BlogWorldExpo - Final Recap

Update: Tris at BlogNation has some great event coverage as well.

This post will serve as the final recap for BlogWorldExpo 2007. Let's first deal with the formalities: I didn't win the millions so CN shall continue. I learned how to play roulette and won a few dollars but the slot machines killed me. Though Wheel of Fortune made me $50 from $10 which was cool. Craps - I stood there 30 minutes and still had no idea how this is played. Played two hands of blackjack, lost both and that was enough. And I won't even start on the b5media poker table - lost all 10 hands I played. :)

A big thank you to Jeremy @ b5media for offering me the opportunity to speak at BWE. I look forward to more speaking engagements in 2008. His group of bloggers have such a family feel to them, it was great meeting so many. It's nice to sit with bloggers who are outside tech and learn about the ways they monetize and build their traffic to what drives them to continue. 

Overall I enjoyed the conference and thought it was similar to SXSW. I was disappointed by Richard Jalichandra from Technorati. I think Justine did a good job as a replacement and I enjoyed meeting so many of the CN readers. The networking was top-notch!

Touching on the Arrington situation briefly. I posted so that anyone who was planning on attending the session would know that Om/Mike wouldn't be there. The room was at the end and it might give someone a chance to stop and go to another room. As for the details, Andy Beard did some huge investigation and Mike has updated his post about what happened. I am not going to touch on what happened at this point but I absolutely disagree with Mike's comments about speaking. Mike sees it as a "net negative" and will only speak at his friend's conferences going forward. This is a mistake. So many want to meet Mike and it's similar to coming to meet an author you like/have an interest in.

I also believe that his public appearances is a part of why Techcrunch became #1. To turn his back on this, I think is a mistake. Getting out to events for Mike might be a negative, but for his fans and for the conference organizers, I would suggest it's a positive.

All BlogWorldExpo posts

• Day 1 Recap - b5media/speaking
• New Media Moguls Roundtable
• Exhibit Hall Photos
• Keynote Matt Mullenweg
• Schwag Giveaway Part II
• Schwag Giveaway

Conference concluded.