Congratulations. You have taken the plunge and nabbed a ticket to a blogging conference. Local or not, there are a few things you should keep in mind before your jump on the plane, or load your luggage in the car!   Check out our tips to help you prepare to get the most out of your conference experience.

Pack lightly.  Blogging conferences are notorious for swag. Bags and bags (and sometimes buckets and pillows ) of swag! Make sure you travel light, especially if you are going by air, and leave room in your luggage to take the most impressive bits home with you.  Whatever you can’t take, share (or if you are like me, eat it)

Bring Business cards!   They don’t have to be fancy, but you should have some way to share your name, site and twitter handle with the other bloggers you meet.  I always make sure I have a pen close by as well so I can write a quick note on each of the cards as to where I met the person, and something distinctive about our interaction.

Understand your Objectives.  WHY are you here? Are you here to connect with brands? Meet other bloggers? Learn, or have a laugh.  By understanding your reason for attending you will be able to stay focused on your goal and get the most out of your experience. (want a run down on reasons to go? check here)

Be comfortable! You don’t need to go drop a wad of cash on a new wardrobe, just be yourself. And wear comfortable shoes!  Always!  Conferences may require you to walk miles at a trade show set up, explore the city streets or even take to the stage to shake your booty to a “Just Dance”  Kinect game. Whatever comes up, make sure you are comfortable in what you are wearing to fully participate! (no one wants to miss a great opportunity because they are wearing the wrong shoes!

Say yes.  Neat things happen at Blogging conferences. REALLY neat things. I have done everything from getting a live tv makeover, to spending the evening in the Chicago harbour on a speed boat. I have “literally” scaled tall buildings and donned rubber boots and safety gear to enter a working factory. And some of my best moments have happened because I said yes, on the spot, without fear! Be prepared to say YES. Be in “discovery mode” and participate fully

Clear your schedule.  Whether you are attending a conference across the country or in your own backyard, don’t try to balance things. Commit to where you are and what you are doing fully. Book time before and after the conference “just in case” something awesome comes up (it often does) and be prepared to participate in things last minute!  Especially as a new blogger, some of your neatest experiences will come up because you were at the right place, right time and available (and wearing the right shoes!)  I have been swept into a few awesome red carpet events because I was there, and I was the right demographic for the event.

Prepare your website.  Make sure your blog is clean, tidy and audited before attending a conference.  If your big moment comes at the conference you want to make sure you have put your best blog forward for people to see!  How do you know if you are ready? Check here…

Engage before attending. Most blogging conferences will have attendee facebook groups or twitter lists.  Make sure you are chatting in the groups, and getting your name and face out there before arriving at the conference. Ditto for twitter. Follow the bloggers (and brands) on the list, chat under the hashtag (if it is released) and participate.

Get some rest.  If you are like me, the intensity of a blogging conference wears me down.  Make sure you get some rest before attending and then build in some “down time” during the conference to catch up! Bring some healthy food as well that you can snack on to keep your energy up!  It seems all well and great to get champagne and cupcakes at events, but when that is ALL you get… you start to crave a salad!   As well, don’t expect to go all nutso when you get home. Take some time to reflect and catch up!

Clear your expectations.  As mentioned amazing things can happen, sometimes.  Don’t go with visions of a 6 figure endorsement and a national writing opportunity only to be let down by coming home with a free package of lentils.  Clear your expectations and allow what will happen, to happen. But that being said, make sure you are prepared to take risks and opportunities. Open your mind to new people, and remove any pre-conceived ideas about who they are online. Walk into the room and be present, and available.  In the end, an open person, with a kind heart and a passion for life will usually stand out; to brands, bloggers and conference organizers. Go with the intent to make the most of where you are, and things will come!

I am thrilled that conference season is upon us again!  You can find me this fall at Link2013 and Blissdom2013 in Toronto and hoping to get myself down to Blogher Pro in San Fran as well!

Be sure to leave a comment below if you too will be attending some conferences this fall!