This past weekend I had the pleasure of joining a small group of online movers and shakers so to speak. It was the BConnected Conference in Gatineau, Quebec.
This was my first time at BConnected. It was an intimate conference. The number of attendees was small and that really allowed each of us to connect. There was time to chat. There was time to network. There was time to learn in a meaningful way.
I enjoyed the format of the conference because each speaker and session was open to everyone. It was a great way to help build community and connections. We were all learning the same stuff and that made for great conversations after the speakers and sessions. Attendees could talk about what we just learned, ask questions of each other and push the conversation forward by asking each other about next steps.
The keynote speaker was engaging and all about sharing his wealth of information. Dino Dogan, founder of Triberr, was a blast to listen to. He is an interesting guy who clearly loves to share his knowledge, experiences and perspective. He is all about building community and connections.
There was great sessions on why grammar matters, Google Analytics, Google Hangouts, Pinterest and SEO among other things. I learned a lot. There is nothing better than walking away from a conference with a few gems. I certainly got a few!
BConnected Style
BConnected Conference was an intimate conference. It was small and approachable. The sessions were small but the scope of the conference was large. The conference was all about creating a greater online footprint. “Conference aims to help you achieve an interactive learning experience within the social media and blogging industries.” The conference had 11 interactive sessions, including 2 panels (mine on media of course!), 4 keynote speakers, an exhibitor’s hall and a Networking party!
I got a chance to talk about media with others in the industry who also love to share and talk!
Building Community and Connections
It is so important to create your own tribe. These are people who are like you, who support you and who just get it. Attending conferences allows you to build your community and make meaningful connections.
You get to connect with other small businesses, bloggers, experts, media and brands. You get a chance to meet face to face, which is still important in this online world. Talking with people about what inspires you is a great way to promote what you do and why you do it.
Building community and connections allows you to share what you know but also allows you to learn what others are looking for. What does a brand want from a blogger? What does the media really want in a story? What does the media really want in an expert? How can you share what you do with media and brands? These are all questions you can answer by attending conferences and networking events. It is all about building community and connections so you can share YOU with the world, to gain exposure and to ultimately build your business and gain customers and clients.
It was a great weekend in Ottawa and Gatineau. I got a chance to see some great sights in Canada’s capital!
What are the best parts of conferences for you? Is it building community and connections? Is it learning? Is it meeting people, brands and media in real life?
Share in the comments!
