I’ve attended several blog conference over the last few years. I’ve been everything from the new girl too intimidated to talk to anyone to the more seasoned blogger trying to figure out exactly what I want to get out of a conference. I’ve even been the attendant questioning why on earth I spent so much money to be lost in a crowd.
When 2013 came around I promised myself I would think really hard before I committed myself to attending another blogging conference. Not only did I want to be sure that I knew what my expectations would be, but I wanted to be sure that I left feeling connected to the community…not just a number in a sea of 5000+ people. I wanted to be sure I’d have the time and energy to really engage and learn from the bloggers around me and be as equally excited to embrace my community no matter how small the niche.
The one conference I’ve chosen to attend this year is Type-A Parent Conference. This will be my first time attending this one, but I’ve heard spectacular things about it for years. What sold me on this conference (besides the manageable size!) was this simple statement: ”The conference has a well-established reputation for outstanding learning with actionable takeaways.”
I get to learn stuff! And it’ll be practical enough that I can bring it back here and engage with all of you to make our community that much better! When I expressed to other bloggers how large and overwhelming the Blogher Conference has become in the last couple years they immediately told me I’d feel right at home at Type-A. I’m trusting their advice and the more I learn about this conference the more I believe they might just be right – and the conference is still 7 months away!
And because I believe so much in the mission of this conference, I’ve joined them as a Type-A Parent Conference Partner! I’ll be there not only as a small blogger refusing to be intimidated by the stats and numbers of others, but I’ll also be there to wine and dine any of you that want to come along for the ride! Okay, burger and beer you because that’s more my style! And you kind have to pay for yourself because I’m unemployed with a PhD. But, the sentiment and solidarity are totally real!
I’ll to be there to celebrate the small bloggers, wrap them in warm hugs, and learn together how mighty our smallness really is!
This year’s conference is being held in Atlanta September 27-29. If you’re interested in attending I get to offer you a 25% discount on your conference registration! How cool is that!? Just click HERE and enter the code ’ProjectUnderblog’ for your swanky discount!
So, who’s with me!? Who do I get to hug and celebrate in Atlanta!?
Christina C. Yother is the founder and unofficial “Girl Friday” of Project: Underblog. Often known online as “Neena,” she is a wife, mother of three, and recent earner of a PhD. She (painstakingly!) wrote one of the first dissertations focusing specifically on mommy bloggers and how they build their online communities. She is avid reader of trashy novels, a drinker of too much coffee, and a night time romance writer. She blogs regularly at hooey!critic where no topic is off limits – including the time she was propositioned for sex on Twitter (true story). Project: Underblog is her attempt to put that fancy PhD and all its research to good use. You can find her tweeting frivolously @hooeycritic
This sounds fantastic! I’ll be in Georgia that weekend, actually, but suriving (hopefully crushing) my first half ironman triathlon. I’ll be looking forward to what you learn and bring back. Blogging conferences have always sounded very intimidating to me. I always figured it would be like a middle school dance with the big, bad bloggers in the middle networking, and me, the little, unknown, leaning against the wall. Ha!
Congrats on the half ironman triathlon, heidi!! If we organize an meet-up I’d love for you to come even if you aren’t attending the conference!
Fabulous! I hope it works out for a meet up!
That sounds perfect for you. Enjoy, learn and experience. Will be anticipating what you bring back to us!
Thank you so much for being a partner. And I just LOVE what you’re doing with this project. Fabulous idea.
Thank you! And I can’t wait to meet you in September!
This is awesome. AWESOME.
This will be my 3rd year attending Type-A, and I’ll actually be attending all three in 2013 (Atlanta, New Orleans, and Philly). I have met outstanding people, and have cultivated better friendships at Type-A than any other conference I’ve gone to. And I’ve been to a lot. I’ve been blogging almost 11 years now, and although I’ve never become a “big” blogger, I’ve got a very loyal group of readers.
I look forward to seeing you there!
That’s quite an endorsement! I don’t think I’ve looked forward to a conference as much as I am this one! I’ll be sure to track you down and introduce myself!
You are going to LOVE it.
Type-A is amazing and I’m so excited for it to be here.
Nicole (prev commenter) and I met last year and it was one of the bestest connections in my life. Seriously.
Looking forward to meeting you there!!