fOne of my favourite things about being a blogger is attending blogger conferences. I love the chance to chat to other bloggers, learn new things and speak to brands. Just being in the company of others who ‘get it,’ is pretty cool; as sometimes blogging can feel like a solitary pursuit.
Before every conference I hear people who haven’t attended a conference before talking about ‘building up the courage’ to attend and worrying about their ‘first time’! So, I thought I’d put together a post covering the main aspects of blogging conferences; giving you all the inside information! Hopefully this will help you feel more confident and encourage you to take the leap. I just know you won’t regret it.
What are blogging conferences?
Conferences can take many forms; some one day, while others are set over multiple days. The formats can vary a great deal too – workshops, panels, speakers, activities or a mixture. In addition to educational aspects, some conferences also offer activities like photowalks and evening get togethers. Blog conferences are a great way to learn about your industry and network with other bloggers. I’ve attended so many conferences over the years and have met some wonderful people.
Today, I’m sharing some tips that will help you prepare for a blog conference. Hopefully it will help you prepare so you can get the most out of your experience.
Benefits of attending
- Networking is vital. Meeting people in the flesh is so different to meeting online. Conferences give you the chance not only to meet other bloggers and take friendships to the next level but also to meet brands face to face.
- Gaining a different perspective. Often you’re mixing with a range of bloggers from different niches. This means you can gain useful perspectives from people that you might not usually connect with.
- Socialising. Most conferences offer some time for socialising. Whether that is between sessions or in the evenings, it’s great to get the opportunity to chat and let your hair down.
- Worthwhile training. The level of training varies from conference to conference, but you get the opportunity to learn from the experience of others. Making it quite a cost-effective way of learning.
What should I wear?
Anything goes really and you will see all sorts! It’s really important to dress so you feel comfortable and confident. If you’re representing a brand, it’s a good idea to be smart casual. Some people rock their jeans and casual wear. Others have dresses and outfits gifted to them to wear at the event.
What will I need?
- Charging case/battery pack for your phone or tablet.
- Normal charger – there are always sockets you can use to top up your phone’s juice.
- Pen/paper or tablet/ipad – whatever works for you to take notes. I prefer old fashioned pen and paper.
- Business cards – useful to give to both brands and bloggers.
- Camera or camera phone.
- Ticket!
- List of anyone you specifically want to meet, as it may be a little hectic and you might well forget.
- The # of the event. If you want to live tweet then knowing the # will be important. Your tweets will be found by people following the event.
Approaching other bloggers/companies
If there’s a blogger that you want to meet/chat to and you don’t know them, just tweet them and see if they have time to meet you. Remember bloggers will be attached to their phones, so even at the event you can make contact with them. Approaching brands is really easy at most conferences. Remember brands are there to meet bloggers, so they want to talk to you. Just pop along to their stand and say hi. Ask them how they work with bloggers and if they could consider working with your blog. Don’t forget to tell them why you want to collaborate with their brand and have your business cards ready.
What can I expect to learn?
The specific details depend on which sessions you attend, but regardless, you will learn a lot to help you develop your skills as a blogger. Quite often I find that I learn so much from my peers outside of the sessions. It’s so useful to talk to other bloggers about what they do, how they work and swap tips. You’re sure to come away from any conference feeling inspired with lots of ideas bubbling away.
How do I “book” the talks/sessions?
At most conferences you are given a timetable and are free to attend whichever sessions you want. Occasionally, you are asked in advance to pick or perhaps on arrival. This will all be made very clear by the organisers, so you needn’t worry. There’s the odd conference where the programme is the same for everyone, just check the agenda in advance.
Do you have to queue early to get into the workshops that you want to attend?
The sessions often run back to back, with the exception of coffee breaks and lunch time. So there isn’t really time to get to a session particularly early. I’ve only ever been unable to attend one session at all the events I’ve been to, so it’s not usually a problem.
How structured are the sessions and is there time to meet people?
The sessions are laid out in a timetable, but it’s up to you whether you wish to miss a session in favour of networking. Remember it’s not school and you can do as you wish. However, there’s time to attend all sessions and network, if you’re organised.
How do people take notes?
You will see people taking notes on tablets, phones and good old fashioned pen and paper. Do whatever works for you, there’s no right or wrong. I often take photos of the slides.
Can I go alone?
Of course you can! However, it might help you to have some moral support, especially if it’s your first event. Many events have their own Facebook groups or twitter chats, which is a good way to get talking to others, who may also be going alone. Arrange to meet at the station/coffee shop and all walk there together. It will be much more fun in a group. I’ve reached out to numerous people who mentioned they were worried about going to certain conference and they ended up coming as part of my group.
What do I need to do prior to the event?
I’m going to sound like a teacher now, but you get out of it what you put in. By this I mean, if you do nothing and just rock up, that’s fine, but you may find yourself wishing you had done X, Y or Z on the way home.
- Make a note of the relevant # so you can join in on social media. This will enable you to connect with other bloggers who are attending, but also the brands too.
- See if any brands you work with or admire, will sponsor you to attend (usually this means they will cover the cost if your ticket, travel and accommodation). I secured sponsors via an initial DM on Twitter and through pitching to brands I have recently worked with. If you don’t ask you don’t get!
- Research the brands that will be there to see if any are a good fit for your blog. Make time to go and introduce yourself and leave your card. Then make sure you follow up with them after the event to see if there are any opportunities.
- Be prepared for the goodie bag! Obviously this is a great problem to have and the volume of ‘stuff’ you will take home varies from conference to conference, but sometimes it’s advisable to take a small empty suitcase with you!
- If you are being sponsored make sure you know what your brand expect of you and tweet regularly including their details.
- Make a note of the people you meet. Then reach out to them before the conference to see if you can fix up a time to chat. It’s always nice to tweet people on the train on the way home too. This is a great way to build relationships with other bloggers.
- Work on your elevator pitch – Introducing yourself can feel a little bit awkward. One way to be able to do this in confidence is to create your elevator pitch and learn it so that it trips off your tongue. Your elevator pitch could follow this this format ‘I’m (your name) and I help (your target audience) to do (what you help them with) so they can (the root reason they need what you offer).
- Make sure you enter any competitions that brands are running. Previously at BritMums a few bloggers won a holiday with Mark Warner! It’s worth a little look around to see if there’s anything you wish to enter.
- Prepare your blog – now is the time to finish off those bits and bobs on your blog and get it looking the best it can. After the conference, you’ll have plenty of new visitors checking out your blog, and you’ll want them to see your site looking it’s best. Pay particular focus to your About page and your Work with me page. Check all of your links too and make sure they all work.
- Order business cards – Business cards are really handy to have with you when you’re networking at events. Make sure your picture is on your card, as it will help people remember you.
- Get to know the schedule. Conference days move fast so you need to have a plan or you might feel as if you wasted some time. Print off the schedule and highlight what you want to attend, then write on the details of anything else you’ve organised. Make sure you note any pre-registration requirements if there are any. This means you will feel in control of your day, rather than feeling as if it’s running away from you.
Have you been to a blogging conference? What are your top tips? Which is your favourite?
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Comments 70
Great post. Tbh I’m abit scared of conferences, I only know one other blogger in ‘real life’. I’m hoping to go with this blogger friend to a conference next year just so I can build my confidence up. Having an insider look into how it all works is so helpful as I believe knowing how things work go a long way to feeling confident! 🙂 Lizzie
Author
Thanks for your lovely comment, I am happy that it has helped you. The atmosphere is really great and everyone is so friendly! x
Great tips Aby, blogging conferences can be very daunting, but luckily everyone is lovely so you’ll always find someone to chat to. xx
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The atmosphere is lovely isn’t it?! xx
Great post Aby, some really good advice here. Will be taking some of these on board for the next time I go to a blogging event. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you hun, hope to see you soon x
I’m popping my blogging conference cherry at Blogfest. I’m nervous, excited and don’t have a clue what to expect so this post has been really helpful. Thank you!
Jenna at Tinyfootsteps xx
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Oh I hope to see you there, glad you found it useful xx
Thanks for the tips! I’m heading to Blogfest too for my first ever event, having procrastinated for a few years now. All a bit new but looking forward to getting to know some other bloggers. Love the idea of being dressed for a conference- how glam! Not sure an outdoor blogger is really what they’re after though!
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My pleasure, I am glad it has helped. You could contact an outdoor brand, my friend got hoodies to wear from a surf brand last year! x
I’m desperate to get to a blogging conference but so far they haven’t worked out (new baby, holiday, work etc). Great tips 🙂
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Thanks! I hope you get to one soon x
Very helpful post, thanks for sharing!
Great tips, Aby. I’m still trying to drum up the courage to go to one of these. Maybe Britmums Live next year …
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Thanks Tim, no courage needed, everyone is so lovely x
I attended a local blogger event recently it was so much fun now I’m going to blogfest I’m so nervous look forward to hopefully meeting you there if i don’t get lost on the underground that is!
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What station to you go to? We would meet you ? x
I’m getting into Waterloo about half 8 I seem to be the only person in getting in at Waterloo!!
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We get into paddington then tube to kings cross x
I appreciate it’s easy to say, but simply go and have fun. I’ve been to BritMums Live two years in a row, despite the fact the number of dads that attend is in the single figures (versus hundreds of mums). It can be daunting but it’s true, you get our what you put in and I’ve learned a huge amount and met some brilliant bloggers at these events. #MMWBH
Really great post and some excellent advice! Blogging conferences seem way out of my league at the moment if I’m honest. I’ve only been blogging for a few months. But maybe in the future I will feel confident enough to go to one! x
#MMWBH
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You should definitely some to one hun, it is so friendly x
Thanks for these tips! I haven’t been to one yet, but hope to some day. #PoCoLo
Thanks so much for this very insightful post! I’m shortly starting my blog and i’m seriously considering going (very expensive though). May I please ask if you have any tips for those bringing their child(ren) with them?
Your banner is so lovely and I look forward to reading more of your posts in the future.
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I am glad you enjoyed it. I have never taken my child (as she is too old now) but I think most conference allow babes in arms. Thanks for your lovely comments x
This is a great post – very useful information (as always!). I’d love to go to Blogfest, but can’t afford it this year and not sure my little blog is ready for the big time yet. Hopefully next year! #MMWBH
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Thank you huni! Glad it is useful and I hope you can get to a blog event soon x
Great tips! My first conference was BritMums in June. I was very intimidated, but once you meet a few people you realise many people feel the same. I met some amazing people there, and have built up friendships as a result xxx #PoCoLo
Loved reading this – really helpful for my first blogging conference, Blogfest, next weekend.
Thanks for sharing your tips 🙂
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Oh I am going too, hope you see you there x
I still haven’t been to a blogging conference (over in the U.S. and then moved back to UK weekend after BritMums which I did indeed have a ticket for but needless to say couldn’t use). One of the reasons I’d particularly like to attend is to meet some of the bloggers who I regularly interact online with in person.
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That is definitely the best part of it x
Thanks so much for pointing me in the direction of this post. I’m definitely inspired to go next year and although I am scared I’m really excited too. I really hope I bump in to you at one of these events and can thank you in person for all your help and tips in person xxx
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We will definitely meet up, just let me know which one you are going to xxx
Awesome tips!
I’m about to go to my first conference and have so many questions.
My blog is lifestyle based but it also ponders a bit on relationships – my husband helps me with some posts, and so he wants to go with me to my first conference.
Any advice on how to act / be having him with me?
Should he just be there as moral support or should he be more active aswell and try to network as if he was a blogger?
Thank you in advance!
myunsettlinglife.blogspot.co.uk
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Glad they are helpful and good luck with your conference. I am sure you will love it. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to your questions. Do you want him to go with you? No-one will expect you to act in any way, just be natural with him. You both must just do/act as you wish, as people respond to genuine people. Just do whatever you are comfortable with. Have fun x
This is a really great round up of blogger’s conferences. I am an old hand at attending these but the first timer will find some comfort in your words.
Such a helpful post! Thank you for writing this. I am attending BlogFest for the first time this year (in fact, it’s my first blogging conference ever). I am very much looking forward to it, but at the same time I am slightly scared. I am going on my own, but will hopefully meet many other friendly bloggers.
Great post Aby and so informative! I have never been to a blog conference before but if I ever do I will be coming back to this post to re read your great tips.xx #TheList
I haven’t been to a blogging conference yet but it’s on my list for next year, I really want to go to one. Thanks for sharing this great post – I’ve bookmarked it as it contains so much useful info! There are lots of events I’d never heard of until now #TheList
This is very useful. I definitely want to attend a blogging conference soon. I think I would learn a lot. Thanks for the rundown! #TheList
I’ve seen some great coverage of River Cottage HQ and I am gutted I wasn’t there. I love Hugh and what he does so I always wanted to visit. This combined with the great sessions, would’ve been the event of the year for me.
Thank you for putting all the events in one place. Didn’t realise there were so many!
#TheList
I would love to go to BM16 and meet some bloggers I’ve been following – wonder if anyone wants to sponsor me from Dubai!
Thank you for the tips. I am attending my second conference this year and i am nervous so i will be planning a lot in advance this time. #TheList
love thus Aby, I’ve yet to go to one as I have visions of me walking round like a billy no mates! I’m thinking of BritMums next year so will pin this to prep! #thelist
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Meet us before and go in with us x
I am not sure my anxiety would stop me going to a blogger confrence, but finding out that there is one held in Cardiff means I now know I can realistically get to one should I ever feel brave enough to do so.
#Thelist
I wish I had read this before Blogcamp in London yesterday. I totally forgot my battery pack to recharge my phone and was paranoid about it dying all day! I’ll also admit here that I didn’t pluck up the courage to say hi – rooky mistake 🙂 #thelist
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Oh no you should have said hi x
I have not been to a blogging conference before but I would be interested to attend one in the future. Great tips here! Thanks for sharing! #TheList
Thanks for listing the blog events I definitely want to go to some more next year 🙂 #thelist
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I hope you can get to some more x
I’m off to BlogFest next month and really looking forward to it. Any excuse to meet up with new bloggers. I’m not really into approaching brands as that’s not my thing, but some fab tips here-you totally get out what you put in!
Great post, so helpful! I was planning to work towards making my first blogging event BML16, but after reading this post I really want to go to BlogFest too! I feel really fired up and inspired and am going to see if I can make it happen 🙂 Emily #TheList
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You should, it was great last year x
Thank you for this post. I wanted to attend a few conferences this year, Britmums in particular, but nerves got the better of me.
I am determined to go next year – I may still be nervous but I know I will get so much out of it by attending. Xxx #thelist
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You will love it! Just arrange to meet people before you go in xx
Always love your posts demystifying the world of blogging! I think I’d be a bit scared but these tips are so helpful. #TheList
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Ah thanks! I am always happy to help x
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Great list of blogging events, I would love to attend. Might even make a trip over to the UK just to see what I can learn. Have attended a good few networking / conference events like this and always take something with me, whether through contacts / brands etc. #thelist
Great tips, thanks for sharing! Would you recommend a particular event for someone’s first? I’m happy to come alone as I love meeting new people especially bloggers & vloggers because I haven’t met many and it’s lovely to meet people with similar interests! One day I will get to a conference! X
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The BlogOn events are smaller and really friendly, so they would be a good starting place x
Funny — if someone had told me — this time last year — that I’d have been to 3 blog meet ups this year, I’d have laughed. But I LOVE them!! SO nice to see the bloggers you’ve been chatting to, over social media, in real life! The BEST part of blogging for me 🙂 #TheList
This looks like so much fun. All these bloggers in one building…be still my heart! Thanks for taking us along with you, this week you’ve taken me on the travels for sure. I would love to attend a blog conference, the learning would be incredible. But to meet so many people that do the same thing, have the same goals…that would be awesome!
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I do love meeting up with other bloggers, it is fabulous x
Thank you so much for this check list. I am so happy you have taken time to write this post. It will really help me. Blogfest this Novemeber is my first one EVER! I am a nervous wreck! haha I try to laugh it off. I am trying to ask for sponsors but so far no luck because I am such a newbie. Sigh… but hopefully I will be able to find some by the time comes. Thank you again for the post. It is very helpful. 🙂
Hi Aby, as I’m very new to blogging, I’m only just getting my head around social media (wrong side of 40!), so conferences seem a way off. However, your post has made me realise their use and importance and that they are good fun too! Great to have all this info. Thank you for hosting and good to link up to #TheList Alison
I’ve came across this as I’ve just booked my ticket for Blogfest ’16 and it will be my first big blogger conference so I’m a mix of nerves and excitement. This has been so helpful!
Great post! I’ve never been to a blogger conference before. I think I’m due to go one to be honest!