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Blogging Conference Advice
By TheAngelForever | June 6, 2011
Once again, there are a bounty of blogging conferences coming up. Whether you are going to TypeACon (may cry since I will not be there in a few short weeks), BlogHer, SheStreams, or another in the months ahead if this is your first experience going to one it can be nerve wracking.
In February 2010, I was heading to Disney Social Media Moms for my first conference experience. I did not know what to expect since it was the first ever at Disney, but looked to my peers for some advice. In August, I went to BlogHer 2010 in New York City. This conference scared me a lot more. It was a much larger scale, many more people, and SO many things going on all at once. I have now been to three conference, and have this bit of advice for you:
BE YOURSELF!
The weeks before a conference people will be stressing over a myriad of things. These are a few items I worried about and my thoughts.
- Clothes to wear for sessions and parties –> Take it from me, it is important to be comfortable in a professional way. No need to be too dressy if you will not be happy. People dress in jeans, others will wear cocktail dresses to some of the parties. Do what works best for you.
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Techy gadgets to bring –> Take items that you are comfortable working with. Some people will work only on their iPad, others will have laptops, cameras, Flip Cameras, and then some. Only you know what you will use and want to have on hand for live blogging, or networking while there.
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Business cards and what to put on them –> Give as much or as little information as you are comfortable with. Your name, blog name, Website address, FB/Twitter pages, phone number, e-mail address are all great starts. I also put my photo on mine. Along with my Angel logo, I have a small photo of myself. This helps people to put a face to my blog after chatting.
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Making a schedule –> Do not stress over this. There is so much going on. Have a general plan, do not over book yourself, and go with the flow. As a Type A personality this is tough for me, but I learned the hard way at BlogHer that you can not be in three places at one time.
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What sessions should you go to?! –> Only you know what your goals are. If there are a lot of choices at the same time, go to what is best for your future. Sure, your friends may be going to another location, but you will learn the most in a place where you need to be.
My biggest mistake time and time again – not taking enough photos at conferences with my friends. Each time I promise I will do better, and I forget. Do not make this mistake. Pull out your camera and capture these memories. They are well worth the moment to pause and pose.
If you are getting ready for a blogging conference, Tiny Prints would like you to know that they have business cards that you can customize. Their business card selection allow you to add photos, logos and design accents to a variety of formats.
When you go to your first, or subsequent conference enjoy the time, network, learn, have fun, and like I said be yourself! If you have been to a conference – what advice do you have? If you have never been an have any question, please feel free to leave them below.
Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a Global Influence campaign for Tiny Prints. By sharing this information with my readers, I will receive 50 free business cards to thank me for my participation. No other compensation has been given.
Topics: Blogging Conference, bloggy friends, looking back, me moments, photos, sponsored post, Web business | 5 Comments »
June 6th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
BlogHer will be my first conference and this is all really helpful. Now I will not stalk my friends while packing to ask whether I should go strappy heels, jeans, or dress. The picture on the business card is a great idea as well. I need to get ordering.
ChiMomWriter´s last [type] ..Monday Morning Misadventure- Night Chaos
June 6th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Great advice, and a timely reminder to restock my business cards!
Sandra Foyt´s last [type] ..Breakfast at McDonald’s- Doing the Mad Morning Dash with iChoose600
June 7th, 2011 at 12:06 am
Awesome advice! particularly the part about getting a lot of pictures of friends! The most lasting part of a conference isn’t the swag, it’s the friends you finally get to meet!
Oh and I’m going with Tiny Prints for my new cards!
geekbabe´s last [type] ..OneNote – Your passport to Travel giveaway
June 7th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
I totally remember that photo of us! It was such a fun night!
June 7th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Great post, I agree that being yourself and dressing comfortably are very important. I am also bad about taking pictures at conferences, at the last one I went to, I only took one with another blogger. I still feel kind of shy going up to other bloggers and asking to take a photograph, although I shouldn’t after all they are all bloggers too. Hopefully it is something I’ll be able to get over when I start going to conferences again. I’ll be missing out for sometime to come, with baby taking priority!
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