One of my favorite things about being a blogger is connecting with other bloggers. While social media indeed gives opportunities for connection beyond blogging, the real connections happen in person. I’ve been attending blog conferences since 2009, and the conference where I feel most at home is Type-A Conference.

Beyond BlogHer, which is definitely the most attended blog conference for women, most conferences have a large following regionally. I had never heard of Type-A Conference until early 2011 when my friend Gregory Ng announced on Twitter that he was speaking about videoblogging. For a while, I had a food review blog and I connected with Greg through his frozen food review site FreezerBurns. Not only was I intrigued to find out more tips about vlogging from one of the best, I was also looking for another conference to attend that summer. Earlybird tickets were still available, and I signed up to attend the 2011 Type-A Conference in Asheville, NC.

I loved the tagline for Type-A Conference: Engage, educate, empower, evolve. I knew is was more relevant for me than conference that were for people that are just starting out with blogging (since I started blogging in 2002, I don’t need the basics), and the conference topics were right up my alley. I made plans to room with Kelly (aka @childhood)  who I knew from other conferences, and Jenna (aka @frelle) who became a new friend.

The first year was a little awkward because I knew so few people. I recognized a lot of faces from BlogHer and Bloggy Boot Camps, but I had to go out of my shell to get to know people. And you know what? The people I met at Type-A were SO nice! Greg, who tipped me off the Type-A, was just as wonderful in person as he is in all of his videos (and I learned a ton about videoblogging in his session). I met Kesha, who had a vibrant smile and personality I couldn’t resist (she ended up being my roommate for BlogHer last year. I met Robyn, who I had followed online for years, and we became fast friends. Robyn and I roomed with each other at Type-A in 2012 (and I will room with again this year), but we’ve found a world of things in common and she’s become one of my favorite people in the world (seriously!). I met Nicole, who not only has an awesome name, but she forever has influenced the way I say niche (“It’s niche like quiche, not nitch like b*tch!”)

Type-A was held in Charlotte in 2012, and not only did I get to explore another city, I made a GAGGLE of new friends (I love the word gaggle – it makes me giggle).

It’s one thing to say “I have a zillion friends on the interwebz!” but, you know they’re your friends when they’ll help you out on a second’s notice. I could namedrop until kingdom come with the wonderful ladies and gents I met in Charlotte, but the people who have really become very dear friends are Andrea, Jacqueline, and Anne. Whenever I need a favor online, these ladies are always eager to help, and I’m eager to do the same for them.

2013 will be an exciting year for the Type-A Conference franchise. Not only will the main Type-A Parent Conference be held in a new city (Atlanta), there are two advanced sessions as well. I’m attending the profit-focused session in Philadelphia in April, and I’ll be speaking about SEO on an expert panel session. In October, Type-A Advanced will be held in New Orleans, and the conference will be focused on visual images.

You will likely hear me talking a lot about Type-A Conference this year because I have been selected as an Official Type-A Parent Conference Partner. I believe in Kelby and the amazing things she has been able to create through Type-A Parent, and I would love others to benefit from the experiences available through Type-A. The conference has a well-established reputation for outstanding learning with actionable takeaways. It features power networking with the best and brightest parents who blog, plus the major brands and firms who want to engage them. Type-A is where influential digital parents grow their business and connect.

If you’re interested in attending, I have a special discount code available for 25% off registration for Type-A Atlanta (for a limited time).

A lot of ladies in Utah have been sad that the EVO conference was discontinued, and I can assure you that Type-A is as high-caliber an event at Type-A – there’s a different feel, but the education and network is just as amazing.

And keep your eyes peeled…I will be doing a giveaway for a full conference ticket to Type-A in April!