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TBEX Recap/ Giveaway Winners

My live tweets from the Travel Blog Exchange meet up on Sunday, July 26, 2009.

Woohoo, it’s #TBEX day!7:18 AM Jul 26th from web

I’m so excited to use internet while inflight! woohoo @gogointernet! #tbex10:35 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

Gogo is offering 50% off on in air flight WIFI through August 31 with the following code: 158FLF7365 check aircell.com/go-go-offer #tbex10:36 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

New panel for travel blogging wisdom from experts @travelingmatt @deliciousbaby @myessis @seKeener @heather_poole #tbex10:38 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

travel writing= nonfiction, but also entertaining. Don’t fight your natural inclination to write #tbex10:39 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

I think half of us have an inferiority complex here #tbex10:39 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

@travelingmatt = backpacking and budget travel guru #tbex10:40 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

Ha whoops, this is @NomadicMatt , I think @travelingmatt is a muppet, isn’t he? #tbex10:41 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

hot. too hot. #tbex10:42 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

@deliciousbaby asks: what was one of your more popular blog posts? #tbex10:42 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

reminiscing about the early days of blogging. I used Diaryland.com in 2000 #tbex10:43 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

Remembering an unfortunate time I stumbled upon a nude elderly european sunbather in Thailand #tbex10:43 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

I too measure my self esteem by blog comments and stats #tbex10:45 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

@heather_poole found some “awesome” pictures online of people on the toilet. It became a legend. #tbex10:46 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

Also, new word: Laviator (lavoratory = aviator) #tbex10:46 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

@nomadicmatt got slammed for his article http://bit.ly/3Zh0VH #tbex10:49 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

Once a reader freaked out on me when I wrote about accidental breast milk shooting someone on a plane. I’m contraversial. #tbex10:50 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

When I’m in Laos I twitter while America sleeps. It doesn’t work that well. #tbex10:51 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

@deliciousbaby asks: wht is the diff. b/t a travel blog and a travel content website? #tbex10:52 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

quote: “blogs are hard to montetize and make stable” too true #tbex10:53 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

answer: “blogs are more fun and entertaining” also true #tbex10:54 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

“some blogs blur the line by providing both stories and practical info.” #tbex10:55 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

I’m not sure if I’m bothered by the issue of blog vs. website. meh. #tbex10:56 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

audience question time! oh crap I totally just spaced out on the question. I should listen better. #tbex10:58 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

How do we attract traffic? Sources like google, community, twitter, facebook. Personaly I like hosting giveaways. #tbex10:59 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

@sekeener has a good analogy about blogs as seedlings and traffic sources as life giving nourishment #tbex11:01 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

My left bun is complaining #tbex11:02 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

And YES comment on other blogs that are in your “niche”. It is like handing out invites to a party at your blog. #tbex11:03 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

I find it hard to focus on a niche. But it is important to do so to become an recognized expert @nomadicmatt #tbex11:07 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

@nerdseyeview asks, how do you feed your blog when you are not traveling? #tbex11:08 AM Jul 26th from web in reply to nerdseyeview

I still haven’t blogged my bali trip 4 months ago, edited videos etc. #tbex11:09 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

@heather_poole retweets, gets creative. @nomadicmatt blogs about practical concerns #tbex11:11 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

I tried to do a travel photo a day like @everywheretrip but I couldn’t take the heat #tbex11:13 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

Yes, you can blog like a journalist. Check your facts, actually have sources. #tbex11:15 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

don’t exhaust your subject. Don’t overblog a trip. Edit. Break it up. #tbex11:19 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

Uh oh, battery is going on the laptop #tbex11:19 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

have integrity w/ sponsored posts so your readers can trust you #tbex11:20 AM Jul 26th from TweetGrid

So then my laptop battery DID die. TBEX was a great meetup put together by Debbie of Delicious Baby, and Kim of GoGalavanting.

It was really neat to see so many familiar bloggers in person. I found myself wishing for more time just to chat and meet people.

The “speed dating” time was too noisy, crowded (and HOT) for me to hear much/actually conversation. But I think the inaugural TBEX was successful overall.

I had to leave before it was completely finished so that I could go catch my plane from Chicago to Memphis. I’m glad I hurried so that I could MISS MY CONNECTING FLIGHT IN MEMPHIS. It was totally worth it.

This is a picture of my luggage after I went to my hotel provided by North West Airlines (since a mechanical problem made my plane late). I came to Chicago with the roll on suitcase and a mostly empty large duffle bag. I left with the duffle bag crammed full of swag, plus a filled LandsEnd backpack and a crammed-full Wild Planet duffle bag that I got at the conference. Insane!

Here I am trying to express my feelings, stranded in the hotel

room away from my babies for one more day.

When I finally got home at 11:30 am on Monday (instead of 9pm on Sunday) my boys were waiting for me on the porch. Then ran to me, saying, “MAMA!” just like in the movies!

Jojo’s favorite schwag item was the copy of Lego.com magazine and the Wild Planet Mickey’s Mouse-ke-TAG. Deeds’s favorite schwag was the Playskool bug cars and the Build-A-Bear.

Although I’m a little conflicted over the bear because they gave us a $5 off $25 purchase at Build-A-Bear coupon.

Except, I don’t really want to spend $20 on bear clothes. But I think it would be fun to go there. But $20. On Bear clothes?

Oh they both like the Mr. Potato Head doll. Deeds was wearing the glasses.

How about some winners? That is exciting!

* Mary Kaye Music Box CD (ended 7/15) winner is Bella, comment number 18, woohoo!
* Giant Fortune Cookie (ended 7/18) winner is comment 83, Denise!
* Zuzatz Ladies Sandals(ended 7/20) winner is comment 255, Diane!
* Organic Raw Honey from Tropical Traditions(ended 7/22) now belongs to Cynthia Shern! So yummy, I need to reorder.
* Summer Bridge Activity Book(ended 7/22) was won by Heather Goldsmith!

SMOOSHIES! winner is Sheila H!

LunchBug from Mimi the Sardine winner is Tonya!

Thanks for entering everyone!

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