Last month I had the opportunity to attend the Southern C Summit at Sea Island Resort! The Summit is always a highlight of my year and 2019 actually marks my 4th year as an attendee! After each Summit, I carve out some time to go through all of my notes and contacts to create a to-do list. From my notes, sessions and conversations, I outline my top three takeaways. I use this as a guide for the upcoming year to help keep me on track and meet my short-term goals. I thought that it might be useful for you, too, so I’m sharing them below.

About The Summit.

The Southern C Summit is an entrepreneurial based three-day conference founded by Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long. It brings professionals in the creative and business industries together for networking opportunities, mentor groups and educational sessions. Attendees range from artists to magazine editors and interior designers to retail owners. This is the third year that The Summit has been held at Sea Island, Georgia which provides the the perfect backdrop (and it’s the perfect excuse to visit my old stomping grounds)! Presenters this year included a long list of talented entrepreneurs such as Julia Engel and Thomas Berolzheimer from Gal Meets Glam, Betsy Cribb from Southern Living, Brooke Bell and Brian Hoffman from Hoffman Media, Elizabeth Mayhew and Lydia Mansel from Draper James, Darcy Miller a party planner enthusiast, Ellen McGauley from Veranda Magazine and so many more. It was a great line-up and I’ve learned a lot of information that will help Lavin Label grow.

Not only is The Summit a perfect way to network and jump-start your business but every event is Instagram-worthy! Just check out a few of the pictures below from the mentor lunch at Sea Island’s Beach Club, the Boho Bash at The Greenhouse, Sip, Shop and Socialize and more.

To get a visual glimpse of the Summit, I’d also recommend exploring the hashtag #tscsummit on Instagram.

Summit Takeaways.

I was really impressed with the quality of the presenters and information relayed this year. I left feeling inspired and ready to tackle my goals for 2019. Here are my top three takeaways:

ONE. Be Authentic. Everyone is craving authenticity. A picture-perfect Instagram feed might become a thing of the past. What do you think? I’m always torn because I want to appeal to potential brands for partnerships (hence the professional photography) but I also want to post in real time with my iPhone when I’m feeling highly inspired. Keeping up a ‘perfect’ feed can be daunting especially when you don’t have a large team to help. The topic of authenticity kept coming up in intimate and on-stage conversations so I know that folks are craving a real, unedited content.

My Goal. This year I’m going to include more real-time pictures in my feed and care less about creating the perfect shot. What do you think about this? What do you want to see?

TWO. Incorporate Video. Video is a great way to engage and connect with your audience. It’s also proven that viewers retain more information from a video than an image. Don’t worry about investing in a professional videographer. Just pick up your phone and create more Instagram Stories, IGTV, YouTube videos, etc. Just start creating video content! Don’t overthink it.

My Goal. My house renovation is the perfect excuse to start using IGTV. Many of you expressed that you love following along with the house reno (thank you!), so I’m going to showcase it in various mediums. First up, a house tour on IGTV. I hope to do this in the next couple of weeks — so stay tuned. I’d love your feedback!

THREE. Invest in a Market Survey. Before launching a product or service, gather results via a market survey. This might seem pretty obvious but I’ve actually never met anyone who conducted a market survey before they started selling merchandise. What better way to find out information such as pricing, style, competitors, etc. There are a few companies that offer this service (just do a quick Google search) or poll your existing readers/subscribers. If you have a creative mind like me then you’re constantly thinking of new products, ideas and services. A market survey would be a great way to narrow the focus.

My Goal. I’m currently working on a business plan to expand Lavin Label and I’m definitely adding this as a task and a budget item. It’s so important to listen to your audience and ensure that your service or product is truly filling a void in the marketplace. Looking for a place to start? Try PeopleFish.

Next Year’s Summit.

If you want to attend next year’s Summit, I’d encourage you to follow The Southern C on Instagram and sign up for their newsletter so that you don’t miss the sign-up announcement. They sell out very quickly so keep an eye out when tickets go on sale. Typically, The Summit is held every February and Sea Island Resort is graciously hosting the retreat next year. Do you plan to attend?

Featured Image: Tamara Gibson Photography