Plus, I got to meet several of my customers. (Waving to you!)

I even hung out at the hotel gym with a customer who had
my undivided attention for the entire hour we exercised.
There will be NO sweaty-looking pictures of that, though! eek!
How'd that happen? Simple. She came up to me, told me that
she was a customer, and asked if I would have any time to chat
during the weekend. I said “Well, I've already got lunch plans,
but I'm going to the hotel gym after lunch. Want to meet me there?”
And, she said “Sure.” (Wow. Networking is so hard, right?)

If you're not attending live events yet – you are sooooo
missing out on money (and fun!). I get to meet customers,
find new affiliates, make deals, and build lasting relationships
at every event I've been to — even the bad ones. (Don't ask. lol!)

I know that it can be scary. I know it can be an expense.

But it is CRITICAL to growing your business quickly.

Each event I've gone to has directly increased my income
in some way. Either through the presentations, being able to
ask questions about things I was struggling with, or in meeting
people who ended up being friends (and promoting me).

My absolute favorite event to go to is the NAMS conference in Atlanta.

I've been to three of them and it's something I look forward to every six months.

Yes, even if you're a TOTAL beginner – you need to be there.

The next NAMS is coming up soon in Atlanta – and yes, I'll be there.
How to join me: Click here for Details

If you're a beginner, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions
and connect with others who you'll stay in contact with for years.

If you're at the intermediate level or feeling like you've
reached a plateau, you'll learn how to move past it.

And, if you're at an advanced level, you'll have the opportunity
to connect with all 25 instructors – who are all potential
JV partners for you.

It's a win, no matter where you are in your business.

Please come and meet me, Willie Crawford, Connie Green,
Susanne Myers, Paul Evans, Bob Jenkins,
Lynn Terry, and a slew of my other amazing friends.

• Bring your spouse.
• Bring your parents.
• Bring your favorite sibling.
• Bring your kids.

It's fun and learning for the whole family! (And, unlike some
events – it's clean so you don't have to worry about young
ears hearing things they shouldn't.)

Many people bring the people they love to NAMS. Not just once,
but every single time they go. I've brought my mom and my son. Bob Jenkins
brought his brother. Lynn Terry brought her daughter.

No excuses. Go to this page now – and make plans to attend. It can be a total game-changer for you.

Here's where you can learn more: Click here for Details

If you're coming to the NAMS conference, please let me know by commenting below so I can watch for you.

Have a fantastic day! You deserve it.

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

I've gotten pretty good at packing for conferences, and never have to check a bag when I fly, so here's my short list of what I pack.

Personal Items

All prescription medicines that you may need. (Be sure to bring allergy medicine if you take it as the allergens in Atlanta may be different from your local air.)

Any other medicine that you can't easily find at a gas station. (There is a small store in the hotel, and a gas station within walking distance, in case you need Ibuprofen or something, or you can always borrow from your travel buddies.)

Vitamins so you can keep up your energy.

Makeup and beauty supplies.

Tooth brush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash.

Q-tips, cotton balls, tweezers or anything else you require more often than every 5 days.

Deodorant. (Please.)

Clothing Items

Spare pair of pants (or two).

Enough shirts for one per day, plus a spare, in case of spillage.

Warm sweater/fleece/jacket or two to layer in the very cold classrooms.

Undies.

Socks.

Warm jammies.

Optional:

Spare pair of shoes if needed. I normally don't pack a second pair.

Belt (if you didn't wear one on the plane and need it).

Exercise clothes if you'll be using the gym.

Work Items

Laptop with all of your passwords loaded. Since this is a workshop event, I recommend you bring a full-size laptop that you can work on for an extended period of time. It's not the right time to run out and get a Netbook, if you've never used one before. (The screen and keyboard are both tiny, which may or may not be a frustration to you.)

Laptop charger.

Separate mouse if you prefer to use one.

GotoMyPC.com or another program if you need to access your home PC.

Extension cord will come in handy.

Cell phone – loaded with important numbers, including those who you travel with.

Cell charger.

Business Cards. Zazzle has really cool “skinny” & “chubby” sized cards.

Notebook (the kind made of paper) for taking notes. I prefer a three-subject notebook as I divide my notes into categories.

Pens.

Fun Items

Camera with charger.

Flip Mino with extra batteries.

Cords if you plan to load photos/video at the event.

What to Wear on the Plane if you Fly

Comfortable, nice-looking shoes.

Warm sweater (saves room in luggage).

What to Have Handy if you Fly

Passport or Drivers License.

Printout of e-Ticket.

Printout of hotel reservation, including address and phone number for finding the shuttle at the airport.

Other Important Items to Pack Whenever you Travel

Copies of your Health Insurance cards in case of emergency.

Emergency contact numbers in your purse. I also give these to my hotel roommate just in case.

Let me know what I missed and I'll add it.

Hope that helps!

Warmly,
Nicole

PS. See you at the NAMS Conference in Atlanta!

If you're new, you can catch up here:  Cross-blog conversation with Trish Lindemood.

In the opening discussion, I mentioned that Trish is a very talented writer and I was immediately impressed with her. Well, I continue to be impressed with her as I get to know her better. Her reply to my question was very much in line with my opinion – so she MUST be smart!

If you missed her second post in our cross blog conversation, here it is:  Cross Blog Conversation Continues

Here's my response to Trish's second set of questions:

Hi Trish,

Before I say anything else, I want you to know that I LOVE your response to my question about why you, a highly skilled copywriter, would support the use of PLR articles when it's looked down upon by so many others in your profession.

You made an excellent distinction between your own online business and the work that you do for clients.  Very nicely stated. And, yes, I certainly never would encourage a copywriter or ghostwriter to pass off PLR content as their own writing on a job for a client, ever.

In your response to me, you asked this:

I’ve been looking at your Blog World Tour program for a while now and am planning to buy it after the 90-Day Content Marketing Challenge concludes. In fact, I’m thinking about “packing my bags and heading out” on such a tour after NAMS 3 in January – but was wondering if this approach would work better for someone who already has an information product to promote?

As the creator of this very cool concept, do you feel  this plan would be beneficial to someone who doesn’t have their own info products to promote?

I've got a few thoughts that I'd like to share regarding your question.

First of all, Guest Blogging can be done by anyone in online business, at any time.

Becoming a Guest Expert on a related blog is ALWAYS a good thing to do. Anytime you can get your message in front of potential customers and get exposure and attention as an authority – do it. So, yes.

I know your business has a few different areas so I'll see if I can hit them all.

From what I've seen so far, you are a –

• Copywriter.
• SEO Expert.
• Affiliate Marketer.
• Blogger.
• Newsletter Publisher.

And, I'm sure I'm missing a few areas of your business.

Every single one of those areas can benefit from Guest Blogging, which is what the Blog Tour Guide is *really* about. Yes, having an affiliate program can give you an extra “in” with the blog owner, but just offering valuable content can also get you in the door with many very popular sites that are looking for regular columnists.

So, my answer is “YES” – find a few blogs and get the word out about your business. (Of course, my Blog Tour Guide will help!)

I'd like to ask you another question if that's ok.

I've been participating in a discussion about ethics on another site (which I'll post about in a few days) but one major takeaway for me is that it is not only my goal, but it's my duty to help Online Business Owners to invest their money wisely – especially now when money is tight for so many.

I know that you're a member of online at Lynn Terry’s Elite Mastermind Group. (Since I chat with you in there.)

And, you've mentioned that you'll be attending the NAMS Conference in Atlanta in January – which is awesome, too.

So, tell me. What made you choose to invest in those things? And, do you feel they've benefited you? In what ways?

Looking forward to your reply.

Warmly,
Nicole

PS. Be sure to check Trish's blog: Web Copy Results for her response.

Is it Thanksgiving? Nope.
Christmas? No.
The ShowMomtheMoney Cruise in January? Nah, but I am pretty psyched about that.
My 15th wedding anniversary coming up? Nope. Although I'd better plan something!

It's the NAMS Conference in Atlanta this January 2010. (It's held every six months, so if you're reading this after January 2010 – still check out the site for the next one!)

Geeky? Yeah. I know. But, I'm just FREAKING out about it! I love the NAMS Conference in August so much and this time around, I get to be on the faculty/list of speakers. Can you BELIEVE it?! Me, neither.

Anyway, you're even remotely interested in attending, I encourage you to check out the following:

NAMS Conference Review & My Personal Notes
My Review of the NAMS Workshop in August, including photos and a listing of what I loved and what I wasn't crazy about during the weekend event.

Official NAMS Sales Page and Speaker Lineup
The sales page which includes the list of speakers as well as the topics that we'll be covering. Now, this is a conference, meaning that you'll have opportunities to listen to us talk, but, more importantly, it's a workshop – where you get to DO the things that you're learning. Check out the NAMS Conference in Atlanta Schedule.

Free Interview with NAMS Creator David Perdew
I've also received permission to share this interview between Bob “the Teacher” Jenkins and Dr. David Perdew (the host and creator of the NAMS Conference) – Audio can be found at the end of this post.

Referenced in the Audio Below

NAMS: Here's the page to learn more – NAMS Atlanta (will open in a new window)

IMSuccessLibrary: Here's the page to learn more – IMSuccessLibrary (will open in a new window)

Here's where to sign up!

Go to this link: Learn More About NAMS .

Enjoy! And, please ask your questions below about the Atlanta NAMS Conference. If you have even the slightest interest in going, but are scared or have questions – I can absolutely relate and am happy to share my experience of hiding in my hotel room, trying to get the courage to go downstairs and join the fun.

Warmly,
Nicole Dean