My first conference call

Today I lost my conference call virginity.

Last week I received an email inviting me to attend a conference call to discuss a new blog being written by/for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.  At first I thought the email was a mistake, because it was a fairly personalized invitation, and mentioned “We have been following your blog, and based on your regular and insightful coverage...”, etc., etc., which made me wonder who they were talking about.  In any case, I’m interested in IFAW’s work, so I thought I’d try to attend the conference call.  Maybe I’d learn something, after all.  It would be a discussion of blogging by important bloggers, and I could just eavesdrop and try to pick up some pointers on how to have a successful blog.

The conference call was today, at 11:30 am.  I rolled out of bed at about 11:15, looked at the clock, and almost decided against calling.  At the last minute I decided I really should call and listen, as I might not have this sort of opportunity again.  I assumed there would be 40 or 50 people participating, and that it would be a rollicking good time.  Well, I called in at about 11:29, and someone actually answered the phone to speak to me.  Yikes!  Then she told me I was “the first one to arrive”, OMG!  Then one other blogger called in, and that was it—me, two women from IFAW, a moderator, and Eric, in a meeting to discuss this big important blog.  It was all I could do to not hyperventilate. 

I’ve never been on a conference call before, so I’m not sure what normal etiquette is.  I’m also Canadian (i.e., excessively polite in groups), so I wasn’t sure when to speak because I didn’t want to cut anyone else off.  Eric wasn’t shy about speaking up, and was very well-spoken, and he did a great job of covering the basics of how to promote a blog, how to build a regular readership, etc.  I was able to add a few extra suggestions, but only after Eric was done and the conversation was tossed to pathetic little me.  Me, in my shorts and ratty t-shirt, with cats running over me, sitting on the sofa… I felt so unprepared and unprofessional.  Honestly, I could make a number of suggestions on blog promotion and optimization, but I wasn’t expecting to have to make them, so I had a bad case of brain freeze.  I’m not used to people asking my opinion about blogging, I guess… I feel like such small potatoes.  To make me feel even more bewildered, I noticed that the IFAW blog was linking to me in their blogroll.  I believe I’m a competent blogger, and do a good job with my blog, but I also admire so many other people whose link should be on that blogroll before mine.  I don’t think that’s false modesty.  I just don’t think that I should be held up as a prime example of an animal rescue blog when people like Susan, Jody, and My Animal Family aren’t being acknowledged.

All in all, it was a good experience, but one I wish I’d been better-prepared for.  I want to see the IFAW blog succeed, because it’s an excellent central point to find relevent information from across the globe.  I also don’t want the IFAW people to think I’m a total dweeb for calling into a conference call and not expecting to participate.  The only other calls I’ve been invited to are shareholder calls, where the CEO of a company might have 500 or more participants to discuss a company and its stock, and I never bother to call.

So, to IFAW, your blog is off to a great start, it’s a great idea, and please don’t think I’m a moron.  I’m surprisingly competent any time after 12 noon.  To Eric, it was a pleasure to hear you speak and to listen to your ideas.  And to me, I guess I need to take myself more seriously.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 08/29 at 09:59 PM

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

  1. Wow. That really is pretty darn cool! You’re known!

    Looks like they are just getting started but an interesting site.

    Posted by Diana  on  08/30  at  02:53 AM

  2. It was great “meeting you” through the call. I’m glad we did it, and wish more had joined us. I think part of the problem we encountered—and part of the reason participation was minimal—is that the e-mail did not give us much sense of what was going on and what the conference call was about, which is why I inquired into an agenda.

    I’m used to talking off the top of my head, but that didn’t mean I was prepared. I just have a bunch of stuff rambling around upstairs and I’m practiced at extemporaneous speech, so I just kinda opened my mouth and blabbed until I realized I was repeating myself. You did great, and your contributions were quite valuable.

    BTW, thank you also for linking to An Animal-Friendly Life!

    Posted by Eric  on  08/30  at  09:18 AM

  3. Hey, that’s great that you got some recognition!  I know it was well-deserved.

    Posted by Nancy  on  09/01  at  03:12 PM

  4. Wow.. I think this is very exciting. And.. I am not surprised they thought of your blog.. it is one of my favourites.

    Posted by Coll  on  09/02  at  05:54 AM
    5. Page 1 of 1 pages

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:

Smileys

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

What is the sum of 5 and 7?

Next entry: Magazines on sale

Previous entry: Dear charities...

<< Back to main