I can’t believe I’ve just attended my 3rd blog conference…………..this year! And I am getting better at meeting people and getting the most out of them. I know that a lot of you think ‘oh no a blogging conference isn’t for me because I have just started/my blog is for fun/I blog about craft/I’m just a mum/I don’t have time/it’s too technical for me/I’m not into that stufff/ I don’t want to make money…..
But the reality is that blog conferences are for everyone! Yesterday, 300 bloggers met up at Novotel on Collins for ProBlogger training day. There were new bloggers, professional bloggers, people thinking about a blog, people in their 20’s to people in their 60’s, people in suits and people in jeans, mummies, husbands of bloggers, fashion, food, reality, beauty, travel, geek, mummy, design, craft and every sort of blogger you could think of. There were even super cute little babies there too. I may have stared a little too long on those babies.
Now I may appear like a super happy, chatty and outgoing person but put me in a conference situation and I get a bit nervous. I really recommend taking a buddy with you or organising to meet someone there to overcome any nerves. Liss almost crashtackled me at the registration desk as we haven’t seen each other in months since she is working in Manila at the moment. I miss my Liss terribly so I loved spending the day with her and we’ve been blog conference buddies this year.
And yesterday I did something different. I went out of my way to talk to every single person that I sat next to, stood next to, made a coffee for (there was a fancy nespresso machine that I mastered and then went on to make about 8 coffees for other people at various times of the day), on my way to the bathroom and so on. I would turn to whoever I was sitting next to and ask them what they blogged about. That started it off. I was so proud of myself because I got so much more out of the conference and met so many new people. And there were so many gorgeous people to meet all at different stages of blogging. Retro daddy said ‘good for you, you were networking’. Well, yes I was.
The blog critique session was really great – imagine having your blog up on the screen for a professional blogger to critique. In front of a packed out room. He picked two brave bloggers to have their blogs up there. Where should you put your posts, your about me page, your email subsciber form, how big should your font be for your readers to enjoy, social media icons – do you need them, where to put pictures and so on. See this isn’t super technical stuff – this is relevant stuff for everyday bloggers to think about so that everyone can find and enjoy your blog.
In fact the first session of the day was about blogging from the heart and blogging smart. I can honestly say that I always blog from the heart and think of you my lovely readers before I put a blog post out there or accept an opportunity. But I know that there are more efficient ways I could be blogging, ways I could change the way my blog looks and so on. For these reasons blog conferences are perfect for me and of course it’s the meeting people who love doing what you do. So here are MY top tips for getting the most out of a blog conference
1. Talk and listen. Don’t be shy. Just talk to other attendees about what their blog is about – it’s the best icebreaker in the world. Chances are they might be just as nervous as you are. If you’re really, really, really shy then invite a buddy. It’s great to have a buddy to beat any nerves and meet people together, have someone for break time and so on. Always sit somewhere different during the day too and start talking to the person next to you.
2. Take notes of what is relevant/resonates with you and write a call to action before you leave! So many things can slip away from your memory but I wrote a one page of things I could do straight away and things to work on over time.
3. Get on twitter BEFORE the conference with the hashtag and find out who’s coming, start talking, arrange to say hi, meet up and get excited.
4. Ask for business cards, hand out your own, get blog names and twitter names of everyone you meet.
5. Don’t assume that blog conferences are too high tech or advanced for you. They aren’t. There are people thinking about starting blogs who attend and people from all walks of life.
I missed this girl like crazy so here she is sitting while I type today!
And to prove I met lots of people here we go – these are the people I met – are you ready? Frills in the Hills, Problogger, Chris Garrett, Sonia Simone, Vanessa Monaghan, Lori from RRSAHM, Woogsworld, Nicky from Styling You, Edenland, Sawhole, StMurphy, Goodgoogs and her gorgeous baby Piper, AngelicaMinx, Shae from Yay for home, Denyse Whelan, Toushkalee, Picklebums, Miss Poppett aka Cintia (see a craft blogger was there too), Pilgrim Lee, Crash Test Mummy, Lynda from Nuffnang, the House that AM Built, Blogchicks, Dani Mezza, Lizosaurus, Fox in Flats, 74LimeLane, Elise from meditatecreate, emma from realityraver, Tina Gray, Organised Housewife, Fashion Adjacent, Dorothy and a few more too.
I have to say a huge congrats and thank you to ProBlogger, the organisers and the speakers. Chris Garrett and Sonia Simone were a highlight. The topics and discussions were so relevant. And that’s the beauty of a blog conference, you can take away a little bit or a lot. I promise to share more with you that I think you’d be interested in. Watch this space………….
Seeing and meeting bloggers was one of the highlights. And it is so true, you could have struck up a convo with anyone there xxx
Other bloggers really make these conferences/workshops even more awesome than they already are!
I’m jealous
Looking forward to hearing more about what you learnt. Hopefully I will get along to another conference sometime.
Sounds like a very interesting conference,would be very helpful. hope to hear more from you.
Being older I am slower to work it out but get there eventually.I need to learn heaps!!!
Lovely to hear about it, I couldn’t get there, boo too. Hubby away, four bairns, no relies, too hard! Would love to hear more. But wanted to say that your blog does NOT need a makeover. It’s very beautiful and also very clear and user-friendly, simple in lots of ways, and stunning in lots too.
I really love how you use all your own photos, I am aiming to as well and it’s time-consuming but very satisfying. I need the inspiration though!
What a great day you must have had! And networking, very powerful! I will be watching out to see the tips and tricks that you learnt. Like you, I blog from the heart too.
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge about blogging. I’m finding that it can be a very useful way to connect with like-minded people and it’s always good to learn more about it and how I can improve my blog. http://sewmanyquiltstoolittletime.blogspot.com
Pity you didn’t meet my friend and client Catherine Saxelby of Foodwatch. She’s really lovely. Glad you had such a good time though. Maybe next year…
I’m so sorry I missed you! I could totally have got into a tripod with you and Liss and died happy xo
What a brilliant rundown of your day Corrie. It does sound like everyone would get something out a conference like this and if nothing else, it sounds like a good place to meet up with fellow bloggers :o)
Love that pic of Elodie, I can understand you missing that little face xo
I really enjoyed meeting you too! Was such an amazing day.
It was lovely to see such a wide variety of bloggers all talking and having a great time. Such a refreshing vibe versus some of the more hardcore SEO/affiliate conferences where you get people competing as much as networking 😉
Glad you enjoyed it and especially the critique session seeing as that was the moment the internet decided to fail on us … so glad nobody walked out on me 😉
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