7 Things I Learned at Alt Summit 2024

It has been one month since Alt Summit, and I came back feeling so energized and with a new sense of purpose for my blog and business.  I took plenty of notes, but wanted to share a few key takeaways from the summit.

1/ People cannot buy what they cannot find- Cheldin Barlatt Rumer

Oftentimes we feel uncomfortable tooting our own horns and selling ourselves.  The problem is, when it comes to business, this is something that has to be done to make a profit.  Some people do it in a gross way, and others do it in a tactical, more natural way.  But the saying is true- a closed mouth doesn’t get fed!  So promote your products, create those affiliate links, talk about your products and services offered because if you don’t, it will be more challenging to make a sale!

2/ Make the first 3 seconds of your videos count- Christina Dennis

In the age of video being the content that gets the most attention, and coupled with our short attention spans, when making Instagram Stories, Reels, TikTok, YouTube, really any video content, the first three seconds are what count.  Use keywords in your opening statement, and really pack a punch.  This is also important when placing text on your title slide for videos.  Keywords are key!

3/ I’m here because I’m the best person to handle this- Dr. Darria Long

Imposter Syndrome, self-doubt, negative self-talk…it’s all there to deflate you.  I love this quote because it’s just a little reminder to yourself that people want to hear what you have to say (that’s why they follow you!).  If you are invited to speak, collaborate, teach, etc., it is because you are valued and you belong there!

4/ Confidence comes from competency- Andrea Campos

Coupled with the above point, the best way for you to truly feel confident in what you do and post is to be competent in your field.  If this means taking some online refresher courses, learning a new software, or doing anything that will give you more knowledge in your industry, do it!  The more you know about a topic, the more fluid you can speak about it and with confidence.  Oftentimes being prepared is what can eliminate those negative thoughts and make you feel a little less nervous.

5/ You succeed with community- Andrea Campos

I’m a huge proponent of having a business bestie to keep each other accountable, motivated, and to bounce ideas off each other.  This may look like having an accountability partner or even joining a community network of like-minded individuals.  Working solo has its advantages for sure, but even having one person in your network that you can speak candidly with will help wonders.

6/ A pinch of delusion goes a long way- Andrea Campos

Some of the world's greatest successes have come from taking risks and just trying something out.  Sometimes you need to be delusional to push through!  This could be pitching a huge company for a collaboration.  Maybe you don’t think you’re good enough or big enough to work with them, but hey, who knows what they will say.  You will never know if you don’t try.  I think that’s the key- go for your dreams no matter how big or unattainable they may seem!  It just may work out in your favor.

7/ Your worth is not defined by your follower size- Deanna Gustafson

Social media has its good and bad sides.  Self-worth is a down side because people still feel that with a small following they will not be successful and will never amount to anything.  This is totally inaccurate because social media is not your end all be all in life…it shouldn’t be.  Even with a smaller following, you can still snag brand deals and partnerships (I have and I have under 1000 followers to date!).  Focus on connecting with your audience and the followers will come naturally.

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Have you been to an Alt Summit conference? If so, what was something that resonated with you and stuck with you? Let me know in the comments!

5 More Ways to Start Blogging With a Purpose

It has been exactly 5 years to the date of posting about 5 Ways to Start Blogging With a Purpose.  WOW!  So much has changed since then, so I thought I’d do a part two if you have been thinking about starting a blog.  Doing something with purpose means you’re not doing it just to do it.  There’s a reason behind it, and all of your actions will support the reason.  Let’s explore!

1. Do your research.

   Find out what topics your audience is interested in so you can be a resource for them.  A simple Google search on top questions your audience has can provide insight.  You can also ask AI to provide you with the topics that your audience needs help with.  However you decide to conduct your research, it will help to form your content so you can provide more value to your audience.

2. Plan your content.

   Have a rhyme and reason for each post you create rather than just winging it.  You want your blog to have a focus, and the best way to stay “on topic” is by planning out your posts in advance.  You can start with the results from your research above and build from there.

3. Dedicate time for your blog.

   Put time on the calendar so you know it’s real.  Blocking out a small window of time at a cadence that makes sense in your life is a major key to blogging with purpose.  Having a schedule is the first step to try to be consistent with creating new posts.  I like to have a monthly planning session where I review what I will post for the month and outline the contents of each post.  This is incredibly helpful because it gives my content creation process a better flow and saves time.

4. Scale down the platforms.

   It’s wise to utilize social media platforms to share and cross promote your blog posts, but with the overwhelming number of platforms that pop up everyday, it’s easy to get confused on which ones to use.  I recommend choosing two platforms to focus your energy on.  This could be any combination of social platforms, but I suggest sticking to the two platforms that your audience shows up on the most so you can in turn show up for them.

5. Remember, you own this ish.

   Content creation and the internet have gone through many ebbs and flows over the years, but one thing remains true- if you have a blog, you own and control your content.  You can post how you want, you can move how you want.  No algorithm is going to hide your content.  Your job is to create posts that are useful, and to drive traffic to your website.  A quick and easy way to drive traffic to your website is by creating your own link page to use for social media that directs users to your website.  This way, you can get the traffic rather than Linktree or other link sites getting it.  Check out this post on how to create one in Squarespace.

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Related Post: Read part 1 to accompany this post: 5 Ways to Start Blogging With a Purpose

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I hope these ideas have helped to give you clarity on how blogging can be beneficial and how to approach it with purpose.  If you’ve been thinking about starting a blog but have reservations about it, let's discuss it in the comments below!