I have two blog conferences on the docket over the next 5 months. I am attending Women Get Social in Philly in September(yes 4 weeks before my wedding). Then in January I am going to Alt Summit in SLC. I am so excited for both. But for someone who may have never been to a blog conference they can be a little overwhelming to think about.
I wanted to share the ways I find it easy prepping for a Blog Conference today.
1. Research the Conference: No matter how many conferences I have been to(7) I always research the conference ahead of time. I like to know who is speaking, what the sessions are and basically what my plan of attack is. If there are sessions at different times I try to decide ahead of time which ones I want to attend so I do not miss out. I also mark down my second choices in case I change my mind. It is really good to know what the conference is about. Another way to find this out is to look at blog posts of years past of attendees. Usually the conference site will have some of these listed. You can get a first hand view at what the conference is like along with pictures.
2. Research the City: If you have never been to the city before or you have you want to know what the city is going to be like. For me this includes knowing what kind of weather will be happening that time of year because I hate to overpack. I also like to know if I can get coffee in the hotel or if there is a coffee shop close by so I can grab one before the morning sessions. If the hotel has a coffee shop even better. Usually I will get several a day! You also may want to do some site seeing if you have extra time so knowing what is walkable to your hotel, good restaurants etc is extremely important.
3. Get Business Cards: One of the best ways to make a first impression at a blog conference is your business card! I had my blog designer design mine and I love them. They are glossy and look fantastic IMO. But make sure the important information is on there: Your blog name along with a card that looks similar to your blog. Esthetic is everything! Then you want your important social links: twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc. Also your name and Email right under your blog name. This is my opinion only and you may want to do yours a different way! Just make sure you have the basics and they look great! You can use sites like vistaprint, minted, etc to get cards done for not too expensive.
4. Join Facebook/Twitter Groups for the Conference: Most conferences will have a Twitter list or a Private Facebook group for attendees. This is a great place to get to know other attendees and also to ask questions. Usually there are veterans from the conference as well as people working for the conference in the groups that are happy to answer all of your questions. Get involved!
5. Know what to take to the Conference: This is a personal decision for everyone so I will talk about what I take. I usually use one of two bags: My LV Neverfull or my Longchamp. In this bag I include: my iPad, 2 Notebooks, Pens, chargers for my phone, iPad, and my extra charger. I also always take a big bottle or tumbler of water. I also include a Clif or Larabar if I get hungry. Then the basics like my camera, phone, wallet, makeup bag, gum, etc. I always take a sweater because conference rooms are notoriously cold! Layers are a big must for me. I also tend to have a basic conference uniform: Skinny Jeans or Leggings, a cute top, sweater, light scarf and boots or flats. You can also ask questions about what to bring to the conference in those Facebook groups 🙂
6. Bring your best accessory….your personality: Just be yourself. Honestly people will like you for you. If you go with friends try to branch out and meet new people. Make some great connections with brands, get tons of business cards from people and follow up. I have met people and made connections at conferences that are invaluable to me and people I am close with to this day. This is such an important part. Just be you and they will love you!
Do you have any tips to add?
I’ve been blogging almost two years, but I have never been to a conference. How do you even find out about them? Seems like I always read about a conference after the fact.
I’m so glad you shared these tips on what to wear, what to take, etc.
Great tips Neely! The bringing your personality is particularly important! I always forget to unpack mine when I go somewhere new – takes me awhile to warm up to new situations!
Great tips! I would love to go to a blogging conference soon. I need to make that happen!
Love these tips! I have been to a few now and I still keep my running check list to make sure I get the most out of each one! Have a great trip!
I have never been to a conference before but heading to two this year and I always wonder what to bring so thanks for the tips!
I love these tips! I have never been to a conference, but I’ve always wanted to go to one.
I have not been to a conference yet, but would love to go! i’ve pinned.
These are excellent tips! A lot of it is basically be prepared and plan it out in advance so you can enjoy your time 🙂
I went to Alt in June and I second doing your research. There were girls trying to figure out what breakout session they wanted to go to 3 minutes before the session started and a lot of times the one they decided on was full by that point. Planning ahead is so important!
When will you be in Philly? Maybe, if it’s a weekend or week I am in town I might be able to sneak away and if you have a free moment we could meet for coffee or lunch…dinner… something 🙂 I am not that far from Philly! Let me know, if you’d be up for that or have time, I would LOVE to meet you!
I still haven’t been to a blogging conference but now that I live in Atlanta I may need to find one and check it out.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the little details that go into attending a conference. I think one of the most important things is to network your butt off while you are there.
I’ve been blogging for four years and I have yet to make it to a blog conference – it’s my dream to attend Alt, maybe someday! These are great tips though, and I hope you have an amazing time at both! xoxo
I want to attend one of these eventually. I am a writer but somewhat new to the blogging world- this would be a great idea for me!
Great tips! I need new business cards. My current ones are rather embarrassing!
Great tips for finding a blog conference! I’ve never been to one and I don’t know if I ever will go, they just seem so expensive, but then it seems like so much fun!!!
These are such great tips. Blog conferences are so much fun but being prepared makes it such a great experience.
I would love to take one in sometime! Thanks for the tips!
xoxo
The Accidental Mama
http://theaccidentalmama.com
Perfect tips. So helpful especially when you totally dont even realize the importance of them sometimes. I never have thought about researching the city of conferences, because I get wayyyyy to excited for the actual conference. But great tips. Bookmarking this page!
Love these tips! Hoping to attend some conferences soon! How do you decide which ones to attend?
These are such helpful tips! Doing research is vital to any kind of meet up. That way, you can take your time and not stumble through the city and waste valuable time!
Great advice, not just for conferences, but for any business trip or event. Thanks!
I have loads of blog events coming up, including bloggers fashion week. I really need to get some business cards drafted to print – thanks for reminding me!
Great tips!
Katie <3
Great tips, you can never have enough chargers! and back up chargers! and chargers for the chargers!
Great tips! I’ve never been to a blogging conference but it’s something I’m not against doing! Have fun!!
Great tips! I just went to my VERY first blog conference. And while it was exciting it was also terrifying. Bloggers are people who talk and write and think about every detail, so you have to aim to impress!
How awesome 🙂 I am with Alli, how do you get to know about these conferences? Thanks for sharing 🙂
http://neatly-packaged.com/
So good to know! I’ve never been to a blog conference but I want to so bad! Hopefully soon I’ll be able to make one.
Definitely helpful tips!! Some of these I need to put to use for Type-A next month. Which by the way I’ve completely forgotten about recently. I don’t even have my hotel room booked yet. ha ha.
How fun!! I would love to go to a blog conference! I am going to a 2 day blog workshop this weekend and I am so excited. Not much to really prep for it besides getting my laptop organized 🙂
I love this! I have never been to a conference and i need tips for my first one
I wouldn’t have thought of a lot of these! I am going to my first blog conference in October and really appreciated these tips. I want to be prepared so that I can make the most of it.
Great tips! I still haven’t been to my first blogging conference yet, but I’m sure in time I will. Thanks!!
I will definitely be pinning this for reference. I am attending my first major conference this fall…thanks for sharing!
I so want to go to a blog conference, but I don’t even know where to start. I didn’t realize there were so many different ones. How do you find them?
I just attended my first blog conference this past summer! It was so much fun and I can’t wait to attend more! I definitely agree with you on business cards! They are so essential!
This is perfect! I’m saving this post for later. I’ve never been to one but I really want to go to a blog conference next year. If you have any thoughts on which ones are your favorite, I’d love to hear 🙂
These are some great tips! I have never been to a blog conference (although I hope to attend one within the next year), but I will have to remember these!
Love all of these tips! I am planning out my first conference so this helps a ton!
Besides blogher what are other good conferences?
Thank you for the great tips! I definitely want to start attending conferences when my littlest is a bit older.
I love the tip to join Facebook and Twitter groups. That’s a great tip. I found out after the fact that there were so many other things going on being planned in these groups.
I so hope to go to a blog conference someday. All the blog conference tips I read are so helpful becuase I know I will be prepared once I can finally go. I am still in search of the perfect business card for my blog!
Thanks for the tips! I would love to go to a conference, if I ever have the time!
I am super excited about this post! I am heading to Type-A Con next month. It will be my first blogger con!
I have never been to a blogging conference or meet up, have thought about it, but live in the UK and really not sure how to find out about them. Would love to know where you hear about them? Great tips!
Great idea for a post! So informational. I haven’t gone to one yet, but I can’t wait for my first.
I have never been to a blogging conference before, but I hear good things about them. I definitely would be interested in going to one in the future. They always sound like so much fun. Great tips; thanks for sharing 🙂
These are some wonderful tips for getting ready for a blog conference! I’m hoping to attend my second one next year, so I’ll definitely be using these tips!
Great tips! I think I’d just like to reinforce to be yourself and to not be afraid to approach people to introduce yourself. And that it’s OK to take a break if you need to. I always need some down time in my hotel room to regroup and get back out there.
These are great tips! I can’t wait to be able to go to a conference. I haven’t been able to justify the expense.
This post is perfect timing for me. I am going to my first blog conference in two weeks time (Problogger’s PBEVENT on the Gold Coast!) so I will be taking note of your tips for sure 🙂 I gotta say, I am pretty excited for this conference as we have limited opportunities for conferences here in Australia and PBEVENT is one of the best – even better, it is only a short drive from my house! Thanks again for the tips – great advice!
Great tips! I’ve been to several now and love them, and these tips are all so true!
I can’t wait to attend a few blogging conferences this year! I have my heart set on attending the next Lucky IFABB conference!
Great tips! I’ve been wanting to go to a blogging conference but the timing hasn’t been just right!