Travel Blogging Conferences – Should you Go?
In a couple of weeks we’ll be heading to Colorado to speak at The Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) conference about working with brands. We’ll be on a panel with veteran Travel Blogger Gary Arndt and are very excited to sit along side this blogging pioneer to share our thoughts with the community.
Last month we spoke at TBU in Umbria, Italy and made amazing new friends and contacts for future business opportunities. We look forward to attending TBU in Porto this fall to expand on those relationships. On Monday we’ll be speaking to the travel community in Toronto with Frommers Canada and Kensington Tours about the evolution of online travel and media. We can’t wait to spend the two day session getting to know the Canadian market better and brainstorming ideas with them.
We are finding all of these conferences to be very inspiring and helpful to our business.
Travel Blog Conferences, A Good Idea
We didn’t always feel that way.
In 2010, we attended TBEX in New York. We were fairly new to blogging and were looking forward to learning from the experts and pros about how to expand our business, monetize our blog and understand SEO. We only attended the last day as we flew directly from Alaska so we were really hoping to get the most out of the sessions that we were able to attend.
Unfortunately the sessions fell short. We didn’t learn much and we came away from the conference disappointed. We found that either the Travel Bloggers on the panels didn’t want to share their expertise or maybe they didn’t have any expertise to share and that is why their presentations were vague and empty.
Cut to Travel Blogging 2012.
Travel Blogging has come a long way baby and in the past two years people have been acheiving great success in online media. The veterans have learned a lot about the business of blogging and instead of giving advice like “content is king” and “write regularly” they are starting to share concrete information that we can all use to grow our blogs and build a strong community.
I’m not saying that content isn’t king, but I don’t think we need to go to a conference to be told this.
When I wrote about my feelings on TBEX 10, people said to me that conferences are about making connections and you shouldn’t expect much from the sessions. While I do agree that you should be making the most of the connections and set up meetings with tourism boards and businesses, I also believe that the sessions should be informative and inspiring.
That is why I think informative sessions are important.
When I go to a conference, I want to spend my day listening to speakers give solid advice and information. I want to come away inspired and with a better understanding of my own business. The networking and parties are a bonus!
Many new bloggers may not be able to make appointments with all the tourism industry professionals they want to and many new bloggers may be left out at the parties and dinners (Not at TBEX’12 though). They may have a difficult time getting the attention of the people they need to talk to as they may be overshadowed by the “big guys.”
However, at TBEX 12, they have an amazing feature where bloggers and industry can make appointments to meet with one another at Presdo Connect. You can browse people’s profiles, set up appointments and send messages to connect with the people that interest and excite you the most.
Not only are they making it easy for people to connect, but there are great sessions happening all weekend!
And that is why I am excited about TBEX 12.
I look at the line up of speakers and I know that I am going to get something out of them. I see that new blood is being introduced and fresh faces are going to ignite the conference with a new energy and ideas. I think the speed dating sessions are an outstanding chance for bloggers to connect with companies and I like the list of speakers. I am a big fan of many of them!
Wow!
Have you seen the people sharing their knowledge this year? I’m excited to hear from Julia Dimon, TV host, journalist and travel blogger extraordinaire, and Joe Megibow of Expedia a company that is leading the way in online travel. It’s going to be a thrill to learn from Rand Fishkin of SEOmoz and Dave Taylor, an expert in marketing and technology. I will be sitting in the audience with pen in hand taking notes and absorbing everything that I can.
Having already been inspired by many of the TBEX 12 speakers at TBU Umbria we know that they put on top notch sessions filled with outstanding, insider information. We look forward to gaining more insight from them and learning from the other panelists and speakers that we haven’t met or seen in person yet.
It’s an exciting time for travel blogging and it is an exciting time for travel blogging conferences.
We’ll be attending as many as we can this year and hopefully we’ll be able to go to TBEX in Costa Brava, Spain later this fall as well. At this point, things are changing quickly in the online world and we need all the help we can to keep up with the new media.
So, should you go to a Travel Blogging Conference this year? Yes you should. Two years ago we would have said differently, but now after attending Social Media Week,Travel Bloggers Unite, meeting in person several of the bloggers who speak at these conferences regularly and attending Toronto Travel Massives where bloggers network and brainstorm together, we think they are an invaluable experience for new and established professionals.
Have you got your ticket yet?
If you go, make sure to grab us and say hello in Colorado. We’re happy to talk with everyone outside the panel discussion and are thrilled to make new blogging friends.
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TBU was the first travel bloggers conference we attended and we found it to be extremely informative and inspiring. Since we attended as a couple, we split up and went to different sessions to soak up as much as possible. There wasn’t a clunker in the bunch!
We especially liked your session–although where DO you get so much energy first thing in the morning?!
Won’t be able to make it to TBEX as we are still in the middle of our RTW, but look for us at the next go-round!
Cheers, Larissa & Michael
Thanks Larisa and Michael, I’m glad that you liked it. I have to admit, we didn’t go out the night before so that we could be rested and energized for all of you. We wanted to start the day off with a bang!
I am so glad to hear that there wasn’t a clunker in the bunch at TBU. That is the feedback that we received from people as well. We didn’t get to see all the sessions since we did 3 presentations and were taking part the industry panels on the saturday but the ones that we did see were awesome and we heard great things about the ones that we didn’t see.
No worries about not making it, travel is the most important thing when it comes to travel blogging. Cheers!
I’ll be there & I’m totally excited about this year’s TBEX too! See you guys there!
Hi Lenore, looking forward to seeing you there too! Make sure to say hello. It’s getting close now, only 2 weeks to go!
So wish we could go. They are always so far away and its hard with the kids. They are on our radar though for the future.
We get to conferences here in OZ and they are so great for networking, but there are no travel ones here. We are speaking at an event at the end of the month on podcasting. I love being able to speak at conferences and share. Craig not so much. But, I’m a teacher and so used to it.
Wish we could see you guys talk and meet you in person. Enjoy it!
I would like to go to a conference, but there really just not my thing. Maybe I’ll change my mind in the future! Would love to hear you 2 speak!
Sounds like a great way to network with the travel writing community. I hope someone is representing Chile at this meeting?
I guess it all depends on what your focus is and the goals you have for your blog. If your blog is your “business” as it is for you, then going to a blog conference might be helpful, just like going to a conference for any sector of business.
My blog is not my business, and while I’ve had it for over 14 years, it’s still in essence, my hobby. I’ve found the focus of these conferences mostly to be about monetizing and sponsorship. My goal is not to commercialize my blog (and honestly, I’m somewhat uncomfortable with this trend in travel blogs) which is why I’ve never been to a travel blogger’s conference.
On the other hand, I also recognize that many people attend these conferences as social gatherings and from that perspective, I do think it could be fun, though I’m unlikely to ever travel a significant distance just for that.
I have been to other industry conferences but not to any travel blogging sessions. One of these days I will get to one. Best wishes!
TBU Umbria was our first blogging conference and we found it helpful. We especially enjoyed your presentation and appreciate that you are so open and willing to share. It really helps out us smaller fish trying to make a living off what we love most: travel and inspiring others to travel!
TBEX will be my first travel blogger’s conference, and I’m really looking forward to meeting other writers and PR folks. I’m hoping to learn from the sessions how to make my website the best it can be, but I think I can learn a lot of that online. I’m primarily looking to meet people. That’s my favorite thing about travel, anyway, so it only makes sense that at TBEX I’ll meet people who share a common interest. Looking forward to meeting you there!
Andy and I really enjoyed TBU in Umbria. We came away with a lot of great information, and it was fun meeting people like you who we’ve only ever talked to online. Your session was one of the best, and overall they were almost all really good. I’m glad to see you’ll be at TBU in Portugal, see you again in September!
Tbex in Denver will be my very first travel conference, and as someone who is new to the game, I am so excited to learn and to network but also a little clueless as to what to expect. We’re currently finalizing our business cards and focusing on beefing up our content, but do you think there’s anything at these conferences that you should hold off on, if you’re still a very young blog? I do hope to eventually make money off of my blog, but if my readership isn’t soaring quite yet, should I wait to meet advertisers (specifically the speed dating) until I have a product that I know they’ll be interested in? Or should I dive right into all of it?
Hope to meet you in Denver!
Hi Britany. I think that the time to go for you is now! You want to start networking and building relationships as soon as possible and there is a lot to learn, especially for the new blogger. When you do the speed dating. Talk to them about innovative ideas and how you want to build relationships with them for future partnerships. Let them know what you are all about and that you have a unique product and niche that they would be interested in the future. I think that you are definitely going to benefit from going now. Make sure to say hello, we’ll be looking for you! Cheers.
I certainly will! Thanks for the advice!
We are just getting into travel blogging so I’m sure we would have a lot to learn at the travel conferences and have the opportunity to meet a lot of bloggers. Unfortunately we will not be going to TBEX in Colorado but hopefully in the near future we’ll attend one of the conferences!
Hope to make it to one of these travel blogging conferences and meet you fine folks
I so would love to say “Yes” I brought my ticket but its too far from Australia to swim there!
There are no travel blogging conferences in Australia, so wished there was. I have been to many different conferences here and I enjoy learning. I am not really into the social networking behind the scenes, I prefer to learn more about blogging and seo
Have fun speaking.
Thanks Lisa. I am always surprised when I hear that there aren’t any travel blogging conferences in Australia, you have so many great bloggers! Maybe with BlogWorld buying TBEX, they’ll be able to expand to your part of the world!
Great Post!
I like seeing all my on-line friends, it’s always fun to meet people IRL (In real Life) and if we can chat about travel (and have coffee) it’s the best!
See ya at TBEX (hopefully)
~jd
Agreed! We’re looking forward to catching up with you too JD. You should definitely be speaking at the next one about social media. You would have so much to offer the community with your expertise.
I attended TBU in Innsbruck last summer and will be in Girona for TBEX this September! I agree that if you’re treating your blogging as a business then conferences are fantastic ideas. It is also important to remember to be professional while attending these events especially if you want vendors, PR and tourist bureaus to take us seriously. Thanks for this post and I hope you’ll be in Girona too!
While I am certainly new in this industry I am really looking forward to what the future holds! I am leaving to being my expat life in July 2012 but not before I head over to TBEX and meet many of the travel writers I admire and look up to so much! I’ll be sure to say hello while I’m there! Thanks!
Hi Heather, this is definitely going to be the perfect event to inspire you on your way out to your travels. make sure to say hello, I hope that it helps you find what the future has in store for your new phase in life! Cheers.
We’ve been traveling the world non-stop as a family and blogging about it since 2006 and have never been to a conference and don’t plan to go. I love people, but am an introvert and hate “cocktail party” crazy energy of large groups and we like to travel to destinations we want to go to instead of just for a conference.
We retired early and travel to educate our child and bond, so don’t need to make money blogging, thus it doesn’t make much sense for us as we prefer to be together rather than in crowds. We prefer to spend time with folks one on one when we are in the same spot.
Out of the millions of travel bloggers almost none make any money at it ( according to TBEX’s own stats) and that becomes harder and harder in this flooded market, so if people are looking to make money I think there are MUCH easier ways. When travel becomes a business, it’s not the same kind of freedom and fun IMHO.
But for those who love large groups and conferences, sounds like an entertaining time, so enjoy yourselves!
Hi Jeanne, It’s definitely not for everyone, especially if you are an introvert. It is great that you retired early and don’t need to make money. Lucky You!
We feel very fortunate to have been able to find something that we love and make a living at it so that we don’t have to worry about retiring early. We’re planning on doing this for the rest of our lives. Just like successful actors work well into their golden years, we plan on writing and photographing past our retirement age because we love it so much. You are right, there are easier ways to make money, but loving what you do is the best way to earn a living and it is our passion to blog and write about it. I do know a lot of people that are making a good living travel blogging (ourselves included) and the market is only expanding. But as you said, it is definitely not for everyone to be around people. I think that you found the perfect hobby if you don’t like crowds. Blogging is definitely a solitary industry, that’s why we love these events so much it lets us get out and meet our peers in person. Cheers and enjoy Malaysia:)
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Thank you for this post! I’ve gone back and forth on TBEX12 and finally decided to go last week. I felt hesitant because I heard that it feels cliquish (if you’re a newbie like me) and disappointing in content…but sounds like that was in the past! I hope to meet both of you this weekend.
TBEX will be my first travel blogger/writer convention and I’m very excited. Found out about Vancouver just after I launched my site last year and it was sold out, so I booked this one as soon as it was announced. It is a shame the schedule wasn’t announced earlier; I could be doing a much shorter trip, but am stuck with Thursday – Monday flights.
My goal for this show is to network. If I learn something about SEO or monetizing my blog, that would be great, but I was planning to add itineraries at some point anyway.
Like Jeanne, I dont like large groups, but I’m strangely much better about talking about my site than networking for my full time job (ad sales, which is all about schmoozing)
But, please – if anyone has anything to do with 2013 – sea level. Just got back from Ecuador and I’m dreading the altitude, although I did lose about 10 lbs!
It’s taking everything in me not to book a flight to Colorado for the weekend… I’m SO close, and my fear of missing out is getting to me! I might have to turn off Twitter for a few days or I’m going to go nuts! Have so much fun =)
I enjoyed TBEX ’11, but to be honest I find conferences that dwell on too much “instruction” and not enough “inspiration” can be dull… TBEX can be the former over the latter sometimes. SEO basics can be learned anywhere, as can Photoshop techniques and creative writing 101… but to be inspired to take on a new challenge and rise to the occasion… well, live speakers at the best for that. The best conferences inspire before they instruct, IMHO.
Hope everyone’s enjoying TBEX ’12.
Hi David well said, yes, I agree that people need to be inspired. TBEX 12 definitely had that this year with inspiring keynotes, exciting events such as the Expedia Find Yours events with bull riding, line dancing and calf roping as well as launching their latest videos in their Find Yours Campaign with inspiring stories on how travel changed people’s lives. It was an absolutely amazing event.
Great Hope to make it to one of these travel blogging conferences and meet you fine folks
Thank you for this post! I’ve gone back and forth on TBEX12 and finally decided to go last week. I felt hesitant because I heard that it feels cliquish and disappointing in content
Thanks for this. I’m currently musing over whether or not to go to TBU and TBEX in Europe. ouve convinced me it’s worth it – now I just have to find a flight! Hope to see you there.
Thanks for this awesome post. i will try TBEX in Europe.
Hopefully we’ll see you there!
I just registered for Europe since I’m going to be in Spain during that time anyway and I’m really focusing on getting my travel blog ramped up. Should be an interesting experience. Since you’re a pro, maybe you can tell me: Do I need to bring anything dressy? I’m going to be coming from walking the Camino de Santiago so clothing options are going to be very limited. Are tanks and capris ok or will I need something nicer? Thanks!
Thanks You so much for the lovely post i definitely try TBEX in Europe as it sound awesome
Thanks You so much for the lovely post i definitely try TBEX in Europe as it sound awesome.
Ill be going to my first conference in Toronto next year… living in Australia it is hard to get to any of the big meet ups as we are just so so far away!
Looking forward to meeting you next year. Toronto is our home town. Woohoo!
My first travel blogging conference was the TBEX in Girona in September. Like much of the comments on your post and as others have written, it was great to learn and see what others are doing. Even better to get to make connections and meet other bloggers and see what they think and are doing. It was great to meet in person people that I have been following for years! I suspect the conferences start to cover the same ground over and over.. but wish I had got to one sooner!
thank you very much for great post.
I’m glad I read this post about attending travel blogging conferences. My husband and I were recently discussing whether or not we should attend, and where to get info on the various events and locations (we’re blogging newbies). Reading this post has given us a place to start and convinced us that we should make an effort to attend future events. Thanks!
I would love the opportunity to attend a travel blogging conference, but it would have to be very cheap and very close to where I live. I don’t suppose there are any slated for Phnom Penh in the near future, are there? Didn’t think so. Anyway, I’ll comfort myself with this tidbit from your blog: “I’m not saying that content isn’t king, but I don’t think we need to go to a conference to be told this.”
Hi Rob, I think that there are people working on putting together conferences in the South East Asia region, who knows there might be one soon near you. Let us know if you need any help or advice, we’re here for ya. Cheers.
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