Like many of you, I’d declared 2020 as the year of doing more in-person networking. I was looking forward to returning to public speaking. However, with the limitations on being able to gather in large groups, the need for digital conferences has increased way beyond anything we’d ever anticipated. I think most of us who have worked online have been attending or participating in online events for quite some time. The switch from physical to digital was somewhat welcome to me although we had such a great time at WordCamp Miami 2020 that I was a little disappointed in throwing any plans by the wayside. I’ll share one of my favorite stops on the trip, grabbing baked goods at Parlour Vegan Bakery on the way home.

However, the announcement of Cancelled Con 1 happening on my 30th birthday left me feeling a little hopeful for the digital events to come. I’ve had the privilege of attending a few very different events this year post-pandemic so I’m going to share a few tips on how to get the most as an attendee and how to prepare for a digital event as a speaker.

Attending a Digital Conference

After the official cancellation of Creative South, Andrew Hochradel’s announcement of Cancelled Con was extremely welcome. Seeing some of my favorite creatives on my birthday felt like my own personal birthday gift. If you’ve never been to a design conference before, there’s a lot of opportunity for other people in the industry to share their stories but also show off their skills. Obviously it’s hard to recreate the things that happen in the hall, meeting up over food and drinks, or the exclusive merch, but there is a lot of value in showing up to a digital event.

Cancelled Con was live-streamed via YouTube. It was two days of amazing conversations, designs, tutorials, and more. I learned so much about different programs that I knew nothing about. It was good to see familiar faces and it was a lighthearted vibe.

David was a presenter at PechaKucha Orlando v28 which was a physical event that was switched to a digital presentation. He’d practiced and was coached to present in front of an audience so it was disappointing to pivot to an online-only event. However, as someone who was able to watch these speakers share their stories, it was a great evening event to contrast with my daytime event experiences.

I also attended the Lesbians Who Tech (NOT IRL) Pride Summit at the end of June. It is obviously a much larger event but it was such a great experience. The keynotes were great. The workshops were phenomenal. The chats were fantastic. I didn’t plan on attending an event in 2020 where I got to hear Arlan Hamilton speak and moderate a panel with the cast of The L Word but it happened. This event was focused, targeted, informative, and powerful and I cannot say enough kind things about it.

From these very different experiences, I came away with a few tips that would be helpful for digital events as an attendee.

• Take notes
  • I will always recommend taking notes for any event. Of course, you’ll want to follow along with any live creating that’s happening in real-time but it’s nice to take notes so you can remember the things you’re learning later.
• Engage with the presenters
  • If you’re on social media, reach out to the presenters in real-time so they can see any feedback on what they were doing and how it went on their end. Use official hashtags, follow on social, and connect with speakers so they know how things went.
• Stay focused
  • Digital events are great because you can multitask while attending. However, I will say I’ve gotten the most out of the events when my brain wasn’t focused on something else.
• Put everything on your calendar
  • There have been a few digital events that have slipped by me because I didn’t have them on the calendar. If you carve out time for it, you’re more likely to attend and be engaged. LWT was so detailed, I had any session I wanted to attend on my calendar with reminders so I wouldn’t forget.
• Don’t be spammy
  • Obviously, if you have an opportunity to network and share your business, do it. However, don’t overdo it. I’ve seen so many people just spam chats of events and it’s not cool.
• Stay muted
  • If you’re in a video format for any reason that allows you to have a mic on, mute yourself.
• Take it easy
  • Relax! If an event isn’t for you, it’s ok to leave. There have been some things that definitely didn’t align with me or wasn’t what I thought it was. It’s ok to leave. Not everything is for you and that’s ok. If there’s a survey, give honest feedback for things but also be fair with any criticism.

Presenting at a Digital Conference

I’ve been very lucky to present, facilitate workshops, sit on panels, and more at events over the past few years. When Kelly of Spark Orlando reached out to see if I wanted to speak at The Freelancers Conference on podcasting, I couldn’t think of a better opportunity to dip my toes back into the presenting arena. This was technically my very first digital event opportunity so although I was nervous, I was excited to talk (way too much) about podcasting.

I wanted to share some ways that I planned for this event. As you can see from above, we may have done a lot for the lights but it was a fantastic opportunity. I had a great time. My workshop attendees were wonderful and patient with me. I also learned a lot through the experience so here are some things to take note of if you’re planning on speaking at a digital conference:

• Over-prepare
  • Luckily, I’ve learned while during five years of podcasting that anything can happen while you’re online and live. There aren’t enough backups of slides, presenting areas, and whatever else you need to be prepared. Early on, I realized it would be beneficial to have a second screen so I could see the chat while presenting through the Hopin platform we were using.
  • All presenters also got to do a test run of the software with the organizers. This was super helpful to get an idea of the platform, what their expectations were, and what to do on the day of.
• Treat your speaker guidelines like the law.
  • I was in my session room fifteen minutes before and it helped me prepare. Luckily, Kelly was in my room as well to help me if anything went awry.
  • It also helped remind me of what the conference organizers were expecting for me.
• Engage with the audience
  • The audience helps keep a presentation alive, especially when you can’t see them. I loved asking for feedback in the chat. They also let me know what they wanted me to cover in terms of Q&A and gave me feedback on any tech issues in real-time.
• Relax and enjoy yourself
  • I was slightly nervous. I’m not a talker despite having a podcast so any long periods of talking are weird for me. I had so much tech on my desk that I didn’t keep tea with me and I have regrets. Coughing during a pandemic during your talk isn’t the most graceful thing you could do.
• Have a follow-up plan
  • I’ve always tried to have something special for attendees to offer them at the end of the talk. Yesterday, I launched a 3-week podcasting mini-course that was exclusive for attendees but I’m opening it up below. I had 10% of my room attendees sign up via the special promotion page where I included additional reading links, my slides, a freebie, and a coupon code exclusive for the attendees. Don’t leave with a follow-up. I’m still connected with so many people who I’ve met in my talks at events.

Let me know all of your digital conference tips in the comments below and for any readers, you can sign up for the 3-week Podcasting 101 Mini-Course below.

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If you are new here, Links I Love is my Friday wrap-up series. I am online and reading so much content so I wanted to use this to share with my friends without having to blow up their inboxes (Yes, this blog is that old.) Every Friday, that I can, I’ll try to share some things I’ve seen on the internet that are interesting (in my humble opinion).

Oops! The pandemic summer has been zooming by and I haven’t had the time to catch up with you peeps! I’ve been trying to post as much as I can over on Instagram so you’re more likely to get some timely updates from me there.

♥ I’m patiently awaiting The Michelle Obama Podcast on Spotify. I didn’t know that I needed it but now that it’s an option, please and thank you.

♥ The new A11Y Project redesign is a reminder to use this resource often if you’re creating content online. Accessibility is something we can be better with.

♥ The magical Michelle Chantelle Hopewell wrote an amazing list of things contributing to anti-blackness online. This amazing human being is doing so much great work with her platform and I couldn’t recommend following her enough.

♥ Speaking of uplifting Black creatives, Ade Hogue’s work for the 2020 Issue of Texas Heritage for Living Magazine is 10/10.

♥ I’m sharing here because this Design System Checklist will be a lifesaver in the future.

♥ Currently binging Indian Matchmaking and Down to Earth with Zac Efron. While I’m not in love with everything in the later docuseries, I will say it was easy to watch and informative on some subjects. Would recommend!

Around the Studio

♥ Launched the new Botanical Collection and I couldn’t be thrilled about it. A collection within a collection is probably obnoxious. I’ve also added a new print and printable.

♥ We talked to Maria Nuñez, a local Orlando real estate agent, about how she does her business her way on the podcast.

♥ ICYMI, I’ll be presenting at The Freelancers Conference next weekend on podcasting! Tickets are 100% free so sign up ASAP.

The post Links I Love – 07.17.2020 appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

It’s been a while since I’ve put together a Links I Love roundup on the blog. For those who feel they are missing out, if you subscribe to the Mail Drop, I usually put together four links to share when I can’t post the full roundup on the blog. There are some fun print items in today’s roundup and I can’t wait to share them with you.

I really admire Jay’s lettering and design style which is why I’m not surprised to be completely in love with her latest design for a friend’s baby shower.  A winter-themed baby shower is already pretty amazing. I’m always in awe of other’s creativity when it comes to invitations.

Since I want to pretend it’s Spring already, I’m adoring the design of the Matter New Year package materials. There are so many great elements pulled together here—bold colors, textures, and thin lines. While it sounds like a recipe for disaster, these were executed wonderfully.

This screen printed illustration of the Pacific Northwest is amazing. It’s another example of using great elements like geometric shapes, patterns, textures, and bold colors to create something beautiful.

After meeting a couple of friends, including the designer herself, in the Winter Park area last week, I couldn’t help but fall in love with Hyemi’s latest illustration piece. She clearly knows how to make everything look beautiful.

Speaking of amazing Orlando illustrators, the wonderful Leah Correa who I met two weeks ago, just released a fantastic Society6 shop for her design studio, Quant Inc. She’s extremely talented and her prints deserve a spot in any home.

The lovely Breanna Rose shared some logos through the process of one of her latest branding projects. There are so many admirable typefaces represented in these and in her executions, they’re represented so well.

The amazing Meli shared the illustration work of Emma SanCartier on her blog this week. Emma’s illustrative style is so quaint and I love her usage of water colors in each of her pieces.

I have an infinite hate/love relationship with all things gold foil. This week, I have a love relationship so I love the picks Courtney put together on her blog. I should definitely indulge in one of these prints or cards while gold foil is still on my good side.

Another invitation design on my list this week is this colorful passport wedding invitation suite. My wedding colors were almost aqua and red so I have a soft spot in my heart for this color palette. This design is a great representation of the smallest details being included into a theme to make it work.

Let’s chat about the site design for the upcoming Yellow Conference website! If you haven’t heard, the wonderful Joanna Waterfall is putting together a conference for creatives in August. If that wasn’t exciting enough, the website is so beautifully done. My interest is officially piqued!

I’m nothing but honored to be included in Kelsey’s Traverser list this week. There were some amazing blogs on this list that I’m now a really big fan of. So big thank you to Kelsey for including me and you should definitely check out the rest of the list.

Sorry there are so many links this week! This beauty is probably one of my favorite things in my shop right now, outside of the Mahalo thank you cards. I’m working on some great Mother’s Day cards to share with you soon and some other prints. Being ahead of holidays is something that I’m adjusting to. It’s a great weekend to add a print or two to your space so maybe you’ll find something you like!

The post Links I Love: 2.28.14 appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

There have been so many great blogging resources and articles posted within the past few weeks. I have been collecting all of the ones that I found extremely helpful in hopes of sharing them in a large roundup here for you! I have a few friends are starting out with blogging or are interested in blogging so I figured now is as good as time as any. I would like to post more about blogging here as I have been blogging for the past eight years here (I have deleted the entire contents of this blog like twice!) and other places. Now that I have found my steady pace in blogging, I would like to feature more helpful blogging tips and articles by other bloggers who inspire me. Consider this the first of the new “Blogging 101” feature.

Finding Your Niche – Breanna Rose

So you want to start a blog? Great! What do you want to blog about? Breanna wrote a great article on finding your niche. With the world of blogging continuing to ever expand, it’s important to know what your main focus is. She also rounds up a great list of resources to help you find out what you want to do with your blog.

Features and Finding A Balance – Shauna of Nubby Twiglet

One of the reasons I’ve restarted this blog twice over the past eight years is not having a focus and not having any balance. I knew I always wanted a design blog but personal blogs were so much more popular at the time. I had a mixture of personal opinions posted within design resources and it wasn’t what I wanted to do. Shauna does an amazing job of explaining how to find a balance between your posts. She also goes into deeper explanation regarding having regular features on your blog. I’ve found my features like: Links I Love, Artist Showcase, and This or That have helped me maintain a balance of what I want to post.

Lessons I’ve Learnt | Blogging – Amanda of Here Comes The Sun

The things I’ve learned about blogging have not only been through my personal experiences, but the experiences of other bloggers. The things I’ve learned about image crediting, blog design, and user readability have all been years of reading the blogs of great bloggers. I love when bloggers like Amanda share their personal experiences on what has worked and what hasn’t worked. In this post, she spills on everything from naming your blog to planning content.

Bright Bazaar’s Guide to Blogging Infographic – Will aka Mr. Bazaar of Bright Bazaar

This post is visually stunning (much like Bright Bazaar itself) thanks to the work of Amanda Jane Jones. It’s also extremely informative! This guide is a must-have for any blogger, especially those who are beginning. If I had this when I started out, I would have printed it out and put it in my bedroom. I love the focus on the power of partnerships and being a creator. While posting other content is great, it’s important to have your own original content. Showcase your talents!

Great Photography Gear for Bloggers – Holly of decor8

This year I am working to promote a lot of my print work. Reading about how to take better photographs has definitely increased the quality of the photos I post here. One of the great things about having your own blog is that you can post images that are your own. You want them to be the best they can be. When bloggers like Holly share their photography secrets, you want to soak up as much as possible. I hope one day I can get my shoots to be as great as Holly’s. If you’re looking for a DSLR or tools to take photos for your blog, this post is a must-read.

How To Run A Blog: DIY Shoots – Bri of Designlovefest

There can never be enough photography tips! Bri opens up on her new How To Run A Blog column about DIY shoots (which can be applied to any type of shoot for your blog!). If you have ever visited Designlovefest, you will know that all of Bri’s photographs are extremely well done. Reading the article explains why. The amount of planning required and the resources used are important details in shooting your DIY projects, products, or even yourself. If there’s anything these bloggers have mentioned in all of the articles, it’s to plan ahead!

How To Add A Pin It Button To Your Images in WordPress – Lisa of Joycreation

If you think Pinterest is not important to your blog, think again. In the past year alone, Pinterest has become the second most popular source of traffic to my blog. Now that you know how to shoot images for your blog and you’re posting your own content, it’s time to make it easy to share.  Lisa has posted a great tutorial to adding a pin it button to your images in your post. As a front-end developer, it’s usually a no-brainer on how to find out things to add to my blog. However, for someone who is completely new to blogging or the web itself, tutorials like these make it so easy to do things on your own. Maintaining your blog and keeping it up to date with current social media trends is vital.

Top 10 Tools for Creative Business Owners – Alicia for Scoutie Girl

You’ve created your blog, you’re posting, and you’re creating your own content. How do you sustain your blog? How to you turn your blog into your business? What tools will make it easier? Alicia has created a list of ten awesome online tools for creative business owners. It’s a great time to be a blogger when there are so many great resources available for free. Most of the tools Alicia listed also have mobile apps so you maintain your blog on the go.

Small Business Tools – Allison of The Influence Network

I think the more resources a blogger has on her side, the better. This list by Allison of The Influence Network goes into a little deeper detail into what has helped her in her experiences as a designer and blogger. I love the detail she puts into discussing accounting options (which has been my weakness). There are also tools for communication, productivity, and organization. The Influence Network has become one of my favorite blogs this week so I would recommend checking them out.

Blogs You Need To Read – Moorea Seal

So now that you’ve started blogging, you want to read other blogs, right? Moorea posted a great list (by category) of blogs she recommends for other bloggers to read. I read a lot of blogs (it’s horrible) so I’ve been compiling a list of my own for quite some time. Most of my favorite bloggers are on Moorea’s list as well as some new favorites. Check out other blogs, comment, and get in touch with bloggers you like! When someone tweets me or e-mails me and lets me know that I’m doing a good job, it encourages me to keep moving! I also like letting other bloggers know that I enjoy their content.

How to Plan Offline Events as a Blogger – Megan of The Fresh Exchange

There are tons of pop-up shops, workshops, and social meetups all being ran by bloggers. How? Megan goes into great detail about planning offline events from a person whose job is to share things online. How do you translate your blog to a live audience? This is extremely helpful for me as I am in the early stages of planning a small (but big deal) event collaborating with another blogger friend of mine. I love how Megan talks about casting the vision. The vision of my event is so clear but I need to make it work! Megan’s blog is such a daily inspiration of mine and I hope to share inspiration in the way that she does.

I hope you’ve found this somewhat helpful? Do you have any additional tips/tricks to share? Are you a blogger who wants to guest post here on your blogging experiences? Feel free to drop me a line or write in the comments below. Happy Hump Day blog buddies!

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