Before I get into the 10 Biggest reasons to go, here is the #1 way to get there in style! Enter BenSpark’s Ultimate IZEAFest 2009 Prize Pack Contest.
Yes, I am going to tell you about the 10 BEST Reasons to go to IZEAFest 2009. How do I know that these will be the best reasons? Trust me, I know IZEA and I know that they DO IT UP BIG!
#10. Location – IZEAFest is in Sunny Orlando, Florida which is home to some amazing theme parks like Disney, Sea World and Universal. Last year there was a blogger takeover of Universal. This year, who knows. But I do know it will be an amazing time. This Year IZEAFEst is at SeaWorld and it was recently annoucned that the opening party is at Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream!
#9. SWAG – IZEA certainly does know a thing or two about swag. They were very generous at IZEAFest 2008. Check out my Swag Bag.
#8. Friendships – You get to see people that you have probably only talked to to twitter or through your blog. Now it is time to make some connections to real live people in real life.
#7. Sponsors – Sponsors for IZEAFest rock. Last year there were a ton of them and this year a ton more. My money is on somebody like BluFrog supplying us with Energy drinks so we can keep up with Ted Murphy.
#6. The IZEA Team – People who are working at IZEA have a phenomenal way about them. I am so glad to call them my friends. IZEAFest wouldn’t happen without Ashley. That man rocks!
#5. Food – Oh man the food at IZEAFest is so good. We had tons of great stuff at Watiki and various other restaurants. I myself would certainly love to see a Blogger takeover of Pancheros. Every time Ted Tweets about them I want to eat there and I’ve never been.
# 4. Cake Plows – Speaking of food, oh man the things we do to cake.
# 3. The Speakers – Each year IZEAFest ratchets things up a notch, last year they even got John Chow, Jeremy Schoemaker, Stephanie Agresta and Neil Patel to do a Big Money Bloggers Panel which I moderated. I was nervous as all hell. This year the list is also very impressive with people like:
- Robert Scoble (Keynote)
- Aaron Brazell (Keynote)
- Chris Brogan
- Darren Rowse
You will also have a chance to meet the members of the IZEA advisory board:
– Michael Brito (http://www.britopian.com)
– Brian Clark (http://www.copyblogger.com)
– Jim Kukral (http://www.jimkukral.com)
– Neil Patel (http://www.quicksprout.com)
– Wendy Piersall (http://www.sparkplugging.com)
– Jeremy Schoemaker (http://www.shoemoney.com)
– Missy Ward (http://www.affiliatesummit.com)
Along with our IZEA Insiders:
– Kathleen Argonza (http://toughgirl101.com)
– Drew Bennett (https://benspark.com)
– Laurie Brosius (http://laviedelaurie.com)
– Brett Bumeter (http://something-about-harry.com/)
– Elizabeth Edwards (http://table4five.net)
– Corrin Foster (http://corrinrenee.com/)
– Lisa Martin (http://mythoughtsideasandramblings.com/)
– Steve Sanders (http://steven-sanders.com)
– Heather Smith (http://socialspark.com/bloggers/heather-in-beautiful-bc)
– Julie Vazquez(http://juliesjournal.com)
2. Ted Murphy – I bet you were thinking that I would put Ted Murphy as my number one best reason to attend IZEAFest 2009 but you are wrong. Ted is an amazing guy but he is merely a catalyst for the most important part of IZEAFest 2009.
1. YOU – Yes having YOU at IZEAfest is pretty much the best thing about it. By being there you are saying that you love blogging about things and having fun. You want to learn and interact with an amazing group of people. You don’t have to be famous or have a huge blog, you just have to be you and have a willingness to have a great time. That is the best thing about IZEAFest 2009, you being there. So grab your Early Bird Ticket today and Save $50. Only 30 are left. The value you get for your money is the BEST value of all conferences around by far, it is the most inexpensive and gives you an up close and personal look at great blogging and bloggers.
OK, OK. I am going to register.
Ted Murphys last blog post..IZEA Insiders step-it-up!
Damn Skippy you’d better go register. I’m pretty much out of cake plow ideas, I think this year I’m going to have to do a stacked cake plow or something so it wraps my whole noggin in cake. 🙂
I don’t think I could’ve said it better myself. You truly called out all the values and benefits of actually attending the event. What’s more, is I can personally guarantee this year’s event is going to be 200% more awesomer (yes, I meant to say that).
Ashley K. Edwardss last blog post..IZEAFest ’08 Invites All Bloggers and Advertisers to Annual Social Media Conference
Ashley,
I stand behind your guarantee and am so excited for this event that I can barely contain it. Each year IZEAFest evolves into some thing bigger, better and more fun. The value for the money is incredible and I don’t just say that, you can compare what you get at IZEAFest vs anything else and IZEAFest wins hands down.
This is one ROCKIN’ cool post, Drew! And if I hadn’t already been wanting to go to IZEAFest so badly, I would definitely want to now! Great job!!
Lisa Marie Marys last blog post..CozmoTV Widget A Great Way To Spread Amy Poehler’s New Show
Thanks Lisa Marie Mary,
Glad you liked the post. and thanks for help on the typos, my wife would be so happy that someone finally pointed them out to me. I hope that you decide to go, it is such a fun weekend.
XShot will be there!
In Drew’s pocket of course…but will really be there with surprises!
See you there.
Yes, my favorite gadget ever will be hanging out with me all weekend. Will you step into BenSpark’s Photobooth? Will you? I hope so.
I am literally counting down the days until IZEAFest I am that excited and every day that goes by and more sponsors and speakers come on board, I get even MORE excited. By the time we”re getting close, I’ll barely be able to contain myself. IZEAFest ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carri Brights last blog post..IZEA Insiders step-it-up!
Carri,
Did you make a countdown chain like when people would countdown the last days till Christmas. I think an IZEAFest countdown chain is in order. I am loving all the speakers, and sponsors and info so far, it is amazing.
I think I was one of the first 10 people to sign-up! I only needed one reason: It’s IZEAFest! 🙂
Seriously, I can’t wait for this year’s event. I met some BenSpark/photo guy there, last year. 🙂
I will definitely have my XShot (and so should everyone else that’s going) along with a Flip and a bunch of other toys. 🙂
Great post, Drew!
Tim Joness last blog post..Best Super Bowl Commercials
Tim,
I seem to recall meeting you. Did we get an Xshot photo together? We really should have. Lets make a point to remedy that this year. Looking forward to seeing you in Florida at IZEAFest 2009!
Hey Drew, fabulous post!
I was going to mention hoping Blu Frog was taking part in IZEAFest too – haha.
And how cool that XShot will BE there – with surprises – I like the sound of that!!!
IZEA has the coolest ideas, swag, sponsors – and bloggers of course 🙂
Heather in Beautiful BCs last blog post..IZEAFest 2009 – You ‘Otter’ Be There!
Hey Heather,
I am really interested in trying that BluFrog. If I had some way to distribute it I would certainly love to pick up a case or two. Who knows. Having Xshot there is so cool. I hopefully will get to meet Michael from Xshot in person. That would so awesome, I’ve known him for the past few years and it is will be so cool to finally shake his hand and also to get a photo with our Xshots. I hope he’ll be there.
I’m so excited about the surprises.
I’m planning on going. I’ve been sucking up to Lisa for a ticket, lol … Still have to check out flights and stuff though.
It was SUCH A BLAST last year!!!!!! Looking at your pictures got me a little excited 🙂
Christines last blog post..January Top Entrecard Droppers (and link love!)
Christine,
I hope you can make it this year again and be on our team for scavenger hunt. I think we would have kicked total butt if our whole team got to stick together.
Great reasons to come! I have promised myself to be more social and less shy this year!
TripTheLadys last blog post..Kids, Life, and Growing Old
Deb,
You certainly should break out and be less shy. The connections that you make during IZEAFest are some amazing ones so the more you put out there the more comes back in return. 🙂
Morning, Drew!
Your response to my comment got me to thinking of an official IZEAFest countdown. But, a bit more 2.0 than a countdown chain. So, we have skitched up a photo that @IZEAFest tweeted this morning through TwitPic and (you should love this!), we’ll be sending out a new photo each day to help us all count down the days.
Thanks for that “spark” of inspiration! (I just can’t resist the pun 🙂
Carri Brights last blog post..FailBlog, you’re amazing.
I love you more than Spree
No…
Carri,
I love the daily countdown photo. I would love to submit a couple for you. It would be really cool if people who were going to IZEAFest submit you photos and you add the countdown number to the photo. IT would be a great way for the IZEA community to get involved.
I love sparking things in people’s imaginations.
Absolutely! Any photos can be sent to info[at]izeafest[dot]com we’ve got 235 more days to go (well, 223 actually since I made a dozen more this morning already — I love a new project!), so we could definitely use some photographic input.
Carri Brights last blog post..FailBlog, you’re amazing.
I love you more than Spree
No…
Carri,
I think I might be able to dig up a photo or two (thousand). 🙂
I’ll get the word out.
Fantastic! I already stole a few of yours tagged IZEAFest from Flickr, so you’ll be seeing a familiar face coming up over the next several days. 🙂
Carri,
You did. Let me know which ones so I don’t double up and send you the same ones. I’m going to make up some brand new ones too.
Hey Drew,
I hope that I will get the opportunity to be at IZEA Fest and to finally meet you in person!
Cheers,
Michael
Michael,
That would be fantastic!
It sounds like great fun, and I’m excited to be going. A little nervous to be moderating a panel, but everything will go smoothly I’m sure.
Julies last blog post..Mega Brands Kid Zone
Julie, it is going to be a fantastic weekend. I am so excited to be a part of it. You will be a wonderful moderator.
Rockin’ post Drew! I am even more pumped to go! I am super jealous of your modified Chachi badge too! Love it 🙂
Thanks Laurie,
This will be the best IZEAFest yet. I am very excited to be attending. I had some fun with photoshop and chachi.
surprisingly the first time running into izea. sounds very interesting. will be doing some more research…
love the contests.. has a good number of people submitted videos?
CCM,
1st time coming across IZEA, well you are in for a treat, there is so much to know about them. Watch this blog for more info.