In one week I’ll be arriving in Salt Lake City for Alt Summit 2013! My anticipation and excitement have been growing steadily since I purchased my ticket for the blogging conference back in August. I have literally been brainstorming what to wear, how to design my business cards, and ways to tweak Bunny & Dolly for the past five months.
(Which makes me wonder… When Alt SLC ends next Saturday, what will preoccupy me next? If all goes well in Utah, perhaps preparing for Alt NYC!)
In addition to time and energy, I’ve spent quite a few bucks to attend Alt SLC. Obviously, the major expense was the ticket itself, followed by airfare and hotel accommodations. Thankfully, I found two Omaha gals to bunk with at the super swanky Grand America Hotel. Jessica, Wendy, and I can each take turns sleeping on the couch!
Additional money was spent on aforementioned business cards (and paying a designer to create them for me) and some new pieces to perk up my stay-at-home mom wardrobe. Fashion is a big part of Alt Summit–so much so, in fact, that Nicole of Making it Lovely (whom I can’t wait to meet!) hosted two free classes on What to Wear to the conference. Friends, this is no joke! I’ve been shopping the sale racks in search of statement-making additions to my typical “design blogger” look. Sequins? Oh, why the hell not!
Alt is also hosting a colorful soiree inspired by the characters of the board game Clue, the idea of which put me in a total state of panic for multiple reasons. I think I found the perfect party ensemble, so now the only thing I have to worry about is working up the courage to mingle with strangers. (You’ll have to wait until next week to see what color I chose to wear!)
So what do I hope to gain from attending Alt Summit SLC?
1. Connect with potential blog sponsors
I’m eager to use this opportunity to build mutually beneficial relationships with some of my favorite brands, including The Land of Nod, Method, Minted, The Honest Company, and Serena & Lily (among many others).
2. Learn from more experienced bloggers
We all started with a blank page and zero readers, right? So why do some bloggers make it big while others struggle to maintain readership? Part of me thinks it’s a combination of magic and luck, but I’m hoping there’s more to success than a sprinkling of fairy dust. I’ll be furiously taking notes at the various panels on Thursday and Friday.
3. Build relationships with other bloggers
It sounds weird to say, but I’m excited to finally meet my friends–my blog and Twitter friends, that is! I spend a lot of time chatting online with gals like Mari, Melissa, Lexy, Erika, and Emily, and I can’t wait to have conversations with them longer than 140 characters. But I’m also hoping to meet new-to-me bloggers and to brainstorm creative collaborations to grow Bunny & Dolly’s content.
4. Break out of my comfort zone
It’s no secret: I have the tendency to be shy. (Perhaps, like Sandra, I’m an “extroverted introvert.“) Small talk makes me nervous. In fact, my hands are getting clammy just thinking about schmoozing with the other 649 Alt Summit attendees. By attending a conference where I have to put myself out there in order to get something in return (advertisers, collaborations, new friends), I’m hoping to boost my self-esteem level up notch or two. I’d love to walk away from Alt with just a little bit more confidence than I had when I arrived.
Will you be attending Alt Summit SLC next week? If so, please leave a comment and say hello!
{images via ALT Design Summit’s 2012 Flickr stream}
I will be at Alt for the first time next week too. Looking forward to it!!
Yay! I hope we see each other there!
Somehow your posts always mimic my thoughts exactly! I can’t wait to hang out and FINALLY “experience” Alt after all these months!!!!! 🙂
I know, I can’t believe it’s finally time for Alt! How many months has it been on our minds? Seems like forever!
I’ll see you there! ps. Little tip, the bathroom at the hotel (which is gorgeous btw) is a fantastic place to ‘hide’ when you need a moment to regroup. I know this from experience.
Thanks for the tip, Jen! Maybe I’ll see you hiding in the bathroom 😉
Keep us posted!! I’d love so much to go, but I’m a little too far away and mostly too pregnant!! So share your new knowledge ;^)
Will do, Tere! When are you due?
Feb 20th! But she is my fifth and her siblings were all born before their date, so hopefully we’ll meet her in three weeks. Not a chance to go to Alt! Ha!
Hi there! This is my first “Alt” too and I’m WAY shy! I’ll look for you and would love to say hi! I’m so excited! 🙂
I’ll be on the lookout for you, too, Sheri!
It will be my first year too – and I loved ready about your goals for ALT! Hopefully I’ll run into you during the summit 🙂
Newbies unite! If you see me at Alt, please come over to say hi!
Definitely! I’ll also be at the Hello Social so hopefully we’ll see each other there 🙂
This is such a great post! I’m doing my Alt prep post tomorrow. It’s also my first time and I have very similar thoughts and feelings to you! (so glad I’m not the only one who’s nervous about socializing!)
I hope to run into you at Alt! Will you be at The Hello Social?
Thank, Tan! I’ll definitely be at The Hello Social — what a great idea that was, don’t you think? Let’s definitely make sure our paths cross. And would come back and post a link to your Alt prep post? I’m sure lots of us would love to read it! xx
I know! It’ll be a nice way to ease into the whole affair.
I’ll keep an eye out for you! And for sure I’ll be back tomorrow with the link!
Here’s my post on my thoughts and getting ready for Alt! http://squirrellyminds.com/?p=5543
It’ll be my first time too. The outfit planning has taken up the better part of this week! Your post was spot on.
I look forward to meeting you at ALT. I love these tips for the newbies.
See you in the snow.
Holly Phillips @ The English Room
It will be my first time at Alt too! Thanks for all the honesty in your posts, it’s making me feel much better about being an introverted extrovert, or whatever I am. Hopefully I’ll see you at the Hello Social!
i’ll be there! And i’ve been to a zillion blog conferences (incl ALT 2010) but for some reason, i’m NERVOUS!! Looking forward to saying hi 🙂