Today I got to take part in business workshop in downtown Vancouver for just $25.00. The location and price are only noteworthy because I sat in a cozy boardroom five minutes from my house in Terrace, BC, taking part via video conference. Normally conferences, workshops, and seminars cost me hundreds of dollars in time and travel.
I love how technology opens up the world, creates great opportunities for professional development and education, and helps forge connections with others who do what you do. I’ve never minded working alone, which is a good thing considering my occupation, but at the same time, sometimes you just really want to hear people pontificate on the things you’re passionate about, vent about the issues that drive you crazy, and laugh at inside jokes that usually fall short because you’re the only one at the party who’s inside that particular field.
So yes, WRITING FOR THE WEB (focusing on the do’s and don’ts of effective webcopy) with Rick Sloboda from Web Copy Plus was great. Small Business BC is doing a real service in bringing high quality workshops to people across the province. If you’re off in the boonies somewhere (or even in the lower mainland), you should check them out online and see what they’re offering via video conference in your area.
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Thanks for your post. It’s great to hear from attendees at our endpoints (locations we video conference to) because we are working very hard to make the experience genuine, interesting, and valuable. We also agree that Rick Sloboda is great!
Keep on loving technology… we do!
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That’s a very reasonable fee for a course for web writing or any kind of writing for that matter, especially if it was as “great” as you say it was. Perhaps it’s a typo :).
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Andy – >>>Keep on loving technology – we do!<<< But of course. What’s not to love!? 😉
Richard – No typo, but I did round up. The two hour class was $23.63 with tax. Total bargain.
Great is a relative term… If you have tonnes of experience writing webcopy, I still think the workshop would be a valuable refresher, but perhaps it wouldn’t offer any unheard of bolts of brilliance.
For business writers moving toward a niche in webcopy, for people who want to write their own content, but don’t want it to sound like they did, and for anyone trying to make sure their website gets noticed by search engines, I think Rick had a lot of valuable information.
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Now that’s a cheap (and valuable) trip to Vancouver. 🙂
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Technology has come so far the last few years in allowing people far away from each other to interact.
If you don’t understand or disagree with someone, you might yell at a TV or thump on a book with your fist in frustration, but it doesn’t do any good. When you actually get the opportunity to ask a question, get a point clarified, even organize a subversive side group, then communication and teaching are brought to a new level.
I like the idea of video conferences that are priced at a point where it would be ridiculous to not attend.
By the way, if you thinks it’s tough getting to downtown Vancouver from Terrace, you should try it from Surrey..!
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