Most conferences, be they food blogger events or otherwise, involve one-way communication from a speaker who is expert in a subject to the audience. Audience involvement is generally limited to audience Q&A, which is really just a prompt for more one-way communication.
That is not necessarily bad because experts usually have great things to say. However, in the age of social media and in a time when Millennials have driven companies to “talk with” rather than “market to,” we at Zephyr Conferences like to add in opportunities for two-way conversation.
From 2:00 – 3:20 PM on Saturday at IFBC19 in Juneau we will have four small-group discussions in which our attendees can bring up their own issues and ideas. Each of the four groups will have a leader who is versed in that subject and attendees can still use the opportunity to ask questions and seek advice. But this is also an opportunity to have a discussion instead of a lecture.
You are free to wander in and out of the four discussions or stay in the one that motivates you the most. Sessions include:
- Technology: This includes topics such as Wordpress plugins, SEO, Google Analytics, site backups, caching, database maintenance, or anything else that is on your mind. Our Small Group Discussion leader is Lisa MarcAurele of Low Carb Yum.
- Social Media: We can discuss everything from Instagram to YouTube, from gaining followers to scheduling your posts. Our discussion leader is Shannon Epstein of Fit Slow Cooker Queen.
- Making Money: There is more to monetizing than simply using an ad network. Let’s discuss how to make monetization work for you! From creating books and other products, pitching to brands, creating paid courses, joining affiliate programs, and licensing recipes, we’ll talk about all the other interesting ways to make money while serving your readers. Led by veteran blogger Jana Seitzer of Whisky + Sunshine.
- All Things Blogging: This is the only small-group discussion not oriented towards advanced bloggers. This is your opportunity to ask anything you want about blogs and blogging. Our group leader is veteran food blogger Vianney Rodriguez from Sweet Life.
Come prepared with your questions and ideas!