38 Things I learnt at ALT Summit 2012
- Champagne and French Fries at midnight go together like the stars and the moon.
- “Create a platform for other people to succeed.” – BurdaStyle
- Business cards are as important as your blog if you care about how you look.
- When you fall out of love with something, so do your readers.
- Walls by Gallery Direct is a game changer.
- Gabby Blair reminds me of Grace Kelly mixed with Kathryn Graham.
- Most people read blogs 8am-10am, noon, 3pm.
- Megan Reardon from Not Martha is made of magic.
- “Blogging’s not about making money even though it is.” — Meg Keene
- Heather Armstrong is not a lesbian but I fell for her.
- Taking an advertiser that’s not a good match dilutes your brand. It’s not worth it!
- Wilson Art is made of sugar and spice and all things nice.
- People who snatch gift bags and run do not make their parents proud.
- ”If I cram my life with things I love, then there is no room for things I don’t love.” — Gretchen Rubin
- Victoria Smith rocks the world; very quietly, very effectively.
- When reaching out for collaborations, make it easy to say yes.
- Your blog is not a game show! Be choosy with your giveaways!
- From blog to book: a book is the most expensive business card ever.
- Mara Koefed’s essence should be bottled and sprinkled liberally.
- The Grand America feels like home.
- Laura Mayes is the yin and the yang.
- Evernote, people, Evernote. Make it yours today and you’ll own tomorrow.
- Flood Street is the hot new FB app you need to know about to grow your FB world.
- Susan Petersen from Freshly Picked can do it all.
- Pilar Gruzman and Deborah Needleman hold talents we but dream about.
- Photobooths are the new party balloon.
- Path is the new
Facebook, Pinterest, Instragram, thing
- Melanie Biehle from Inward Facing Girl is made of sunshine and light.
- Pinterest’s Ben Silbermann is Steve Jobs-ish without the mean bits.
- Laurie Smithwick understands design like I understand it’s important to breathe.
- “If it looks good but doesn’t feel good, that will start to show.” — Maggie Mason
- Erin Loechner is the one to watch.
- “Stop talking about it and go do it.” — Liz Stanley
- “I want to be known for the things that I make, not for the things that I say.” — Ben Silbermann
- Stay classy.
- “Technology is a good servant but a bad master.” — Gretchen Rubin.
- When Jordan Ferney decided to devote herself to good, original content, her traffic grew 42% in one month.
- “There is enough out there for all of us. Do your best and do it with integrity and your work will shine.” – Joslyn Taylor
January 24th, 2012
Love these little random tidbits and this: Pinterest’s Ben Silbermann is Steve Jobs-ish without the mean bits. ha. priceless.
Thanks for the inspiring recap. Wish I could’ve gone, but I’m enjoying gleaning bits of wisdom from you. Thank you, thank you!
Next year Ashlea!
Thanks Molly! Hanging out at ALT feels Tuesdays with (a prettier) Morrie IRL.
Sarah! You are so sweet! I’m so glad I finally got to meet you. We must keep in touch.
It was a delight meeting you and I look forward to keeping in touch.
Totally adore these precious bits of wisdom from the weekend! There were a few you grabbed that I missed, so thank you so much for posting!
XOXO
It was fun! Was this the one you missed — Champagne and French Fries at midnight go together like the stars and the moon? If so it’s important to know
perfect summation of ALT! and thank you for a great panel!
This is awesome! I am so glad I had the opportunity to go to Alt Summit this year. Your point about Evernote is SO well put.
Thanks Kasey — I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you. Next time.
thank you so much, sarah! and you’re so right about ben – exactly what i think.
Always a pleasure. I’ve never seen anyone get a standing ovation at ALT Summit except for Ben — and so well deserved. That plane trip has to go down as one of life’s luckier moments for both of you. You can’t make up stuff like that!
Aw! Sarah I’m overwhelmed that you included me. Thank you, it was awesome to finally meet you in person and I hope I see you again very soon.
Me too Megan!And sooner rather than later
Megan, I think Sarah should come to Seattle and hang out with us!
I so want to do a Seattle trip! Yes.
I found myself mentally checking off the notes I’d written as well. Yep, got that one. Yep, that one, too.
It’s also great to read the key points from the panels I couldn’t get to. Perhaps there’ll be a way to be in two places at once by next year’s conference.
Here’s hopin’!
But gift bags are oh so very tempting! It sounds like the conference was a huge success. Would have loved to have been there.
Charlie, you would have loved it — so creative and inspiring and can do! Next year and come via NYC!
What an incredible post! It makes me miss Alt. A lot. Can’t wait for next year.
Dear Sarah – Loved the commentary here! So fun to read. And well, I loved your warmth on-line before meeting you…but SBB in person? Nothing quite like it! We’re neighbors, you know.
Let’s keep that in mind. I’d love for our paths to cross again. 
Please! I would love to. We’re just a bridge apart
Love this. So happy and proud to share some of the same realizations. Great to meet you and thanks for keeping the team inspired!
It was a delight to meet you. I’m so excited about being able to provide a place for bloggers to connect and collaborate! I hope to see you again in 2012.
Loved this list. Made a few mental notes. And I feel ever so slightly ahead of the curve for once because I started using Evernote a few weeks ago! Thanks Sarah.
So glad you love the list — it was such fun writing it. And how much do you love Evernote!
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Great list and Alt sounds like such a great event! As a design blog addict and interior design and fine art professional I have a huge appreciation for all the talented folks who make up this online design wonderland! Evernote is brilliant, I just finally converted all my thousands of saved items from google notebook over a few months ago and use it all the time!
Thank you so much! This is one of the most inspiring and informative updates from Alt!
Great list! (it’s notmartha.org, not notmartha.com)
Thank you Cory — I have fixed the link. Sorry!
Best recap I’ve read yet! DYING to go. A definite must for next year:)
Thank you for this fantastic re-cap. I started my blog one month ago and am so new to the entire idea of this. Your re-cap is so informative!
Gina, welcome to the world of blogging. You will never be the same again! In a good way, of course. So glad you joined.
Thanks for the fabulous report! Lots of new things for me to check out. I was at the summit Saturday afternoon to help with a workshop (it sold out before I could get a ticket) and I was thinking afterwards I really should have tried to arrange a brief hello! Maybe next year.
I can’t believe I missed you! I hope we get to meet soon. Maybe mom 2.0? Definitely next year
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Love this!! Thanks for sharing Sarah!
fantastic morsels to give those of us that did not attend, a glimpse into the wonder that is ALT. I think I need to put this on my radar for next year!
ALT is the best way to start the year!
Someday I’m either going to bring Alt Summit to Australia…or get there myself, in the meantime i have your wraps up to keep me inspired.
next year i’ll join you all there. reading your list of 30 things is just amazing and makes me wish i was there even more. awesome!
I’d love the cliffs notes version of maximizing evernote!
Oooooooh, thank you SO much for sharing all these bits of wisdom. I’m currently nursing my 5 month old so there was no way I could get away from Chicago for the weekend, but maybe next year ~ it sounds A-mazing!! Would love to meet-up……maybe a Blogstar meetup is in order. Again, thanks so much
Lindsay
I would love to start Blogstar meetups across the country! I am launching a Blogstar community platform by the end of Feb so we can connect and collaborate virtually. Next stop, meet ups!
Thanks for tips…good advice for those of us starting out + I would have loved to be at the conference in Utah! It looked like a lot of fun. I especially liked the mini-grilled cheese over soup
from Millica at ingenovain.com!
Fabulous tidbits!! Softens the blow from me not being there just a little
I hope to see you there next year