Blog Conference for the First Time Attendee

How many of you have been to a blog conference? I haven't, but that's going to change come May. I am going to be attending the Casual Blog Conference. I'm really excited about it!

I decided the Casual Blog Conference would be a great first time conference for me for many reasons. Beside the fact that it's set near my home, the CBC is for all kinds of bloggers, not just exclusive to the heavy hitters of the big blog world. The CBC is offering numerous classes on photography, writing, blogging, design, digital scrapbooking, social media, advertising and more. Plus they have a great lineup of great speakers.

Soon after I bought my tickets I started thinking about the conference and started getting a little nervous. I always get a little nervous when I do new things. I guess I just like to know what I am getting myself into, if you know what I mean. I decided the best way to relax and not worry about the CBC was to learn more about blog conferences, so I recruited the help from a few bloggers to help attendees (myself included) get ready.

Here's what these bloggers had to say.

What to expect at a blog conference

April from Living the Sweet Life
Prepare to be overwhelmed with great information. A conference is a great way to meet your blogging friends, to learn about how to take your blog to the next level and to make some good connections.

Kami from No Biggie
You can expect a lot of socializing, parties, and learning from some of your favorites (hopefully).

Vanessa from I Never Grew Up
Expect to put yourself out there. Its almost like going to a new school for the first time, not AS scary because most of the women are quite nice. Just know that you really to get noticed, learn things, make connections just take a deep breath and jump in. If you do you will learn even more. Although you will learn quite a bit in all of the wonderful classes!

Danni from oh, hello friend
Expect lots of FUN! TONS of networking so be prepared. Lots of blog chat, lots of meeting new friends, maybe stepping a bit outside your comfort zone.

Marie from Make and Takes
Get ready to make new friends. Conferences are all about meeting people in real life. You come out from behind the computer to meet and greet in person. It's fun to get to know other people and talk blogs, something we all have a passion for.

Destri from The Mother Huddle
I think I have learned the most at conferences simply by opening up conversation to other attendees. It is a unique atmosphere in which everyone involved is wanting to learn and share. You don't get that opportunity a lot so take advantage of it! Talk with the people you admire, ask them what has worked for them, it's the one time to do it. This is not the time to be shy.

How to prepare for a blog conference

April from Living the Sweet Life
Read up on the speakers. Read their blogs know more about them and make a list of questions for them. If the session goes to Q&A you will be prepared.

Kami from No Biggie
Prepare to make connections. Use that time with companies and bloggers to network. Great blog posts/giveaways can come from your time spent at these conferences.

Vanessa from I Never Grew Up
Take good care of yourself so you feel and look great! Nothing would be worse than going with no sleep or feeling sick and make a kinda of blah first impression to all of the people you meet.

Danni from oh, hello friend
I didn't do much to prepare.One sweet person made little business card holders to pass out at the conference so I thought that was a sweet little touch. I may make a little something to bring at the next conference I go to.

Marie from Make and Takes
Find out who the speakers are going to be. Read their bios and check out their blogs. It's good to know what their background is and what you might be able to ask them at the conference.

Destri from The Mother Huddle

Make your business cards stand out! The last conference I went to I was amazed at how creative everyone was. I remembered those people. I checked their blogs, their cards were cool, they had to be, right? Find out who will be speaking and get familiar with there blogs. Link to them, introduce yourself, anything so that when you have a chance to talk to them at the conference, you will already have a connection.

What to bring to a blog conference

April from Living the Sweet Life
- business cards with your email, blog address, twitter name - a laptop if at all possible with an extension cord so you can plug it in while in the sessions
- pain killers and water you will most likely need both
- cute, stylish, yet comfortable shoes
- a phone with the internet to connect with those on twitter during the conference

Kami from No Biggie
You should always bring your blog/business/mom card...and lots of them. You will meet a lot of people in a short period of time, and exchanging cards is a great way for them to remember you and for you to remember them.

Vanessa from I Never Grew Up
DO bring business cards, don't break the bank buying them, just spend a bit but do bring them and don't be shy to hand them out! Take notes, that you will actually look over again! Write down names, blogs of people, twitter handles etc.

Danni from oh, hello friend
Business cards and be sure to hand them out. I didn't hand out as many cards as I thought I would but I wish I had! Bring a nice evening dress, in case there's a nice party or something. I brought jeans, but they had a fun party after the first day and I felt so silly in my jeans.

Marie from Make and Takes
I like to have a pen and paper in hand as I'm always getting inspired with new ideas for my own blog that I want to write down to remember. You can bring your laptop, but I never seem to pull it out of my bag. The pen and paper seem to do just fine.

Destri from The Mother Huddle
There will be a lot of information to process all at once. So take a pen and notebook for writing down key points. That way you can go home and have a chance to really absorb it all. Bring a bag, there always seems to be a lot to collect at conferences. Bring your camera! I never have, and always regret it. And a smile of course.

Other tips

April from Living the Sweet Life
Don't forget about all the fun parties that often surround conferences. Sign-up for them ahead of time because most if not all will fill up way ahead of time.

Kami from No Biggie
Have fun! Think of this time as a girls trip or a girls night out, and enjoy it!

Vanessa from I Never Grew Up
If you take a pal with you so you are not as scared be sure not to use them as a crutch. This is all about meeting new people, learning from them and using these connections to help you in the blog world.

Danni from oh, hello friend
At the blog conference I went to, some girls planned a dinner get together and that was so fun and surreal to have dinner with so many blog friends. If you can, plan a dinner or a get together with some friends you know will be going so you can be sure to meet up.. beyond just seeing each other at the conference.

Marie of Make and Takes
Shares three reasons to attend a blog conference.

Destri from The Mother Huddle

Go to the social aspects of the conference, you'll find that is where you make the best contacts.

Be yourself and have fun!

Will you be attending the Casual Blogger Conference? I'm excited to meet and share ideas with everyone else out there. Come introduce yourself and I hope I see you there!

Vanessa, Destri and April will be speaking at the Casual Blog Conference so look for them!

Tickets are sold out but you can get on the waiting list here.