blogging conferences | amotherworld

You’re going to a conference and you’re nervous – aren’t you? How do I talk to people? What do I wear?!

Oh the joys of social anxiety! I’m neither an extrovert nor an introvert – I’m both depending on my mood and the day, to be completely honest. Some days I’m workin’ a room, chatting it up with everyone. Other days, I’m a little more subdued and shy.

But I’m mentally preparing myself for the whirlwind that is to come during conference season in Toronto.

Here are six tips to remember when attending conferences:

1. Don’t be afraid to say hello!

Introduce yourself to people – remember, you’re all there for the same reason. You’re all there to meet, connect and network so don’t be shy to start up a conversation. Don’t know where to start?

Just go up to someone and say, “hi I’m so and so.” Don’t forget to tell them your Twitter handle! Many people I know I recognize by their Twitter name before I recognize their face or their name. So for example, I will say: “Hi, I’m Maria aka amotherworld on Twitter.” Exchange in some small talk, exchange business cards and boom!

If you’re super nervous about meeting a speaker or brand, do the same thing – say hi, great talk or love your product and exchange cards.

2. Pack well.

Make sure you have extra space if you decide to go shopping and bring home swag. Bring comfortable clothing! You may not want to spend all day in high heels so bring a pair of comfortable but stylish flats or riding boots. Leave the stilettos for after hours.

3. Mingle!

Try not to stay in the corner with your friends – get out there and mingle with new people. Although you want to spend time with your peeps, this is the time to meet new people and make new contacts.

4. Take Notes

Whether you’re bringing your phone, tablet, laptop or a pen and paper, take notes. There will surely be an overload of information that you won’t be able to remember. If you do bring a laptop, remember that it is heavy to lug around so a tablet or even a notebook might be a better bet. You can always leave your laptop in your hotel room.

5. Tweet away

People who aren’t able to attend love to read all about the conference sessions via social media. It’s also great to go back and re-read tweets later on when using the appropriate hashtag on Twitter. Follow the hashtag throughout the conference and connect with people after the session by tweeting them.

6. Follow up

Pick up those business cards! It’s always fun post-conference to go through your bags and business cards. Follow up with those you met, even just a “hello, nice to meet you” email will suffice.

Need more tips? Read my Dos and Don’ts at Blogging Conferences post!

This October, BlissDom Canada held its second blogging and social media conference for women in Toronto. Blogging, public relations and social media professionals gathered together at the Hilton for two days of networking, business development, community building and inspiration.

Many who attended have written about their experiences post-conference. Some shared their bliss while others shared what they missed.

I didn’t attend the conference last year but I can say with confidence that in just a year, blogging and social media has changed so much. This is the reason why I think perhaps the conference resonated differently with so many.

And every year will prove to be different. We should never expect to get comfortable in this online industry because it is constantly evolving.

It’s tough to pack two full days of topics that cover the entire scope of blogging and social media. But I think BlissDom did a wonderful job of covering some key points: the art and the business of blogging/social media.

Having said that, I probably should have pulled a George Costanza – remember the episode where he decided to do the opposite of what he thought he wanted?

Rather than attending the business/monetization sessions, I realized afterwards what my soul really craved was the much-needed inspiration that I would have likely received from the creative/writing sessions.

The success stories shared were inspiring and wonderful to hear but I think some would have loved to hear even more about how those successes came to be, including the challenges and mistakes along the way.

The social aspect of the conference is what draws many; I enjoyed seeing online friends and meeting new ones. The networking and connecting in real life is the most fun of all.

Although it may have seemed to some that the wave of the future is bloggers/social media personalities partnering with brands, I think the conference showed that many are going back to #OSB – Old School Blogging. Many attended simply – and refreshingly – for the love of writing.

The conference is just a part of much larger picture – that blogging and social media in general is shifting. Whether you are a brand, blogger, social media specialist or PR person, it’s important for all to remember that everyone will take away something different from blogging and social media conferences.

And while the industry is constantly changing, knowing that, embracing it and enjoying the natural flow, along with maintaining one’s authenticity, is the key to success.