SUNSET BEACH -- The popular women's blog, BlogHer, recently announced plans to expand its real world blogging conference to Second Life. BlogHer '07, titled "A World of Difference," will take place simultaneously in Chicago and in SL on July 27 and 28. Co-founder Elisa Camahort and SL newbie (EliRose Juno in SL) said the move to SL provides the opportunity for BlogHer members to attend virtually if they cannot travel to the physical conference.

"BlogHer's mission is to create opportunities for women bloggers to pursue education, exposure and community," Camahort said. "We're happy that the technology is available to help us extend our mission, and we're going to use it!"

Blogger Erin Kotecki Vest (Queen Tureaud in SL), known for her Queen of Spain blog , is "BlogHer in SL Ambassador" and will act as hostess for the inworld conference. She and her partner own Isle of Eden and Isles of Eden. Her connections to BlogHer as a blogger and speaker and her familiarity with SL led her to partner with BlogHer to organize the virtual event.

Vest says the SL conference will combine both real world sessions with events held strictly in-world. On the first day of the conference, Chicago attendees will participate in "meet your fellow Blogher" while the SL version offers "meet your fellow avatar." The conference will provide live audio for one session per as well as keynote presentations.

"We're going to loosely mirror what is happening in Chicago but put that unique Second Life spin to it," said Vest who adds that the tentative cap on conference attendees will be 300 avatars to ensure their space can handle the load.

In addition to sponsoring the SL version of BlogHer through her Queen of Spain blog, Vest says BlogHer is working to secure other inworld sponsorships. With free registration for BlogHer in SL, Camahort said they will consider the SL conference successful if they receive registrants from around the globe.

"We also will look for engagement inworld...are people chatting, participating in the in-world sessions, making new connections," Camahort said. "We'll consider it very successful if many of our members take Queen Tureaud up on her offer to help Second Life newbies get started."

The real world BlogHer takes place at Chicago's Navy Pier City Center hotel on Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28. To register for BlogHer '07 in Second Life on the same dates, go here.