What to Bring to a Blogging Conference // Create + Cultivate Recap

I’m so excited to have partnered with Dove to bring you this post! Regardless all thoughts and opinions are my own and I only recommend products I truly love.

Recently I went to my first ever blogging conference. While not solely for bloggers, Create + Cultivate is really for anyone in the creative industry but definitely has a focus on bloggers and influencers. I had an amazing time and can not wait to go to another conference. I have pictures and a recap farther down but if you are headed to a blogging conference here’s what I recommend you bring in a large purse for your days at the conference:

 

(1) Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant

Blogging conferences are active. You’re going to be running around, on your feet a lot, shuffling between different rooms, mingling, getting pampered… and at some point during the day I guarantee you are going to get a little sweaty. But you are also networking and it would be a disaster to smell bad. That’s why I threw a bottle of Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant in my purse. It smells amazing and gives 48 hours of odor and wetness protection all while also moisturizing your skin. So yes, spray it on before you go and throw it in your bag (it’s super lightweight) to keep on hand just in case!

(2) Business Cards

With all the people you meet, there’s no way you would be able to remember the contact information for each one, so it’s a common practice to exchange business cards both with other bloggers and brands. I recommend putting the time into creating a quality business card that has both a picture of you on it (it always helps people to put a face with the name when they’re trying to remember what they talked to you about) as well as a logo of your brand or blog.

(3) Pen and Notebook

Your going to be learning a LOT of information in a short amount of time. You are going to be picking the brains of some of the industry’s most talented people. You probably are going to want to take at least some notes on this stuff.

(4) A Charged Phone

Again days are long, you’re going to be busy, and there’s unlikely for there to really be a spot to charge your phone. But you don’t want to miss out on any pictures on snapchatting! So make sure you charge it the night before, or bring a mobile charger if you can get your hands on one!

(5) A Good Attitude

You really never know who you’re going to meet at a blogging conference. What is disappointing to me is at blogger events where bloggers are really stuck up and not friendly. Don’t do that! Go and be nice to other bloggers, you can really learn a lot from them. Go talk to all the brands and show them how great you are by being friendly and positive – these are the influencers they are going to work with, not the ones who act like they are too good to take the time out of their day to say hi.

Create + Cultivate Atlanta was an absolute blast! There were delicious food and cocktails, amazing speakers, mentor sessions with some of the biggest names in the industry, pop up shops, plenty of networking time, and a beauty center with massages, makeup, hair, and even manicures for everyone. Plus the swag bags were unbelievable. I enjoyed meeting lots of new bloggers and business owners throughout the day who were also attending the conference (the first one I walked up and introduced myself to was a girl with a baby in a stroller so I figured she would be a good friend), and made sure to go chat with the different brands who had booths at the event to find out more about them. I attended panels on fashion, beauty, and women crushing it in the business. My favorite was that last panel, which included Nikki Reed and Ingrid Nelson on it. Hearing from these women who I admire and really taking in all their words on how to be authentic and real in this business really spoke to my heart. Overall I would say that what I took away from Create + Cultivate Atlanta was invaluable so if you are a blogger or business owner out there and ever get the chance to attend a Create + Cultivate you should definitely go for it!

Are you a blogger or creative that has ever been to an industry conference? I’d love to hear about what you went to and your experience with it below!