If you’re in the Raleigh, NC area (or even if you aren’t), I really encourage you to come check out WordCamp Raleigh on May 22nd and 23rd, 2010.

WordCamps are conferences for WordPress users, bloggers, and social media enthusiasts of all skill levels and backgrounds.

I’ll be talking on what I like to call “breaking the trust barrier” – basically, getting past first impressions and establishing yourself as a reliable source in social media, both personally and professionally. Here’s the little blurb from the Raleigh team’s post:

Dave has worked in tech and media since age twelve and experienced firsthand the stigma that comes along with being the “kid with a blog”.

Just like nearly all bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, and even twitterers, he started at square one: from scratch with no audience. Moving beyond square one and connecting with an audience takes time, effort, and careful control, especially when your age is considered a detractor.

Many of the barriers Dave has overcome and the experiences he had whilst growing and establishing both a personal and corporate identity in social media are universal, and can be applied to any individual or group.

This session is designed to share the lessons learned through Dave’s own experiences, and explain crucial points in breaking past notions of unreliability to establish one’s personal and professional presence as something that an audience can trust in, depend on, and turn to.

I’ll also be popping in on the SitePoint podcast’s live recording, vlogging for YouTube, as always, and running around and interviewing folks for WordCast.

If you’ve never been to a WordCamp before, they’re my favorite for a reason. (See myTop 8 Reasons Why WordPress Users Need to Get to a WordCamp.) If you’re interested in WordPress, blogging or any kind of emerging social media, they’re the place to go. It’ll be lots of fun, so if you can make it, come say hi!