Review of Traverse Blogging Conference
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](http://www.traverse-events.com)When I first spoke to Michael Ball and Paul Dow about the possibility of a new UK-based blogger conference, I had some strong opinions and high expectations. There are a number conferences now aimed and travel bloggers but nothing UK-based, all requiring the increasingly large number of British bloggers to pay a lot just to get to an event. Often the events don't quite deliver what is really needed by the delegates either. So there was a clear gap in the market for Michael and Paul's Traverse conference to fill. It just had to do something new.
The guys listened to my opinions and those of other bloggers and set about organising their event, inviting me to run a workshop on Wordpress too and help out on the 'ProBar' service. As the weeks and days drew closer I pondered whether my expectations were too high, whether this conference could really offer the return on investment the attendees really deserve.
The big day
Finally the day arrived and both I and 160 other bloggers, PR and travel industry delegates arrived at the Clarendon Centre in sunny Brighton on the south coast of England. The venue space was abuzz with enthusiastic conversations right from the get go. A smattering of sponsor stalls that entertained, fed and even massaged those that ventured over. Traverse had the atmosphere of something new and exciting, something well presented and logically organised. The opening speech by Michael was short and concise, the workshops began and ProBar sessions were booked. There was a definite feeling of something fresh and alternative.
I really enjoyed the challenge of the ProBar, ready to answer any question delegates put to me on the subject of using Wordpress to run your blog. While maybe the location of the bar could be improved the concept is brilliant and something I hope they do again next year. Being able to book in a chat and challenge industry experts is definitely a service that adds a lot to a conference.
Lunchtime at conferences usually consists of sandwiches, tea, crisps if you're lucky. Not so at Traverse! Lunch was a huge Thai food buffet that I have to admit was the nicest Thai food I've had since living in Thailand in 2012! It surprised everyone at the event and was free too. We had the pleasure of a surprise dinner at the end of the conference too with more tasty Thai food on offer.
Running a workshop
My workshop 'The business of blogging with Wordpress' started after lunch and was both a challenge and a pleasure to do. After a quick presentation we split the room in to two groups and helped them to analyse their business ideas and technical skills. Helping them produce a more organised approach to building their Wordpress site and enhancing their business strategy. I got some great feedback and with the help of my friends Chris and Hannah Alford from LovePlayWork.com we definitely felt it was a great success. You can see the slides and all the handout notes we gave here.
With so many workshops to choose from there was a great variety of what you could get out of the Traverse conference and I think this is where the event really excelled. A well thought out approach to giving the paying public what they wanted.
It's the little things...
The real icing on the cake for Traverse was the little things that glued it all together. From the first event on Friday right through to the breakfast on Sunday morning. So much was free, drinks, great food and evening entertainment. Not only that but there were a number of unique quirks that became big talking points, sure to live long in the memory of those that attended.
The final Q&A session raised some interesting issues and points of view. It also became a lot of fun thanks to a frankly civilisation-defining moment in modern history! We were all given a wine or beer on entering the main hall. Once introduced to the panel we were told that to get another drink we just needed to tweet the request with the conference hashtags #traversebeer or #traversewine. The next 90 minutes was both enlightening and entertaining as everyone's drinks orders were broadcast to the rest of the room and bemused outside world. Pure genius!
The evening party was an epic occasion with a fantastic turnout and some seriously sore heads in the morning. Free drinks all evening and some great characters made for a memorable night. The free full-English breakfast the following day was much-needed and another happy surprise too.
Conclusion
Traverse 2013 exceeded my expectations and judging my the conversions offline and reviews online, this sentiment was shared by everyone that attended. They focussed on exactly what a conference should be, engaging, enlightening to all skill levels, easy to get to, variety and depth of content, surprises a long the way and above all FUN. It ticked all those boxes and set a very high benchmark not only for itself but for other blogging conferences around the world.
A big thank to Paul and Michael for organising such a great conference. Thank you to those who attended my workshop and those I spoke to during the weekend. I will undoubtably see you at Traverse 14!
To find out more check out www.traverse-events.com and follow @traverseEvents on twitter.
