Today is Be Blogalicious-eve, and I’m super excited to attend my second large blogging conference. Last year I attended Blogging While Brown, and learned so much. When the opportunity presented itself to be a volunteer at Blogalicious, which is so close to home in MD, I jumped at the chance. I’d heard so many amazing stories about the conference that I couldn’t imagine it being just 4 hours away and not going. Bloggers who are interested in attending blogging conferences often ask if it’s worth the time and investment. I believe so; but in order to make it work, here’s the BEST advice for attending a large blogging conference and making it truly beneficial.

HAVE A PLAN!

Really. No seriously. No for real. Have a plan and stick to the plan. When you see others who get things popping after a major conference, don’t think that just happened by accident. While you want to enjoy your time at the conference, please remember that you spent some coins so you need to see some return on your investment. Here are 5 questions to ask yourself while creating your blogging conference plan.

1. What do you need to take your blog to the next level? Whether the ‘next level’ is actually starting your blog, or it’s creating a strategy to become a blogging coach, think serious about what the next steps are for YOUR blog. It’s important to think specifically about what you need, and select panels and workshops that will meet your needs. Often times, there are multiple workshops and panels happening simultaneously, so you have to choose strategically what you’ll sit in on. Plan out where you need to go ahead of time. Don’t get distracted by the workshop on creating mini-courses on blogging for profit, when you are still asking what’s the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Also, don’t just follow the crowd or go where your other blogger boos go. This is your money so get what you came for. You can always find a friend to get notes from, or look up the speakers for more information about their topic later.

2. What brands would you like to forge relationships with, and how will you do it? Most large blogging conferences are sponsored by major brands. Blogalicious is sponsored by brands like Toyota, Wells Fargo, Hallmark, and Coca-Cola. Who doesn’t want the opportunity to work with the likes of brands like these? Here’s the kicker though. Just handing a brand your business card isn’t enough. Why not? Because this is a large conference with hundreds of attendees, all handing these brand representatives their business cards saying ‘I’d love to work with you!’ Stand out from the pack by doing a little research, and presenting a brief proposal of what your unique point of view is and your campaign idea. Make it memorable, and then follow up with an email with 24-48 hours after the conference.

3. What speakers and panelists would you like to forge relationships with, and how will you do it? This works the same way as it does with brands. Do your research on the speakers and see what you can offer them as far as your blog is concerned. This most likely is not exposure, but skills and talents that you possess that they may be in need of. Also, be sure to sign up for their email list, and share something of value that you learned for them either before or during the conference.

4. What collaborations would you like to start to work on with other attendees? There are so many different types of blogs out there, so start thinking of ways to collaborate with bloggers in your niche as well as those who are not. Working with other bloggers in your niche can grow your audience, and is sorta a no-brainer. But partnering with bloggers outside of your niche can expand your audience to those who may not have been readers before. Think of how their readers can benefit from your content, and how your readers can benefit from theirs.

5. What can I bring home to my readers? Don’t be selfish with all the goodies you gain from a large blogging conference. Definitely share your experience on social media by posting pictures and ‘tweet-worthy’ tidbits that you learned during the conference. Think of how you can use what you’ve learned to improve your blog for your readers. Also, find creative ways to share your conference experience that speak to your audience. Are you a style blogger? Write about what your wore to the conference. Are you a mommy blogger? Talk about how you got your kids prepared for you to be away form home to attend the conference. Are you a tech blogger? Share the tops apps that you used during the conference, or electronic devices that you had on deck. Are you a health and fitness blogger? Do a video of some hotel workout routines, or a ‘What I Ate During Blogalicious’ style video. Even something as simple as a vlog or recap video about your experience is fun to share with your audience. Here’s one I put together while attending Blogging While Brown last year, and I definitely plan to share one after attending Blogalicious this year!

If you can take some times to answer these 5 questions, you’ll be well on your way to creating a kick-butt plan for attending a large blogging conference. I’ll be asking myself these questions even more so tonight, and on the drive up to Baltimore. Stay tuned for all the goodies here on Naturally Glam when I return. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for updates. Have you attending a large blogging conference, or would like to attend one soon? We’d love to hear about it – so share in the comments!