IzeaFest is next week. On the day of the Howl O’Scream, I’ll be on the blogger’s panel of Blog Marketing Demystified held by doterati. This is the Blogging Meets Marketing event on October 1st in Orlando, Florida.

There is often a disconnect between bloggers and marketers. As a blogger I am often sent stock emails asking me to write blog posts without any form of compensation. I am sometimes at a loss at how to contact marketers for which I would make a very good sponsor. Some marketers aren’t aware of the wealth of blogging as an advertising campaign.

This event will bring bloggers and marketers together to begin conversations, increase the learning curve and bridge the gap. I along with Lisa Martin from MyThoughtsIdeasandRamblings.com and Steven Sanders from Steven Sanders.com will form the Bloggers panel. The marketers behind Massey Communications will be the Marketing panel. I suggest that those of you who are in the Orlando area, especially those of you there for IzeaFest attend.

When:

• Thursday, October 1st

Panel Discussion

• 1pm-4pm

Cocktails and Networking

• 4pm – 5:30pm

Attendees receive one free drink ticket for cocktail hour following panel discussion.

IZEAFest attendees headed to Howl O’Scream, will board bus at 6 pm.

Where:

• Renaissance Orlando Hotel at Sea World
  6677 Sea Harbor Drive
  Orlando, FL 32821

Who Should Attend:

• Bloggers (Beginner to Advanced)

• Marketers, Communications, and Agency Professionals

Cost:

• $29 for Doterati Members, IZEAFest Ticket Holders, Orlando Ad Fed Members & AMA Members

• $39 for Non-Members

doterati Membership Discount:

• Receive up to $50 off your doterati membership. Join doterati for just $100 with your admission to this event.

Purchase Tickets:

• From Eventbrite

Consignment sales are in high demand due to hard economic times. Just Between Friends of North Tampa is not your ordinary consignment shop. It is a indoor yard sale with only gently used or new children’s and maternity items held just twice a year. A franchise owned by sisters-in-law Christina Ruhling and Holly Ruhling, this 3 day event is huge

JFB North Tampa is a highly anticipated event. Besides the public sales dates there is a pre-sale event only open to first-time moms, military families and volunteers. No children are allowed at pre-sales since it is so busy.

How much money can you save at a JFB North Tampa Sale? There’s no guarantees of course, but prices are set to sell. According to the following segment from My Fox Tampa Bay, a woman saved about $100 on her shopping spree. All items are checked thoroughly by hand. No stains, no recalled items, no damaged items are allowed. (Please note this video’s dates and times are from last year.)

You can also earn money through Just For Friends North Tampa as a seller for their consignment sales. Sellers earn 65% and volunteers earn 70%. If you refer a friend you earn an extra 5% on your sales.*My Consignor Number is 856* Here’s what you need to do to sell your items:

1. Chose only your best items and be picky. Consider if others would purchase before you decide to sell.
2. Clean and iron all clothing.
3. All clothing must be on hangars and zipped or buttoned up.
4. Check if toys or other items are on the CPCC recall list.
5. Clean all toys, baby items, car seats, etc. thoroughly.
6. Package toys with small parts in plastic bags.

For more detailed information on preparing your merchandise visit the JBF North Tampa How To Get More Cash For Your Item page. You also will need to price and tag your items at home. All instructions are provided and you can even purchase a tagging gun for $20 to make the process easier.

The charity portion of the Just Between Friends consignment sales are what really makes this an event you can feel good about participating in. When you tag your  items, be sure to check the charity button so that any unsold items are donated. For the upcoming sale, The Spring in Tampa is the designated non-profit.

The Fall Sales Event will be held
October 29-October 31, 2009
at the
Tampa Bay Baptist Conference Center
15601 Lake Magdalene Boulevard
Tampa, Florida  33613

Consignment sales like Just Between Friends offer a unique way to save and earn money without the hassle of running your own yard sale. There are franchise opportunities available also.

SeaWorld Orlando is offering some sweet savings right now on tickets. For Florida residents, when you purchase a ticket to SeaWorld you get the choice of a free ticket to Aquatica or Busch Gardens too.

Aquatica is a part of SeaWorld that features all types of water rides. There’s slides, wading pools and fun for toddlers and adults. Busch Gardens is in Tampa and has everything from rollercoasters to animal exhibits. These exhibits feature African species like giraffes and tigers.

SeaWorld is one of the hottest attractions in central Florida and is close to Orlando, and in driving distance of major Florida cities such as Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, Sarasota, Daytona Beach, Naples and Fort Lauderdale.

Just recently, a new and amazing ride, Manta opened at Sea World. Because of this attraction alone, people want to visit SeaWorld again or for the first time. Manta is a rollercoaster that has people talking, has hit the media and even has a following on Twitter via @Shamu. There are animal exhibits that are so exciting too. I love the Manatee Rescue, the Penguin Encounter and Dolphin Cove.

SeaWorld Orlando is offering special ticket offers to Florida residents that is unique from other theme parks here. This is one way to have a great time this summer and save money too.

The Manta is a new ride at SeaWorld Orlando. It is amazing (if you’re into flying upside down, screaming your lungs out, getting splashed by water and feeling your head is exploding (in a good way).

To get the buzz going even more on their new attraction, SeaWorld is running a contest to win one Front-Of-The-Line Pass. Here’s what you have to do to enter:

1. Register or log-in to your RideTheFlyingRay.com account
2. Use your existing Twitter account or sign up for a free account here
3. Follow @RealShamu on Twitter for insider tips on the quiz
4. Find answers for the Manta quiz throughout this site
5. Correctly answer 5 Manta questions – but be careful! You only get three chances.
6. Upon successful completion, you will receive an email from RideTheFlyingRay

If you complete just two of the six steps, you’ll get a free electronic photo of you while riding the Manta. Oh please post it when you win! And if you complete all six, you get to go to the front of the line, no waiting, to ride Manta. Will you chicken out or will you ride? I’m leaning toward taking the chicken walk, but I’m boring. Take a look at this video to get a view of what it’s like: