It’s summer blog conference time! One of the bigger conferences bloggers attend is BlogHer. This year it’s in San Jose, California. Ah, the Silicon Valley, such an amazing place. If you are going to BlogHer for the first time, I’ve got some tips to help you ease through your nervousness. While most of my blog conference tips are centered around my experiences at BlogHer, they can be applied to just about any blogging conference.
Blog conference tips #1: Be friendly.
Honestly, most of the gals there are welcoming and friendly. Just say hi and start chatting. You have an opening line. You all have a blog. Ask them what they write about…that always breaks the ice because bloggers love talking about their blogs. Other things to talk about: Where they are from? Have they been to BlogHer before? Have they been to California before? How long have they been blogging? What sessions/parties are they going to attend?
See? I’ve given you tons of things to talk about with people you haven’t even met yet! Where can you use this blog conference tip? The meals are a great place to break the ice. Seating is usually at tables with 10 chairs, so sit down next to someone and say hello.
Blog conference tips #2: Breathe.
Get over your nervousness. Take a deep breath. Most of the other women are nervous too, especially if it’s their first time there. Women who have been to these things more than once are there to hang out and have a good time. It’s not high school anymore. I’d say most of the women at BlogHer conferences were NOT the popular kids in high school, and they are OK with that. Just be polite and you’ll have fun. Take a chance and say hello. If someone is rude to you, now you have blog fodder!
Blog conference tips #3: Wear comfy shoes.
And bring more than one pair of them. You will do ALOT of walking. We are talking Vegas strip and/or Disneyland amounts of walking. Sure the hotel might be right next to the convention center, but I’m pretty sure you’re going to have a hike from your room to the Expo floor. It’s also nice to change your shoes after a long day of walking. Before going to the parties, you’ll likely head back to your room to freshen up anyway. Bring some cute shoes (that are comfy) for the parties. It sort of gets me out of expo/session mode and into party mode to put on fun shoes.
Blog conference tips #4: Work on your elevator speech.
What do you blog about? Is a great way to break the ice, but what if someone asks you that question who works for a brand? My blog started out as a way to vent my frustrations, which isn’t very enticing to brands. Now, it’s a lifestyle blog with a dash of humor. My guess is that if you are at a blogging conference, you probably want to get paid to blog at some point in the future.
All business people have an elevator speech about their business. It’s a two to three sentence summary of what they do. If you are going to be wandering the Expo, you will want to have this blog conference tip memorized, so you feel more confident when interacting with the brand folks. Don’t be afraid to sell yourself. You are awesome and you need to tell others how awesome you are.
Blog conference tips #5: Have fun.
Honestly, BlogHer is what you make of it. The last time I went, I barely went to any sessions. I just 
walked around the Expo and went to parties. Maybe you are meeting some social media friends in real life for the first time. It happens. I’ve done it and it was FANTASTIC.
Go to as many sessions as you want. Go to none. Spend all day getting swag at the Expo. Sleep in until noon. Go to all the parties. Throw your own party and bring along these social media photo props I made. See sights in the Bay Area. Listen to all of the speakers and blog about them.
There is no right or wrong way to do BlogHer. Enjoy yourself and bring back some goodies and some good memories.
{Melinda} Great tips! I’ve been to many writing/speaking conferences, but I’m going to my FIRST blogging conference in October. I’ve used these tips at writing conferences, too and they really are effective. Getting past the nerves takes a little time, but it’s the key to being bold and doing scary things at these conferences that can really pay off!
Mothering From Scratch recently posted…teaching kids faith: focus on relationship over rules
Have fun, Melinda! I’m glad to know they worked. I also think the older we get, the more comfortable in our skin we are, so it gets a little easier to be bold.
Thank you so much for these tips…especially the first few questions. I’ll be attending my first blog conference in September, and the hardest part for me will likely be those first introductions. Your tips will definitely come in handy.
Leslie recently posted…Happy Independence Day
I’m happy to help, Leslie! Just remember, everyone is a little nervous, even those who seem totally confident. And you have something to talk about…you are all bloggers!
Going to my first conference “Bloggy Boot Camp” in Philly this September so this article grabbed my attention. It’s always so helpful to get an “experienced” take on things we haven’t done yet.
Thanks!
Patti recently posted…Cooking with Herbs – A Garden Matter Series
I went to Bloggy Boot Camp last year and it was so great! In one day I learned more about blogging and running my blog like a business than I ever had in my 10 years of blogging. The SITS Girls are so awesome and you come away from the experience with your heart and mind full of ideas and inspiration.
Great Tips! I am definitely taking notes..I’m headed to my very first conference next year at Bloggy Boot Camp and I am beyond excited! I had thought of the shoes but I am glad to know I was headed in the right direction…I’m thinking some really awesome ballet flasts for the day 🙂
Tiffany recently posted…My NEW Summer Do {Reveal}
Glad to help! Bloggy Boot Camp is the best blog conference out there. It’s only one day, but chock full of information and inspiration.
Great tips! I would love to go to a blog conference. 🙂
MaDonna recently posted…July Giveaway – Bunny Coasters + Washi Prize Pack
You can do it! Just start planning and saving up. You’ll get there. 🙂
I love the example you gave in the elevator speech tip — “lifestyle blog with a dash of humor” vs. a blog for venting frustrations. One sounds like fun, the other sounds…well, not so fun. Same blog, way better description. How we frame things is so important!
Nancy Man recently posted…The 4 Most Patriotic Names of All Time?
Exactly! That’s why you should work on what you want to say to brands. It doesn’t have to be rehearsed, but it’s a good idea to get familiar with what you want to say.
Amy,
Thanks for the great tips! This is my first BlogHer conference and I’m so incredibly excited to go. I’m going representing a brand so I’m hoping to have my own opening lines for people too. I’m not usually nervous talking with new people, but I’m a little nervous about being on my own and having to approach new people. At the same time… my excitement about it is at an all-time high too! I’m hoping to make some wonderful new friends!
You’re welcome! I’m sure you’ll meet some really cool people. You’ll do fine. If you are representing a brand, many people will be eager to talk to you. Don’t sweat it.
Thanks for the tips! I have been to a few conferences, but this will be my first BlogHer conference. Are you going this year?
Raquel recently posted…Timesaving Travel Apps
No, this year BlogHer is not in the budget. We spent all of our extra cash on our wedding. I will definitely try to go next year!
Great list!
Bringing some sort of blog business card is good too (especially at the food blog conferences), people always want to exchange contact info and keep in touch!
Thanks! Yes, that is a good idea. I had thought about adding the business card tip, but figured that was something as a given. Also, be sure to put your social media info on your cards.
And even with comfy shoes…BRING MOLESKIN. Or come find me. I’ll be fully loaded with that stuff.
Good point! You never know when those supposedly comfy shoes can’t stand up to the walking.
Great post, Amy!
It’s on my ‘to-do’ list to attend a blogging conference! Too bad Ohio doesn’t have much!
ugh!
-Josh
Josh Coffy recently posted…7 Google Productivity Hacks That Will Change Your Business
Thank you! Actually, every two years, the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop is held in Dayton, OH. http://humorwriters.org/ I’ve always wanted to go to that and hope to get a chance to do so, now that I live closer to Ohio. 🙂
Thanks for the tips. First time attendee here too! Trying to do all my research (I’m a planner…) 😉
Hope you have a great time! Thanks for reading.