I just got word that I’ve been chosen once more to present a program at the third annual Financial Blogger Conference, which takes place Oct. 17-20 in St. Louis.
But that’s not the reason you should go. Not the only reason, anyway.
If you’re a writer or would like to be a writer, if you’re interested in starting a blog or already have one, or if you’re just plain intrigued by personal finance, then by all means attend FinCon13. And if you sign up by May 31, you’ll pay a lot less.
Sure, the event might have more resonance if you’re already lip-deep in the personal finance blogging world. But you don’t have to be. You could also be interested in:
- Getting started as a PF blogger. (One guy I met at FinCon 2010 was a freelance writer from the United Kingdom who started a blog on the spot, before the conference was even over.)
- Learning more about blogging in general. A fair amount of crossover exists; “personal finance” can mean anything from couponing to frugality to investing to intentional living. My own site is an example of this: While I write about frugality and careful spending, I also write about lifeitsownself.
- Finding new freelance outlets. The companies in the expo hall and your fellow bloggers will be soliciting work.
- Hearing, and maybe meeting, writers you read regularly.
Like who? So glad you asked. Here are just a few of the other speakers who’ve been announced:
Jean Chatzky, personal finance author and regular contributor to The Today Show.
Liz Weston, my colleague at MSN Money; she’s also the author of quite a few PF books and has her own site, AskLizWeston.com.
Getti Detweiler, author and director of consumer education for Credit.com
Derek Halpern, an online marketing strategist who blogs at Social Triggers and Blog That Converts
J.D. Roth, founder of Get Rich Slowly; he now blogs at More Than Money.
Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income
Stacy Johnson, of Money Talks News (who’s been syndicating my work lately, bless his heart)
And these are just the preliminaries. In addition to keynote addresses the conference will have more than 30 breakout tracks and “ask the expert” sessions (I did one of these last year and it was great to be able to talk to individuals vs. entire rooms).
Book now and save
A company called Jemstep is giving away a free ticket to FinCon13, but you need to act fast: The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Friday, May 24. You also need to be an independent PF blogger at least 18 years of age. (If the winner has already bought a ticket, Jemstep will reimburse him or her.)
And if you don’t win? The conference fee is $179 through May 31. After that the price goes up to $249. Register at FinancialBloggerConference.com.
Incidentally, that fee includes a number of meals and snacks plus a couple of drinks at the evening receptions. Enough nibbly bits were served at previous receptions to make a meal on, incidentally. And if you see me at the receptions, ask for my drink tickets. I tended not to use them, or just to get one Diet Coke.
If you plan to stay at the conference hotel, the Hyatt Regency in downtown St. Louis, book it now for $119 a night. I strongly suggest that you stay there. Some great conversations go on until the wee hours. You can cut the cost in half by rooming with another writer; the conference blog will probably run a post to help people find roommates.
I did that myself in 2010 and was put together with someone whom I’d read and even interviewed but never actually met. She was pregnant at the time, which meant she conked out relatively early — but her doing so led to one of those great conversations. I went down to the lobby to write and a whole bunch of us wound up sitting and talking until about 4 a.m. Hotel management was pretty agreeable to our being there. Well, until someone tried to have a couple of pizzas delivered. (It wasn’t me. I swear. I would have ordered Thai food.)
Hope you’ll meet me in St. Louis. If you do, come over and say hello, if only to get one of those drink tickets.
Jemstep has the Rafflecopter closed already, but thanks for all the info!
hmmm, I’ve been going back and forth about this. I’ve never met anyone I talk with through the internet in real life. It feels like I’d be breaking an interesting seal. But it does sound like a great event, and this post may have just motivated me attend… we’ll see.
Do it! It really is fun 🙂 Tons of cool people who all enjoy the same type of stuff.
I was going to mention “…and you’ll see $J’s hair in real time!”
Stay sexy, my friend.
Well, if you DO go, let Phil Taylor know that it was me who sent you. I promised him I’d do my best to promote the event and I’d like him to see results. 😉
And again: If you attend, come pull my coat and tell me that you’re there.
Interested. Very interested! Have considered starting my own blog for years! Hhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Stay frugal, my friends!
It would be a good chance to meet with like-minded folks. You would also be able to learn about monetization (ugh, hideous neologism), bringing people to your site, etc.
If you do go, come say hi to me. You’ll get first crack at those drink tickets. 😉
Looking forward to it!
We must have another Jersey folks meet-up.
I’m stoked about FinCon13.
I’ve been posting blogger interviews from last year onto YouTube over the past few weeks. Sorry I didn’t catch you in the hallway and ask you about the “why” of your blog.Maybe this year.
BTW: I enjoyed your presentation last year.
Thanks, Steve. We will no doubt run into each other this year — but tap me on the shoulder if I’m going in the other direction.
Am so looking forward to this event! I’m attending Boot Camp and BHB so we’ll make a betta blogger outta me!
Well, come up and say hello. Sooner or later you run into everybody there.
FinCon is AWESOME. I love going there — its the best conference I attend all year.
I will see you in St. Louis, then.