{"id":2159,"date":"2007-03-13T13:24:29","date_gmt":"2007-03-13T07:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/03\/need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T14:55:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T09:25:10","slug":"need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/03\/need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"Elite Retreat Free Entry Pass: The 2007 Contest and Cheaper Ways In"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <strong>Elite Retreat<\/strong> was a small, premium internet marketing and blogging event where attendees spent a couple of days with well-known bloggers and marketers. In March 2007 one lucky reader could win a free entry pass. This post keeps that story and shares practical ways to get into blogging and marketing events for free or for less today.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-67338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/elite-retreat-2026-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"Elite Retreat free entry pass guide card\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/elite-retreat-2026-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/elite-retreat-2026-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/elite-retreat-2026-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/elite-retreat-2026-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/elite-retreat-2026.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> The Elite Retreat was a high-priced, small-group event for bloggers and online business owners, with a $4,950 pass in 2007. ProBlogger ran a contest for one free ticket, which closed on 14 March 2007. Today the cheapest routes into similar events are volunteering, scholarships, contests, speaking, or low-cost community events such as WordCamps.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aee60d5f3f10\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aee60d5f3f10\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/03\/need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat\/#The_Elite_Retreat_free_ticket_contest_2007\" >The Elite Retreat free ticket contest (2007)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/03\/need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat\/#Why_the_Elite_Retreat_format_stood_out\" >Why the Elite Retreat format stood out<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/03\/need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat\/#How_to_get_a_free_or_cheaper_conference_pass_today\" >How to get a free or cheaper conference pass today<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/03\/need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat\/#Is_the_Elite_Retreat_still_running\" >Is the Elite Retreat still running?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/03\/need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/03\/need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat\/#What_was_the_Elite_Retreat\" >What was the Elite Retreat?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/03\/need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat\/#How_much_did_the_Elite_Retreat_cost\" >How much did the Elite Retreat cost?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/03\/need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat\/#Who_won_the_free_Elite_Retreat_ticket\" >Who won the free Elite Retreat ticket?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/03\/need-a-free-entry-pass-to-elite-retreat\/#How_can_I_attend_a_blogging_conference_for_free\" >How can I attend a blogging conference for free?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Elite_Retreat_free_ticket_contest_2007\"><\/span>The Elite Retreat free ticket contest (2007)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Elite Retreat was back on March 19-20, 2007 in San Francisco, California, promising to take your business to another level by helping you optimise your business structure. If you could not afford the premium fee of $4,950, you could try to win a free entry pass.<\/p>\n<p>Darren Rowse announced the <a href=\"https:\/\/problogger.com\/free-elite-retreat-ticket-for-one-lucky-winner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free Elite Retreat ticket offer<\/a> on ProBlogger. To enter, you had to email your contact details and your answer to one question: <strong>why should a legitimate business need to worry about branding?<\/strong> Entrants also had to be ready to book flights and hotels straight away, since the event was less than a week off.<\/p>\n<p>The deadline was 14 March 2007 at 12:00pm CST. The prize meant time with a strong line-up of speakers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jeremy &#8220;Shoemoney&#8221; Schoemaker<\/li>\n<li>Guy Kawasaki<\/li>\n<li>Kris Jones<\/li>\n<li>Lee Dodd<\/li>\n<li>Aaron Wall<\/li>\n<li>Neil Patel<\/li>\n<li>Darren Rowse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Update:<\/strong> Wendy from Emoms at Home won the free ticket.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_the_Elite_Retreat_format_stood_out\"><\/span>Why the Elite Retreat format stood out<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Most conferences put hundreds of people in a hall to watch talks. The Elite Retreat sold the opposite: a small group, direct access to experts, and time to discuss your own projects. That is why it cost so much. The same idea lives on today in mastermind groups, paid coaching cohorts and small-group workshops. Many of those 2007 speakers, like Neil Patel and Darren Rowse, still teach online marketing and blogging through their own sites.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_get_a_free_or_cheaper_conference_pass_today\"><\/span>How to get a free or cheaper conference pass today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Premium events still charge high fees, but there are honest ways to attend for less:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Volunteer.<\/strong> Many conferences give free passes to volunteers who help with registration or room hosting for part of the day.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Apply for scholarships or diversity tickets.<\/strong> Check the event website&#8217;s ticket page; some events set aside free or reduced passes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enter contests.<\/strong> Like the 2007 Elite Retreat contest, organisers and sponsors still give away tickets through blogs, newsletters and social media. Read the rules: travel and hotel are usually not included.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Speak.<\/strong> Accepted speakers normally attend for free. Pitch a talk based on your real results.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use early-bird and group pricing.<\/strong> Buying early or with colleagues is often much cheaper.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start with community events.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/central.wordcamp.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordCamps<\/a> are low-cost, volunteer-run WordPress events held around the world. We shared our own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/07\/wordcamp-2007-lessons-learnt-and-wordpress-updates\/\">lessons from WordCamp<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Also, watch out for fake &#8220;free ticket&#8221; offers that ask for payment details or personal information beyond what a contest needs.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_Elite_Retreat_still_running\"><\/span>Is the Elite Retreat still running?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We could not find a current Elite Retreat event, so treat it as a 2000s-era event. For bloggers today, online courses, community meetups and niche conferences cover the same ground. If you are new to the jargon you will hear at these events, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2006\/06\/the-giant-blogging-terms-glossary\/\">blogging terms glossary<\/a> helps. You may also enjoy our look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/03\/5-top-women-bloggers\/\">women bloggers who inspired us<\/a> around the same time.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_was_the_Elite_Retreat\"><\/span>What was the Elite Retreat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A small, premium event where bloggers and online business owners spent a couple of days with well-known internet marketers to work on their own projects.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_did_the_Elite_Retreat_cost\"><\/span>How much did the Elite Retreat cost?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The pass was worth $4,950 in 2007, not counting travel and hotel.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_won_the_free_Elite_Retreat_ticket\"><\/span>Who won the free Elite Retreat ticket?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Wendy from Emoms at Home won the 2007 free ticket contest.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_I_attend_a_blogging_conference_for_free\"><\/span>How can I attend a blogging conference for free?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Volunteer, apply to speak, look for scholarship tickets, or enter official ticket giveaways. Low-cost community events like WordCamps are a good start.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Elite Retreat was a small, premium internet marketing and blogging event where attendees spent a couple of days with&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":67338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogging"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2159"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67342,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159\/revisions\/67342"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}