Top 5 Things to Bring to BlogPaws

I’ve started my checklist of items to take to BlogPaws next week.  I can’t believe I am less than 2 weeks away from attending!  I’m looking forward to meeting new friends, making new connections, attending the workshops and finally meeting some of the businesses I’ve worked with over the past year.

So, if you are a newbie at BlogPaws I wanted to give you some information about what you can take to help you with your preparation and networking. Here are my Top 5 Things to Bring to BlogPaws and why:

• Laptop.  If you have a notebook, whether it’s a MAC or a PC, having your notebook there will help tremendously.  You can take it everywhere.  You can tweet on Twitter and post on FB in real time to update those who may not have been able to attend.  Also, you can take notes while you are in the workshops and take detailed information on those you meet.
• Camera. Take as many pictures as you can, especially of the people you meet.  Why?  If you take a business card from someone it’s likely you will not remember their face.  Take a picture and more importantly, take a picture of them holding their business card.  This may sound corny but believe me, you will be so glad you did.  When you go home and want to contact those folks you will be able to put a face with the business card.  This will help you continue your networking when you come home.
• Steno Pad and Pen. If for some reason you do not have your laptop please remember to bring a steno pad and pen and actually, take the pad with you even if you do have your laptop with you.  Take as many notes as you possibly can.  I am very forgetful, so if I don’t keep notes about everything I will likely forget what I want to remember.  I used to laugh at my mother when she would leave post-it notes everywhere for us and for my dad.  I now understand why she did it!  Thank you, mom!  You can actually start using your pad now.  Start making your list of things to bring with you.  Make the check list now, if you haven’t already.  This will prevent you from running around like a crazy person trying to remember everything at the last minute.  I am guilty of that sometimes.
• Business Cards. If you can’t afford to order business cards make them yourself!  You can purchase do-it-yourself business cards from office supply stores and even at Target, Wal-Mart and K-Mart.  One of the keys to good networking is exchanging business cards.  Introduce yourself to as many people as you can and exchange those business cards.
• Conference Materials. Prepare in advance.  They will certainly have the materials there but bring the materials you’ve printed off, including directions to the hotel, maps, workshops, etc.  Circle the workshops you plan on attending and have a backup workshop in mind just in case.  There could be circumstances that will prevent you from attending the one you wanted to attend.  Maybe you will run into someone that you want to continue networking with and they plan on going to your backup workshop.  Things happen and plans change, so be as prepared as you can.

I guarantee you will have an absolute blast.  You are going to come home with lots of ideas, business cards, notes,  etc.   You’ll be talking about BlogPaws for weeks…..months.