Thinking about attending some blog conferences? From learning to networking, they're worth it. Find out four reasons why you should buy that ticket today.
I love going to blog conferences! If you've never been to one, you're probably wondering why you should go. Below are four benefits of attending a conference for bloggers.
1. Learning New Information & Skills at Blogging Conferences
The biggest benefit is learning something new. Most blog conferences offer a variety of sessions covering many topics. Typically, the speakers present about whatever the hot topics are that year.
For example, in the last couple of years bloggers are starting to really focus on their search engine optimization for their sites. Several of the blogging conferences I've attended recently have had sessions on SEO.
Some other topics that might be covered at blog conferences are:
- Blog monetization
- Affiliate marketing
- Goal-setting
- Building your brand
- Social media
- Pitching to brands
- Email marketing
- Campaign Reporting
- Video
- Creating a media kit
- Photography
- Productivity
- Legal issues with blogging
- Planning
- Podcasting
- WordPress technical topics
I leave blog conferences with new skills and new ideas to implement for my blog.
What to Watch Out For
If I have a criticism about the information sessions at blog conferences, it's that sometimes there are two sessions scheduled at the same time that I want to attend.
If this happens to you, ask the conference coordinators if videos of the sessions will be available. Many will post these after the conference is over.
At a minimum, you should be able to get the handouts or slides from the presentations that you miss.
What to Do
After the conference is over, it's easy to be overwhelmed with all of the things you want to implement. I usually have a special notebook (or I use the last pages of the notebook) to make a list of everything I want to implement.
On my way home (if I'm flying), I'll go through the list and prioritize it based on what will impact my blog the most.
There are always a few things that can be implemented quickly, so I try to get those done when I have just a few minutes to work on my blog.
Note: It is perfectly fine to skip a session to implement something you've learned. I've done that before if I thought that the implementation will benefit me more than the topic of the next session.
When you come home from a blogging conference, make sure you implement SOMETHING. If you attended the conference with a buddy, hold each other accountable.
2. Networking at Blog Conferences
A second benefit of attending a blogger's conference is networking. That big blogger you've been wanting to guest post for? She just might be at the conference. Make sure you introduce yourself and ask if she accepts guest posts.
You may meet someone who wants to collaborate with you on a giveaway or a challenge. Or they may ask you if they can add your blog to their database for future roundups.
You may be the person looking for collaborators–guest posts for your blog, guests for your podcast, or even someone to do a social media takeover day.
Conferences are a great place to find folks. For the most part, if they've invested their money and time in a blogger conference, they're probably serious content creators.
What to Watch Out For
It can be hard to work up the courage to talk to someone you don't know–especially if they always have a group of people around them.
I consider myself fairly extroverted, and that's hard for me. Many bloggers I know are self-described introverts which makes it even more difficult.
I didn't know anyone at the first couple of conferences I attended. And when I approached a group of two or three people, we would chat for a minute, but then it felt like I was just intruding. It was pretty lonely.
What to Do
If you search online for “how to meet people at a conference if you're introverted,” you'll find many articles that can help you. This one from Danielle Liss of Businessese is great.
Make sure you take care of yourself, but don't leave a conference without meeting a few people.
When you're home, follow your new friends on their social media platforms, share their posts, and subscribe to their newsletters. Send them an email or a direct message telling them you enjoyed meeting them.
When you touch base, they're more likely to follow you back and share your content.
They'll also remember you when you want to talk to them about a collaboration or joint venture.
Don't give up. Go back the next year. The more conferences you go to, the more people you'll know at the next one.
3. Meeting Brands at Blogger Conferences
Whether you're looking for ambassadorships, sponsored post opportunities, or affiliate relationships, meeting the people who make these decisions in person is a plus.
Even if you're already working with a company, face-to-face time is really beneficial. At the last conference I attended, my friend Kelly from EatPicks and I met with the affiliate manager for a company that we are both promoting.
Kelly asked about how to improve her conversion rate when she promotes the company's product via social media. The manager gave us a great tip that has helped.
What to Watch Out For
Before you go to a conference, find out how the time with brands is going to work. Will it be an expo hall with times to visit, or do you need to make an appointment with the brand in advance?
If it's appointment-based, go through the list of companies that will be there to decide who you want to talk to.
Note: Often the exhibitors at blogger conferences are affiliate management companies like my friends at Apogee Agency. They represent a couple dozen brands. Make sure you browse through the agencies' client lists so you'll know if you should schedule time with them.
If there's a company that you really want to meet with, schedule an appointment even if the conference has open exhibit hall time. You'll probably need to meet at a different time (during a break or during a session) to ensure that they can give you their full attention.
What to Do
Send your contact a quick email. You may want to send them your media kit too.
If it's an affiliate company, add links to your existing content, and share those posts on social media.
Brainstorm what you would like to pitch to the company, and make a note on your calendar for the date to send the pitch.
4. Hanging Out with Your People at Blog Conferences
Most of us work alone. Our family and friends don't always “get” what we do.
Blogging conferences are our opportunity to spend time with others who know what we mean when we talk about SEO, WordPress plugins, or Google Analytics and Search Console.
Talking to other bloggers in person gives you the chance to ask about issues you're having. You can ask if anyone has a great strategy for growing an email list or getting a better click through rate from search results.
Fellow bloggers don't need to be reminded that they should not take a sip of their drink or a bite of their food until the food bloggers have taken all the pictures they want. 🙂
What to Watch Out For
When we have friends at a conference, it's easy to just hang out with them. If you do this, you'll miss out on what you might have learned from the blogger you didn't meet.
What to Do
If you see someone awkwardly standing alone, think back to how you felt as a new attendee who didn't know anyone. Invite that person to chat with your group.
Make it a point to meet three (or five or ten) new people each day.
Sit next to someone new during a session, and introduce yourself before it starts.
Strike up a conversation with someone while standing in the bathroom line. You never know who you might meet.
Your turn. What do you think is the best benefit of going to a blog conference?
Jenna Urben says
I attended my first food blogger conference earlier this year! It was absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to visit more conferences. I loved meeting people IRL, chatting with brands, and learning new techniques.