My #SBSummit Experience

What a whirlwind it's been here! Shane was in Puerto Rico on business, he returned the night before I left for the Savvy Blogging Summit- only to get me to the airport at 4am the next morning, then the day I after I got back he had to go to New Jersey, or Joy-sey as we like to call it ;) He's now home and we're trying to resume some kind of normal around here...although how can anything be normal after Savvy??

Savvy was unlike any other conference I've been to before. It was two and a half days devoted to the art of business blogging - a behind the curtain peek at tips, tricks and tools of the trade. It was intense.

I attended Savvy with a much different mindset than other conferences in the past, I was there to learn, come hell or high water. My pen and notepad were ready - I brought home PAGES of notes and have a to-do list that will take me many months to complete. Just looking at the list makes me happy because I have a plan of action!

Things 'round here will stay pretty much the same, I am still dedicated to Somewhat Crunchy being my space. But I am excited to implement all I've learned on my deal blog (coming soon - can't wait to tell you all about it!).

Take Away-

I was blown away by Amy of Mom Advice. She is one smart cookie. But on top of being smart, beautiful, a successful business woman, blogger, speaker, spokeswoman and more, she has a heart of gold. It was obvious that any and all decisions are made on solid ethical and moral standards. She will not compromise herself or her blog for the almighty dollar. It was so refreshing to not have someone pushing for "more more more" when dealing with business.

I also really enjoyed the sessions on Bloggers in Traditional Media, Bookeeping 101, Vlogging and Email Marketing - good good stuff. Internet gold! Each speaker was an expert in their field yet they were all extremely approachable and ready to help you better your blog.

As for the sponsors, they were all wonderful. However many of them were best suited to coupon bloggers. With that in mind, my favorites were Kontera, FeedBlitz and Collective Bias. In my opinion these three would work best for lifestyle bloggers - or any niche that includes personalized content, not mainly links to deals.

Thank You-

I am very grateful to my anonymous sponsor for making this happen. Had it not been for their generosity I would not have been able to attend. I have come away from Savvy with a clear plan and the knowledge to implement that plan. Thank you so very much!

I am also thankful to my roommate Fawn of Instead of the Dishes. She generously agreed to share her room with a complete stranger and trust me when I said I was not an axe murderer. I had a lot of fun getting to know her, her sweet spirit and quirky sense of humor.

Friends-

I did have my "I'm gonna learn" game face on, but even so I had the opportunity to connect with some amazing people. I was excited to see three really amazing ladies - Angie of The Homeschool Classroom, Dana of A Slob Comes Clean and Amy of Raising Arrows. Though we chat regularly online, there is something magical about seeing and interacting with them in 3-D!

Angie, Dana, Amy and Moi

And I made some new friends - a few that really stood out were Fawn of course, Kristie of Saving Dollars and Sense, she is a really sweet homeschooling mama with a great deal blog! Laura of The Beltway Bargain Mom, a follower of Christ with a kind spirit and a DC area deal blog. Dan of Letters From Dan, a funny, big hearted guy who knows all about SEO. And Debbie of Memories of Home, I was so blessed by my conversations with her, she's a veteran homeschool mom with a fabulous home decor blog and business.

Next Year-

Next year Savvy will be held October 4-6, 2012 in Atlanta, GA. God willing, I will be there. This conference is second to none in learning how to grow your blog. Whether you are just starting out or have been blogging for ages, you will learn. There is something for everyone.

In the past, Savvy has had an application process. 2012 is the first year without applications - tickets will be open to everyone. I have a feeling these tickets will go like hotcakes. Registration opens August 5th - so get ready!

Word of Caution-

Savvy is not a Christian conference, and it's not marketed as such. So if you attend be prepared that not all attendees will share your beliefs or sense of humor. On the other side, know that all attendees were kind - we just had different lifestyles. It is also currently a favorite conference of deal bloggers. I went, learned a TON and had a great time. But sometimes felt I didn't quite fit because I couldn't talk coupons. That was okay because I was there to learn, not just socialize. To get the most out of the conference, find someone in your niche to go with you so you can discuss how to best apply your new found knowledge to your blogs.