by Zontee Hou

Words of Wisdom: Learning from the #ExpertsAmongUs of BlogHer 2015

I go to a lot of conferences. If you follow this blog or my personal blog, you can probably tell. But one that I particularly enjoy is the BlogHer conference put on by SheKnows Media, because not only is it a showcase for talented women, but it is also one of the most ethnically diverse, welcoming, and positive conferences that I have ever been to.

Beyond sheer talent (hello Ava Duvernay and Gwyneth Paltrow!), the participants are super smart and insightful, and today, I’ve pulled four quotes from the many that I jotted down that I believe are valuable to marketers, communications specialists, and business people in general.

Actress and Goop founder, Gwyneth Paltrow

“Pick the stories that matter. Help us see around the corner. Make yourself an expert.” – Diane Brady, author and journalist

When it comes to pitching yourself, not only as a resource to your audience but also to potential partners, you need to address their needs. By showcasing your expertise in the areas that are valuable to them, you give them a reason to pick you and work with you. Don’t just tell them what’s happening now, but help them anticipate the future and what they need to know as things change.

“The time changes. The age we’re in changes.” – Heidi Durrow, author, former journalist, and former attorney

Speaking of change, author Heidi Durrow put it well when she pointed out the importance of recognizing flux. We need to go with the flow and to not be too rigid about what we believe our business to consist of or our positioning to be. By changing with the times, whether that’s using the current lexicon or switching social media platforms, we are accommodating the needs of our audience/clients/partners and therefore better serving them.

“I am a female entrepreneur and I am not afraid to cry.” – Majora Carter, social entrepreneur and broadcaster

During her BlogHer Pitch, the articulate Majora Carter was overtaken with emotion for a moment, and the crowd roared with applause as she composed herself and began to speak again. Showing your authentic experiences, emotions, and beliefs can be a powerful way for your audience to connect with you.

In a world of corporatized messaging, the reason we crave small batch, artisanal companies is because we can get to know the personalities behind them. And in the end, we as humans, crave connection.

For Majora, her fantastic pitch must have resonated with the audience, because she was the first ever BlogHer Pitch winner!

Selma director, Ava Duvernay

“Create an experience, not an exchange.” – Rebecca Otis, marketing consultant

Rebecca homed in on another important element of communications that is so key in today’s environment. There are so many times when businesses seek to make a trade with customers: sign up for 15% off today; follow us for a downloadable ebook. While those are valuable tools, you can go beyond this “exchange” mentality and think about how you can offer an “experience” for your audience/clients/partners. Give them more than just a one-off value and offer a relationship and longer-term connection. Build trust, not just a list of leads.

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Those are just a few of the quotes that caught my attention at BlogHer 2015–for additional scenes and quotes, be sure to check out my Twitter account.