Fincon Review – Is it worth going?

Yes, it’s worth going. Whether you are a first-timer or a more experienced blogger (or money person), the biggest value is in the connections you make with like-minded people.
The sessions also provide you with lots of ideas, techniques, and ways to improve your methods of working.

FinCon is a well-organized conference for personal finance bloggers, financial coaches, money advisors, and investors. Session tracks focus on techniques for blogging, podcasting, and vlogging by Youtube, as well as freelancing, and other projects like book publishing. There are plenty of opportunities to both meet people in your realm, and to explore connections with companies, affiliates, and supporting services.

Overview (or for the nitty-gritty)

1. Very well organized
¬Kudos to the entire staff for their hard work on this – it shows!

a. Daily E-mails – emphasizing highlights and special notes, as well as welcome emails preparing you before you arrive, and closing out email

b. Fin con app:

– Woohoo – Paperless!
– One less thing to track or carry
– Helpful for the daily schedule and session descriptions
– Conference map locations, and people directory.
– Ongoing commentary with people sharing their experiences
– Useful for posting as people were arriving, during, and departing; many attendees posted impromptu meetups, inviting others for food, and other community gatherings
– I really liked the ability to bookmark sessions and switch between them

c. Availability of staff

– It was helpful to have many staff at check-in, and guiding you to the correct location, and to help you if you had a question about an event or activity

d. All sessions filmed and accessible later (for a fee).

2. First Timer Orientation
This was helpful and encouraging; also useful to see the number of attendees attending for the first time so you don’t feel alone.

3. Boundless opportunities for networking

a. From the sessions themselves to the add-on community meetups, evening events, hallway and breakfast conversations.
b. Through the app
c. In the exhibit hall

4. Informative multi-track sessions – Blogging, YouTube, Podcasting, Coaching, Freelance, writing books. Many interesting sessions all happening in the same time frame – the ones I liked or heard about

5. Exhibit Hall – variety of exhibitors with supporting and affiliate services.

6. Other fun aspects

– Availability to have your headshot photo taken, and this time, in the exhibit area – caricatures, and inspiring magazine photos

7. Keynote presentation

I wanted to learn about what people were sharing about money approaches and techniques

a) About blogging, podcasting, growing an e-mail list, other techniques; what worked for people, and what didn’t, shared experiences and lessons
b) That it can be easy to make new friends if we share like interests
c) That I would be able to meet people that could be friends through my journey and that I would want to connect to after the conference was over.
d) Even though I’m a new blogger, I have a lot of experience and ideas to share with others
e) Jet lag can really make you more tired at the end of the week, so it’s important to rest well, and/or find a way to be energized by the end of the week, so you don’t fall down.

1. Be real, be authentic, be yourself.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Time and time again people reiterated how friendly people were and welcoming.

When asking questions, be genuinely interested in the answers. Some people were vibrant when talking about themselves, but their eyes glazed over when they asked me about what my interests were. People can tell when you’re thinking about something else.

Don’t be afraid to move on to meet someone else if the conversation isn’t holding your attention; or there isn’t a spark. It’s like speed dating for blogging, it’s 5 minutes of your life.

3. Be willing to reach out, to connect with others; introduce yourself, explain what you do, what your interest is. If you aren’t good at explaining what you’re writing, podcasting, or Youtubing about, you will be by the time you’ve explained it to a dozen people. You’ll have honed your interest and determined your audience, and perhaps even have found your voice by the end of the conference.

4. Be aware that not everyone you meet is your target audience.

I met people who were attending to just learn the techniques, or to meet their favorite bloggers. There are a lot of different niches for personal finance.

5. Be aware that not everyone will want to connect with you afterwards, some people don’t have cards, or don’t give them out, or tell you to look in the app, or aren’t in the app. Some people you meet, you may not click with, or you may not want to connect with them afterwards. It’s all ok.

6. Be aware that you could meet fabulous people who you will click with, and who you do want to meet again and connect with afterwards. Be sure to get their contact information, or at least take a photo of their badge, so you can connect with them afterwards. It is helpful as described in the first-timer orientation to attempt to make some notes to this end so you remember how and where you met them, and what you connected around.

7. Don’t forget to follow-up with people you do want to connect to again, during or after the conference.

8. There’s lots to learn and plenty of ways to find what you need or want from the conference. If you think you’ll watch the videos later, you can even do so.

9. Thank people who help you.

10. Don’t forget to eat – and drink water; take a break in the sunshine.