So a good friend of mine asked me if I would speak at her conference, The Mom Con, in November and I was so excited I didn’t think about what I was really committing to. Did moms really want to hear me speak? What the F do I really know that’s even worth listening to?
I’ve been in the social media realm for a long time – way before your Twitter handle was cool – and I’ve seen that it can make or break someone in mere moments. You can go from nobody to somebody and back in less than 24 hours. You can make friends with mere strangers without ever really meeting them, have virtual dates, follow a new movement to change the world, or just share those cute little photos of your kid or fur kid.
So, what’s the big hype with social media, anyways?
Let me tell you why you should care and why you matter.
1. You might land a job. Seriously.
Remember that story about a friend of a friend of a sister’s cousin who tweeted and then was hired by Disney to ride rides all day long? It really happens.
True Story – I got noticed by brands just by tweeting – I was mad there weren’t any men’s changing tables in NYC and took it to Twitter. Now I am the NY Editor of that national parenting magazine, Mommy Nearest. The brands are watching and listening.
2. Virtual is the new reality
It’s funny to think that virtual connections can lead to something so meaningful in life, but in a world of technology, not enough hours, and Pinterest parties to plan – what mom really has time to stop off at happy hour after work anymore? She can however chat and check in with her Facebook group while she’s waiting for her train on her commute home. Remember all those TV shows from the 50’s when moms would call up other moms on the phone? Well, we’re that new generation of moms chatting each other up with Facebook notifications.
True Story – I started a Facebook group just for moms (ask me if you want to join!) that has just grown and grown in size in just it’s first year. And it’s awesome – there is actually share some pretty intimate stuff in there, and we’re raw, honest, and real.
3. You’ll find connections you didn’t know exist
I was lost in NYC as a mom. I only had a few friends who were single and definitely weren’t planning to have kids anytime soon when I became pregnant. I still love them and chat with them, but I needed others like me who were close and could understand what I was going through.
True Story – I met some of my best mom friends in the middle of the night when I was tweeting and looking for ways to stop Max from crying. And yes, I have gone on “mom dates” with other moms I met through Instagram. We’re still really good friends and meet up from time to time!
4. It’s a place to vent where you might actually get validation
Ever tried a product and it was totally awesome? Maybe it wasn’t so awesome. Well, now you have the entire world in your fingertips. Where our parents never had that opportunity, you have everyone right in front of you. Literally. And they’re listening. Trust me. At this point, almost ANY brand I tweet or Instagram/Facebook responds to me – and fast. They are really trying to make their consumers happy, and if you’re not – you might just get it actually fixed this time. Or they might send you a little something special for being a fan.
True Story – One time a certain hummus brand was giving out samples near a subway stop and all the sample cups of uneaten hummus were ending up on the steps trashing up the area. A friend of mine tweeted about it and said they were bigger fans of Wholly Guacamole. Well Wholly Guacamole saw that tweet and not only sent them a treat, but enough treats for my friends office and a thank you just for being such a great fan. (Don’t you all go and tweet away at Wholly now trying to get free sh** – remember, social is meant to be REAL and in the moment!)
5. Okay, maybe you might even change the world – or at least change someone’s life
True Story – A friend of mine in Pittsburgh recently parted ways with his fiance days before the wedding. Instead of sulking and just eating the $10,000 he already invested in the wedding venue, he decided to make it a public event for charity. Read the story here. He sold tickets and gave 100% of the proceeds to a local nonprofit – Surgicorps International, who provide surgeries and medical care for needy children mostly in developing countries. The story went wild, viral and global. He was in the News from France to Korea to Pittsburgh. That’s right – one man right from the little awesome city of Pittsburgh. Changing the world thanks to social media.
The Mom Con – Empowering Moms Like You
So what is The Mom Con? It’s a conference for moms just like you and me to come together and be a community. We are stronger in numbers, and we feel safer, too. Remember when they said it takes a village? They didn’t just make that up.
So if you like how “real” I talk – maybe you’ll wanna come hear me speak in person at The Mom Con. I hope I can inspire you to be something amazing, too. Even if that means just being the mom you’ve always wanted to be.
Sometimes while being real is hard; finding a community that you can be authentic in, is even harder. Read more on how The Mom Con is building community, here.
This is why we are bringing you The Mom Con.
Join Me at The Mon Con – For Free!
Enter here to win a ticket for you and a friend to join me at the conference in Pittsburgh, November 14th and 15th. I might even take a selfie with you if you ask 🙂
Football Food and Motherhood is the most-followed Mommy Groups blog NYC. Leave a comment below saying why you’d love to join me! xoxo
I would love an opportunity to learn and grow my blogging empire!
it’s going to be a really great empowering event for the ladies, Christy! Hope to see you there!
I love to learn and to hang out with you of course! xo
haha I hope you get to hang out with me too!
Because I believe in the power of twitter. Ellen
YES!
I haven’t been able to go to a conference in years, and like you I’m a HUGE believer in social media – hell, I met my husband on Twitter!
YES! Jenny – if you come I might have to pull you up on stage with me 🙂
I like that kind of threat…
I am a first time mom of a toddler. Would love to connect with other moms and learn from them.
Michelle then this is the perfect conference for you! You’re going to love it!
I sometimes feel alone lately in how tired I am and how little time I get to myself as a mom of two boys three and nine months. It would be nice to connect with other moms be reminded that I’m not alone in that!
Totally agree we all feel alone at some point – come join our community! xoxo
I have never been able to travel to Nashville for the MOPS conference, and this is local for me, so I would LOVE to be able to go!!
I hope you can join us Jill!
I too found a mom’s group online when I was pregnant! I would love to meet you Stephanie! Pitt is an easy drive for me. MomCon here i come!
Ahhhh I hope you can come and join us and meet me too, Courtney!
I would love to join other moms in this kind of environment – with this kind of attitude – with this kind of honesty!!
yes there will lots of positive energy flowing this weekend!
I would love to go and connect with other moms.
hope you can join us Sarah!
That sounds like it’s going to be an awesome conference. And it’s not THAT far from me….
haha yes Massachusetts is doable! xox
Sounds like an awesome time! I would love to join your facebook moms group 🙂
Good Luck Speaking!! I like to speak in front of a group! And it is true the new reality is virtual!
I would love to attend to learn more and more about the Blog world and how moms are doing it every day.
It sounds like you would be a great speaker and how awesome to giveaway tickets to Momcon.
Thanks for these great reminders and how wonderful about your friend’s: giving back to charity. Thanks for the chance to win
You are absolutely correct on all points regarding social media. I connected with one of my best clients through social media. They found me and clicked on my website link, and then followed through to see if we would be a good fit for one another. Also, I like my virtual friends way better than most of the people I went to school with or currently know.
I so want to go to MOM CON! It’s so close by… most bloggy conferences are too far away. You know I have my entries in… thanks for the chance!
totally agree! Good luck!
Sounds like an awesome ‘Con to go to!
I think social media is an awesome way to really put yourself out there. You can do stuff on social media that you normally can’t do just by blogging.
Mom Con sounds like such a great event! I would love to be able to go!
Congrats on speaking at Mom Con. I love this post social media is so important and everyone is watching.
Thanks for this post, I totally absorbed everything you just said. I’m a former PA girl currently staying in AR, but would love to hear you speak sometime! Was anything recorded? Thanks for sharing your pearls of wisdom!
Man, I really want to go to a convention. I’m looking forward to finding one near me so that I can experience it myself!
that looks awesome. i’m not perfect but i can be the best i can be.
Great post! I’m such a social media junkie you shared some great tips. Nice what the PA guy did
Based on what I read here, you’re definitely a great person to be speaking. I wish I could go!
So true! In today’s world you can make a huge difference in your life and other people’s lives overnight. I think you would be a great speaker to listen to. I wish I lived closer. I would definitely go.
I think once you get up there you’ll realize how much fun it is and maybe not even want it to end! 🙂 Good luck and I hope you have a lot of fun and make lots of connections!
This is awesome, I wish I could go because this alone inspired me so much!