As you read this, I’m on a flight to
Toronto, bound for BlogPodium 2014! To say I’m excited would be an
understatement. I had such a phenomenal time last year – I can’t wait to see
what this year’s conference has in store. Plus, there’s a whole slew of us
coming from the East Coast. I was one of the few last year (along with a couple
of lovely NFLD ladies ;) so it’s a treat to see the right coast representing!
A few other bloggers have posted about what
they’re bringing with them to the conference, and I know as a newbie last year,
I found that info super helpful – so I decided to do the same. Here’s what will
be in my bag tomorrow:
Phone & Charger: Not only should you
bring your phone (obviously…) but USE it. Take photos. Post them to Instagram
or Twitter. Hashtag #BlogPodium. Other people at the conference are likely to
search those tags and you may meet someone at the next table over because of
it! Also, you’re going to be meeting tons of new people all day long. While
exchanging business cards is awesome and encouraged – not everyone has a
business card and it can be even simpler to just add someone to Twitter or
Instagram while they’re right in front of you.
Notebook & Pen: Last year, they
provided super adorable notebooks from Minted. Just in case things are
different this year, make sure you have something on hand to take notes! You’ll
want to remember all of the information bombs dropped throughout the day. Last
year, I brought my tiny MacBook Air, thinking I would just take notes on that.
I didn’t even pull it out of my bag. Trust me, a notebook & pen is way
easier.
Lip Balm & Breath Mints: You’ll be
doing a lot of chatting throughout the day and I’m sure you want to make a good
impression. And if you need a TicTac, I apparently have 100. Feel free to pop
by and ask for one ;)
Business Cards: If you don’t have any,
don’t fret. You can still exchange social media handles with the people you
meet – it’s encouraged. But if you have
business cards, this is the prime time to use them. I had mine printed byMinted this year, but I made my own last year. It’s always fun to
see what other people have come up with! The people at BlogPodium are some of
the most creative I’ve ever met – their business cards are often a work of art.
So take the time to admire when someone hands you one – they likely spent a LOT
of time thinking about how it should look! While we’re talking business cards,
aim to be organized and bring something to hold your own business cards AND
something to stash other people’s business cards in so you can pore over them
later. Melissa at The Sweet Escape had some adorable ideas.
Media Kit: If you have one, it definitely
doesn’t hurt to bring it with you. There are tons of amazing brands on site –
if there’s one you’d like to work with, head over and chat with them about your
ideas. You never know what could happen!
And lastly, make sure you bring a large bag to fit everything in! You’re going to be toting this
around all day, so make sure you choose a bag that’s comfortable to carry. Make
sure it’s roomy enough to store anything you pick up throughout the day but
don’t weigh it down in advance. Just bring the necessities above and you’ll be
ready for a day of inspiration!
