Tips For Gaining Credibility In Attending Blog Events...

.:The Blog Event Is Your Lifeblood:.

It has been a recent trend that many companies would have blogger events that obviously cater to bloggers of all walks of life. From its humble beginnings here in the Philippines, the blogosphere has certainly grown to be a respected, even feared sector of society, what with its dominance in the PUBLIC opinion field as far as the internet is concerned.

It's comforting to know that many companies are slowly recognizing the potency of bloggers, what with our ability to lynch anyone who crosses us. It's high time the general public recognizes us for the dignitaries that we are on the internet, representing quite handily a good cross-section of Philippine society.

Is it any surprise then that there are blogger events held to curry our favor? Of course not. We've earned it, haven't we? But I think it's still not enough. We still need to make it clear to everyone who still doesn't know what a "blog" is that we bloggers are not to be messed with. As such, here are a few tips on how to conduct yourselves during a blogger's event, so we can show these guys who's boss. ASSERT yourselves, bloggers!

1. You are a VIP. Act like one. They invited you because they know that with one paragraph you can launch tens of THOUSANDS of comments. They need you more than you need them. If they make one wrong move while having you as their guest, make sure they regret it! Blast them on your blog, lambast them, and make them see the error of their ways. That'll show them to know better than to give you that AWESOME giveaway not meant for bloggers instead of giving you that other one meant for bloggers, huh? The nerve! YOU are the center of their universe. Make sure they know that.

2. Don't attend if the freebies are not worth your while. Sometimes, these events organizers don't GET the hint. Do they think bloggers go to their events because they have a wonderful cause or topic to open for discussion? Hell, no! It's all about the freebies, baby! If their freebies aren't good enough, let them know by snubbing their event, and telling everyone on your blog that these organizers are "cheap" and they "demean" bloggers with their UGLY, pathetic pittances. How dare they try to substitute for great freebies with a great, well-thought out event for everyone to mull over? THAT is unacceptable!

3. Never shell out! If an event expects you to contribute to, say, a computer school for the blind, screw that! How dare these organizers expect you to shell out a single cent? Gift certificates? That's sneaky! These gc's will force you to go a few pesos over the bill, and you end up paying 20 bucks for a cake. That is exorbitant! OBVIOUSLY, they assume that bloggers should have the ability to share their blessings with others, but really now, that's none of their business. If they lay something in front of us for display, it's their fault if we actually assume that it's free. That's false advertising.

4. No matter how compelling, don't blog about the event! You have better things to blog about! Who cares if it's a press event where your presence implicitly means you're supposed to update people about the press event you're supposedly covering? They're not paying you for this! How dare they expect, or even so much as hope, you write about anything you go to? Or at least to write about it well? The rules of the English language are your b!7c4, so you will do with it as you please. And no, all those freebies they gave you? That's just because you graced them with your presence. That's something you're entitled to, yes siree.

5. Always invite a MOB with you when attending these blogger events! The organizers made this event for exposure. They wanted to get something out, be it a product, or a cause, or anything, and you're going to the event alone?!? Are you dumb? These companies will absolutely love you if you invited as many people as you can to go with you, so that more people will be exposed to what they wanted to bring up. It's only logical. More people = more coverage. Never mind if these people you dragged with you aren't bloggers. They can do word of mouth if they wanted to, right? Except, yeah, don't forget about tip number 4. That's real important, too.

Well, there you have it. With these tips, I hope you jabronis will show the general public what bloggers are all about. After all, there's a saying that goes, "the geek shall inherit the Earth". Bloggers, represent!

;)