Last week’s Vegas trip wasn’t all fun and games. I attended Affiliate Summit West for the first time to learn a little more about marketing at Inexpensively. As it turns out, I learned way too much for just one site! I have multiple projects underway right now, including one I purchased a domain name for several years ago. I like the direction Just Heather has taken since its relaunch last spring. This is where I will be sharing our marriage journey, crossing off my 40×40“>Someday lists and reporting progress on learning to be a grown-up.
Other parts of my life will be shared elsewhere through niche projects. The first of my new ventures launched last night—I am super excited to finally have an outlet for the sports fan in me. My commentary and Go Team! excitement never really fit on my other sites. Colts Stuff will give me a chance to not only earn a little extra money but finally have somewhere to share my love of the boys in blue. I learned a ton from Tricia’s case study in her session.
We have also been working hard to implement several new ideas at Inexpensively. Many of them have been in the works for quite some time, but I’m thankful to Jim Kukral for giving me the kick in the pants I needed to just do it, already! Probably, I’m going to need to order his upcoming book
I think the biggest thing I got out of Affiliate Summit was all the connections—new friends, great mentors and businesses I’ve already started partnering with. Plus, Peter Shankman liked my boobs! That was actually the very same session in which I met the affiliate manager for PokenZoo. Everyone was clamoring to Poken with Peter, and I was completely clueless! I have since learned it’s like a digital business card with 1-click uploading to your social networking sites—how cool is that?
Plus, they looked super fun. The hubby wants this Ninja, although I kind of expected him to eye the RockStar. Yesterday, I received a Poken Pulse from ConAgra in my free Blissdom pre-conference gift pack—I guess it’s supposed to be more “businesslike” or “grown-up” but that’s clearly overrated. Ninja Poken! Poken Alien! In pink! I could see these being a huge hit with our girls—if I were willing to let them swap information with people. I can’t wait to try it out at my next conference.
I just hope I finish processing everything I learned at Affiliate Summit before I cram my head full again. On the other hand, this is a different kind of conference. Sure, there’s learning to be had but it appears a bit more relaxed. I’m looking forward to some girl time and meeting several gals on Team Inexpensively in person. More than half the team will be there, and I can’t wait to get to know them better. We also get to meet Harry Connick Jr.!!! (Do you need a few more exclamation points?! Harry! Connick! Jr.!) Meeting a celebrity has been on my 40×40 list so I am beyond excited. Plus, it’s Harry Connick Jr.!
Do you think he’ll Poken with me?
I am so excited to see you go after these things, Heather! Sounds like you are “armed and dangerous”. Great to see your smile. Always.
Did you figure out the Poken online?
I love going to conferences for just this reason. I am always so full of ideas & pumped about getting to work. I too have a ton of things on my to do list and I am getting them done. I loved the Jim Kukral session, definitely very helpful 🙂 Next conference come find me. I will Poken with you!
Affiliate Summit is perfect for networking, especially those chance meetings that change the direction of your marketing efforts. I’m glad to hear you are so busy and I look forward to sending you commission checks from all my managed programs, especially PokenZoo.
Heather you were great on the MommyBloggers panel and I’m glad you learned a lot and made friends with so many people 🙂 Looking forward to following you in our BloggingABCs.com case study 🙂
Jim is a great guy, and I wanted to go to his session but I had a meeting with my heating pad in the blogger room instead. lol. I’ll be watching the video when it is available though.
Great to meet, and bowl, with you as well. Glad my session was helpful in some way. I know I didn’t inspire you by my bowling that’s for sure!
Heather–sounds like you had a great time–I really need to consider Blissdom! Reading a few posts further back–I didn’t realize you had been going for your BA in Early Ed–I just talked to Bay Path College and I am considering my Masters in ED–so I could possibly teach after Ella goes to school (not sure Communications is where my heart lies anymore).