I’m back from my ‘sophomore year’ at TravelCon, mind swirling with ideas and a fresh perspective on the last year and a half and what lies ahead. Before I left, I set some goals for myself, knowing that once I hit the Westin hotel in Boston, bustling with the energy and excitement of 800 other conference attendees, I might be a bit overwhelmed. Looking back at the intentions I set, I’m pretty proud of what I was able to accomplish- despite red eye flights (both ways) and pretty intense jet lag. I made good progress on five of the six goals- and I’ve still got a shot at number six, thanks to the virtual pass that was included with conference registration! As I did last year, I had some valuable takeaways from my time at TravelCon 2019.
There’s no substitute for meeting in real life.
On more than one occasion at TravelCon, I found myself in conversation with someone who I follow on IG (or who follows me), and had that ah ha moment, oh I know you!?! People look different outside of a tiny bubble image, embrace the chance to connect in real life.
The TravelCon community is friendly and generous.
I was pleasantly surprised at how open and friendly people were. From breakout sessions, to the media marketplace and meals, I met new people every day. By day three, it felt like I was at summer camp (in a good way). As an extroverted introvert, the idea of 800 strangers felt like a bit much, but it turned out to be a great opportunity to meet interesting people.
Newbies are welcome in the Media Marketplace.
I pretty much skipped the media marketplace last year. With a brand new blog, only a vague idea of what I was doing and no media kit, I felt intimidated and assumed that brands would only be interested in talking to big name bloggers, with extensive followings. This year, I figured I would take a quick spin through but still didn’t see meeting brands as ‘for me’ yet. Then, over lunch on the first day, a new friend nonchalantly mentioned it as a good practice ground to pitch your brand. Well, of course it is! Once I saw it as practice, the intimidation factor went away. I ended up meeting at least four brands that could be a good fit for me in the near future. Many brands offered discounts and special deals, just for being an attendee at the conference. Whether you have an appointment or not, a walk through the marketplace during a break or happy hour is time well spent.
Less is more.
Everywhere I went, conversations were happening about ‘micro influencers’. Fortunately for me, and others who focus on a niche group of people, having a huge following as a requirement is less of the norm than even a few years ago. Building an authentic audience that is truly engaged can be much more valuable than a huge, disinterested one.
Introduce Yourself
Day one, I was chatting with another relatively new blogger. She paused for a moment, her eyes growing wide and said in a low whisper, ‘I feel like I keep seeing celebrities.’ I laughed- but she was right. You’ll see the who’s who of the travel world at TravelCon. And not just from the stage. They are at meet ups, in the halls, having lunch with friends. And if you say hello, engaging with you.
I went to a workshop about organizing tours, with Jessica Festa of Jessie on a Journey. I introduced myself at the end and chatted with her about her work briefly, exchanging cards (as I had with countless others). This morning, I got the most thoughtful email from Jessie, encouraging me to reach out with questions. She had been to my IG and followed me back, commenting on our mutual love for street art. Her presentation was insightful and valuable. Her personal follow up afterwards was a pleasant surprise and sums up the community vibe I felt at TravelCon 2019.
In a room of 800 (or 8,000) there’s only one you.
It can be easy to doubt yourself and what unique perspective you can bring to something like blogging about travel. Many speakers referenced the ‘old days’ when no one was: blogging, using Instagram to tell stories, creating youTube channels, hosting podcasts… all of which are commonplace now. How do you stand out? What do people need to hear from you, that they can’t from anyone else? These are reflective, deep questions that take time to answer. The answers may come through trial and error. Mistakes and missteps. A winding road that may (will) have potholes along the way. The good news is also the bad news- you just have to do the work. For me, letting go of the idea of perfection is hard. You (and I) need to get comfortable with learning on the job. The first iteration of my idea, blog, business will lead to the next. I’m committed to trusting myself to find my way.
Next stop…?
TravelCon 2020 is headed to NOLA! I can’t imagine a better place to host this vibrant experience. In the meantime, here’s to another year of learning and growth for Brown Lady Travels!