In 2018, I attended my very first FinCon when the event was hosted in Orlando, Florida. The following year, I had an even better time staying on-site in Washington D.C. and left the conference excited to attend again in 2020…
Okay, as you can probably imagine, that didn’t happen. Moreover, for one reason or another, I also haven’t had a chance to attend any of the other in-person events since. Well, that dry spell is now coming to an end as I’ll be headed to Atlanta for the 2024 edition.
There are several reasons why I’m excited about this grand return. For one, it will mark the first time I’ve been in Atlanta outside of 1) visiting the airport dozens of times and 2) hanging out at my friend’s house in the suburbs. As for the conference itself, I’m really hoping to come away with some new ideas and, frankly, some more motivation at a time when being a blogger has come with numerous challenges (namely Google).
So, as I look ahead to my trip to Atlanta for FinCon 2024, I wanted to highlight some specific sessions that I’m most excited to check out (in order of their scheduled timeslot).
My Most Anticipated Sessions for FinCon 2024
How I Use Multiple AI Platforms to Turbocharge My Content (Without Cheating On My Homework)
There was never a doubt that a FinCon panel in 2024 would need to address AI, right? Not only has artificial intelligence been a major topic as it relates to blogging and search results but has also been a societal debate in general. That’s why I’m extremely interested in hearing Eric’s take and how he’s leveraging it as a tool rather than as a replacement.
Content Not Clickbait
Ironically, it’s the title of this one alone that got me. While I can certainly understand the temptation publishers have to produce clickbait (a term that, I admit, is unfairly applied in some cases as well), I absolutely despise this type of “content.” In fact, I have worked extremely hard to ensure that the publications I work with don’t participate in such nonsense. As I step down from my soapbox, I’ll just say that I’m excited to learn from presumably like-minded people.
YouTube Monetization Masterclass: How to Turn YouTube into Your Profit Engine
At past FinCons, I’ve found myself mostly sticking to the Video track as YouTube has been a priority (note: the conference has changed things up quite a bit, with this session being part of the “Profit” track). And while that remains true, as you can see from the rest of this list, my schedule has a bit more diversity this time around. Still, I can’t resist hearing from Roberto Blake — someone who is a true influencer in the world of creators. For as much as I already know about YouTube and monetization, I have no doubt that I’ll take something new and actionable away from this session just because Blake is at the helm.
Blogging in 2024: The Power of Diversifying Your Income Streams, and Operating Like a Media Company
As I’ve alluded to, algorithmic changes and the threat of AI mean that it’s been pretty dark days for some bloggers and publishers. Those topics and several others are set to be addressed in this session, which is why I’m really interested in attending. After all, while I already have a few revenue streams out there (see: my YouTube comments above), there’s always room to grow.
Creating Memorable Content: Tips for Staying Top-of-Mind
In the years that I’ve been writing, I feel as though I’ve put out good content — admittedly, some of it better than others, but I remain proud of a large percentage of it. Despite that, there are times when I can’t help but feel as though my work isn’t hitting as well with an audience as I had hoped it would. Therefore, the concept of this session really spoke to me.
From Data to Dollars: Crafting Compelling Personal Finance Stories
Going hand in hand with the previous session on this list, this one on creating compelling content out of data already has me spinning my wheels. Granted, when it comes to my writing, I’ve largely been more about my personal experience with money than the data behind financial trends — but perhaps this session could help me to marry the two and (hopefully) craft better content in the process.
Decoding The Algorithm: How To Scientifically Go Viral
Again with those damn algorithms. Loathe them though we might, they are undoubtedly in charge these days. I should note that it seems that this particular session is more geared toward social media, but I’m sure it will be fascinating nonetheless. Not to mention that, honestly, I should probably be better about my social media efforts anyway, so it’s a win-win.
How To Produce High-Quality Video Content Consistently
There’s a keyword here that popped out to me: “consistently.” Even if I don’t have the best production value, I do take pride in my YouTube reviews and other videos. Unfortunately, it’s that consistency part that always seems to get me. And, while I don’t expect that attending this session will suddenly cure what ails my video creation productivity, I’m sure to take away some tips for streamlining my process.
Affiliates, Advertising and Abusive Practices: Understanding CFPB’s Circular 2024-01 on Financial Product Advertising
As a personal finance writer, the past few months have given me a few scares. Easily the largest example involves the collapse of Synapse — which, more notably, led a few FinTech apps (some of which I’d reviewed) to essentially freeze up and leave customers without a way to access their money. What worried me about this more than the idea of potentially losing some of my own money on the platform was the thought that I might have inadvertently led someone else astray. To be clear, that specific situation doesn’t have much to do with the CFPB standards that will be discussed in this session, but I do absolutely want to better understand the guidelines so that I can help ensure that I’m always working in the best interest of my audience.
With FinCon 2024 now less than a week away, I’m truly looking forward to returning to the conference for the first time in five years (!). Actually, taking a closer look at the schedule while writing this article only served to excite me even more. Of course, in between these sessions, I’m also anxious to see if any of the friends I’ve made at past events or since manage to make it out to Atlanta. On that note, if you see me out and about next week, be sure to say “hi!”