But my job is not done.

My big BlogHer epiphany came to me late at night when I was showing my friend my RIDONCKULOUS (sp?) bag of swag.

Image from Table for Five

At registration, everyone at the conference got an environmentally-friendly @Gettington bag (one of my favorite sponsors, by the way) filled with goodies. Normally I would bury my head inside and go through everything to see what new things I had, but I didn’t because there were just too many things in there.

After breakfast my plan was to sit down with my laptop somewhere but my breakfast buddy, a two-time conference attendee, led the way to the expo space and crazyness ensued. We didn’t get in right away because the space didn’t open until 10am, but as soon as we did I learned why all the attendees were so eager to burst through the doors…..

Now, this is just an approximation, but there were a SHIT TON of brands and booths at the expo. And they all had the coolest swag to give away, lots of great prize drawings, decked-out booths, and things to keep everyone entertained and very happy for hours. There were brands there that I wouldn’t have immediately linked up with women bloggers, but it simply came down to the fact women are THE decision-makers. Admit it, dudes.

At one point I saw a woman carrying three big totes around, but this is not a story about hoarding…  I know she will review her goodies and blog about some of the products and brands. Hence, this epiphany is about just how so very much coveted the female blogger population is.  I’ve read many of the  studies that reveal that women dominate social media, read posts about “mommy blogging” — here is one I really enjoyed, published in 2008…  Insight much? — I even wrote a research paper for graduate school about BlogHer! But only in retrospect did it hit me that Texas might want to let women bloggers have the “Don’t Mess With…” tag line.

And for any brands that have yet to do their research in order to figure out how to best reach women bloggers or that still think that is not a segment of the blogger population that they need to or should be interested in building relationships with… you are so very wrong. I have now confirmed it.

Also… attend BlogHer — you will stand corrected and will be perplexed.

Image credits: Table for Five, BlogHer

August 7, 2010 5:49pm update: I’m sitting in the Grand Ballroom listening to the closing conference keynote, featuring “Need to Know” PBS anchor Alison Stewart moderating a panel with: Marie Wilson, Founder and President of The White House Project, author and activist Gloria Feldt from Heartfeldt Politics, and P. Simran Sethi, Emmy Award-winning journalist, blogger and environmentalist. The topic of the panel is: “Use your voice, your platform, and your power.” Gloria Feldt just said that she was not prepared for the amount of swag she got at her first BlogHer conference. Her epiphany back then was… “Yes. Women have a voice. Marketers understand that… but do we?”

*Gloria hits nail on the head*

Check out the closing keynote live blog.

Also, check out @katebuckjr’s picture of her own bag with ridiculous amounts of swag. Dang!! Right??

The news of the site makeover were all the rage in a matter of seconds and it took me a while (clearly, as I am posting this a day after the fact) to find the time to check out what exactly was going on. When I did, I dugg it.

TechCrunch commended Skittles for taking a risk and I’m with them. It’s surprising how some brands that have the potential to take these first drastic  social media plunges choose not to do or or to do so half assedly.

Case in point: Jack-in-the-Box, which went through the trouble of killing its spokesperson during an ad on the Superbowl only to bring him back to life sooner rather than later, thus failing to leave the future of the brand in the hands of the public and word-of-mouth for too long. I never thought the site was too remarkable either. Perhaps it was a social media test run? Perhaps it just needed its good ol’ spokersperson back to regain control of the message? I could go on…

Not Skittles though. Once you’ve entered your age (good instinct on their part as it will work in their favor when the outraged masses object to their new Web site being unfiltered conversation) there are no banners (save for the one that floats on top to help you navigate) or corporate messages (technically), or slogans or ads (per sé) – what you see is what people are saying about the brand using the hashtag on Twitter Unfiltered, real time conversation.

The products tab takes you to information on the different Skittles flavors, the friends tab takes you to the Skittles Facebook Fan Page, the media tab takes you to pictures on Flickr and videos on YouTube and  the contact tab allows you to contact Skittles directly… as if they weren’t monitoring all of this… ready to jump in as soon as someone calls out their name for help/concerns/praise…

The new site has been received with a mix of emotions (I just saw a comment on their YouTube channel that reads “Skittles and MARS suck ass”), but marketers have given them props for the ballsy move.

I think it’s brave of them to do away with their Web site, which is usually where brands’ messages dwell in peace. I also think it’s efficient of them to do away with their Web site in order to not duplicate anyone’s efforts. If your customers are already interacting around your brand on Twitter and Facebook is there really a need to provide them with a one-way, corporate Web site that only requires more oversight on your part?

I’m excited to see how this initiative continues to evolve for Skittles as they become pioneers in setting the social media bar for brands way up high.

NOTE: As I’m about to hit the publish button (finally), Skittles changed their home page to the the Skittles Facebook Fan Page. Live and learn.

Generally, this year the ads weren’t all too bad. I tried to pick out what sort of appeals they used to get us into buying into whatever it was that they were selling. What do you think?

Hilarious. The guy’s face, the rashness, the raucousness… all hilarious and ridiculous. This is the kind of ad you feel stupid about laughing at but you do and you there are not regrets.

APPEAL: funny because it’s ridiculous.

People are still talking about this one. Repetition, repetition, repetition … funny, funny funny – those were all things I learned in my marketing classes. Oh, and the koala with the glasses and the coffee mug getting punched in the face is still priceless.

APPEAL: repetition, funny because it’s ridiculous.

I probably like this one because I thought Alec Baldwin was perfect for it and because I love Hulu.

APPEAL: Cool. Hip. Hulu. Baldwin!

I still don’t get the babies. But I enjoy people of any age breaking into random song. Even if the “people” is a baby mouthing words very creepily.

APPEAL: hmm…

All I can think of is the McGrubber ad right now…

APPEAL: McGrubber…..

I had to watch this one again to have something to say. I still don’t care for it. How dare Bridgestone tap into my childhood memories by getting Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head to be in its commercial? Pass.

APPEAL: Look! My childhood toys! I can relate to that!

Nice one. I love appropriation and I think they did a good job with this one. This is why I drink Coke.

APPEAL: Appropriation. Clever appropriation.

The girl getting her clothes ripped off thing was a tad annoying (you aaalmost wish we were done with the sexual appeals here…). Nice recovering with the buss-running-guy-over appeal.

APPEAL: Whether you like this commercial or not… the guy gets hit by a bus in the end. That’s always funny right?

You could sell me Conan O’brien sweaty sock brand and I would buy it.Tapping into Conan’s awkwardness … good call.

APPEAL: Awkward Conan.

This was awesome. It makes my list of the best three Superbowl ads.

APPEAL: Funny, over-the-top, ridiculous… beer!

Juxtaposition. Nice.

APPEAL: Irony

No! Bad McGrubber! I like my SNL skits on SNL.

APPEAL: Bad!

Ok, so you use a popular online chat acronym and you think you’ve got us? Try again NBC.

APPEAL: Speak their language. Or try to.

*

Oy… my male friends STILL thought this ad was “hot.”

APPEAL: Boobs.

*

Heeeeyyy… what do you know. More boobs.

APPEAL: More boobs.

Ok, that one made me smile. Good song too.

APPEAL: Associate product with an every day situation. Don’t forget the hot girl!

You know why this commercial worked? Because of the FREE Grand Slam Breakfast! I missed it but good job Denny’s… you turned out alright.

APPEAL: FREE FOOD. And, make fun of tough men by serving them happy face pancakes.

Ah, the good ol’ this-product-brings-life-and-color-back-to-things-that-are-dull-and-dead scheme!

APPEAL: Visual.

I’m not a fan of the Clydesdales. So I really don’t see what all the fuzz is about. I can see how it appeal to an older crowd though.

APPEAL: Cute animals do ridiculous things.

The bugs were very well aimated. The concept was pretty cool. Props Coke.

APPEAL: Good commercial.

*

Again, passing on the Clydesdales.

APPEAL: Cute animals doing lovey-dovey things.

*

Loved the moon setting. Good song. Clever concept.

APPEAL: Good commercial.

*

Ahhh Pepsi. you know how to use celebrities SO well! I loved this commercial.

APPEAL: Celebrities, good times, good music, good commercial.

I like that Chester. and for once it’s good to see the “hot” girl getting what she had coming to her.

APPEAL: Maliciousness.

*

Clydesdale fail. Why is ti speaking in an accent if its a third-generation Clydesdale?

APPEAL: Fail.

*

Really? That wasn’t even funny…… Really?

APPEAL: Audience awareness fail.

*

I don’t watch Heroes but that was a half decent commercial.

APPEAL: David vs. Goliath. David wins.

I loooved this commercial! Maybe it was Jason Statham, maybe it was the cars, maybe it was the action. Whatever it was it worked.

APPEAL: Fast cars.

I got it. It was cute. Alright.

APPEAL: Rethorical commercial.

No one in our room had 3-D glasses.  The lizard is still odd to me. I don’t really associate it with the brand just yet … mmm… I don’t know about this one.

APPEAL: 3-D fail.

On my top three list. Let this serve as an example for the CORRECT way to use McHammer in a commercial or any other publicity. Also, I didn’t know Cash4Gold could afford a Superbowl ad… that’s just impressive.

APPEAL: McHammer, ridiculous.

Offbeat humor.

APPEAL: Offbeat humor.

*

What was that? I still don’t see how that was supposed to work.

APPEAL: Fail.

*

People get hurt here too.

APPEAL: Injury.

*

Awww… kids… dedication… Overstock teaching life lessons? At least they tried.

APPEAL: Kids, education, hard work. Gold.

I have a Hyundai and they’re right… people can’t say it. Good looking out.

APPEAL: Repetition.

*

Family, tradition… adorable.

APPEAL: Good message.

These ads actually had to do with what is going on in the world. Someone should have donated these peopel more money so that they could place a few more of these during the Superbowl.

APPEAL: Good message.

I couldn’t remember this ad and it looks like I’ll continue to wonder what it was about. It’s off Hulu.

APPEAL: No clue.

Very cool. Football player and father. Good relationships. Life stories. Memories. Humility.

APPEAL: Sentimental.

*

It could be any clearer.

APPEAL: Fear.

*

Oh Shatner. Got us again.

APPEAL: William Shatner. Economy. Saving money.

*

I don’t think ANYONE has EVER wondered what the world would be like if roadies ruled the world. Nice try?

APPEAL: Technology.

Oops! I meant to cut out all movie trailers from this post. But since it sneaked its way into here… No thanks Fast and the Furious… I will NOT go see you.

*

Childhood dreams.

APPEAL: Emotional.

*

Hey! What do you know! Tiger Woods is in a commercial. Question – are they trying to make “G” into an adjective?

APPEAL: Celebrity. You-can-do-anything appeal.

OMG, why would anyone go through the trouble of building that structure to prove that a car is fire proof?

APPEAL: You didn’t even see that coming.

We were watching the Superbowl on a Vizio TV. Mission accomplished. We cheered.

APPEAL: If you’re with Vizio you’re good. If not, you’re dumb.

Cool production.

APPEAL: Looks good to me.

*

Good ol’ car commerical.

APPEAL: Good ol’ car commercial. Oh, and at the end you question your identity in relation with the product.

Hey! A contest! This isn’t just an ad. I can follow up with this and win something at some point… maybe… probably not.

APPEAL: Contest. And we get you to visit our Web site in the process.

I still can’t believe that they would give you your money back if you lose your job. If it’s a fourth true… well done.

APPEAL: We know what the economy is like and what you’re going through.

There were a ton of articles that followed up on the Superbowl commercials but I managed to save two links, one from MediaPost.com and another one from Brian Solis who was rating the ads on Twitter as they played in real time and put together an analysis with the result of the Twitter poll.

Oh, watch the commercials on Hulu. Thank you Hulu!

I used to think I was cool when I was the only one of my grade school friends that knew that the F12 key would bring up the “save as” window on Word. Clearly we all have to step our game up. 

My expectations for gift bag goodies from conferences are a bit higher after today. Just the other day Jeremiah Owyang (couldn’t find the particular tweet again) tweeted that he wouldn’t be surprised if mini laptops soon became party favors at big conferences. Logo pens won’t cut it next to stickers or lap tops or yo-yos – I’ll still go for the ocassional yo-yo.