What I Wish I Knew As a Conference Newbie

Last year, I attended my very first blogging conference.  Which one did I choose for my ‘first time’?  Why, BlogHer, of course.  That year, it was to be held in New York City, only about two hours from where I live.  Flying the friendly skies was not required, so my costs would be relatively low.  This conference was practically coming to me, so I couldn’t pass on it.

After attending this conference as a newbie, I came home and wrote about why BlogHer was overwhelming for me.  Never in my life did I feel so lonely while surrounded by hundreds of people, and it was just a bit too much stimulation for this new kind of experience.  I didn’t know what to do with myself half the time.

That said, I did meet some amazing friends and made great business contacts, but what I wish I had done before BlogHer New York was to attend a smaller, more intimate blogging conference first.  It would have been great to get my feet wet.  Instead, I started with BlogHer, followed by Disney Social Media Moms, and then Reviewer’s Retreat.  Each conference was progressively smaller, and I found that smaller conferences suited me better – at least in the beginning!

Another great tip when you’re thinking about attending a conference?  Be sure that your business cards stand out from the rest.  Especially when you’ve made contact with someone with whom you’d like to do business, a well thought out card is a great way to get make a lasting impression.  I’ve heard wonderful things about Tiny Prints Business Cards, and I can’t wait to see the difference for myself.

No compensation was received for this post.  Tiny Prints will be sending me 50 business cards as a thank you gift.  I can’t wait to see and feel them in person!