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An Introvert’s Guide to Blogger Conferences

  June 29

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There’s a reason I’m a blogger: I enjoy the comfort of my computer screen. For me, it’s much harder to break out of my shell and actually (gasp!) speak to people face to face.

I have a feeling that I’m not alone among others in the writing profession. So, here are a few tips for navigating a big conference when you’d rather be snuggled up in your bed hiding under the covers watching HGTV.

When I heard about the Haven Conference, I knew I had to go. Some of my favorite bloggers and design/DIY experts were going to be there, and I knew it was going to be a great opportunity to learn much more about the blogging world.

Still, the thought of rooms packed full of people makes me want to run away screaming, so I knew I had to buckle down and pull up the bootstraps if I was going to have a good time.

Here are some tips if you’ve ever felt the same way about heading to a conference:

Tip #1: Bring A Friend & Pretend You Just Met Her

You know my mom is an incurable DIYer as well. (Just check out some of her projects I featured here.) So, she was all for going to this Haven Conference with me. This worked well when we walked into the first cocktail party and there were a gazillion women talking and laughing. I grabbed her and said, “Mom! Face me and talk to me. Like we’re friends or something.” This worked out well until I, in an attempt to talk with my hands excitedly, flailed a piece of a pretzel into the crowd. Then I realized we needed to get more friends.
Luckily, we did, which brings me to…
Tip #2: If You See Someone You Recognize, Just Say Hi

(Skye, Kelly, Me, Kirby, and fellow island maiden Karah)

I was really excited when I saw Kelly, who guest wrote a hilarious post about saving some moolah with black beans for me a while back. I knew she was sweet and kind. (And let’s face it, with that gorgeous curly hair, I was pretty sure it was her.) Luckily, she took me under her wing and introduced me to many more wonderful bloggers.

Tip #3: Try Not To Get Overwhelmed


All being introverted really means is that when it’s time to recharge, we need to be alone. Extroverts, on the other hand, get their energy from others. So, at the end of a long, jam packed conference, realize it’s okay to sit back and chill a little.

Take the time to go through your business cards, tweet people, and update your blog.

Overall, I had a really wonderful time at Haven. I knew I was one of the youngest bloggers there, and it felt like an accomplishment in itself to take a step in the right direction to learn more about the blogging world. Some of the sessions seemed over my head, but I stuck with it and tried hard to understand what they were saying. I reminded myself that there were many people like me – small bloggers who just enjoy writing – as opposed to feeling like I was the most inexperienced person in the room.
I think it’s important to stretch yourself with experiences like this, and I walked away with several nuggets of information that I’m already utilizing over here on Budget Blonde.
Has anyone else had to beat the introvert blues at a conference? How you did you get past it? Did you end up having a blast in the end?
I am linking up to Southern Hospitality

6 responses to “An Introvert’s Guide to Blogger Conferences

  1. This is great! It was so much fun meeting another “non-party schooler,” but there I am with a beer in my hand. And I brought my husband because I was scared no one would talk to me. How lame is that?

  2. Awww we DID get a pic together! I was so bummed when I wrote my haven recap post because I thought we hadn’t taken any pics together and I was SO SUPER excited to meet you in person! Pretty please move to Atl quick so we can be BFFs in real life.

    Kelly at View Along the Way
    http://www.viewalongtheway.com

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