really hate the word ‘conference’. It makes me think of horrible fluorescent lighting, stale sandwiches and 80s ladies power suits with ridiculous shoulder pads. This is a really weird way for me to think about conferences because most conferences I’ve attended, haven’t been like that at all. I can remember the first conference I went to – It was Problogger 2010. Mr Smaggle had read about it and said I should go. I was like ‘Why on earth would I want to do that?’. The thought of meeting bloggers TERRIFIED me. What would I even say to them? Couldn’t we all just stay in our own living rooms where pants are optional? He dragged me along and I was nervous as hell but it was one of the best things I had ever done. I got to meet Pip Lincoln for the first time and she was just as lovely and colourful in real life as I had imagined. That was my first ever conference and I’ve been to dozens since then. Every ‘big’ career milestone I’ve experienced has happened at a conference. I met my agent at a conference, I met my business wife Chrissy at a conference and I’ve made countless amazing, lifelong friends at conferences. People are a bit weird about conferences (I used to be one of them!) but trust me, they’re (usually) awesome. Here’s why you should go to a conference.
You get to meet heaps of freaks just like you
When you pursue a hobby quite seriously and your close mates aren’t interested in this hobby, no matter how much they try to get it, they will never understand. For example, I used to work with a woman who went to renaissance fairs. She’d bring these incredible dresses to work and hand bead them on her break. I loved hearing about her weird and wonderful reenactment weekends but I still couldn’t quite fathom how she spent so much time doing this weird thing. This is exactly why she’d go to these events to find weirdos just like her. Conferences help you find other people like you and they make you feel like you aren’t alone in your weirdness… this why I spend 90% of my travel budget gong to blogging events every year. Blogging weirdos are my weirdos.
It validates your interests or hobbies
I often get asked how I managed to make my blog my full time job and I can honestly say it’s because I committed to it and prioritised it consistently. This means I’ve said no to about 90% of backyard BBQs, board game nights and TV marathons I’ve been invited to over the past 8 years. I’m not even exaggerating. Some of my mates would think it was weird that I would give up so much of my leisure time for this blogging thing but then when I’m in a room full of other bloggers, it totally validates it. This applies to all genres – comic books, computer games, dog shows, craft fairs. Not that you need validation but sometimes it’s nice to meet other people who have pulled all nighters editing images and scheduling social media shares.
There’s always someone more experienced you can learn from
No matter how much I learn about blogging, there’s always more to learn and the best of the best people attend conferences. I have never walked away with an empty head from a conference and although I’ve learnt more at some conferences than others, I’ve never regretted going or regretted spending the money to attend.
There’s always someone less experienced you can help
That’s one of the best things about the community feel of a conference, you have the chance to help out other people. I’ve been very blessed to have met some awesome people in my blogging journey who gave me priceless advice and were very generous with their time. If I get the opportunity to help another blogger and give them advice, I always take it. A rising tide lifts all boats and it’s just lovely to be able to give back to a community that’s been supporting you.
Conferences have all the best stuff
Conferences are the best places to learn about all the new cool shit in your industry. I like to think I’ve got my finger on the pulse of all things internet but every time I go to a conference someone tells me about something awesome I’ve never heard of before and it totally blows my mind.
Speaking of conferences and events… My blogging wife Hair Romance and I hitting up Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney in November with our Little Blog Big course.
It’s a full day event with four awesome learning sessions, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, networking drinks, goodie bags, access to a room full of other bloggers, small business owners and creatives you can make friends with and a whole day with two professional bloggers who love to chin wag about the ol’ internets.
We have three workshops left in 2015
Brisbane – Saturday 7th November – (we’ve only got a handful of tickets left for this one so be quick!)
Canberra (Brought to you by WOTSO) – Saturday 14th November
Sydney (Brought to you by WOTSO) – Saturday 28th November
If the internet is annoying you and you want people to buy/read/love your stuff, you need to book yourself in for a Little Blog Big workshop. We promise you won’t regret it.
[divider type=”standard” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]
What’s the best conference you’ve ever been to? Have you been to a non-work one before?
[divider type=”standard” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]
Research has shown that people who subscribe to the Smaggle newsletter and like Smags on Facebook are, on average at least 32% better looking than people who don’t. You can’t argue with questionable science like that.
6 Comments
-
What you said when you think about conferences is why I loathe conferences I think. I hate being “locked” in a room with 500 other people trying to be inspired, because I find that the most uninspiring forum imaginable. Unfortunately in my industry this is what they still do. In saying that – a good conference is worth its weight in gold. I am just disillusioned sd I haven’t been to a good one for a while.
-
Author
What industry are you in? I guess I’m lucky because blogging conferences are full of professionals and people who blog for fun so the vibe is always pumping. I’ve never been to a hardcore professional one before – maybe that’s the difference!
-
-
ProBlogger was my first blogging conference. I had been to heaps of other conferences but they were all for previous jobs I’d had and we all worked for the same company so I knew a lot of the people. I didn’t know anyone at ProBlogger and I was nervous as hell. But it was amazing. I loved being around my kind of freaks and I can’t wait to go again next year! 🙂
-
I ADORE blogging conferences. None of my real life friends get the blogging thing at all (they try but they don’t really understand it) so being around people who really get it is just awesome. Bloggers are also particularly friendly!
-
-
I’m hanging to get to ProBlogger 2016, even if I’m not exactly “pro” just yet! As an introvert who likes to socialise, I just need somebody to throw me a bone and I’ll be loving it . . . just like you did when you welcomed me to LBB with a big greeting and hug! 😀
-
Oh that’s so lovely! Make sure you look for me – I’m there every year! x
-
