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10 Do’s and Don’t’s for Your First Blogging Conference

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Just a little list I kinda wish someone could have stapled to my packing list last year….

10 Do's & Dont's for your first Blogging Conference #Allume

Do get some business cards. No blog is too small to not need a business card because that blog and that card represent amazing YOU! If you’re still in the middle of the branding process or not sure what all one puts on a card, why not start with Your Name, Contact Info/Site address, and a bit about YOU (ie. “Writer, Laundress, and lover of pink shoes”). Consider your business card as YOUR card, not your blog’s card. After all, it’s you–not your blog–who’s walking around meeting people. Your blog is an extension of you, not the other way around (<–Tweet this!). If your blog has a great title and tagline, definitely slap it on there! (And I’ll be just a little bit jealous). I’m making my own cards this year from this awesome tutorial from Gretchen Louise.

Do put your face on your business card. This will help me remember you! Thank you.

Don’t Cling to Un-Realistic Expectations. Tragically, there are only so many days in one weekend; there will not be hours and hours of uninterrupted conversation available. The speakers and authors you’ve come to love and can’t wait to meet in person? Give them grace—they’ve got a lot of responsibilities and demands on their time. Realize that the beauty of a conference is to hear with our ears what we’ve only seen on a screen, or to exchange an IRL hug in place of an emoticon. The deepening of a relationship most often comes in the before or after of a conference.

Do get yourself a little notebook… and some tape to collect your business cards and keep track of conversations. Each time you exchange cards with someone, immediately tape their card into a new page of your book, and during or after your conversation, jot down a few notes you may want to remember about your new friend (ie. “She lives two hours from me!” or “Email re: design work”). I got this idea from Logan last year, and it was pretty much the best thing I took home from Allume (OK, and the awesome swag bag. Did I mention AWESOME?!)

Logan’s amazing business card notebook idea!

Do Combat Uncertainty with a Plan. Familiarize yourself with the schedule and speakers and make a short list of your priorities at the conference. Is it to get as much instruction as possible? Is it to network? Decide what you most hope to glean from the conference so you have a guide in choosing sessions and what to do with free time. Are there a few individuals you’d really like to meet? Make arrangements now: send a message, exchange phone numbers, and decide on a meal or a session when you’ll try to sit together.

Just for Introverts:

(Note: I would never presume to speak to you dear ones without the input of my wisest, sweetest, and most introverted friend, Diane—I quote her almost word-for-word here!)

Do give yourself permission to take a break from the crowds. Look for windows in the schedule that would allow you to enjoy some quiet time in your room or one-on-one with a friend. Make a plan that helps you disengage from the flow and to recharge.

Do be willing to step out of your comfort zone and dive into the beauty that is 400 passionate woman gathering to grow and have fun together. Now is your chance to connect in person with the women and hearts you’ve learned to love in the quieter spaces of their blogs. Try sitting at a different table occasionally and not always sticking with your roomies–it’ll be worth it, I promise.

Just for Extroverts:

Don’t do what I did last year: I was so giddy to meet so many wonderful, new people, I exchanged business cards with over 80 women. There was no WAY I would remember which face belonged to which conversation, or ever have the opportunity to follow through with that many connections (even my handy notebook couldn’t keep up!). Slow down, girlfriend! And tap me on the shoulder if I look like I’ve forgotten this one, will you?

Do go deep rather than wide. Give yourself permission to get to know a few new friends a little deeper rather than feeling like you must work the crowd and shake everyone’s hands like a bloomin’ politician (again, I’m preachin’ to the choir here!). Take the time to listen to another’s heart, to pray, or even—gasp—be still. 

For all of us:

Do Remember it’s Not All About You: look at the weekend as an opportunity to bless and serve others. There will be others at the conference more shy or overwhelmed than you. There will be hurts barely bandaged, joys asking to be celebrated, fears that need to encounter truth, and hearts that need an encouraging word. Extrovert or Introvert, Newbie or Veteran, we all need to be willing to put our own agenda aside and tune into ways we can serve the other beautiful women we will meet during the weekend.

your blog is an extension of you...

Tweetables:

  • “No blog is too small to not need a business card because that blog and that card represent amazing YOU!” <–Click to Tweet
  • “Great blog conference advice for extroverts, introverts, and everyone in between”<–Click to Tweet
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Have you been to a blogging conference before? Any kind of conference? Will you share your favorite networking, preparation, packing, or getting-the-most-out-of-a-conference tip in the comments? I will love you for it. See you there!

Comments

  3. I just can’t wait to meet you Trina – I always feel connected to your writing. I promise not to storm you as you walk in though!

  4. Trina, this post is INCREDIBLE!! I’ve been twice and I’ve learned some new things. I am DEFINITELY doing the notebook/business card thing. Where did you get your notebook from?? It’s PERFECT!

    Also LOVE the idea of making a plan of action around conference sessions and keynotes. Being intentional is definitely a must–esp. when it comes to meeting people. Otherwise the weekend flies and you wonder how you missed meeting all these people you were hoping to connect with!

    Definitely loved your last point, too, and I couldn’t agree more. I went into the conference, particularly last year because I didn’t have a baby with me, completely selfish. That weekend was going to be “all about me and what I want”. By the time it was over, I felt terrible and quite empty. While the conference itself was incredible–my approach to it left me feeling less than fulfilled. I vowed not to do that again.

    Awesome post Trina. Thank you so very much for sharing your heart and being an incredible voice in this community!! You are treasured!

    • I hiked across the parking lot to Target last year and chose that one because the cards were a little wider than the page and allowed the cards to double as ‘tabs’. 🙂

      Um, yeah–the last point was a personal ‘kicker’ for me, too. I totally had the selfish approach to the conference last year, too! God managed to work in my heart despite my pride and self-centeredness (Praise Him!) This year will be different, by His grace…

    • Christin, do you mind sharing more about how you were selfish? And what specifically you would have done differently do be less selfish as far as the conference goes?

    • I’m afraid the analogy was just to accurate to how I respond to a big room full of people I’m sure I will love…remember, I’m askin’ for accountability in this area! LOL

  9. Excellent, I love Logan’s notebook idea! I have enough time to think that one through for the best way to make it work for me. The deep v. wide is also something I need to keep in mind as well. Thanks.

  11. Love the notebook idea! And, seriously Amanda, you need to get your business cards sent in to be printed… like TODAY. 🙂 So looking forward. Thanks for all the advice Trina. This newbie needs it 🙂

    • yup. Logan is a genius. I met her at the newbie meetup last year and immediately demanded she tell me about that little notebook in her hands…lol

      • Ya’ll HAVE MADE ME FEEL SO GOOD! I totally felt like a dork of the highest degree doing it, but after a 2nd blog conference doing it again…I’m convinced that it’s my golden rule for conferences now! Tickled that everyone loves it! Gonna crack me up seeing everyone wandering around with tiny notebooks and double sided tape! LOL!

    • Stef, I was hoping that kind of thoughtfulness would fall under the ‘expectations’ point. We have to realize that the speakers are real women, not celebrities and be mindful of their needs, as well!

  14. Awesome tips! Thank you for sharing. The ones for introverts particularly resonate with me and I love the notebook idea. I was trying to decide how I want to organize business cards and that helps.

  15. Loved this post! I found out about the conference too late (and wouldn’t have had the money) in order to attend this year… but these are wonderful tips and I can definitely start preparing to attend next year, God-willing 🙂

  16. Thanks! It’s going to be hard to not try to talk with everyone. I’m all about goals, great reminder to set some about what I want to do at the conference.

    • well, Leslie, we’ll still probably talk to a lot of women, and there’s nothing wrong with that! I just wanted to take the pressure of myself and others who feel obligated to meet EVERYONE. lol

  17. Trina, this was so good. Deep vs. Wide??? AMEN! Last year I went wide. Waaaaayyyyy wide! Part of that was because I had a sponsor and was handing out samples and collecting cards for a giveaway. That was a nice way to break the ice (and I did love my sponsor!), but I when I look back at the conference, it was the deeper moments I had with people that meant the most to me. A fun supper with Annie & Donna, a meaningful eBook discussion with Danielle, and the gift of body butter from Stacy. If I am blessed enough to attend Allume again, I will be chanting “deep, not wide” in my head the whole time.

  18. Such good advice, friend. Especially as to expectations! Of course, I discovered at Relevant (my first blogging conference) that I am way more introverted than I thought. And I had a baby along, which makes for a reality that is much different than expectations! 🙂

  21. That notebook idea is genius! This will be my third year and I found all this advice to be very helpful.

    Being familiar with the schedule is helpful so you aren’t bumbling along between sessions trying to figure out what session to go to next. Instead you can be hugging friends and refilling your coffee! And going deep rather than wide is the golden egg in these tips. Each year I made one or two solid connections with ladies who are now some of my nearest and dearest friends. And they aren’t always the ones you think they are going to be!

  23. This is my DO: If you’re techie like me DO get Evernote and Evernote Hello. It will help you keep track of those people AND their business cards electronically with your smart phone. Because I have thousands of notebooks stashed EVERYWHERE and can’t remember where I’ve put them!

    If you’re not techie, then maybe bone up on it at home first before you bust it out at the conference!

    Thanks for giving us a “pass” to not be everything to everyone Trina! 😉

  24. Great advice! Went I went to my first conference, I went to the dollar store and bought a business card holder. I put the cards I collected in a certain class (or lunch, hallway, breakfast, etc.) in one pocket in order by time. Then put a post-it on that pocket when I went into the next session so I would at least know what day and approximate time I met someone. This was a great memory jogger. I felt like a senior in high school in the hallway with my new packet of senior pictures to swap! “I’ll give you my picture if you give me yours!” My best advice (aka 2 cents worth!) enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! It goes super fast. Let down your insecurities and relish in the presence of 400+ of your new best buddies!

  25. Trina, all of this is leaving my head spinning! I’ve been to many conferences in my other life, but never to a blogging conference- trying to decide whether to bring computer or not. I took it to last blog conference- didn’t pull it out once- not enough room in the conference rooms for me. One thing I learned was to give myself way more time than I thought was needed to make my way to the different sessions- everyone going the same way slows things and I found by being a little early I didn’t miss a minute and got to chat with other early birds a little along the way. I think for every one of us newbies, the concept of being in the presence of 399 other women who write is just a tiny bit intimidating. Especially, to those of us who are introverts and could very possibly turn into wallflowers watching from the fringes. Speaking to myself here to be especially observant and to make the connections that I could possibly miss out on by turning my focus inward to the “what ifs” that tend to swirl around when I’m in a big crowd.

  26. Thanks for all the great tips! I’m so excited and yet still very nervous – but your post helped calm my nerves some. Thanks

  27. This is an amazing post!! This will be my first year at Allume & first conference ever so I appreciate all the advice!!

  28. this is great! I’m going for the first time this year and I’m nervous! 😛 thank you for the ideas!

  29. Love the sleepover idea! And love, love, love all these tips. I have been to a number of women’s conferences. I was very much a part of the leadership team for many of them…and that can be really fun. You’re almost like a public figure, so no fear of being alone (not an introvert…but insecure!). I went to She Speaks totally alone and really I was terrified. In addition to being part of the speaking track, I was also presenting my book proposal to agents. Shaking in my boots! But it was so much fun…and I met so many wonderful women who I probably wouldn’t have met or sat with had I been with one or more of my friends or sisters (I have three and we love to be together, especially for God/women things!). This time I’m going with the co-founder of our new site http://www.circlesoffaith.org/. I think it will be an awesome time to be together…and an opportuntiy to spread out a bit too.
    I think my approach is going to be to stay close to God and ask Him to help me be in His flow and to be willing to serve however He calls.
    Psyched!!

  30. Blessed by this real and helpful post, Trina. This will be my first Allume/blogging conference, and that has been my heart’s prayer–that I would be a blessing…and would be inspired, not obsessed and overwhelmed in the process.

  31. oh, this was all very good. Thanks for sharing. My husband has used the notebook idea at his convention/conferences but then he went all high tech this year and scanned stuff into his iPad. I’ll be going low-tech and raiding my youngest daughter’s supply of paper products to find a little notebook.

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