In this post, I share 25 ways to do just that. I outline what you should do before a conference, during the conference and after you leave. I cover tips on ways to meet people without feeling awkward, how to prep so you take advantage of networking opportunities, how to be memorable and ways to structure your time so you get the most out of a conference.

You might be heading to a conference for the first time—if so, way to go! It’s not easy putting yourself out there, especially if you don’t know anyone else who’s going. I have tips for you, too.

So whether you’re going to a blogging conference or one related to another industry altogether, I know you’ll make the most of a conference with this advice.

Before the conference begins

1. Go with a goal

If you’re a newbie, you might go into the conference wanting to do all the things. The truth is, though, you don’t have unlimited time and energy. So focus on one or two priorities and really knock those out of the park.

Some ideas to get your goal-setting juices flowing:

• Learn a specific new skill (e.g. turning your newsletter into a lead-generating machine)
• Learn to improve one aspect of your game (e.g. social media or video)
• Network with like-minded peers
• Collaborate with brands or other companies that match your niche
• Gain exposure for your brand/product/service

Just don’t try to do it all. You’ll only overextend yourself—and end up disappointed.

2. Research and follow speakers

Before you attend the conference, look into the keynote speakers and those leading workshops or breakout sessions. This will allow you to do a few things:

• Figure out which sessions and workshops you want to go to
• Live tweet or share what you learn during the workshop
• Connect with the speakers in a more authentic way, since you can mention something you both share or are passionate about

3. Introduce yourself in the conference Facebook group or app

Just about everyone wants to meet people and network at conferences. Why not start the party before the conference even begins?

To do that, introduce yourself in the conference Facebook group, app or other platform. Share what you do along with something unique—and therefore memorable. (For example, on my intro post, I said that I love animal trivia and cheap stovetop ramen. Don’t judge!)

Then say hi to other people’s intros in the comments. Find a way to connect with them, whether that’s because you grew up in the same region or you’re interested in creating the same kind of content.

Finally, follow other conference attendees on social media, LinkedIn or wherever you hang out.

4. Start conversations with other attendees

It’s intimidating to walk into a huge (or even small) conference if you don’t know anyone. So reach out directly to other attendees and begin to make friendships.

Follow someone you have something in common with, then introduce yourself. Ask a question or point out something you share. Keep the conversation going in your direct messages. That way it’s easier to meet up in person at the conference.

5. Brainstorm conversation starters

Probably 99.9% of the other conference attendees will use the same conversation starters, all around the same topics:

What do you do? Where are you from?

Booooooorinnnnnnggggggg.

This approach has a few major problems. If you ask everyone the same question, you’ll forget everyone’s answers. And you’ll blend in with everyone else since everyone is having the same superficial discussion.

Instead, brainstorm conversation starters before you arrive at the conference. It’s best if they’re related to the topic of the conference, since you’re pretty much guaranteed to share that area of interest. So if you’re going to a travel blogging conference (like I do regularly), you might ask:

• Are you planning an upcoming trip?
• What’s the place you’d most love to return to?
• Is there a destination you thought you’d hate but actually loved? Or one you thought you’d love that you actually hated?
• What food from home do you always recommend to visitors?
• What do you miss from home when you’re away?

Here are some conversation starters that work for just about any kind of conference:

• Have you learned anything so far that surprised you?
• What’s the most useful tidbit you’ve heard from a speaker so far?
• I feel like my brain is full from everything thrown at us! Do you have any tips to help internalize new information?
• Has anything today made you rethink what you do or how you do it?
• Do you have any conference pet peeves?

During the conference

6. Hand out business cards

At TravelCon 2018, I didn’t know if people would be handing out business cards—and boy, did they ever! Just about every person I met was eager to meet others and give out business cards.

Sure, you can connect to someone on Instagram when you meet. But I don’t love doing that instead of business cards because that new connection inevitably gets lost in my feed.

I much prefer to give, and receive, business cards so I can go back through the stack and remember who I met. If you’re looking to print business cards, I use and love Moo, especially because I can make these adorable tiny business cards and print a different picture on the back of each one. If you need business cards, I strongly recommend Moo—here’s a referral link to get your own!

Level 10 tip: Keep a fine-tipped Sharpie on you and make a note on each business card you received. When you jot down what you discussed, or any follow-up actions to take, directly on the card, you won’t miss any next steps to continue the relationship.

7. Attend an after-hours meetup

Many conferences plan happy hours, parties and other get-togethers after all the day’s learning is done. Thank goodness, because after hours of sessions, you’ll need to relax!

I’ve found that people tend to be more open at after-hours meetups. They seem to be less focused on putting on a professional front and more apt to just connect, person to person.

Level 10 tip: I keep my drinking moderate at anything conference-related, even if the event takes place at a bar. I’d hate for something embarrassing to happen in a professional context. That said, you might have different plans, and that’s ok: Just decide ahead of time so you don’t realize you’re 3 cocktails in and are worried you’ll say something you’ll later regret!

8. Sit with someone new—every time

This is a really hard tip for anyone who’s introverted or shy (*raises hand*), but I still recommend it. Why? Because you never know who you might meet.

At one conference, I sat down next to a woman who was by herself, and we got to chatting over our plates of crudites. Turned out she was the author of Find Your F*ck Yeah and one of the day’s speakers, and we had a lovely conversation about getting over your fears. We’ve continued to chat on social media, and I would never have met her in person had I not sat next to a stranger.

If going in solo is too intimidating, find a wing man or wing woman. Be buddies and make friends together!

Some conferences will have niche-specific tables at lunch. For example, at the nonprofit and tech conference NTEN that I recently attended, I sat with other folks interested in social media and storytelling. I would never have met those people otherwise, and striking up a conversation was a lot easier since we all knew we had something in common.

9. Ask a question (but please please don’t ramble)

At the end of most sessions and keynotes, speakers leave a few minutes for a Q&A. This is a terrific time to stand up, get a lingering question asked and be more visible in a sea of people.

But please, please, please, do not turn your question into an opportunity to talk about yourself. Yes, you can introduce yourself—in one sentence. But know everyone else (including those of us with actual pressing questions) don’t really want to hear you talk about your super-specific problem for two minutes before you actually get to the point.

So write down your question before the mic is handed to you, say your piece, and leave the speaker time to actually answer.

10. Approach someone else who asked a question

When someone else asks a question, you might realize you have something in common, are struggling with a similar challenge or actually have a solution! So find that brave soul who stood up in front of everyone and introduce yourself.

11. Wear the badge

Sure, the conference lanyard may make you feel dorky. But this low-tech conference hack will let people know who you are, allow people who have forgotten your name a way to graciously talk to you, and signal to strangers outside the conference meeting hall that you’re in town for the same purpose. Wearing a conference badge helps you make authentic connections with strangers that you might not make otherwise.

12. Rely on volunteers

Got a question? The conference volunteers are literally there to help you. When I forgot my jacket in a session at TravelCon last year, a volunteer helped me track it down. (Thank you!!) So if you’re not sure where to go, where the nearest bathroom is located, or where to grab a coffee, volunteers will be able to direct you.

13. Visit booths during off-peak times

If you want to actually have a conversation with someone running a booth, lunchtime is not the time. When booths are busy, the reps won’t have the wherewithal to actually connect with you—and you won’t be able to get the undivided attention you want. So make sure to go to the booths that are most important to you during off-peak times.

14. Play to your strengths

Conferences can be nerve-wracking. I get it: Even the word “networking” makes me begin to sweat a little. That’s why I’ve learned to only put myself in situations where I feel at my best—so I can come off as my most confident self.

What does that look like in real life? It means I either skip or just briefly attend late-night, cocktail-based networking opportunities. I wake up very early and am emotionally empty by the time nighttime falls; what’s more, I have some hearing loss so can’t follow conversations in loud bars. So I might make a quick appearance, say hi and then head back to my hotel so I can rest up—and be at my best in situations where I feel ready to connect.

Similarly, don’t put yourself in places where you’re super-uncomfortable. As much as you might try to fake it til you make it, it’ll show.

15. Sign up for conference bonuses

At TravelCon, attendees can sign up for photo walks or quick writing classes. These limited seating sessions happen during the regular hours of the conference but give bloggers a chance for hands-on practice.

The best part about these sessions is attendees learn from the experts directly—in a smaller setting. For example, I took a photo walk session from Lebawit Lily Girma, a professional photographer and blogger.

So check out what bonus sessions, activities or hands-on workshops your conference offers. And sign up early—these limited spots fill up quickly. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to learn directly from your industry’s experts!

16. Talk to everyone

You might have a niche or a specific goal of going to a conference, but don’t be so single-minded that you are blind to other opportunities. Striking up a conversation with someone you wouldn’t ordinarily speak with could spark an idea or simply make them feel welcome.

And speaking of…

17. Find someone who looks nervous

You have your plate of food, your cocktail or just your conference notebook and pen. Where do you go?

Answer: Find someone who looks like she’s nervous, unsure of what to do or standing by herself. Make your way to her and focus on making her feel more at ease.

You’ll magically forget about your own jitters when you’re focusing on how someone else feels. And that shift in perspective makes you more empathetic and more open: in short, more ready for genuine connection.

What’s more, this move will help others feel more welcome. And honestly, the world—and especially conferences—could use a lot more kindness.

18. Remember names

Hopefully everyone’s wearing badges or name tags, but do your best to remember names anyway. I use a little trick of associating someone’s name with an image because I’m naturally a visual person. So for example, if someone’s name is Bob, I’ll imagine him in a fishing boat bobbing on a lake.

There are a million hacks to remember names out there. Try a bunch out and see which works for you, then use it!

19. Introduce people

When someone sits down next to you or gets in line behind you, do your best to introduce them to someone else (even if you just met the other person!). This is a great tactic to make the most of a conference for a few reasons:

• It gives you a chance to repeat people’s names and what they do or are interested in, cementing them in your memory
• It makes people feel seen and welcome
• You’ll generate a ton of goodwill, since most people hate the awkward reality that they don’t know anyone

20. Go on non-conference adventures

If you’re traveling out of town to a conference, you might as well see some of the city, right? So invite your new conference buddies out on an adventure.

That’s what I did last year at TravelCon 2018. I met Chris, blogger and founder of Explore Now or Never, and we discovered we both love street art. So during a break, instead of zoning out in the hotel or taking a power nap, we walked around Austin.

Chris and I explored parts of the city we wouldn’t have seen if we’d stuck just to conference-affiliated events. And we saw incredible street art!

What to do after a conference

21. Synthesize your notes

On your way home from the conference, your brain will be buzzing with all you learned. Don’t let this jazzed up energy fizzle before you’ve had a chance to process!

Instead, go over your notes and pull out the most valuable nuggets of wisdom. When I’m on the plane home from a conference, I’ll look over my notes and figure out the most valuable insight I took from each session I attended.

Then write up a summary of each point. You can share this with colleagues who weren’t able to attend the conference, tweet the best ones (remembering to tag the source of the wisdom of course) or write a blog post! (That’s what I did in my post on the most valuable lessons from TravelCon 2018.)

22. Follow up on anything you promised

Did you meet someone who asked for an introduction to someone you know? Did you promise to send a link to a blog post that’ll help a new acquaintance? Make sure to do it!

Most people don’t follow up after a conference, so you’ll definitely stand out by making good on your promises.

Level 10 tip: Before you even leave for the conference, block out time in your calendar for follow-up tasks. That way, you don’t get swamped by all the stuff you missed while you were away.

23. Reach out to people you met

Don’t have anything specific to follow up on? That’s ok—just reach out. Say hello. Ask what their favorite part of the conference was. Say it was nice to meet them. Literally anything!

Don’t let all your new connections fade away. Stay present and put in the work to actually cultivate relationships.

24. Thank the speakers, presenters and organizers

Speakers spent a lot of time and energy in crafting a presentation and getting up to share it with the conference. Sadly, many of them never hear much feedback.

So reach out on email or social media and thank them for their efforts. Point to something you learned or one thing their talk made you reconsider.

25. Figure out a way to collaborate

It’s one of my goals at TravelCon 2019 to leave with several collaboration blog posts organized. With so many like-minded folks in the same room, let your brain go wild with the possibilities!

Could you team up to solve a problem? Could you promote someone’s launch? Might you create something new together?

Use the momentum of a conference to collaborate, and make sure to follow up after everyone goes home. What are the next steps to make that magic happen?

Make the most of a conference—no matter what

Now that you’ve read this post, you know how to attend a conference if you’re an introvert, if you’re nervous, if you’re a newbie and if you attend alone. You know what to do before the conference begins, how to maximize your time at a conference during the event, and how to follow up after a conference.

I shared strategies to make genuine relationships at a conference so you’re doing less networking and more connecting. And you learned tips to keep your forward momentum going once you get home.

I most hope you gained the confidence to rock your next conference because, truthfully, just about everyone else is feeling the same awkward, uncertain nerves you are! We’re all in this together, and the more authentically we show up, the better everyone is.

What did I miss? Please share your own tips on how to make the most of a conference below in the comments!

Finally, if you liked this post, you definitely do not want to miss my list of 12 must-bring things to bring to a conference!

The post 25 surefire ways to make the most of a conference—even if you’re alone/nervous/new! appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Blogging conferences generally run all day, and even the “breaks” like lunch and coffee are primo networking times to connect to other bloggers, meet reps from brands and meet online friends in real life. That means there is little time or opportunity to run back to your hotel room to freshen up or grab something you forgot.

When I attended the travel blogger conference TravelCon, I can’t tell you how much this blogging conference survival kit helped. Even better, this blog post will help you feel confident throughout the entire conference. Food in your teeth? No biggie. Phone battery at 5%? You got it covered. Sweaty breakout rooms? Meh, they don’t phase you.

When you’re not worried about things like sweat stains and wrinkled business cards, you’re free to focus on the goals you’ve set for attending the blogging conference. Network like a boss, collaborate with other go-getters, learn growth strategies from the pros—all while knowing you’re set with everything you need to crush that blogging conference.

Whether you’re a blogging conference veteran or a newbie like me, this list of essentials for a blogging conference survival kit has you covered. Read on to pack all the things to bring to a conference.

This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, clicking and buying from these links earns me a small amount of income—so I can continue providing free content to you!

The ultimate conference survival kit

Before you leave home, put everything you’ll need for your blogger conference survival kit in your day bag, backpack or purse. You can even keep it all corralled in a zippered pouch so everything inside is just a grab away.

Without further delay, here are all the things to bring to a conference!

Blank notebook

Some people take notes on a laptop or tablet, but a blank notebook is in my blogger conference survival kit for a bunch of good reasons: We remember what we write down, writing longhand allows me to take non-text notes like diagrams, and I can make it pretty!

I wrote a whole post about why you should consider using a notebook for conference notes, which includes tips to organize your thoughts and prime yourself to actually use all the good info you learn.

Pretty pens, washi tape, etc.

Do you need a little motivation to actually use your conference notebook? I carry a few rolls of washi tape to delineate sections in my notes (so I can quickly find my notes from a given workshop, for instance). I also like to use pretty pens like these ones because why not?!

Business cards

Despite loads of people saying that business cards are irrelevant, most people still hand out and collect business cards. I use Moo for my cards because I love having multiple images on the back of my cards. (You can use this Moo.com referral to get 25% off your first order!)

Business card holder

No one wants your crumpled business card. Keep them crisp (and save the ones you get) with a business card holder. I like these glittery ones that stick on the back of your phone. I use a vintage enamel cigarette case I got at an antique store in high school. I like that my business card holder makes me feel a little more polished and professional.

This is my vintage case, which I use as a business card holder, plus my business cards. Click on over to Moo if you want to make some of these mini cards for your own business! (Affiliate link)

Portable charger

Even when you take notes with pen and paper, you’ll be on your phone/tablet/laptop throughout the day. After all, you’ll want to be tweeting, following folks on Instagram and continuing the blogging conference conversation online. All that action sucks your device’s batteries, though, so be prepared to recharge with a portable travel charger. I’m obsessed with this gorgeous luggage tag/charger combo; I currently use one like this.

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

Lip balm

Conference centers and hotel event spaces are notoriously dry, with the pumped-in air. Lip balm is essential to keeping your smile comfortable!

Deodorant or deodorant wipes

Carrying deodorant for a quick touch-up mid-blogging conference isn’t just for slightly awkward and introverted bloggers like myself; everyone could benefit for the occasional underarm rescue. I sometimes carry a travel-sized deodorant, and I just got these awesome deodorant wipes that are made with coconut milk and essential oils. (Instead of carrying the whole package, I bring just one at a time in a snack-sized ziplock baggie.)

Dentist-approved gum

Did you eat Caesar salad at lunch and now you’re afraid of breathing on people? Pop a piece of gum in your mouth. It’ll clean your pearly whites and freshen your breath. That way, you’ll focus on what you’re saying—not being worried about your breath.

Floss

If I had a dollar for every time I had a hunk of kale or piece of black bean stuck in my teeth, I could afford to take you and me to the Seychelles. That’s why I carry a sample-size package of floss (like the one I get from the dentist) for awkward lunch-in-your-teeth moments.

Water bottle and to-go mug

Yes, conferences have coffee/tea/water stations set up for breaks, but a) they’re always slammed, and b) you don’t really want to be using a million disposable cups during your conference, do you? Instead, carry a water bottle and/or to-go mug. In fact, I use a mason jar with a handle like this one, complete with a lid that fits a metal reusable straw. I like and use that combo because it’s great for hot and cold drinks, and it doesn’t spill.

Plus, you’ll want to make extra-sure you’re drinking lots of water throughout the day, not just at break times. You definitely don’t want a dehydration headache right when happy hour starts!

A hearty snack

I have the metabolism of a hummingbird, which pretty much means I eat nonstop. Whether you’re like me or not, you’ll definitely want to carry a few snacks in your conference survival kit. I like something that contains protein and fat to keep my blood sugar on even keel, like this yummy KIND bar I ate at the recent Upper Left Summit in Portland. The stretches between breakfast, lunch and dinner can be long at conferences, so never be caught with a growling tummy.

Hand sanitizer

You’re going to be shaking a lot of hands. (And definitely don’t skip this step! One of my favorite business books, Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People, explains how the touch of a simple handshake makes you more memorable and likable. In fact, I reread this book before every big conference I go to!)

So bring hand sanitizer to keep you germ-free between handshakes. The last thing you want is to catch a cold or get sick when you get home from a conference—right when you want to put everything you learned into action!

Level 10 travel tip: If you do a pit-check and realize your underarms are a bit smelly, wipe a bit of hand sanitizer on your armpits. It kills the bacteria that actually cause BO, and you’ll instantly smell better!

The essential things to bring to a conference

I’m betting that after reading about this conference survival kit strategy, you’re feeling more confident to attend that upcoming conference. Whether it’ll be your first or your fiftieth, being prepared is the key to showing up and reaching your goals.

When you’re ready for everything a conference throws at you, you’re ready to collaborate, learn, share and make the important connections that will lift you up and support your entire community.

I can’t wait for my next travel blogging conference. Stay tuned as I share all the important takeaways I learn!

Are there any must-carry things to bring to a conference that I missed? What’s in your blogger conference survival kit?? Share your ideas in the comments. I can’t wait to learn from your wisdom, too!

PS – You may want to read my post on the biggest takeaways from TravelCon 2018. If you weren’t able to go yourself and you want to hear my biggest aha! moments from some of the most rad leaders in the travel blogging world, definitely click on over!

The post Your essential blogging conference survival kit appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

I’m pretty sure you agree that when you attend a blogging conference, you are inspired and excited: You learn so much, and you’re brimming with ideas to improve your blog. But without a way to organize all those thoughts, you won’t make any progress once the conference is over.

Not a great investment of your time, energy, or the cost of attending a blogging conference.

That’s why it’s so crucial to organize your blogging conference notebook. Keeping your ideas, takeaways and action items organized ensures you’ll be able to find all those nuggets of wisdom later—and that you’ll have a clear path forward once you get home.

Don’t risk losing track of all that goodness. Before you head to your next conference or retreat, read this post about how to organize your blogging conference notebook. You’ll finish the conference with a clear path forward—and be ready to turn that action into results!

Turn blogging conference wisdom into action

I’m excited to dive into the ways to organize your blogging conference notebook—but first, we need to cover our bases.

Why go old-school with a paper notebook?

Before TravelCon, folks discussed in the Facebook group whether to take notes on a laptop/tablet or in a notebook. I was surprised that so many of us remain old-school: TK% of people said they’d be writing in a blogging conference notebook instead of electronically.

There are plenty of reasons to keep track of your takeaways in a blogging conference notebook:

1. You’ll remember more. The act of writing something down cements the information in your memory, according to science: Since you write more slowly than you can type, you have to think harder about what’s most important and only write down those points. The mental work it takes to figure out what’s most important to you is like putting a sticky note in your brain to flag what you should remember.
2. It’s easy to format. The way I take notes is slightly more visual than just page after page of text. By starring items, circling notes and using underlines, I can organize notes at a session more easily than on a computer. This helps me quickly find what I need later when I reread my notes.
3. It’s light. Carrying a laptop or even a tablet gets heavy. You guys know I have a neck and shoulder injury (which is why I wear a fanny pack, not a purse), so carrying a few extra pounds all day was out of the question. Even if you don’t have an injury, electronics get heavy!
4. It’s easy to organize. Below, I explain just how I organize my blogging conference notebook to make it easy to put the conference takeaways into action. I’m sure others have a computer-based system that works for them, but the idea of having a million open tabs and documents for each kind of note makes my head spin.
5. Express yourself visually. I’m a visual person, so I often find myself sketching, drawing diagrams or making charts in my notes. I haven’t found a way to quickly do this on a computer, but it’s easy to do in a notebook.

Of course, choosing to take blogging conference notes in a notebook or on a laptop is 100% a personal choice. If you’re more of a tactile person like me, and you choose the paper notebook route, here’s how you can organize your blogging conference notes.

9 ways to organize your blogging conference notebook

1. Record your contact info

First things first: Write your name, blog and contact information inside the front cover of your notebook. If you lose it, whoever finds it can get it back to you.

2. Block out your schedule

Over a spread in your blogging conference notebook, write down your schedule. Include not only the keynotes and breakout sessions, but also meetings, social gatherings, meals and other must-remember notes.

The blogging conference you attend may have an app or a paper copy of the conference schedule, but it won’t include everything. At TravelCon, for example, I had to take a few calls for work, which I recorded in my schedule.

When you have your blogging conference schedule organized in your notebook, you’ll be able to tell at a glance where you need to be and what’s coming next. That way, you don’t miss out on anything!

3. Create a to-do column

As you’re listening and learning at a blogging conference, you’ll come up with dozens of ideas on how to apply those brilliant nuggets to your own blog. But without a way to organize your blogging conference notes, you risk losing track of all those ideas.

So draw a vertical line down the right-hand page, about a third of the width of the page. This is your special to-do list column. Jot down every action item here so you can easily find it when you get home (and you’re ready to grow your blog with all the conference takeaways).

I make a to-do column every few spreads so they’re easy to flip to as I’m taking notes.

4. List blog post ideas

Throughout the blogging conference, you’ll definitely come up with ideas for new blog posts. Don’t let these get lost in all your notes!

Dedicate a page in your blogging conference notebook for blog post ideas. (In fact, I thought up the idea for this post during one of the TravelCon sessions, since I thought it’d help other bloggers to get the most out of a blogging conference.)

This way, you have an easy-to-find list of blog post ideas to write when you finish the conference (or even on the plane home!).

5. Include social media handles

You’ll want to take notes as you listen to keynotes and breakout sessions so you remember all the wisdom from these blogging experts. Most people intuitively organize your blogging conference notebook by session.

That’s a great start but not enough. For each session, you’ll also want to include the speaker’s social media handle. Having it written down right next to your notes from their session makes it easy to make the most out of a blogging conference in three ways:

1. You can DM the speaker after their session to say thank you. Be specific in what you thought was most helpful.
2. You can live tweet the session. I tweeted throughout TravelCon, sharing quotes from each speaker and tagging them in my posts. Having their social media handles at hand saved me time in tweeting so I could focus on what they were saying, not searching for them in a sea of social media.
3. You can reach out with questions. Tag the speaker on social media and ask a question after their session. This is a great way to continue the conversation (especially if you’re too shy to ask it during the Q&A). Bonus: The folks who follow the speaker will see your post and their response, and you may gain new followers who appreciate your thoughtful question.

6. Research hashtags

You’ll want a list of hashtags specific and relevant to the blogging conference you attend. Organize your blogging conference notebook even before you arrive by dedicating a page to hashtags.

By researching and listing these hashtags ahead of time, you’ll have hashtags at your fingertips that will help your social media posts get noticed. Some ideas of hashtags to include:

• The blogging conference hashtag
• Hashtags relevant to the location of the conference
• Niche-specific hashtags
• Hashtags related to learning and blogging tips

7. Brainstorm conversation starters

I’m an introvert whom most people think of as an extrovert. I like talking to people, but sometimes I get super anxious and awkward in my head. What if I have nothing to say? What if I say something dumb?

I’ve read Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards several times, and she talks about conversation sparkers—questions that prompt memorable and interesting conversations. It’s a great book to listen to when you’re on the go and will ensure that you’re well prepared for your conference. You can download the audio version for free using my link to an Audible trial.

It’s easy to fall into a rut of asking the same questions at a blogging conference (what’s your blog about? Where are you from? Is this your first conference?). The trouble with these questions is that everyone else is asking them too, so you end up having the same conversations repeatedly—and you won’t remember them. (Worse, people won’t remember you.)

So to organize your blogging conference notebook, brainstorm a handful of conversation sparkers. They should be relevant to the conference so they feel natural.

When I attended TravelCon, I flipped to this page before mixers and coffee breaks. That way, I never had a need to worry over what I’d talk about—and the questions sparked some great conversations.

8. Star, circle and outline your biggest takeaways

Emphasizing things in your notes helps you twofold: You’ll remember that bit of information more, since you’re signaling your brain that it’s important as you’re writing.

Secondly, it’ll help you after the blogging conference. When you’re at home flipping through your notes, these takeaways will jump out to you and save you time hunting through a sea of grey text.

9. Go beyond the written word

When you write in a notebook vs type on a computer or tablet, your brain is actually working harder to understand the content as you go. So you’re interpreting the information rather than just trying to record it verbatim.

One benefit to doing this in a notebook instead of a computer is you aren’t limited to words. You might draw a diagram, make a chart, sketch a picture—anything! Turns out this ability has benefits to internalizing and learning new information.

“The very nature of handwriting means you have to write and organize as you are thinking, and that kind of organization affects how you are interpreting the information,” explains Dr. Helen Macpherson, who studies how handwriting impacts memory. “It’s the way the hand writing forces you to organize your thoughts that leads to deeper processing.”

So doodle, underline, draw arrows, sketch a herd of unicorns—anything that helps you take notes by hand will help you retain all that juicy new knowledge!

These tips to organize your blogging conference notebook helped me stay on top of everything before, during and after a blogging conference. I felt prepared to soak in all the wisdom during the conference. And afterward, I arrived home with an action plan to actually put those takeaways into practice.

Nothing’s worse than wrapping up an inspiring event with a feeling of overwhelm, right? You don’t want to be adrift; you want to be empowered. That’s why I think you’ll love these tips to organize your blogging conference notebook when you use them next.

Do you have any tips for note-taking or attending blogging conferences? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Also, if you happen to be going to TravelCon 2019 in Boston this June, let me know! I’ll be there too!

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