efore I started blogging, the idea of conferences totally baffled me. I was like ‘What are they even for? Is it a whole lot of people who do the same thing, just hanging out together???‘. The answer is yes. That’s pretty much what conferences are: a whole lot of people who like the same stuff, liking that stuff together in a room at the same time.
It seems simple enough but if you’re investing your time and cash into an event or conference, it’s important to do a little bit of preparation so you get the most out of it. Here are 9 ways to totally rock an event or conference.
1. Be a social media ninja
Even if youโre a beginner blogger, make sure you have all your social media profiles set up before you attend an event. If you donโt have a business or a blog yet, just use your name. People will want to connect with you and you need to make it easy for them. If that awesome group of people you met at lunch canโt find you on instagram, theyโll forget about you very quickly which is a huge waste of a potential online connection.
2. Order your business cards now
If you are currently booked into attend an event and you donโt have business cards, stop what you are doing and order them now. Business cards always take longer than you expect to arrive so donโt leave it to the last minute. Also, donโt over think it. It wonโt be the last business card you ever have. Done is better than perfect.
3. Practice your elevator pitchย
When someone asks you what your business is or what you blog about you need to give them a solid answer. If you faff around and waffle on about all the vague things you do, no one is going to be interested. You need to say โMy business/blog is โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ.. and it does โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ. andโฆโฆโฆโฆ……โฆโฆโ. Rehearse your answer before you attend so you never have to resort to a hazy ramble about what you do.
4. Stalk people ย
The speakers, the organisers and other attendees. If the conference has a Facebook page or forum, join it and participate in it. Know who youโre attending the conference with and start online conversations about it. You want people to know who you are when you get there, so be on everyone’s radar in the weeks leading up to it.
5. Dress the partย
If youโve built your brand on your cute rockabilly style, you canโt show up to an event in jeans and a t-shirt and expect people to notice you. Dress the part, dress โon brandโ and try to look as much like your profile picture as possible so people will recognise you.
6. Get involvedย
If you hear something awesome, tweet it. If you see something amazing instagram it. Make sure to use the conference hashtags and social media handles as well. Itโs a brilliant way to get more followers and to grab the attention of important people.
7. Volunteerย
Lots of conferences and events will offer free tickets to people who are willing to volunteer on the day of the event. This is an excellent idea for beginner bloggers and start ups because youโll get to meet everyone as a helper whilst simultaneously aligning yourself with big players in the industry. Major win.
8. Take breaks
No one can sit for 9 hours straight and effectively take in an overload of information. If youโre feeling like you need to fidget, go grab a cup of coffee. Honestly, the best networking is done in the hallways so never feel guilty about doing this.
9. Be realย
Donโt pretend you know someone when you donโt and when youโre talking to another attendee, don’t look over their shoulder for someone cooler to talk to. Thatโs the beauty of events and conferencesโฆ most people are there for the same reasons so everyone will be able to add value to your experience. There’s no one at any conference who isn’t awesome enough for you to talk to.
Conferences can seem really weird if you’re an event virgin but since I started attending blogging conferences 5 years ago, my world has completely changed. Every important thing that has happened in my career as a blogger, happened at a blogging conference or an event. I met all of my agents, including my current agent at conferences. I was invited to travel to India with World Vision at a blogging event. I met most of my favourite people at blogging conferences including my Little Blog Big partner in crime Christina Butcher from Hair Romance and Mr and Mrs Romance.ย
In March we held our very first Little Blog Big event in Melbourne and by the end of the day we were jumping up and down in my office hugging each other because the day was so surreal and awesome. Our attendees were utterly divine, we witnessed some amazing friendships forming and everyone was buzzing by the end of the day. One of our attendees made a 6 hour round trip for the event and said it was totally worth it, another brought bubbly for everyone and we had two mummy porn bloggers in attendance. It was brilliant.
Our Sydney workshop is coming up on April 18thย and we sold almost half the tickets on the first day they went on sale. Blogging events and conferences often seem to bypass Sydney which is totally weird but we’re on it. Sydney bloggers – this one’s for you!
Who should attend this workshop?ย
– Beginner bloggers who want to start off on the right foot
– Intermediate bloggers who need an extra shove in the right direction
– Social media and communication managers who want to spend their professional development $ on something that won’t bore them to death
– Small business owners who want to use a blog/social media to pimp their business
– Anyone in the online space who wants to hang out, learn from and make friends with other internet ninjas
What do I get for my dosh?
Four awesome hour long learning sessions –
1. Finding Your Blogging Groove
2. Getting The Most Out Of Social Media
3. Planning and Productivity With Your Blog
4. Media Kit Basics and Dealing With PRs
Also…
– Morning Tea
– Lunch
– Afternoon Tea
– Networking session and after workshop drinks
– Take-home worksheets
– A sweet-as goodie bag
– A whole room of awesome bloggers to make friends with
– A full day with 2 professional bloggers who love to answer questions about blogging
If you’re a Sydney blogger we’d LOVE to see you there.
BOOK TICKET NOW[divider type=”standard” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]
Where should Little Blog Big go next? The short list is Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth?
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P.S Donโt forget to follow Smaggle onย ย Facebookย and sign up for theย Smaggle weekly newsletterย so you donโt get all FOMO about missing out on awesome life hacks.
39 Comments
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Top tips! Can’t make this one as busy with kids but good luck with it and I will share to Sydney peeps.
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Author
That would be brilliant thank you! If this one sells out we’ll definitely do another one!
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Great tips, as always! I knew my stalking skills would come in handy one day! See you there!
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Author
Oh always. Stalking is the name of the game in the blogging world. You’re all over it. x
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What a great day we had with you Carly. I am very new to blogging and met a whole lot of experienced gals who were more than keen to share their tips. For all you Sydneysiders I wrote a post and took lots of pics, You can check it out here http://annabuckley.com/2015/03/28/when-life-imitates-art/ It was great to get out of my office and meet the real people behind the blogs I love. Good luck Carly…Melbourne was absolutely brilliant x
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Author
Thank you so much! It was such an amazing day – Chrissy and I were on a high all week in Bali. And thank you for bringing bubbles! What a lovely person you are. x
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Great advise.
I now wont stress that the business cards I had made are a not quite perfect! Cant wait till the 18th! Xx-
Author
Brilliant! Everyone gets so hung up on stuff like that (me included!) but honestly just get shit done and get it out there.
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Great tips Carly! I’m headed to queensland in August and hope I don’t implode with all the buzz, crowds and information.
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Author
Oh my goodness it will be off the charts! First timer at PB? It’s always so much fun.
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Going to events with other bloggers is the best for staying enthusiastic and energized about blogging. The best way of keeping my blogging mojo! Can’t wait til the 18th!
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Author
Oh brilliant! Can’t wait to see you!
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if I was a blogger smags! I’d be going to your event and listening to you!
you and Christine look like you really nailed it!
that first photo is just gorgeous girls!
love m:)X-
Author
Thank you! We’re thinking of having a social event sometime soon too!
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Oh my gosh. I love the pink in your friends hair!!!! Is that Christine from Hair Romance? You stunning ladies you!!
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Author
Yes that’s her! She literally had it done that day!
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Awesome, awesome advice my friend. And you know where my vote will be cast… Rads! x
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Author
We actually have a very cool idea for that… stay tuned!
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Thank you for this much needed guidance, Carly! I’m hoping to get to my first blogging conference in August (ProBlogger) so I’m going to bookmark this post & refer back to it again soon. *adds business cards to To Do list* ๐
And I’d love to attend a Little Blog Big event if you make your way to Brisbane. I’ll go to the site & sign up so I don’t miss any updates on this. ๐
Rachael
xo-
Author
Yes! Do business cards now! Our next place will be either Adelaide or Brisbane… it depends on who ‘wins!’.
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I love the tip about looking like your profile pic! Great bit of advice.
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Author
I have to have my hair out otherwise people don’t recocgnise me! Head scarves are okay because I wear them often but I really need to have the hair showing! ๐
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Come to Launceston!! Pretty please..
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Author
Oh I’d love that! If you can get 50 people we’ll be there with bells on!
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Such great tips! Thank you!
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Love all the tips! Especially the stalking and the hallway one!
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If Perth somehow wins, please let me know!
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Perth Perth Perth! We have lovely people and great wine plus I need an excuse to use my business cards ๐ Thanks for the tips. I’m a relative newbie and have only done one conference (a PBEvent in Perth earlier this year). It was a little overwhelming but I just had to suck it up, smile and get my chat on. Met some lovely bloggers as a result.
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Casting my vote for Radelaide! Attending something like this will be a massive push out of my comfort zone but one I’m willing to take!
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Brisbane! Brisbane! Brisbane! I have heard awesome things from the Melbourne event and know friends going to Sydney. I’m sad I’m missing out. ๐
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This sounds so fabulous, Carly! Can’t wait till you guys come to Brisbane ๐
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Ditto @calmtoconniption Brisbane! Brisbane! Brisbane! Sounds absolutely perfect and something I could potentially swing for PD for my work which will also help my blog ๐ BTW – you two have the greatest hair! Totally rockin it.
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I remember my first ProBlogger conference in Melbourne and was soooo excited to see my kinda people, who got what I talked about, that didn’t think it was rude to be on Facebook! I loved it and each year from then I have attended ProBlogger as well as completed a few online courses as well.
It’s a great way to learn, to talk to people, pick up tips, make new beautiful friends and the biggest thing I can advise someone is to just be you. Not everyone is the same and if we were it would be boring! As they saying goes “What’s the worst that could happen” so be brave and go up and introduce yourself to that one person you have always wanted to meet!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful tips ๐ xxx
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I’m just catching up on all the posts I missed. Awesome advice in here. I am a newbie to the conference scene and this advice is gold. I’m very excited for the upcoming PB event but totally out of my depth. Oh – and I vote for Brisbane, better yet the GC!
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