Tips for Conference Newbies
Photo credit: Justin Hackworth
I want to share one more conference-related post with you before getting back to the food posts. Thank you for indulging me.
While attending EVO '11 a couple of weeks ago, I came up with the idea to write a post for anyone who is thinking of attending their first blogging/social media conference. I know I'm not the first to write this type of post, but since this was my first conference experience, my "newbie" perspective might be helpful to some of you who want to know more about these types of conferences. Keep in mind that these tips are just as helpful if you are a conference veteran too!
Pace Yourself. Find Balance.
Easier said than done, right? But it's crucial to your well-being and sanity. At conferences, you can do as much or as little as you want, but if you are attending for the first time, I encourage you to find a good balance between attending sessions, networking and giving yourself some down time. After all, you (or your sponsor) will have spent considerable dollars for your conference ticket, airfare, transportation and hotel, so it's important to take advantage of the panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities that are available. You don't have to do all of the activities (it's actually impossible), but pick the panels and activities that are interesting for you and your blog or business and make it a point to attend them. Use the down time in the conference agenda to take a power nap, go for a walk, exercise or just sit somewhere quiet to write notes, gather your thoughts or zone out. We all decompress differently, so do what works best for you.
Photo credit: Justin Hackworth
Relax. Breathe. Don't Rush.
It will be overwhelming--in a totally good way--but overwhelming nonetheless. When I first arrived at The Canyons, I immediately checked in and went to my room. I took my time to freshen up, change into more comfortable clothes, and unpack my suitcase. I organized my things and put them in places around the room where I could easily access them throughout the weekend. I then went down to the conference area to get the lay of the land, register and confirm my workshop attendance. I did feel (and most likely looked) like a deer in the headlights, but that feeling quickly passed once I familiarized myself with the agenda, found my way around the resort and had a healthy lunch. Which brings me to my next point...
Stay Healthy.
This applies no matter where in the country (or the world) you go for a conference, but I want to address high altitude destinations specifically. Park City, Utah (where the EVO conference takes place) is located at an altitude of 6,500 feet above sea level and certain areas can go as high as 10,000 feet above sea level. If you have never traveled or don't travel often to high altitude destinations, you're likely to feel the effects of the reduced amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. The good news is that your body will acclimate to the altitude within a few days, but you still need to take extra good care of yourself--drink lots of water throughout the day (and night), reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption, slow down your pace when you walk, run or hike, and go up stairs slower. The first day at the conference, I went up a flight of stairs at my usual brisk pace and when I got to the top, I was winded and woozy. *gasp* *pant* *faint* (just kidding on the *faint* ...almost.)
And whatever you do, don't skip meals. It's easy to forget to eat when you are talking with new friends, visiting sponsor suites and flitting from one session to another, but conferences build mealtimes into the agenda, so be sure to eat. We had some seriously delicious food at this year's conference, complete with snack breaks and healthy treats in both swag bags and sponsor suites. Don't be shy and help yourself! Your body (and blood sugar) will thank you.
Photo credit: Justin Hackworth
Unplug. Just for a while...
Although I only have one blogging conference under my belt, I'm pretty sure that all blogging conferences provide a wireless connection so we can tweet, text, email, Facebook, Skype and Instagram to our heart's content. The Canyons generously provided their wireless signal to us free of charge both in our rooms and in the conference area, so we were constantly plugged in all weekend. While it was beyond fun reading my Twitter stream and posting Facebook updates, I also made sure to have periodic stretches of time where I unplugged. I left my iPad in my hotel room and kept my iPhone in my purse. The hands-down best part of blogging conferences is meeting the people who author the blogs and websites we read and the tweets we follow. So take time to look up from your smartphone, laptop, iPad and camera. Connect with people without the use of technology. You won't regret it.
Photo credit: Justin Hackworth
Be Genuine. Be Sincere. Be Yourself.
Most people (myself included) can smell a phony a mile away. It sounds harsh, but it's true. Don't try to be someone you aren't--you'll only make a bad impression. That being said, you do have to be "on" when you are networking, which means you will be having a variety of conversations about a variety of topics. That's the beauty of networking--you're meeting different people from different backgrounds with different life perspectives. Have fun with that and don't be afraid to let your curiosity and wonder show. People love to be asked about themselves, their blogs, their businesses and their family, so ask away! Learn from them. Don't try to come off like you know everything about another person's field. Networking is not about ego, so check it at the door.
Photo credit: Justin Hackworth
Branch Out. Reach Out.
If you get to a conference and you already know some people, make an effort to get to know new people too and introduce them to the people you already know. There's nothing wrong with hanging out with the people you know well, but keep in mind that there will be people attending who don't know anyone and are there with the hope of meeting bloggers they admire, making new connections, and establishing new friendships. Be welcoming to everyone. Smile. Start up a conversation. You never know who you'll meet and what talents they have to offer to make your life that much richer.
Photo credit: Justin Hackworth
Bring Business Cards.
You don't have to spend a fortune, hire a graphic designer or have a logo (unless you want to do those things), but it is important to have business cards to hand out to your new friends and contacts so when they return home, they can spend more time reading your website or blog and have your information to get in contact with you in the future. There are plenty of affordable options available online or you can use a template on a word processing program and print them yourself. Your card should have these elements: Your name (first and last), blog or business name, blog or business website address, email address, Facebook page title (if applicable), and Twitter handle (if applicable). If you have a business offering a specific service, you may want to consider adding a telephone number.
Follow Up.
Don't fall off the map with your new friends once you leave the conference. Follow up within a week or two and tell your new friends that you enjoyed meeting them, thank them for any advice or guidance they gave you, exchange additional information and email them pictures you took together. The one thing there isn't enough time for at these conferences is time to talk at length with friends. Conversations are often brief and change quickly from one subject to another. It's fun, but can leave your head spinning and overflowing with thoughts, ideas and questions. Following up with people you want to stay in touch with will allow you to continue your conversation and idea-sharing indefinitely and keep you connected until you see each other at the next conference!
Say Thank You.
Conferences are made possible in large part by the many sponsors that generously underwrite the parties, meals, activities and swag that you participate in and receive. At EVO, every sponsor had a suite throughout the hotel that was open each day for attendees to wander in and out of to sample their product or service, talk with representatives, and enjoy refreshments. Make it a point to thank the representatives of the brands sponsoring your meals, freebies and events. Take time to also thank the hosts of the conference, volunteers, staff and special guests when/if you see them. Everyone has worked hard throughout the year to make the conference a success and saying just these two simple words means the world to them.
I hope these tips have been helpful for any of you thinking about going to your first conference. I can't speak highly enough about EVO. Attending a smaller conference was the best decision I made, and I plan on seeking out and attending the smaller blogging and social media conferences from now on. They are more suited to my personality and they feel like a good fit for the way I like to network with people.
If anyone has any additional tips or advice about attending a conference, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment on this post. And if anyone has any questions about EVO or would like additional advice on attending your first conference, feel free to contact me.
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Great tips! I am so glad I was able to meet you at EVO. That is my favorite conference. I can't wait until next year!
What a great post! I haven't had the opportunity to attend any conferences yet, but hope to sometime in the future. It's very helpful to know what to expect when I do finally get to attend one.
Hi! I am so glad you got to attend and enjoyed it. I am already researching conferences for 2012- although not too many scheduled yet. I can't wait! Hope to see you at one of them!
Great tips! Maybe I can put them into practice...someday?! :)
Excellent tips, I agree with them all! I would add one more thing- to leave you inhibitions and fears at home. I am extremely shy and these conferences stress me out. I have a hard time keeping the anxiety at bay, but focusing on having fun and making the most of my time helps. So does meeting really nice people, which is definitely not hard to do!
What a beautiful post! Thanks for sharing.