all excited, like meeting long lost friends…

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      I can’t quite work out if it’s sad or just the way we meet people now!

  5. I wanted to go but the tickets sold out. Then someone lovely unearthed one for me but I’d spent all my money on a holiday. Next year I’ll be there with bells on! Have fun 🙂

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      I was luckily at home when the tickets came out! Otherwise I’m sure I would have missed out.

  6. I have been to a few blogger events but not a big conference like Problogger yet. I did have trouble recognising people at my first blogger event too; I’m bad with things like that! I think your suggestion about the avatar on lanyard is awesome. I think I’d be able to recognise people better from their social media profiles as well!

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      The problem is when people change their social media profile photos and I get confused about who I’m talking to haha.

  7. Oh I agree, photos on laynards would be WAY cooler, I can’t wait to head back this year, with a lot more questions and enthusiasm!

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      Yeah I think last year I was just absorbing and observing, this year I need to get into it more!!

  8. That’s a really good recommendation — having photos on the lanyard! I wish I was going this year…last year was my first time too. Can’t afford to go this year as I’ve got a Tassie trip at the end of the year and a big one to Canada next year.
    Oh and I never got around to listening to the talks from last year either — felt really slack too!
    Hope you have a great time this year and learn lots!

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      The lanyard/avatar idea seems popular, so popular that I’m feeling all sorts of paranoid right now that I didn’t hit submit on the form and no one got the suggestion & someone will read this & go “What? We never got this feedback! What is this woman on?!”
      *coughs*
      Anyway…
      Canada sounds great! I’ve barely been there but I would SO love to return!

  9. I’m hoping to get there. Still organising finances.

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      I am squireling away in that regard too!

  10. No Problogger for me this year :(. I think it’s a great idea to have avatars on the lanyards, especially as some people have their logo rather than a picture of them.

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      No 🙁 That’s a bummer. Will you be hashtag stalking the conference?

  11. I am so devo that I can’t go. I was hoping, and hoping, and waiting to hear where it would be and then they announced it and tickets went on sale like a week later and I just did not have all of the money for the ticket ready. So I missed out. But I have learnt my lesson and am already starting to stockpile money so I can definitely go next year. I remember how weird it was at my first blogging conference, and other blogging things I’ve been to since, when people recognise you, it’s so strange! Hope you have an awesome time, can’t wait to hear all about it!
    #teamIBOT

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      I feel a little guilty for going when my current job ends in a few days, but I’ve scraped the cash together and am mostly hoping that the job situation sorts itself out haha. I missed out on DPCON this year and I’m stockpiling for next year – also hoping it’s on a cruise ship again for the new experience of that.

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