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January 12, 2012 by: Shell

Blog Conference Prep: What You Need to Do Now to Prepare

blog conference prep42 days til Blissdom.

It might seem like it’s far away, but it will be here before you know it.  Ashley from My Front Porch Swing and I are continuing our Blog Conference Prep series to help you get ready. Last week, we tackled the financial with How to Get a Blog Conference Sponsorship and How to Anticipate Blog Conference Costs. This week, we’re moving on to what you should be doing now to prepare for Blissdom!

While you don’t need to have your suitcase packed quite yet, there are some items you need to make sure you’ve taken care of!

*Book your room. I highly recommend staying on-site for blogging conferences. That way you can run back to your room if you forgot something or you can easily go get a few quiet moments during the day. The parties tend to go late into the night: it will be a lot more convenient to only have to walk back to your room rather than driving or getting a shuttle/taxi to another location. Keep in mind that the special rate for conference go-ers usually has a deadline and the hotel can book up, so book now!

*Find a roommate. If you have a friend going, great! Share a room to save on conference costs. But, if you don’t know anyone going or if you are looking for more roommates, you can always ask on twitter. Use the conference hashtag and ask! If you missed out on booking your room, tweet asking if anyone has a spot open in their room.

*Plan your travel. Take a look at the conference schedule to see when you should arrive so you don’t miss out on any fun activities! Bliss Newbies: be sure to be there in time for the First Bliss meet-up on Thursday at 2:30.  Book your flight or look at how long of a drive you will have. If flying, you can tweet about your arrival time so that you can share a taxi with another conference go-er. If driving, tweet about where you are driving from- you might be able to carpool with fellow bloggers!

*Plan for childcare. Whether Daddy is going to take off work to stay with the kids or if they’ll head to Grandma’s or you’ll use a babysitter, make sure plans are put into place now. If your household is anything like mine, it’s mama who knows all the details about the kids’ schedules. Things go a lot smoother when I leave notes for my husband about our daily routine, along with reminders about special activities going on while I’m gone- like a birthday party that your child is invited to. Download your While I’m Away List now and get it ready for your time out of town.

Be sure to head over to Ashley’s blog to find out what you should be doing on your blog now to get ready for Blissdom and to download a blog card template.

Pour Your Heart Out: A Long Road
Things They Can’t Say: Sisterly Love

Comments

  1. Ashley {at} My Front Porch Swing says

    January 12, 2012 at 8:45 am

    I have got to get this list ready to go for hubs. I definitely feel more prepared this year than last!

  2. Kmama says

    January 12, 2012 at 8:58 am

    These are really good tips.

    Some day I’ll attend a big blogging conference. Some day.

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:28 pm

      I hope we attend the same one! I’d love to meet you!

  3. momof12 says

    January 12, 2012 at 9:19 am

    Awww… that sounds so much fun! I’m afraid it’s not in my future this year though. Still nursing my little one and coaching my daughter’s basketball team. Doesn’t lend itself well to running away from home, even for a weekend.
    Sandy

  4. erin margolin says

    January 12, 2012 at 9:24 am

    Wonderful tips, Shell!
    I am beyond excited. It’s going to be soooo hard to leave the baby especially, but I knew if I brought her I’d be too distracted and not have as much to take away ….plus wouldn’t have as much fun. And I”M NOT SORRY! I need this me time!

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:28 pm

      I hear ya on the me time!

  5. Alison@Mama Wants This says

    January 12, 2012 at 9:36 am

    Great tips Shell – especially the last one!!

  6. Tiffany Manley says

    January 12, 2012 at 9:39 am

    Thanks for this great series! I’m so excited to be heading to Blissdom, but I just bought my ticket yesterday so this stuff is great for me to reference. I need to get on the ball!

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:29 pm

      Glad I could help!

  7. joann mannix says

    January 12, 2012 at 10:05 am

    One of these days! One of these days!

    Great tips. I’m sure you all will have a fabulous time. *Sniff*

    And now, I’m going to be a little late to the gym today, because I’m going to sit down and catch up on your life. I miss you, girl, when I’m away from blogland.

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:29 pm

      It’s not too late to go to Blissdom. Just so we could hang out in Nashville.

  8. angela says

    January 12, 2012 at 10:32 am

    You and Ashley rock for putting this together. It’s making me a little less nervous. My kids will be in Nashville, but with my parents and grandma. I COULD make a list, but grandma & grandpa are going to let them do whatever they want anyway, so…shrugs shoulders…

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:30 pm

      When mine go to grandparents, the schedule is out the window. But mine will be home with dad, who needs to know when things like school are. LOL

      I cannot wait to get to meet you!!!

  9. Missy | Literal Mom says

    January 12, 2012 at 10:46 am

    I’m wishing I was going to this. But Type A isn’t too far away, right?

  10. JDaniel4's Mom says

    January 12, 2012 at 10:50 am

    I love that you included a list for those going away. I have ended up using post it notes all around the house.

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:30 pm

      I’ve tried that- and my husband misses some!

  11. Chrysta Bairre says

    January 12, 2012 at 11:29 am

    Great tips in preparation of BlissDom 2012! I’m really looking forward to the conference and I greatly appreciate the warm & friendly welcome I’ve received from BlissDom alumni.

    Of course I booked my flight & my hotel before finding this great information (I found a great deal online and snagged it right away!) My plane arrives early afternoon so I may miss out on some of the pre-conference fun on Thursday. And I’m staying off-site (my hotel is 1.2 miles from the Gaylord Opryland). Hey, it seemed like a good idea at the time and I’m used to attending Dragon*Con every year and traveling back & forth between the 5 host hotels all weekend long! 😉

    I’m going to have a great conference experience no matter what time I fly in or where I stay! Awwww… yeah! See you there!

    Chrysta

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:31 pm

      You will have an amazing time!

      My roommate and I were in a different hotel for half of the conference last year. I’ll admit that it was a bit of a pain- but you can definitely make it work.

  12. Jessica says

    January 12, 2012 at 11:52 am

    Im sooooo excited!! My kids will be in Alabama with my in-laws but I think I may print off that list just incase.

    Cant wait to see you there!

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:31 pm

      Yay! so excited!

  13. Helene says

    January 12, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    You know, I have yet to attend a blog conference…more out of nerves than anything else. I’m just nervous around large crowds. But this was a great post to read, just in case I ever decide to hop out of my comfort zone!

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:32 pm

      I hope you do go someday- I’d love to meet you!

  14. cyndi spivey says

    January 12, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    Another thing about the Opryland hotel is that you pay a lot to park if you stay at another hotel!

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:32 pm

      Very true. Or if you rely on shuttles from another hotel- they are a pain. We learned that last year when we had to stay elsewhere for the last night.

  15. Teresa (Embracing the SPectrum) says

    January 12, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    Soooo jealous of the blog conferences. Wish I could go!

  16. Jessie Powell says

    January 12, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    This is a really useful series. I’m bookmarking it. I’m not quite conference ready at a number of levels, but by July or August, I will be (which may mean I don’t go until NEXT January). So knowing some of these things early is a godsend. (Especially about the sponsorships.) Keep the great advice coming!

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:33 pm

      There are other ones to go to, though! Maybe you’ll head to one this fall.

  17. Beth Zimmerman says

    January 12, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    Ordered my new cards today. Went with the minimum number this time because I am constantly changing my mind about WHAT I want on them. Really looking forward to the whole experience!

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:33 pm

      So happy that you are going!

  18. jessica says

    January 12, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    Thanks for all of the tips! I wish I was going to be there! There’s always next year.

  19. Rachel says

    January 12, 2012 at 3:51 pm

    Great tips! I also wanted to add plan your pet care if your family is coming with you. The cats and dog need boarding arranged as well.

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:33 pm

      Oh, very true. The only animals here are my boys, so I forget that. 😉

  20. Carolyn says

    January 12, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    This is great advice. Soon, I’ll be thinking about conferences – once the girls get a little older.

  21. Maggie S. says

    January 12, 2012 at 6:48 pm

    Scared to death… Everyone else can relax; I will be the biggest dork.

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:34 pm

      You’re going???? 🙂

      • Maggie S. says

        January 19, 2012 at 5:24 pm

        Yes. Starting to get past my amazement and freak a little out.

  22. Jessica says

    January 12, 2012 at 7:09 pm

    I’ve done all of these already!

    • Shell says

      January 12, 2012 at 7:34 pm

      You’re ahead of me! I only booked my flight yesterday.

  23. Galit Breen says

    January 12, 2012 at 10:11 pm

    Such good tips, Shell! It’s nice to have these go-to “directions” for what to do!

  24. Kimberly says

    January 12, 2012 at 11:22 pm

    I’ve done all of these already! Great list and I do love this series you and Ashley are running!

  25. Lady Jennie says

    January 13, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    Great tips. I may not be going to Blissdom, but I have my ticket, plane ticket, hotel and roommate for BlogHer. SO SO excited. Did I mention how excited I am? A week all on my own with girlfriends. Yippeeeeeee.

  26. Janmary, N Ireland says

    January 13, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    Ohhh – jealous I won’t get to meet up with you and Ashley again at a blog conference this year …. unless you would like to come to London! I’ll be at a bloggy conference there in June – Britmums Live.

  27. Charlotte says

    January 16, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    Awesome, awesome tips. Since you whispered BlogHer in my ear, I’ve been finding ways to make it possible 🙂

    Have a wonderful time at this conference!

  28. Shelley (Ground Beef Budget) says

    January 21, 2012 at 1:04 am

    Parking at Opryland Hotel is $18 a day and to my understanding you are charged that even if you stay there! Yikes! I called today and asked because I was thinking of staying offsite. Still not sure what I should do. (I am a newbie and don’t have a sponsor trying to pinch pennies)

  29. Natalie @MamaTrack says

    January 22, 2012 at 9:22 pm

    Great tips, Shell! Thanks for sharing.

Trackbacks

  1. Packing List for a Blog Conference says:
    January 26, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    […] How to prep your life for a conference […]

Welcome to Things I Can't Say: Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom. I'm Shell. Boy mom, beach girl, bookworm, ball games, baker, brand ambassador, Thinking yoga, food, and travel should start with "b," too. Finding the easiest way to do some things while overthinking so many others. Read More…

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