Only nine sleeps until the Problogger event (#PBevent for those of us on twitter) and I’m starting to get VERY excited! I’m particularly excited because it’s in my [current] home state of Queensland, on the GC. Yay!
This will be my first #PBevent, but my fourth blogging conference – I’ve previously been to three food blogging conferences – BlogHerFood in San Francisco in 2010, and two Eat.Drink.Blog. conferences, in Sydney and Adelaide. All have totally rocked and I’ve come away with long lists of things to do (please don’t ask how many I’ve actually done…).
So as a somewhat experienced blogging conference attendee, I thought I’d consolidate a few things I wish I had known/done at previous conferences.
My #1 tip is find out who else is going. This is usually pretty easy thanks to the fabulousness of twitter and hashtags, and asking a simple question – who else is going? And then wait for the replies to roll in.
If you’re not on twitter, don’t despair! The organisers have set up a facebook page where a HEAP of people have introduced themselves. A great way to see who is going and what their blogs are about!
It’s a great idea to read a few of the blogs you’re interested in, say hi, and find out about some new-to-you people.
Tip #2 – know what you do and have a short “elevator pitch” ready to give when people ask what your blog is about. More than just “I write a food blog”. Make it something that stands out and differentiates you from others who write in the same basic area as you do. I still find this a bit difficult, as my blog IS a food blog! However I’m working on it!
Tip #3 – don’t leave it until the last minute to pack as you WILL forget something!
I forgot my camera for a food bloggers conference once. Now that was embarrassing. And pre-iPhone days (for me that is).
Things you might want to remember to take are phone, camera, notebook (paper and/or electronic), sunscreen and a hat (we will be on the GC after all!), business cards with your blog details, comfy clothes for sitting around in and suitable clothes for the Friday night shin-dig (anyone else struggling with this one?), all the relevant cables to recharge, a big enough bag to carry home any purchases and conference swag. I left BlogHerFood with about 8kg of swag – the Americans really know how to make a girl happy!
Tip #4 – work out what you want to achieve out the conference. This might be meeting specific bloggers face-to-face, learning about particular topics, going to the beach (!).
Check out the event program in advance and work out what sessions you want to go to. At least narrow it down from three to two. Yes, there are three concurrent sessions for most of the event. ARGH! How to choose!!!! If you’re desperate to go to the first Saturday session (at 9.30am! BRILLIANT PLANNING DARREN! So glad it’s not at 8am…) then make sure you don’t party on too much on Friday night 🙂
Tip #5 – turn up well rested. It will be a huge two days – three for those of us also doing the famils organised by Queensland Tourism – and you want to be able to last the distance!
Most of all, plan to have fun! I’d love to know which of my readers are going – for me the best part of any conference is meeting people face-to-face.
What are you most looking forward to? Do you have any blogging conference tips to add?
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Great post Mel,
How much self promotion across social media channels do you think is acceptable at an event like this?
Heather
I don’t write a food blog 😉
Good question Heather. I guess it depends on how much you want to sing your own praises (I would recommend limiting this) vs sharing your knowledge to help others and promote your expertise (do more of this – which you do extremely well). I know I will be tweeting and instagramming a lot during this event, as I usually do at most events, but mainly I share the information I hear.
You have to be comfortable! Make sure you’re not dressing outside of your comfort zone, otherwise you’ll be distracted and feel less like yourself. And for a blogging conference especially – you have to be yourself.
Yes that is sooooo true Vanessa! I’ll be packing my comfy clothes and shoes – while trying not to look like a slob!
Awesome post Mel!
I’m going for the first time and am really looking forward to it…although, I have to agree that Fri night’s dresscode has me stumped!
Hopefully our paths cross up in QLD.
Thanks Clare, and I’m sure they will! Good luck choosing an outfit 🙂
Great tips, thanks for sharing Mel. I’m getting nervous now – the countdown is on!
me too Janet!
Unfortunately I can’t make it, but I definitely advise not to stress out too much about outfits, even for the glam night. Most people will be in the same boat and are too excited to meet each other and/or catch up again to be worried about outfits. Leave the stress at home, and pack business cards!
You lucky thing. I wish I’d heard about it earlier – I would have loved to go.
These are great tips for any conference, even non-blogging ones. I can say I’ve only been to scientific conferences but the same rules apply. I went to my first national conference last year and even had to present a poster! It went for 5 whole days too. Definitely the key to is be well rested ahead. Long days are looooong.
Oh, and good luck 🙂
Wow 5 days is a very long conference Kelly! I went to a 4 day conference last year and was physically and mentally exhausted by the end of day 3. it definitely helps to be rested before you turn up!
Wow 5 days is a very long conference Kelly! I went to a 4 day conference last year and was physically and mentally exhausted by the end of day 3. You definitely need to turn up rested!
It’s my first Problogger event and I can’t wait!! Thank you so much for the helpful tips Mel, lots to think about before we go 🙂
Great tips, thanks Mel! I am excited but a little unprepared, so these tips are very timely! Hope to see you there. X
So thanks to this post I now know about the thing called ‘Problogger’, with only 2 days to go! Think I’ll have to give it a miss this year, but sounds like awesome fun and a goal for next year!
Thanks for your posting.
As a fellow blogger, and one who works for an agency, I surely agree with a lot of what you’ve written here. A schedule of what blogs to write is imperative to keeping on track, as well as from allowing you to feel overwhelmed.
On the social marketing end of it, I think some people forget to tweet their fantastic blogs and then sudden post them all at once, which can leave me with a two full pages of one person’s (company’s) blog posts.
Oh, and one final thing. I always write on word or notebook first. Seems to work best that way for me!
Thanks again for the post and the breakdown of how to pull it all together.