Blogging Day 30 | Getting Ready for Your First Blog Conference

Have you been to a blog conference yet? I met Stephanie Totty at BlogHer13 last July, and not only is she so much fun and side-splittingly funny, she’s a conference pro. She knows how to make the most of every conference moment with brands, with other bloggers, in the educational sessions. Tottums, her nickname, blogs at Froggy and the Mouse where she tells what life is really like as the only female in a house full of “dudes.” She’s an amazing #boymom, and her site is unique, current, touching, beautiful, and always funny, which is the best kind of blog, isn’t it?

Deciding that you’re ready to take on your first blogging conference can be a really exciting, yet really scary step up the ladder in the life of a blogger. There are a million things to consider: Which one to attend? How much will it cost? Will you know anyone? What do you wear? Try not to stress out - here are the top ten things to plan for and consider when you’re getting ready for your first blogging conference.

1. Decide why you want to go: And let me be clear, there is no right or wrong answer to this question - but answering it ahead of time can significantly help you when determining which conference is the best investment for you to attend. Are you looking for a safe haven with information for bloggers who are just starting out? Are you looking to meet with a lot of brands all in one place? Are you looking for a big reunion with bloggers you’ve met online and would love to meet in person? All of these are great questions to ask yourself prior to deciding which conference will be best for you.

2. Choose your conference: Again, there is no right or wrong answer to this question, because one conference does not fit all. Are you willing to travel - because an out of town conference can add a significantly to your budget. Are you introverted person - because a larger conference with thousands of attendees might feel a bit overwhelming for you. Does your blog fall under a specific niche - because there might be a conference suited for that niche.

3. Start budgeting NOW: Yes, there are definitely bloggers out there who get ‘sponsored’ to go to conferences (a brand pays for their way to a conference in return for the blogger representing or promoting that brand at the conference) - but being sponsored is NOT the only way to get yourself there. This is (almost) January - are you interested in going to BlogHer14? Start saving NOW. You’ll need money for your conference pass, your airfare, your hotel, taxis, food, etc … even if you do get sponsored, it’s very unlikely that the sponsorship will cover all of that. Start saving your pennies as soon as possible.

4. Make some e-friends: In all probability, you already have tons of “Internet friends,” but specifically, make friends with people you know will be attending your conference. Reach out to bloggers on Twitter using the conference hashtag, find a Facebook group, look for blog posts about the upcoming conference - knowing who is attending will make things easier for several reasons. A) You’ll have an instant pool of roommate choices (another great way to save money!) and B) now you’ll have someone to sit with at the Keynote, meet at the reception, and walk to a party with.

5. Refresh the blog: As you get closer to conference time, make sure your site is looking it’s best. Refresh your About Me page. If you post stats and sponsorship info make sure it’s up to date. Update your photo to something recent - people will want to recognize you - make sure you’re using a clear, recent photo on your site AND your social pages. You might also consider publishing a post that will announce you’re attending - it’s good SEO juju for those who might be searching for other attendees.

6. Go shopping: You don’t need to buy a whole new wardrobe, or fancy new tech, but there are a few things you’ll want to make sure you have. If you’re attending a larger conference in a large city, you’ll want some comfy shoes. If you don’t have them already you’ll need business cards (more on that in a minute). You might consider some sort of portable charger for your smart phone (which you will use CONSTANTLY on the go). And yes - you might want to spoil yourself a little and buy something pretty to wear, but that part is totally up to you.

7. Business cards: Yes, you need them - although it’s completely up to you as to how many you need and what they look like. Make sure that when you design them that you have your full name, your URL, your email address, and your Twitter handle on them. Some people also put a Facebook page address, or a QR code that scans to their site or a landing page. A photo is also a good idea - people are more likely to remember a conversation if they have a face to match with it and not just a name on a card.

8. Schedule before you leave: Repeat after me, “I will not blog while I am at a conference.” Especially if it’s a larger conference, you will NOT have time. You will be exhausted. The last thing you will want to do after 15 hours of running around is come back to a crowded hotel room (roommates!), open your laptop, and blog. Trust me on this one - if you care about keeping fresh content current on your site, schedule it out beforehand. It might also help to schedule posts to your social channels as well.

9. Go early, stay late: If you’re traveling, get there early, and stay late. Use this as an opportunity to see a new place - a mini vacation if you will. Fly in a day before the conference starts and see the sights. Stay a little later for some extra down time. And if this is a particularly large or crazy conference, take heed: the bloggy conference hangover is a REAL thing. If at all possible, take an extra day off for recuperation when you get home. You’ll thank yourself later, I promise.

10. Breathe and enjoy: It will be overwhelming. It will be challenging. You’ll feel like you don’t know anyone. You’ll feel like everyone has a group that you’re not in. Breathe. Relax. Remember that the great thing about blogging is the community of bloggers. The people around you who have groups have them because they’ve met people in the blogging community and became friends, and started a tribe. Find your tribe! Take a chance and talk to the person sitting next to you in a session, introduce yourself to the person in line with you for coffee, say hi to the person in the elevator - you never know when you might meet your new bloggy best friend.

Remember - you’re doing this for YOU, not anyone else. Don’t worry how much money someone else is spending on clothes. Don’t worry about who has what sponsor. Don’t worry about who got invited to what parties - choose your sessions/parties/events for YOU and what’s interesting/important for YOUR blog. Stay confident, stay friendly, and stay sane - it’s going to be a great experience that you’ll learn a ton from!

The 2014 conference season is coming. Which ones will you attend? I’m feeling more prepared with Tottums’s advice and looking forward to meeting some of you this year. But before you pack, go read Froggy and the Mouse. I love love love this post she wrote about her husband’s job and the holiday season. Her lovely photos make Tottums one of my favorite Instagrammers. Follow her there, and you won’t be disappointed.