17 Tips for Attending a Blogging Conference

A blogging conference would be a great way to learn a lot of information fast. I was overwhelmed by all the people and seminars before I even arrived, but it didn’t last long. I was met with much support and encouragement for what I had accomplished so far, as well as the confidence to do even more. Read the following 17 tips before you go to any blogging event, and you’ll be able to take full advantage of your time and money.

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1. Before the Conference
2. What to do during the Conference
3. How to use the information you gathered

Blogging Conference 

17 Reasons to Attend

I attended the Women in Travel Summit in Portland, Maine. So these are tips I gathered from that blogging conference. However, all the tips below still apply. To make it easier to understand, I’ve broken the tips down before, during, and after the conference. Click here–> for more information.

Before the Conference

1. I suggest you wear comfortable shoes. There is always a lot of walking at the blogging conference and you don’t want to miss out because your feet hurt.
2. On a similar note, and it’s my personal preference, stay in the same hotel where the venue is being held. I stayed at the overflow hotel two blocks away which wasn’t that far. But with my back acting up, I would have preferred to rest upstairs between sessions. It’s also convenient to drop off your computer or pick up a sweater if the room temperature changes.
3. If you decide to go, you should purchase your ticket early so you can take advantage of the early bird specials.  And you’ll be happy if you book your hotel as soon as possible. The venues tend to sell out quickly.
4. Reach out to attendees you know or follow. Especially people nearby or in the same niche. It’s so much nicer to arrive knowing you may have already established a network. You may decide to room together. Trust me having a few people you enjoy hanging out with will make the conference a whole lot more fun.
5. Make sure you join the FB groups associated with the conference. This can be an excellent way to stay informed and meet people (see #4).
6. Research all the sponsors/ vendors. It helps to strike up a conversation when you stop by their booth or schedule a 1 on 1. They will be more impressed if they don’t have to tell one less person who they are and what they do. If you feel they may be a great fit for your blog, podcast or media company, you may also want to reach out and touch base ahead of time to get a conversation started.
7. Practice your elevator pitch. You tell anyone that asks who you are, what you do, and your audience in a minute or less. Remember it doesn’t need to be perfect. However, if you can’t do that, you may have a hard time convincing anyone you have something valuable to offer.

ChatGPT: Unlocking Creativity in Content Creation

During the Conference

1. Do try to arrive earlier and stay later. Most conferences offer great side trips that are a great way to make casual and or professional connections. It’s an excellent opportunity to create unique content.
2. Don’t sit in the back of the room or an empty table. Don’t take it personally if no one sits next to you. Blogging seminars are a great place to find friends and collaborations. So get up and move to another table. Introduce yourself and remember to smile.
3. Pace yourself. You can’t attend every seminar, workshop, or networking opportunity. Instead, turn your network of new friends into a note-taking assembly line. Trade notes with someone attending another seminar you are also interested in. Give them a business card and agree to email the notes later. You’ll end up with a stack of cards so try to make a note on each one about what you talked about. Go ahead and follow them on IG or subscribe to their blog to keep in touch.
4. Don’t under or oversell yourself, your blog, or your ability to deliver. If you don’t know the answer to something, say so. This is why you are here in the first place. There are people at all stages and remember– you are not competing with any of them. They are a source of support and inspiration.
5. Bring lots of business cards. You can also bring something useful like a highlighter, post-it notes or magnets with your logo and contact information. These things are great because not only are they something we use every day, but it will remind them of you every day too.
6. On that note… don’t just SPAM out business cards without making a connection first. It won’t endear you to anyone. And more times than not, you’ll never hear from that person again.
7. Be engaged. There will be lots of #6’s. They will be looking for ways to further their goals. Don’t be that transparent. Be a good listener, sometimes the answers fall from the sky when uttered out loud. Try to balance giving and receiving, so that you aren’t seen as selfish.
8. Make certain you express yourself in an authentic and deliberate manner. Try to ask thoughtful questions. And make sure to start by saying your name and your blog.

After the Conference

1. Make the decision to commit to what you learn during the blogging conference. Commit to putting everything you learn into practice. Come up with a plan of action to follow (with metrics) it, so you can gauge your progress. Then make adjustments as necessary. If you are using the Zoom app and want to leave the app then check some best Zoom App Alternatives here.
2. If someone you meet tells you to contact them with questions, contact them. Share– if they say they want to read your media kit, send it to them. If they say they want to collaborate with them, pitch a few ideas with deadlines. And if someone offers to introduce you to someone, follow-up until they do. And if a vendor says, I can send you (fill in the blank) make sure you get their email and forward your address.

Conferences I’ve Attended

• Women in Travel Summit
• Women’s Travel Fest
• Military Influence Conference

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