Kelly, I am so glad you are cross-posting this here. Blogher, these are the important topics that nobody is likely to see on the new site design. I could only find it because I knew it was here. Please someone fix this, so that new forum topics raised get some kind of headline on the main page for a day or two.

Okay, now onto Kelly's point. Here are my initial thoughts:

>I hope you will cross post this at blogher. I felt that session was
>practically an altar call for monetization. And although one of the
>panelists was clearly very passionate about monetizing, I do not think
think the agenda was being steered by the panel. I guess I need to go
back and read the session description. Maybe I was just in the wrong place.
>
>I was thinking about that moment and the question you raised today,
before I ever saw this post. I was aware that the question was never
answered, but it never occured to me that I might have a part in it as anything but a bystander. That's awful, but maybe what's especially awful is the possibility that most of us heard it as a rhetorical question. A question that we are so used to going unanswered, we have quit expecting any. I don't know. But you sure have given me a lot to think about.

Kyran, Notes to Self

Although I did not attend blogher, I agree wholeheartedly with you!

It is very discouraging NOT to see much (if any) diversity within these ranks. I can count on one had the number of blogs that get "airtime"...very sad. Is no one accounting for this group of people? Is there only 1 mommyblogger that is not of the Caucasian persuasion? Does anyone care that this --is just the way that it is?

Kelly brings up several great points...I hope they are heard and acted upon. Unfortunately, I am not surprised that the moderator did not push this issue (or at the very least ACKNOWLEDGE it), nor am I not surprised that "corporate america" didn't have a response either; this has been the status quo for quite a long time. I am a little surprised that NOONE besides Stefania had anything to say.

Very sad indeed.

...I missed this session this year, but I remember vividly trying to discuss this LAST year at the MOM session and having it fall with a thud...only to discuss the issue later, in private, with Kelly and Grace Davis.

I think we may need to take a cue from BlogHers ACT here and start an initiative.

Who's with me?

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

When I read both Stefania and Kelly's posts about this I immediately started to think along the lines of BlogHer's ACT.

Maybe this is a good forum to brainstorm ideas?

One thing I would love would be a directory so folks could share the link love in their vertical. If you know creative mamas out there, please send me their URLs -- I write about kids crafts and activities.

Vero.
Little Elephants
You'll also find me on the Silicon Valley Moms Blog and at eHub

I was not in the session but I am so happy to hear that Kelly did attempt to lay the topic on the table. What happened afterwards is something everyone in the room needs to address for themselves.

How can BlogHer help get these issues out in the open, or better yet, out in FRONT rather than shoved in a corner. Race should not be the elephant in the room, particularly not when we're discussing monetizing of blogs or marketing to people.

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

You deserved more than an answer - this is a discussion that deserves its own session. I'm one of the "marketing guys" that was there and I can easily go through how I find the blogs I pitch - it's typically based on the needs of my client, whether the discussions you're having on your blog are relevant to what I'm working on, and whether you have the technorati and google rankings that make people notice.

You have the numbers - I checked - and you have plenty of relevant conversations at Mocha Momma for any number of PR pitches. So why don't people pitch you?

Simple: because we stink at this. We have so much to learn it's scary. And we have to do so much better it's even scarier. I seriously doubt it's because your "technorati rank" was too low. It's not.

That's the short answer. I'll be writing more about it later this week or next, and I hope you'll continue leading this discussion, both here and at mocha momma because it's important.

Mocha, I just posted on this (among other things) at my place. http://gingajoy.blogspot.com/2007/07/withdrawing-symptoms-notes-from.htm...
(scroll down past the other stuff!)

You know (from our energetic conversations) that I have *thoughts* on this.

I think the reason the topic was dropped was because a) it's something people don't feel comfortable in discussing (for various, and not necessarily good reasons) b) because the format for moderating, though inclusive, meant that everyone gets to speak--for 20 seconds.

Jory was working to include everyone, which was the main mantra at speaker training. As I said in my post, I can see why this is emphasized, but the downside is that issues do not get serious and in-depth attention.

I really hope we can pursue this discussion further, K. I'd like to pose some questions to you and others to post at blogrhet (and perhaps crosspost here?)

La Mocha! I just saw this over at Citymama.typepad.com and came on over to post my thoughts. Here goes: I am sorry I missed this session, although I did see people pouring out of the room as I left another.

I agree that you have QUITE a topic here for further blogging and even a panel for BlogHer '08 maybe?

If you don't mind, I'd like to offer some advice to anyone in advertising, marketing, PR and/or media who seeks to reach the most techno-savvy, economically influential women online: You want to reach women who blog. We control 83 cents of every single household dollar.

And if you're lucky, you need to reach women who blog who are also moms, because sometimes what we consume is not a mystery. (Example: Diapers--> Underoos --> Spiderman boxers --> striped Fruit of the Looms --> "Mooom, let me pick out my OWN underwear will you?!!")

AND FINALLY, if a brand team ignores a woman who blogs because of her race, they are making a major strategic error that will cost them customers and reduce their brand influence online. Don't take my word for it, read the surveys -- and note that race has nada to do with the influence of these mommybloggers:

Those of you here may also know that Mocha Momma is the architect of the BlogMe mixer in 2006 and 2007.

You may also already read Stefania of Citymama, perhaps also here, here and here.

In other words, these two moms who blog are the online equivalent of hostesses with the mostest. These are influential women. Like the women we're proud to have in BlogHer's growing ad network.

What I'm trying to say is IGNORE THEM AT YOUR OWN PERIL.

We sure don't. Our goal is to reflect the strength of our community by topic area, and to do so requires that we reflect the diversity of women who blog -- be it in parenting, food, health, business, finance, entertainment, or young singles.

That's why we've opened our ad network to applications from blogs of all sizes AND readerships AND topics AND demographics. It's the only way I know of to deliver BlogHer's sponsors with the full power of women online. For a taster of that power at work, check out these links by women bloggers about the iPhone. A wildly diverse group -- all talking about the same product.

And I have hope, because we're also proud to be working with a growing number of sponsors who value all of our bloggers.

And with that, Mocha, I look forward to more discussion and to your panel recommendation for next year! Thanks again for leading the BlogMe mixer -- it makes such a difference.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

It's taken too long to respond and I apologize. It's not entirely cooled down for me yet because this issue is ENORMOUS. This is a political issue of race that everyone has been very kind to discuss. I think there's no better "safe" place to do that, either, because when intelligent people come together and are thoughtful about these issues, Real Change can happen.

Thanks to everyone who commented. We're going to get somewhere. I just know it.

I'm so grateful for the chance.

Link Text

Kelly,

I had not even considered the question until you asked it. Maybe I've just been in the mix of racial ignorance for too long (I am Spanish but look like I'm half white/black). I'm always stuck. I know I don't "blend in" and there is always the question of my background. I think I go on autopilot. I never considered this in the blogging community. My only excuse is that I am a relative newbie.

When you asked the question I felt my corner of the room go cold. This kept me from following up. I did not hear what Stefania said. There were women sitting on the floor next to me chattering...

I do think this is a great panel subject for '08.

Jazz Brown
FineryInLife.com

Hey, Kelly --
I didn't make it to BlogHer this year for various reasons, but since I'd been to BlogHer in the past, I was okay with my decision. However, this post has really made me believe that I should've been there. I've long-held that the absence of mommybloggers of colour on blogrolls is quite an issue -- and an absence I've never been able to hear a satisfactory explanation. Kudos to you for raising it as a concern. And please know that had I attended BlogHer '07 and found myself in this session? i'd have TOTALLY had your back. 

Good job, Kelly. I'll be there next year.
K.

I hope we can all realize that it's not just mommybloggers who get completely written off based on race, it's an overarching community thing. But I was too chicken shit to ask so I made Kelly do the asking, which as we all know now, was just ignored.

Let's just say I'm young, black and single and NO ONE is marketing to me nor do I think that they particularly care either and shockingly enough, I have a large disposable income and yet NO ONE cares about me. Perhaps I'll go cry about it now or just curse PR people under my breath.

Heather B.
Personal Blog: No Pasa Nada
BlogHer CE: Business, Career & Personal Finance