Send Paul Stamatiou to BlogWorld ‘09!

by Celia Dyer on September 21, 2009


Please help TechDrawl send Paul Stamatiou to Blogworld & New Media Expo 2009, October 15th-17th in Las Vegas, NV. It’s going to take $850 in donations ($350 hotel 4 nights, 12 meals x $20, $80 taxis, $180 bars/miscellaneous), even with his PaulStamatiou.com media pass and round trip AirTran Business Class pass from TechDrawl courtesy of our favorite airline, AirTran. Please donate @techdrawl on Twitpay, mail a check to TechDrawl, 75 Fifth St. NW Suite #311, Atlanta, GA 30308 or pay by credit card or PayPal here:

StammyGraph

Why invest in Stammy? Because he built one of the largest and highest quality blogs in Atlanta built while a student at Georgia Tech, and he’s never had a chance to attend a blog conference before. His 4 year old tech news blog, PaulStamatiou.com, has 10,000+ RSS and email subscribers, 11,000+ followers on Twitter, and 200,000 monthly visitors. At one point, he was the first result for “Paul” on Google and was in the Technorati Top 100 blogs. He reviews all things tech, had his own Nike commercial last year, won a Ford FiestaMovement prototype car for 6 months with this video

YouTube Preview Imageand  co-founded Skribit.com while he was a student at Georgia Tech. Tech published this on their website about Stamatiou and Skribit. Stamatiou is well worth investing in, if you ask me.

As an independent publisher, Stamatiou will be writing, live blogging, publishing photos, and covering BlogWorld 2009 for PaulStamatiou.com. He will also be covering for TechDrawl.com as will Kimberly Turner, co-founder of hand-picked blog aggregator Regator.com.

The 2009 BlogWorld & New Media Expo will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, beginning with the exclusive Social Media Business Summit™ conference on October 15th and continuing with the BlogWorld & New Media Expo and Conference October 16th-17th. This is first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of new media including: Blogging, Podcasting, Social Media, Online Video, Music, TV, Radio, Gaming, Entertainment and Communities. In addition to the only industry-wide new media industry exhibition, BlogWorld & New Media Expo features the largest new media conference in the world including more than 50 seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy business. If you are currently blogging, podcasting, vlogging, producing other forms of new media content, entering the new media industry, or researching ways to leverage new media for your large or small company, then you need to be at the only comprehensive new media convention–BlogWorld & New Media Expo.

Who should attend? Any blogger, podcaster, Internet TV or radio broadcaster, social media expert or producer of any other form of new media content, you need to be here. Business owners and marketing executives from start-up micro-enterprises to the largest established corporations, this is the one conference where you’ll find the most comprehensive and critical knowledge for growing your business with the latest new media technology, methods and tools.

If you are serious about your content quality, if you want to increase your readership, viewership and audience growth rate, improve the look, quality or functionality of your online content, if you want to influence decision makers, sell a product or service, if you want to promote yourself as an industry expert, or build your brand using new media, then you cannot afford to miss BlogWorld & New Media Expo 2009.

Keynote speakers include Guy Kawasaki, Chris Brogan, Jeremiah Owyang, Brian Solis and Wendy Piersall, among others.

Editors Note:  Thanks so much to everyone who sponsored Stamatiou’s travel to BlogWorld. Donations ranged from $1 to $204, and many came from startup founders and represent a genuine sacrifice. Thanks to @timdorr, @willieljackson, @amcrae, @lance, @pfrosen, @HeathWilkes, @jmoswalt, @linneageiss, @StephenFleming, @techdrawl, @CharlesLumpkin, @wamalone, @amdev, @blakebyrnes, @KestrelHunter, @duncanfreeman, and @willgt09 for ‘paying it forward.’

BlogWorld09_234x60

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  • Let's think entrepreneurially. Techdrawl wants to get coverage of this event in Las Vegas. Sending a representative of techdrawl out there is costly, but acquiring an individual techdrawl writer in Las Vegas is reasonable.

    One of the main readerships for techdrawl are investors.

    There's 3 things every investor has:

    1.) The ability to talk seamlessly. Great Public Speakers.
    2.) Always dressed to perfection.
    3.) They are always extremely connected.

    I think it might be more economical to leverage the connections of techdrawl's viewership[investors] to bring in outside talent. Forego financing an expensive trip, and bootstrap it. Pump your connections Techdrawl. C'mon, I know you[techdrawl] can do it. Practice what your content unconsciously preaches.

    Good Luck.

    Paul, no hard feelings.
  • George P. Burdell, actually the main readership for techdrawl is entrepreneurs rather than investors (although relatively more investors read us from Silicon Valley than from the South). We wish more investors here actually used the Internet, social media like Twitter, and read blogs -- one investor here doesn't even use a cell phone I am told. Not sure how to remedy that. Also, we prefer our content be generated locally by people living in 'D.C. to Texas' as our mission states -- even if they travel to Nevada or California, we want the southern perspective.

    Allright, Burdell -- how about those Yellow Jackets Saturday? Thanks for your comment. Go, Jackets!
  • SHH
    this is so much bullshit
  • lol you linked to 37s like you meant for your name to be DHH. typo fail!
  • Ryan
    Just saw graph - wasn't there when I read the article yesterday! ;-)
  • Ryan, that graph comes and goes. I was using an IBM Many Eyes alpha tool created by GT grad @courtenaybird, but Many Eyes is out of commission for some reason. Swivel has very limited variables. I need a good visualization tool, something more than the 'thermometer' type. :-)
  • Ryan
    Hook us up with a graph or representation of the donations received so far -- and I'll donate a bit; knowing the amount already donated is helpful and actually draws people who are thinking to donate.. to actually donate. Weird? It works :]
  • I'm all for smart micro-funding, and I'm all for @Stammy being brilliant. Seriously, he's one of the top young tech brains in Atlanta. That said, I think it's poor form for him (and this Techdrawl platform) to ask for $1,200 in handouts so he can go to a Blog conference in Vegas.

    A.) Unless I missed the memo, blogging platforms have peaked. I can't imagine what a smart guy like Paul would learn there other than how to network better and ask rich people for more money. It just seems far beneath his skill set.
    B.) Techdrawl begins this mission by laying out platitudes for Paul, but the takeaway message is that he's a guy who's a "big deal" (10,000+ RSS and email subscribers, 11,000+ followers on Twitter, and 200,000 monthly visitors) and has parlayed that glory into exactly $0 to fund his own trip to Vegas for a conference.
    C.) Seriously, let's save micro-funding (`micro-begging' actually, let's call it what it is) for efforts with a little more gravity. Poor people stuff. Not the whims of the selectively un- and underemployed.

    I don't mean to bash Paul or Techdrawl. Don't know any of those involved personally. I do mean to bash (gently, I hope) the method. And perhaps maybe I'm missing a more important aspect. Maybe Paul has the money to pay for his own trip, he just doesn't feel like it. Nowhere above does it say he can't afford it. If that's the case, this is double=plus unsavory.

    I'm not a hater. I just like donated funds (of most flavors) to go to people truly in need. I don't see the true need here.
  • Chance, let me simplify it. Stamatiou 1) publishes a technology review blog www.PaulStamatiou.com with great technical content and high traffic, and 2) co-founded Skribit, an Atlanta startup that sells a software plugin to help bloggers know topics of interest to their audiences. www.TechDrawl.com is a blog that showcases technology startups (like Skribit) and their founders (like Stamatiou) from D.C. to Texas. We are not a technology review blog.

    Stamatiou is attending BlogWorld for multiple reasons. He will likely review some technology products for PaulStamatiou. He most certainly will sell Skribit subscriptions to bloggers. He will write a post for TechDrawl which brings us a boost in new unique visitors, and we accomplish TechDrawl's mission of showcasing a Georgia technology startup and its founder at a national conference.

    I think I sense a little jealousy out there because Stamatiou does have a large and loyal following, and he's nice, not to mention good-looking. I've been asking him to write a TechDrawl guest post since January and he's always declined to protect his Page Rank. Hey, if I can find a post topic that would not compete with his blog and it will help TechDrawl with our mission, I'd fundraise every day to send Stamatiou anywhere to represent Atlanta and Houston (his hometown)!

    BTW, I 'd do it for you, too -- if it was an appropriate fit. Some of our fundraisers have failed and we didn't send the writer. It is a form of UGC.
  • Yeah, I kind of have to agree. Part of being a startup founder involves forgoing some of the nice benefits that having a steady income would provide, like going to conventions, owning a nice car, and unfortunately, having health coverage. Now, if it was "chip in so Paul can buy health insurance" then I might be more inclined to open my wallet.
  • Hmm, Disqus won't let me reply to Paul, so it looks like I'm talking to myself...but...

    $143/mo sounds pretty good from what I understand of getting private insurance all on your own. Is it a high-deductible plan, or does it have a decent co-pay for office visits and such? What kind of support is there for entrepreneurs and startups for getting a decent rate? I've always thought decent health coverage has been glossed over in the whole "quit your job to do a startup!" community. It's one thing for a company to fail due to a bad idea or bad execution. It's something entirely different for it to fail because you get sick or have an accident. That's why I think public healthcare would be a huge boon to entrepreneurs.

    Anyways, Obsidian Portal and DoLeaf are both taking up a lot of my time, but aside from random support requests, OP pretty much runs itself these days. It generates a nice side income, but definitely not enough to call it ramen profitable yet. There are a lot of features I want to add, so I work on it when I can spare time from DoLeaf, which is pretty much never.
  • I think we can arrange that Micah. My health insurance is $143/month through United Healthcare. How many months would you like to sponsor? ;-)

    How are Obsidian and DoLeaf going - I take it Obsidian Portal takes up more of your time?
  • Chance, you raise some good points. I take responsibility for the platitudes since I wrote the post, not Paul. I also take responsibility for the $1200 -- I thought his hotel rate was much more, but he found something for $69 so I will reduce the total amount he needs. TechDrawl has raised money in the past for research on the Silicon Valley startup culture, to send someone to the Social Capital conference in San Francisco on social entrepreneurship, and for a woman to study blogs published by women. Paul does not represent an underserved class except that of bootstrap-financed startup entrepreneur -- and TechDrawl's mission is to support and showcase technology entrepreneurs. What is the business model for media these days? We are trying to figure it out. We do not pay our writers. The least we can do is pay for travel for a writer. We're covering airfare, Paul negotiated his own entrance for free, and we are soliciting donations from our audience for the rest of the expenses. But, thanks for you input and I do respect your opinion.
  • If this were in Vegas, I'd put all my money on Paul...

    Stammy: tells you his real name, works his butt off in his startup, is doing something about his dreams, contributes to the community, takes a heck of a cool picture

    Norman: anonymous sniper
  • pimpfresh
    Ha! I got word that someone was talking smack on here. Looks like you guys got it under control.

    P.S. - I heard Norman smells bad.....
  • I like Paul, but $1200 for... hotel and food for three days?
  • Paul is choosing the hardest path for an in-demand graduate: to build a business of his own. Instead of the Norm, he's forgoing a healthy salary to create something new with his own hands. As a parent, I can only hope Paul is the model for our future -- as he certainly represents the best of the entrepreneurial spirit that built this country.

    I barely know Stammy, but his career is already noteworthy -- as plenty of folks have attested. And, when exactly did raising money or investing in future business leaders become a bad thing? The freeloading jab is an easy softball of a cliche that simply does not apply to this individual or to our startup community looking to support each other from day one.

    Give if you can... The return is worth it.
  • These "youngsters" are not freeloaders. Let's help the ones who are sincere take the next steps. We've all got to start somewhere. (I am literally "the son of a millworker." but I have never fathered a child out of wedlock or gotten a $400 haircut.) I do appreciate bootstrapping from scratch.
  • Norman
    I have an idea, stop blogging and get a job so you can pay your own way. What has happened to the younger generation, free-loaders!
  • Norman, try doing a little research on a person and their accomplishments before you make such generalized accusations.

    I agree wholeheartedly with Willie, Ben, and Celia. Even if Paul worked a typical full-time entry level position, he would not in this economy have the job security to spend money on important events and conferences that will only serve to further his career. Why not leverage an existing community that WANTS to support the next generation of successful entrepreneurs? Smart boy!
  • I've gotta chime in on this one too, Norman. I've never met Paul, but your statements show that you don't know the first thing about him. In addition to being accomplished and a highly competent web developer, he gives away a lot of what he knows for free on his blog.

    His tutorials bridge the gap between semi-technical people and the total newbies—a largely underserved demographic. As a direct result of Paul's posts, I've been able to serve my clients more competently and with more robust offerings.

    Leveraging new media to raise funds is not only smart and effective marketing for Paul and TechDrawl, it's how things will be done exclusively in the not-so-distant future (IMO). I could go on, but it's not necessary.
  • Norman, for a 23 year old to have attained 200,000 visitors a month to a blog represents a lot of high-quality research and content. Have you looked at the content? http://paulstamatiou.com/stuff-i-use To have built such a popular blog as a full-time Georgia Tech student while making good grades and launching Skribit.com is pretty impressive, I think. We look at this as reader-generated content. If we don't raise the money, we don't send the writer.
  • Chance, how is it "duplicitous and weird" to represent several projects at once? Most people I know list several projects and jobs to their name... why should they be limited to discussing or promoting just one?

    Paul will be at BlogWorld talking about his blog, his startup, and the blog that raised funds for his travel. He will likely write a post for TechDrawl on the experience. I myself will be at BlogWorld talking about TechDrawl, the Atlanta technology scene, and every Southern startup I can think of worth mentioning that is appropriate to the conversation.

    BlogWorld isn't about promoting some product, anyways. It's about networking with and learning from others. And give Celia a break... it's not like Paul signed some contract. This fundraiser and trip was pulled together pretty quickly, so the details haven't exactly been worked out.
  • So is he a writer, or there to promote his own company? According to you, he'd be sent there to do both simultaneously, which is duplicitous and weird at best.

    In the original blog post you say he'll be writing about the conference for his own blog as well as TechDrawl.com. Now you say in subsequent blog posts "...If we want to solicit donations to help finance a trip to showcase Skribit and Paul Stamatiou at the largest blogger conference in the country where he will network with a national crowd, then we are fulfilling our stated mission."

    So he's got a media pass to talk about his own company, or huh? I'm sorry Celia, I appreciate your cordial response and your civil Twitter DMs, but let's be honest. You're kinda making this up as you go. Which is fine, but then you've got to own that and not redefine it every other day.

    Let's just say we thoroughly disagree on this one. But good luck.
  • Norman, Paul has been out of Georgia Tech for less than a year. He works full-time on a startup that I suspect is barely profitable. Exactly when was he supposed to have parlayed 'glory' into all this money? You and Chance both said you don't know Paul, so how do you know his financial status or level of need?

    TechDrawl's stated mission is to showcase technology startups and their founders on a national stage to improve the image of technology innovation in the South and to attract investment capital to the region. If we want to solicit donations to help finance a trip to showcase Skribit and Paul Stamatiou at the largest blogger conference in the country where he will network with a national crowd, then we are fulfilling our stated mission.

    So we wouldn't have to solicit donations, it would be great if the Chambers of Commerce from southern states would sponsor TechDrawl to help us with our mission of showcasing technology entrepreneurship here. If you've ever lived outside of the South, public opinion is heavily influenced by syndicated television reruns of Andy Griffith, Hee Haw, Gomer Pyle and the Beverly Hillbillies or when Letterman runs contests of turkey callers from the South.

    Anyway, we easily collected our $850 so I guess some of our audience thought it was a worthwhile investment.
  • Norman
    I was really impress by those stats. After a little homework I have a hard time believing he gets that type of traffic. I agree with you Chance, I also like to donate funds to people who are truly in need of them. You have a very interesting point, he hasn't parlayed that glory into dollars to fund his own trip to Vegas for a conference. He is financially supported by others when he could get a part-time job to pay for this trip. There is a great lesson to learn here. Good luck to all!
  • Hey Norman - the post mentions how I co-founded and work full-time for a startup called Skribit, you can read about it here: http://skribit.com/about
  • Thanks, Matthew. I'll fix it right now.
  • matthewcampbell
    Paypal button doesn't work
  • I love the FiestaMovement video and I want to know how you do that crazy flip?! We're glad to assist in getting you to BlogWorld. Watch out, Vegas!
  • Haha my FiestaMovement application video is so embarrassing! Thanks for helping me out with this Celia et al!
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