I’ll try my best not to go Alt crazy on you, but my mind is already going into overtime thinking about things I want to share, like what I’m bringing with me, and what I plan to wear, and what I want to accomplish while I’m there…
No promises.
If you’ll also be at Alt, I can’t wait to see you there! How are you prepping?
Fun fact: I’m a tiny bit shy, but love conferences. If you’re anything like me or even just feeling a little nervous, this will help!
P.S. In case you haven’t yet had your fill of my IG ramblings, make sure to be on the lookout for an Instagram related post that may possibly be coming soon(ish) to Gilit Cooper’s blog, Shoes Off Please.
And, yes, the Gilit Cooper of The Bannerie. Love her!
Attending Alt Summit SLC Summer was one of the best experiences of my life. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. I’ve done several free online classes through Alt Summit + Alt for Everyone. These were pretty great too, but if you ever get the chance to attend Alt Summit SLC, you NEED to take advantage of that opportunity!
The things I learned at Alt are things that I plan to use. I have gone to countless conferences where I had some good takeaways, but Alt actually taught me things to better myself + my blog. I won’t go into everything thing I learned, but I do want to sum up my Alt experience with 10 things that I learned.
1. Go out + make opportunities.
Joy Cho gave a extremely motivational keynote. She shared her experience and made it clear that you have to be a go-getter to get what you want. Figure out what you want to do and then do it!
2. Know your numbers.
Ryan Stern (@collectivelyinc) + Ashlee Prisbrey (@imtopsyturvy) showed the averages of blogs in the various stages of blogging. They encouraged us to use Google Analytics because of the information it can provide about your blog + your audience.
3. Dream BIG!
Alice Yoo + Eugene Kim of My Modern Met taught about growing your community. You should set goals, long term, and then break them down into steps. Believe in yourself and work hard! They showed this video during their session and I’m sharing it with you!
4. Share your story.
Sarah Deragon of Portraits to the People + Lisa Anderson Shaffer of Zelma Rose really broke Instagram down! I came away with SO many tips and tricks to really step up my Instagram game. They also gave us a coupon to Photojojo and I plan to use mine to get the Foldio that they showed us.
Practice, practice, practice. I’m thinking a photo challenge may need to happen…Maybe I’ll come up with my own!
5. Stop + smell the roses.
Audrey King of French Knot Studios made us get hands on with photo styling. She gave us supplies a few basic tips and said that the best way to learn is to do. So we did! The pointers she shared allowed me to take a step back, see what I was working with, and gave me the confidence to try all kinds of things…I was even asked if I was a photographer a couple of times!
6. Get growing!
These ladies (PJ Feinstein of A Girl Named PJ, Tan Rutley of Squirrelly Minds, Ciera Holzenthal of Ciera Design, Mariah Danielsen of Oh What Love, and Melissa Bahen of Lulu the Baker) kill it when it comest to collaborating, period. They inspired me to think outside the box and consider new ways to engage.
7. Media worth considering.
I use social media. Mostly Instagram + Twitter. I’ve tried Google+, but Jamie Dorobek of C.R.A.F.T. really made me want to give it another go! And Meg Conley of Meg in Progress + Kris Schoels of Young Married Chic talked about break into radio and TV. I plan to try more videos and now maybe even podcasting…
8. Sponsors are your friends.
All the Alt sponsors were amazing! I learned to see them as people, because they are, and that changed everything for me. During her keynote, Martha Stewart even spilled that Home Depot loves to work with bloggers.
I’m sad Alt is over, but it was just the spark I needed!
While I feel like I am still processing my Alt Summit experience as a whole, I have some Alt tips that I want to share in case you plan to attend Alt (or any other conference for that matter).
1. It doesn’t matter what you wear. Dress for you + have fun! I cannot stress this enough. I packed an outfit for each day and due to the weather ending up wearing clothes that were for my flights instead. No one noticed. The world didn’t end. (Unless less there’s a dress, then please follow it, just don’t stress out about it!)
2. You will regret overpacking. Especially if you are trying not to check any bags. You get A LOT of stuff at Alt. from business cards and coupons, to samples and door prizes. Having space in your luggage is a MUST. Unless you’re local. Then I envy you.
3. Sit in the front. This was a personal preference, but here me out. By sitting in the front row during sessions when ever I raised my hand the presenters noticed and I always got my questions answered. I could hear + see everything. After the sessions I was able to quickly run up and chat one-on-one with the presenters if I needed.
4. Have a thought or idea while at Alt? Write. It. Down. You do not want to forget it, and who knows you may get inspired to do the next big thing!
5. Step out of you comfort zone. If you have ever said you’re really fun or loud once you get to know me, then I’m talking to you! That’s me + typically I avoid social interactions at all costs. Unless I’m drunk. But by forcing myself to speak to others at Alt I made a ton of great connections. Like, I saw someone with the same camera bag as me. I went over to say hi + turns out it was Candice Stringham who is teaching a DSLR class via A Beautiful Mess! She even gave me a discount code to use in the A Beautiful Mess shop, which I will obviously be using to take her class. Like, what?! Imagine if I had missed that opportunity? I’d seriously have to kick myself.
Have you ever attended Alt Summit or another conference of some sort? What tips or takeaways do you have?
When I heard that Martha Stewart, yes THE Martha Stewart, was going to be a keynote speaker at this year’s Altitude Summit Salt Lake City I died. And then I entered every single contest in attempt to score the chance to attend.
I must be a cat, because I then found out that not only did I win (Thank you, Instagram and #altsummit_yellow!), but also that Joy Cho, yes THE Joy Cho, was going to be the other keynote speaker (Note to self: Make sure to pack Blog Inc.)! I died twice more.
Booked my flight, roundtrip. Had a minor panic attack (literally, anxiety will do that to you) after learning that the hotel where Alt SLC is taking place was full. Thankfully, I was able to find a hotel right down the street.
Prepping for Alt SLC was more or less a breeze. Blog cards? Check. Print schedule + highlight first, second, and third choice sessions? Check + color coded.
Packing is another story.
Did you know that you can only have one (1) quart sized ziplock bag for liquids? AND that each of those liquids must be in a container of less than 3.4oz? Seriously?? Who came up with this?! Clearly not a female + at the very least not me!
I have only ever flown internationally, and this trip I do not want to risk checking any luggage as I’ll only be in Utah for four days.
Now what to pack? What should I wear?
Slightly larger minor panic attack.
Others attending the conference (including Thrift Me Pretty’s Stasia Savasuk) have been very reassuring about not worrying about what to wear, but I can’t help it…t’s what I do on the daily!
I almost always overthink my outfits, have been known to over-pack, and now I’m trying to fit it all into a carry-on. This should be interesting…
