What We Learned from Alt Summit
Alternatively titled, “Why Alt Summit Totally Rocked.”
That's me, Joy of Oh Joy!, and Jaime (who is offering an inappropriate gesture because I made her dress up and pose for the camera and she hates that)
So. Jaime and I took a bit of a mini-trip to Salt Lake City last week, to meet and interact with a few of our favorite bloggers and inspirations behind BAKERY, Design Milk and Design for Mankind. While we ventured to the Altitude Design Summit to speak to our fellow peers re: the business of blogging, we ended up learning a thing or two ourselves (imagine that!)
See the list of speakers, and see more roundups and linkage at Apartment Therapy, Mint, Design Crush, Petit Elefant, and Mackin Ink.
Of course, we couldn’t wait to head home and share these tips with you, my dear bakers. The round-up?:
- “Nothing is handed to you. No one receives anything unless asked. Those people speaking at conferences? They’ve asked to be there. The bloggers receiving hot shot sponsors? Yep, they asked. They pitched, they asked, and they asked again.” — Maggie Mason, Mighty Girl (who also has the most luscious red hair in the entire world)
- And another gem from Maggie: “Use your blog as a marketing tool for what you really want to do.”
- Sponsored posts should be written by the sponsors like it’s ad space. And you should charge at least 3 times what you charge for ad space because of the value.
- “You must embrace the Twitter!!!” — OK, that was me who said that.
- Propose a trade with a couple of sponsors if you’re just starting to put ads on your site. It will make your site look like you already have established advertisers.
- “Great ads are like jewelry on your website” and “there is no good excuse for ugly” — Jean, NOTCOT
- People don’t hate ads, they hate irrelevant ones.
- Don’t pursue an idea just because you think it will be lucrative. Don’t blog with the intention of making money.
- “At our ad agency, websites are already considered ‘Old Media.’” — Jeroen Bours (he created the “Priceless” campaign for MasterCard
- Jaime learned that blogs are about being personal. She is starting to contemplate how she can be more personal in her business. Or, maybe it’s not about business at all, and more about pleasure.
We are already excited for next year. Will YOU be there?
Fantastic advice. I only wish I had been there to hear it in person! Perhaps next year… it sounds like an amazing event!
Great roundup, my lovely ladies! And thanks for the linkage, as always.
xo
Kelly
Ladies, thank you so much for the inspiration and feedback. I missed going by a few days and am so excited to go next year. It is so helpful to read your post and know we all have questions about blogging, our business, advertising, etc. Thank you!
thank you for your wrap-up. i am super sad i missed out this year, but will definitely hope to meet you next time around. i loved reading everyone’s thoughts on the fabulous event.
p.s. you look darling!
Hello! New follower. Love your blog concept, and design. Wishing to promote my blog, but haven’t wanted to seem like i’m TRYING. but I guess that’s the whole idea. nothing is ever going to happen if you don’t try. Thanks for the great advice! I’m definitely hoping to attend next year.
Love the shot (aces) and loved your points. Is it mean to say I was happy your run-down was not pages long?
Jaime, I think your first step to being “more personal” happened right here in this photo.
Perhaps we will see you there next year.
Cheers,
-Katie
Hi Katie, yes I suppose you are right!! I didn’t even think of that…
Hi – I was curious about the statement “At our ad agency, websites are already considered ‘Old Media.’” Were they talking about blogs? Was it that they expect more people to get content via mobile devices/twitter? If not, did he say what the “New Media” is and what they’re excited about?
Thanks!
Fiona
Hi Fiona,
Great question.
I think the idea there is more interactivity and less static websites where the user just kind of clicks around. Basically, websites need to start to evolve or a brand’s thoughts about advertising need to evolve — it’s important to understand that websites are not the only way for brands to convey information anymore, even though many brands are behind the times so poorly that they think websites are “new” and “different”. New media = devices, apps, twitter, social media, and those types of platforms.
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Munchkin!! I’m so jealous you went to Alt…I wish I could’ve gone, too. I just discovered Bakery and love it lots. Is there nothing you can’t do?! Congrats, e:) xx
Thank you so much for sharing ALT Summit notes and ideas! I couldn’t make it but I’m eating up every word that has been posted about it since. I’ll definitely be there next year and will look forward to getting a glimpse of your super sassiness in person.
‘People don’t hate ads, they hate irrelevant ones.’ so true!
thanks for this roundup — good tips. I have Alt on my must-do list for next year. sounds like so much fun meeting all these bloggers that I follow!