Intro
Attending a major creator conference like VidSummit can be a significant investment. Between the ticket, travel, lodging, and other expenses, you could easily spend thousands of dollars just to attend.
But how do you make sure that investment actually pays off?
In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, host Elijah Bilel brings together a panel of creators to discuss how they approached VidSummit, what they gained from attending, and how other creators can maximize their own experience.
If you've been thinking about attending VidSummit 2027, this conversation can help you approach the event with a plan instead of simply showing up and hoping for the best.
Thinking about attending VidSummit 2027? Get your ticket here and start planning how you'll make the most of the experience.
Panelists
Elijah Bilel – Panel Host and Founder of The Side Hustler's Society
👉 Check out The Side Hustler's Society YouTube channel hereJoe’s Phenomenal
👉 Check out his YouTube channel hereGregory
👉 Check out his YouTube channel hereMicheal
👉 Check out his YouTube channel hereMetal For Breakfast
👉 Check out their YouTube channel hereRedRomina
👉 Check out her YouTube channel here
Episode Overview
In this panel discussion, the group explores what it actually means to get a return on investment from attending VidSummit.
Each panelist approaches the event differently. Some focus on generating business leads, others prioritize networking, brand partnerships, community building, or simply gaining the knowledge and motivation needed to grow their channels.
The discussion also covers how to prepare for a conference, why networking shouldn't stop when the event ends, how to negotiate better brand deals, and why creators should focus on serving their audiences instead of chasing views alone.
If you're planning to attend VidSummit 2027, this episode will give you several practical ideas to help make your investment worthwhile.
Listen to the Episode
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Quick Takeaways
Have a goal before attending. Decide whether you're looking for clients, brand deals, collaborations, knowledge, or new business opportunities.
Be intentional about networking. Reach out to people before the conference and make an effort to attend events where you can meet other creators.
Follow up after the conference. Building relationships between annual events can create more value than simply exchanging contact information.
Learn how to negotiate brand deals. Don't automatically accept the first offer a brand gives you. Understand your value and negotiate opportunities that can become long-term partnerships.
Know your audience. Understanding who you're creating content for makes it easier to develop videos that attract the right viewers and customers.
Don't let views define your success. Smaller audiences can still generate meaningful business opportunities when your content serves the right people.
How to Calculate Your VidSummit ROI
One of the biggest takeaways from this discussion is that there isn't one universal definition of a successful VidSummit experience.
For some creators, the return comes from landing a brand deal. For others, it might be finding new clients, generating leads, making valuable connections, or learning something that helps grow their business.
RedRomina and her team approached the event with a specific goal: bringing more creators into Create IRL and getting people involved in their events. They were able to generate hundreds of new members and host approximately 12 events during the conference week.
Other creators focused on different opportunities. One panelist discussed generating nearly 40 business leads by intentionally attending networking opportunities and making connections.
The important lesson is to determine what a successful conference looks like for you before you arrive. When you have a clear objective, it's easier to recognize opportunities and measure whether the investment was worthwhile.
Networking Doesn't Stop When VidSummit Ends
One of the challenges of attending a conference is maintaining the relationships you build once everyone goes home.
Gregory discussed how he wanted to change his approach this year by creating more opportunities to stay connected with the people he met. That led to the creation of a creator implementation club where attendees could continue sharing resources, discussing business strategies, and holding each other accountable.
RedRomina also discussed how Create IRL helps creators connect throughout the year instead of waiting for the next VidSummit.
Micheal took a different approach. By intentionally attending networking opportunities and looking for ways to connect with other creators, he generated nearly 40 business leads for hist new business launchProd.
The important lesson is to determine what a successful conference looks like for you before you arrive. When you have a clear objective, it's easier to recognize opportunities and measure whether the investment was worthwhile.
This is an important lesson for anyone attending a conference: exchanging contact information is only the beginning. The real value comes from continuing those relationships and finding ways to collaborate, support one another, and create opportunities together.
Ready to experience VidSummit for yourself? Don't wait until the last minute to start planning. Get your VidSummit 2027 ticket here.
Learn How to Negotiate Better Brand Deals
Brand sponsorships can be a major source of income for content creators, but knowing how to negotiate is an important part of maximizing those opportunities.
Joe discussed how brands may initially approach creators without offering payment. It's up to the creator to understand their value, communicate that value, and negotiate appropriate compensation.
The panel also discussed the importance of thinking beyond a single sponsored video. Instead of treating every opportunity as a one-time transaction, creators can look for ways to build longer-term relationships with brands.
The book The Sponsor Magnet was also mentioned during the conversation as a resource for learning how to approach sponsorships and negotiate better deals.
The bigger lesson is that creators shouldn't assume the first offer is the best offer. Learning how to communicate with brands and negotiate effectively can have a significant impact on their earning potential.
Stop Chasing Views and Start Serving Your Audience
Another major discussion centered on the pressure creators face to constantly generate more views and go viral.
Metal For Breakfast discussed how watching Jordan Matter present at VidSummit gave him a new appreciation for audience retention and the amount of thought that goes into keeping viewers engaged.
RedRomina shared an interesting approach to experimenting with content: testing new ideas through YouTube Shorts before investing the time and resources required to produce long-form videos.
Gregory emphasized the importance of understanding your ideal audience. Without knowing who you're trying to reach, you could spend a lot of time creating content that attracts the wrong people.
Elijah also shared his own experience with this. After producing a 10-part VidSummit series, he realized that even though the videos received relatively low views compared to his usual content, they had a significant impact on the people who watched them.
Those viewers were engaging with the content, attending VidSummit because of the information, and eventually supporting his business through consultations, affiliate marketing, and products.
The lesson is that views aren't the only measurement of success. Sometimes a smaller audience that genuinely values your content can create more meaningful business opportunities.
Want to be part of the next VidSummit? Grab your VidSummit 2027 ticket here.
Who This Episode Is For
This episode is especially useful for:
Creators considering VidSummit: Learn how to approach the event with a plan and make your ticket investment worthwhile.
Content creators looking for brand deals: Discover why negotiation skills and long-term brand relationships matter.
YouTubers struggling with networking: Learn how to approach other creators and build relationships that continue beyond conferences.
Creators looking to diversify their income: Explore opportunities beyond traditional advertising revenue.
Entrepreneurs building a personal brand: Understand how to turn content, networking, and community into business opportunities.
Creators feeling discouraged by views: Learn why serving the right audience can be more valuable than chasing viral content.
Key Topics Covered
How to calculate the return on investment of attending VidSummit
Setting goals before attending a creator conference
Networking and generating business leads
How Create IRL used VidSummit to grow its creator community
Building relationships that last beyond the conference
The importance of brand sponsorship negotiations
How to approach content experiments using YouTube Shorts
Understanding your ideal audience and customer avatar
Managing the mental challenges of being a content creator
Why quality of views can matter more than quantity
Creating revenue opportunities beyond YouTube advertising