Blog conference season is among us with the Blissdom Conference only two weeks away. There will be many bloggers attending their first blog conference this year. Conferences can be be overwhelming even to veterans, so never fear if you are having a little anxiety about attending your first conference. I attended my first conference in 2009 when I went to BlogHer in Chicago. Why did I pick the biggest conference as my first blogger conference? I am not so sure, but it helped get my feet wet.
Here are my 5 tips to survive a blog conference.
1. Check out the conference hashtag on twitter such as #blissdom. Start conversations or even reply to people in the stream. Get to know other attendees before you even get to the conference. Plan to meet-up at the conference. You will not feel so alone once you get there.
2. Do not try to attend all sessions and every party. Your body and your voice will get too worn down. It is not worth the tired feeling. Take time and relax in your room. Drink water and eat a healthy snack to re-energize while you are in the room. Your body will thank you!
3. Leave the heavy laptop at home. All the muscles in your body will be aching from carrying the huge laptop bag around with you. Believe me, I am speaking from experience. A tablet, an iPad or netbook works perfectly as each of these technology devices can be easily stored and are very light-weight.
4. Pack comfortable shoes. I know we all want to be fashionista’s but there comes a time that we need to pamper our feet. You will do a lot of walking at these conferences and blisters are not fun at all on your first night. I am unfortunately speaking from experience once again. Pinterest can be your best friend to find super and stylish shoes.
5. Bring business cards. You will network your little heart out at these conferences. There is no way to remember everyone that you connect with so in return you cannot expect everyone you meet to remember you and your blog.
Tiny Prints have such creative business cards that will help you stand out among all the attendees. You want to make a great impression as this is your personal brand you will be representing at the conference.
Just remember to relax, don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation and you will do just fine. Let me know if you would like to connect. Remember, I was once a conference newbie 🙂
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.
Great tips Jen. I started with MomSummit then hit BlogHer. Big difference even between those two conferences. This year it’s Blissdom first and I’m excited and still feeling like a conference newbie but these tips will help.
Jen, are you an extrovert? Introvert that I am, I can’t even find a smidge of excitement in me about a blogging conference. I love hearing about them, but that much sustained socializing….just the thought makes me think I need a nap! Living vicariously through everyone else probably is pretty pathetic and I wish I WANTED to go to a conference. I certainly enjoy reading everyone’s stories after the fact.
Hi Barb! The personality tests I have took throughout the years say I am an extrovert. Does that count? I will say, I am not an extreme extrovert… but I do love being around people and talking. I think when you go to your first conference you either love them or hate them :). I would be your friend at a conference!!