I Quit for LIJIT...

Leaving Lijit

It's time to close this chapter and start a new one. I'm leaving Lijit to move on, learn new things and challenge myself. The past three and a half years have been amazing and I wanted to break it down for you.

By the numbers...

                  6: number of people at the company when I was hired

                17: number of conferences that I've attended on behalf of Lijit

              329: number of blog posts that I've written between this blog and the company blog

              500: percent increase in the number of employees since I've been here

            2400: percent increase in the number of active widgets since I started

    Lost count: the number of awesome people I've been fortunate to meet through this job

The lessons I walk away with are varied. From learning about the intricacies of search to figuring out how to navigate through the world of social media, I've basically taught myself, through trial and error, how to be a successful evangelist/marketer/publisher recruiter. And for giving me the room to make mistakes and develop my voice, I will be eternally grateful to everyone at Lijit.

Don't even get me started about how much I've learned about blogging. Oy vey. Spending my time deeply entrenched in the world of blogs has opened my eyes to the many writers and photographers out there who make up this entertaining space. I don't want to say that I've seen it all...but it wouldn't be far from the truth. From mommies to daddies, movies to music, dogs to cats, biking to running, the funny to the ridiculous, the amazing to the unbelievable, the local celebrity to the internet famous, those with hair to those without, Lijit has provided many opportunities for my blogging education.

And let's not forget all the food blogs that I've salivated over during my course of employment. 

There are many thank-yous, but the first one definitely goes to Todd. In addition to being a cool guy to work for, he really took a chance on hiring me. But I made him laugh and was able to convince him that I knew what an 'evangelist' was supposed to do...and that I was the perfect person to do it. Fortunately, he believed in me and never looked back.

Also, big props go out to Stan, Leslie and Derek, who put up with many dumb questions from me as we were first starting out. I'm a virtual tech success story from when I joined Lijit (shut up I can write a few lines of code) and I have those three to thank for it.

Finally, I need to thank you, the readers and Lijit supporters who have joined me on this journey. Thanks especially to those first few publishers that I reached out to long ago who installed Lijit even after I sent them four-paragraph-long emails.

I can't wait to see what else Lijit accomplishes and I look forward to celebrating their future successes, knowing I had a small part to play in helping to grow the company.

If you want to keep up with Lijit, you should subscribe to the Lijit company blog.

If you want to keep up with me personally, you should subscribe to my "other" blog, Tall Tara, where, among other things, I write about my butt, my physical adventures and my skewed view of humanity.

If that doesn't seem appealing, you can follow me on Twitter. But don't worry...I'm not going to be far.

I have to sign off with one of the most impressive pieces of Lijit advertising (that I never got to use) created by one of my favorite Lijit users ever and a huge source of feedback for us back in the early days, Kato Katonian...

BlogHer 09: Bringing it back to Chicago

There are lots of post-conference reviews and summaries coming to light as BlogHer attendees write about their experiences. Some are on blogs, some are in the traditional media. I was unsure how I should go about talking about the conference, because as a marketer and a blogger, I have a few different angles I can take on the subject. Since I'm mostly caught up on sleep, I thought that I would share a different sort of top ten list with you--the questions I have after returning home from BlogHer. There are a few that I can actually answer and a few that don't need it...

Question #1: Do I talk about all the awesome bloggers I met?

    Because really, I could go on and on and on and on with regards to the caliber of women (and the few men) that I met while at BlogHer. There's not enough room to link to them all.

Question #2: Do I mention the incredible sessions that provided much food for thought?

    Whether it was listening to how some of my favorite bloggers tend to their craft or hearing about how big companies are dealing with social media, there were learning opportunities around every corner of that Sheraton.

Question #3: Do I dissect what it felt like to be a non-mommyblogger wandering around an expo floor full of major sponsors looking to reach the mommybloggers?

    At another time, perhaps.

Question #4: Do I discuss the issue of swag and how crazy it has all become?

    No need to since many other talented writers have already done a better job than I ever could.

Question #5: Do I bring up how amazing it is to hear bloggers read their best work aloud with tears streaming down my face and my heart swollen with pride?

    The Community Keynote is the best part of BlogHer in my opinion and reminds me why we all started doing this in the first place.

Question #6: Do I share the numerous conversations I had about Lijit, listening to feedback and explaining how we strive to provide value to bloggers?

    Let's just say that Lijit stickers became one of the most coveted accessories of the weekend.

Question #7: Do I approach the topic of how much I've learned since first attending BlogHer in 07?

    You can see it firsthand here and here.

Question #8: Do I broach the subject of just how many parties and events took place outside of the official BlogHer conference lineup?

    Lots and lots. If you wanted to attend BlogHer without ever really attending BlogHer, it was quite possible. (And you probably walked away with better swag than I.)

Question #9: Do I even begin to wax poetic about how grateful I am to work for a company that gets it?

    No. It's been a while since I've written poetry but if you must, check out the rhyming ode I wrote to the Lijit stats. This will remind you why I don't write poetry often.

Question #10: Do I simply thank Elisa, Jory and Lisa for allowing me to be there for a small part of the magic?

    Yes. See you ladies next year in New York City.

{Photos courtesy of Veesees and Southern Fairytale...because I still haven't uploaded my pictures yet}

Chicks Who Click--Kansas City Style

Back in January, I was asked to take part in the first ever Chicks Who Click. It was a one-day conference happening a block from my office in downtown Boulder. I wrote about the event on the Lijit company blog and mentioned some of the many amazing women I met that day. It turned out to be a fantastic event and it was definitely a no-brainer for Lijit to be involved.

Flash forward two months. I receive an email from Denise, the mastermind behind the conference, telling me that Chicks Who Click is going on the road. And? They want me to join. A traveling road show of hands-on learning and the opportunity to meet even more cool chicks? Count me in. The tagline of the conference contains three of my favorite words starting with C...create, connect, & collaborate. (Fortunately, my other favorite word, chocolate, will also be available courtesy of Denise, who knows that everything is better with chocolate.)

In two weeks, I'll be heading to Kansas City to speak at the second Chicks Who Click. There are two main reasons I'm excited for this trip. First of all, the ladies are to die for. From Celeste Lindell, who I met at BlogHer 07, and Zena Weist, the pocket-sized social media nymph, to the Queen of them all, Erin Kotecki Vest, I can't wait to (re)connect with so many friends. And let's not forget that one of my writing heroes, Rita Arens, is going to be there as well. (I'm going to try not to salivate on her, but no promises, Rita.) Just like the first CWC, this conference will be chock full of inspiring women who will be sharing their knowledge and teaching me many things.

The second reason I'm excited? The food. I've never been to Kansas City but have heard many tales of the tempting BBQ to be found there. As a big fan of trying local cuisine, the above pic makes my mouth water. For those counting, that's the second reference to my saliva in this post, which might be a new record for me.

(And I almost forgot...I was recently interviewed for the Chicks who Click blog, and should you really not have anything better to do, you can check out my answers and see that I am really serious about this BBQ thing.)

If you're interested in attending this Chicks Who Click, you best get on it. Early-bird pricing ends today. Register here and leave a comment on this post to let me know that you're going. I guarantee* that it will be worth the time and money spent.

*This is not a legally binding guarantee, but a very truthful testimonial.

[photo credit: monkeysort ]

OMG...Liz Strauss knows my name...

When I first started working at Lijit, Stan James sent along a few sites that he thought would help me get started in "the space". The space being, of course, blogging and marketing a tech company. One of the blogs he sent me was that of the lovely Liz Strauss, creator of the highly-resourceful Successful Blog. With a name like that, how can you not learn something from her?

Over the years, I've kept Liz in my RSS reader, looking to her posts for writing inspiration and tips on how to be a better blogger. I finally had the chance to meet Liz at the Blissdom conference in early February, where I had the honor of speaking. Liz and I fell into an easy conversation and it was quite apparent that this woman simply drips knowledge. She likes to joke about her age, but all I could do was listen and soak up her wisdom.

Imagine my surprise when, a week after the conference, I was included in Liz's post about how to be a successful sponsor at a small conference. While I was taking part in sessions, talking to Lijit publishers, and meeting many new people, Liz was watching. She could tell, by my engagement with other conference attendees, that I was there not just to promote Lijit, but to learn. Along with John Andrews (he of Walmart fame), I was used as an example of sponsors that understand how to make a lasting impression. Here's the line that resonated most with me...

John and Tara were about building relationships with their customers — current and future.

I don't mean for this post to simply be a way to toot my own horn, although you can tell by the title that I am still in awe of the praise. It's just that when I go to conferences, it's not about being at the right party or name-dropping. For me, conferences provide an opportunity to have meaningful conversations, to learn from the people using Lijit on their blogs, to make new friends, and of course, to give away as many Lijit t-shirts as possible. :)

I've seen it all when it comes to sponsors. There are the people who act "too cool" to actually hang out with conference attendees and those who are so interested in promoting themselves, you almost forget what company they're representing. I like to think that the work I do at conferences is some of the most important that I can be doing for Lijit because, in this day and age, relationships do still matter.

Thanks again for the shout-out Liz. And for using Lijit on your blog.

Friday Flattery

Today I bring you a special Twitter edition of Friday Flattery. If you don't know what Twitter is (Mom and Dad, I'm looking at you!), then check out this helpful video to learn more about it.

Part of what I've been proud of doing here at Lijit is helping to build a reputation of fantastic customer service. One of the ways I've been able to do that is to monitor Twitter for mentions of Lijit and then respond quickly. If someone has a question or tech support issue, I can tweet them a quick answer and then follow up with a more detailed email. While it's only one piece of the customer support pie, it's definitely one that, IMO, all companies should be using to better listen to their users.

A little shout-out, via Twitter, for our exceptional customer service...

Okay, now that I'm done tweeting tooting my own horn, you must excuse me. Twitter calls. If you're interested in following us, we're @lijit and you better believe we're listening.

The Lovely Ladies who Launch

I'm a fan of entrepreneurs and a fan of the ladies so when my co-worker Grace mentioned that she was helping out with the local Boulder/Denver chapter of Ladies Who Launch, my interest was piqued. Grace put me in touch with Ricki, the group's new director, and next thing I knew, I was scheduled for a panel on PR and Marketing.

As someone who supports local businesses, finds inspiration in female entrepreneurs, and loves to share what I've learned while working at Lijit, I'm super excited to be helping out. Not to mention that a friend of mine, Lindsay, went through the LWL incubator program and has nothing but wonderful things to say about her experience. If you're interested in finding out about some best practices behind using social media to help your business, feel free to come join us next week!

• Where?   Common Threads, 2707 Spruce Street, Boulder

• When?    Tuesday, November 11th, 6:30 PM

• Cost?      Totally free!

And if you're still on the fence about attending, should I mention the other fabulous women that will be joining me on the panel? I can't wait to learn from marketing strategist Melani Ward, Victoria Keziah, a founder and principal of her own successful brand strategy firm (that she later sold to Egg Strategy), and one of my favorites, Elaine Ellis, of Metzger fame.

If interested, you can find out more details but be sure to RSVP, because space is limited!

Friday Flattery

With so much bad news floating around out there, I wanted to focus on something positive that landed in my inbox and made me smile. We continually ask for feedback from our users, but this bit of praise really bowled me over. Susan, from Bust the Republican Cabal, sent the following:

See that? Lijit was able to motivate a blogger and give her enough impetus to continue blogging. How inspiring is that!

And you thought all we did was search...

Where in the world is Lijit?

As I've often said about my job, one of the best parts is building relationships with amazing bloggers. BW Jones is just one of those people. His blog, aptly named JonesBlog, is a mashup of beautiful photography and mind-boggling scientific adventures. He is a retinal neurophysiology scientist, after all. BW signed up with Lijit a long while ago...

and has been supportive of our company ever since. In the early days, he provided feedback and was a most capable bug-catcher. We rewarded him then with an iPhone and a t-shirt. In return, he has taken us with him around the world on various trips. You can see him Lijit in Japan but this time, he has gone Lijit in China. Mount Emishan, to be exact.

Big thanks for all the support BW. It's nice knowing our Lijit shirt has really been getting around.

RMBB 5000...A Party for all Political Viewpoints

Last Thursday, some big things happened in downtown Denver. One of them you may have heard about (a certain acceptance speech by a certain Democratic presidential nominee), but the other was almost as inspiring. A Blogger Bash like no other took place in a dark wine bar across from Union Station.

Bloggers from all over the country (in town for the DNC) and lots of local Colorado bloggers gathered to watch Obama's speech and talk about the passion we share for blogging. In addition to the free food and drinks, there was much friendly conversation to be had amongst the geeky-types, regardless of party affiliations.

Lijit was happy to sponsor such an event, since bloggers are our people. We had the opportunity to meet publishers who were already using Lijit and many that were excited to hear about what we're doing.

Our new friends include: Amber of Crazy Bloggin' Canuck, Heather of A Mama's Blog, Laura of LaLaGirl (who has TWO sets of twins...gulp!), Amy of Crunchy Domestic Goddess, Melissa of Nature Deva, Aviva of Parentopia, The Crunchy Green Mom, Hubs of Artifacting, Rosie of Rosalicious, Tessa and Michael of My Left Nutmeg, and Kath of A Likely Story.

There were many FOL (Friends of Lijit) from the Denver and Boulder area that showed up to attend their FIRST ever Rocky Mountain Blogger Bash, including: Aimee of Greeblemonkey and her awesome husband Bryan, Julie of mothergoosemouse, Geekmommy, Jeremy Tanner, Dave Taylor of Ask Dave Taylor (who was kind enough to give me a ride home), Robin from CopyDiva, Gerhard and Kary of Fling it Girl, Kit Seeborg, and the fabulous Deb in Denver.

And let's not forget the old pals I've met from past Blogger Bashes: Molly, Wheels, Left off Colfax, and Andy of The World Wide Rant (pictured above) who, I'm sad to report, is no longer blogging. But his widget is still the best ever...

A big thanks to the organizers of this fantastic RMBB: Mr. Lady and Zombyboy, who pulled off a great event on what some called "a crazy day to have a party in downtown Denver".

You can read other recaps of the event here, here, here, and here. It was a pleasure having the opportunity to meet so many other bloggers and we're glad that we could play a small part in making the evening happen.


[Photo credit: Greeblemonkey, who also designed the awesome RMBB logo]

Get Connected

I'm excited to be taking part in a panel about social media, happening this Thursday in Denver. The event is being put on by GroundFloor Media and I'm honored to have the opportunity to share what I've learned while working for Lijit.

Also on the panel will be James Clark, from Room 214 and Tiffany Childs, the community manager of Yelp. It should be a lot of fun and an afternoon of great discussion is guaranteed. I love hearing about what others are doing, sharing ideas, and answering questions about what we're currently doing with social media. (And what the heck is social media, anyway?)

I'm looking forward to meeting some new folk, taking some pictures, and helping others to figure out how social media can help their business.