One of the main questions that bloggers have is what should I blog about? There are many answers to this question, too many to answer in this one blog post but one thing you can do as a blogger is blog about the events that you attend.
There are so many different angles you could blog about from just attending an event. Let’s say you go to a business event with a particular theme. You could write about something the speakers said. You could create a discussion around the key themes of the event. You could interview fellow delegates and create some videos for your blog. Perhaps you could create a review of the event.
If you are running a business, you will probably be aware of business events or events relevant to your niche. Often a business owners we think that we don’t have the time to attend these events, but actually they can be a source of great networking, new contacts, potential new business and if you capture the right information a source of content for your blog for a long time to come.
This week I have attended 2 events. The first was an event Celebrating Women in Business. It was a great event with the right mix of networking, exhibition stands and seminars. I met some really amazing businesses and women doing some really inspirational things. The takeaway for me was the way that women help one another out.
One of the main themes was about finding what you love and doing more of that. Hopefully being able to take that passion and turning it in to a business.
The second event was much bigger. It had lots of trade stands seminars, panels and lots of networking. This event was much more formal and because of the size of the event you were at times made to mingle and network. I met some really interesting businesses and contacts and it was great to have conversations with people that I probably wouldn’t normally network with.
The whole day got me thinking about how to make the most of these events, especially if you are a blogger. So below I set out my top 5 tips to make the most of networking events and maximising your chance of being able to create some great content after!
1. Listen at Events
Many people make the mistake of thinking that events are all about selling and generating as many leads as possible. However if this is the approach you take you will miss some of the most exciting takeaways. Be open and receptive to everything that is around you. Ask questions of the people that you meet and be genuinely interested in others. Listen intently at the seminars and to what the speakers say. You will often ear some golden nuggets that you can use in a piece of content; but importantly a piece of information that will help take your business to the next level.
2. Be Authentic
Although seemingly obvious – often, when we meet people for the first time; we might overcompensate on certain aspects of our business or our personalities because we want people to really like us and our business. I personally find networking events quite tiring. That’s because I am naturally more of an introvert than an extrovert, getting my energy from quiet and solitude. Networking events are incredibly busy and stimulating and often suck the life out of me, even though I really enjoy them. But I find just being me helps me. By this I mean just going with the flow, if I feel myself getting tired I go get a drink or head to toilet for 5 mins to take a breather. If I find someone I really resonate with however, I will just allow myself to open up and get to know them – and them me!
3. What are the themes
This comes back to listening, but also to observing what is going on around you. What did you get out of the day. What did you learn. What did you feel. Was it what someone said, was it an inspiring story someone told. Was it the way that the event was run. Was it the fact that something at the event inspired you to do something different or make a huge leap of faith. They say success leaves clues. What clues are you identifying at the events you attend?
4. Connect the dots
This is something I really love to do. I find that I do it without thinking, but it’s incredibly rewarding and so I try to make a really conscious effort to do this to the best of my ability. So What am I talking about. The beauty of events is that you will undoubtedly meet people that are trying to achieve something, or learn something or find something or someone. If you visit every trade stand or as many as is possible and then you network with other businesses and ask them about themselves. They will tell you what they are tyring to do. If you have paid attention to the people you have already met you will be able to point them in the right direction and connect them with others. And for this, people will be very grateful.
5. Seek out the movers and shakers
Normally at events you will meet businesses and people who just make you go wow! It could be that they were one of the speakers and they said something that really made you think. Or it could be a new business that you just know is going to be massive and make a really great impact in the world. When this happens, don’t be afraid to reach out to them. Tell them what you like about them. Ask them if they would be willing to be interviewed or perhaps ask them if you could do a review of their product or service. Now imagine if you were one of the first people to spot them as an emerging entrepreneur!
So there you have it. A post about creating valuable content following the events that you attend and how to maiximse you success whilst attending them.
What was the last event that you attended. Do you prepare yourself to create content either whilst you are there or afterwards. Do you prefer to make video content or write about your experiences? I’d be interested to hear about how you find events and what you biggest takeaways have been. If you have enjoyed this post please share with your friend and followers and leave me a comment in the section below.
To Your Simple Blogging Success.
September 27, 2016 at 10:16 am
Great advice Beth – but WOW it is really hard to write using white text! Another tip that might help your readers is to set up a clip file to organize the information gathered through the types of strategies you outlined. Some use Evernote, I have my own system, but the point is it’s really easy for me to access my idea file and right now there are probably 100 different ideas on posts. Makes a big difference.
September 27, 2016 at 2:06 pm
Great post Beth, so many useful ideas on how to make the most out of events we attend. Sharing what we learn at various networking / events can certainly inspire and help others.
September 28, 2016 at 9:50 pm
Thanks Kim. There are so many nuggets of knowledge we can take away from events. Infact you could probably get enough content to keep you going for quite a while.
Just need to remember to take your pen and paper.
Beth 🙂
September 28, 2016 at 9:52 pm
Hi Marquita,
Great to see you here on mu blog again. Sorry that you had to write In white text. I didn’t realise it was doing that. I just checked and it was white text on a black background. Did it look different too you? Thank you for your comment about evernote. It’s always good to have the ability to store and access inspiration when you need it.
Beth 🙂
September 28, 2016 at 10:20 pm
Great Tips Beth,
I attend something local monthly.
Get out of town three four times a year to “live training” or a compnany event.
Keeps me in touch broad cross section of people, face to face to learrn what they want.
Keeping it social and being interested in them makes it easier to connect later onlne.
Michael, Getting to the Heart of the Matter.
September 29, 2016 at 4:43 pm
Hey, Beth. Thank you for the tips. The comment section is white on white so very hard to see. I told myself recently go to some events to get some fresh ideas for my post. Thank you for your suggestions
September 29, 2016 at 9:48 pm
Hi Lydia,
Sorry about the comment section. Your the second person to say that, but I’ve tried it on a number of laptops so not sure what’s going on. I’ll keep investigating.
Beth 🙂
September 30, 2016 at 1:13 pm
Hi Beth,
I go to a local business coffee morning once a month and really enjoy it. So far I have spent more with other businesses than I have “taken”, but I guess that’s not unusual for a blogger.
As I spend most of my working time alone in an office on the PC I actually enjoy going just for the sake of meeting other entrepreneurs for a chat.
What does surprise me is the number of people who just attend one meeting and then are never seen again! Surely they realise that it takes time to build up trusting relationships?
Just FYI my comment was white writing on black background, so I’m a happy commenter. (Chrome on a PC!)
Joy – Blogging After Dark
October 2, 2016 at 3:15 am
Hello Beth, This was such a great reminder for me, I have notebook full of notes from events that I have been to!! And have not once wrote a blog post from them..Great Share..Thanks Chery :))
October 2, 2016 at 6:15 am
Hi BethThis is my first visit to your blog. Really loved reading your post. This is something we all struggle with – what to write about? You have shared some great advise with us here. Thanks for sharing!
October 2, 2016 at 7:52 am
Hi Beth. Unfortunately, I\’m not the sort to attend these events, so I have to get my ideas elsewhere. I find it\’s not the topics that are hard to come up with but writing something different about them to what\’s been done before.
October 2, 2016 at 5:51 pm
Events are a wonderful way to keep up with the latest trends and wisdom in your niche or business, as you’ve illustrated perfectly here, Beth.
I like the fact that you actually focus on the training, and not just the connections. Too many people are hunting for JV or other opportunities, taking snap shots with influencers and the like.
It’s not ALL about marketing, though, there’s (1) learning and (2) sharing what you’ve learned.
It’s a great value to bring home to your community of followers.
David Merrill 101
October 2, 2016 at 7:54 pm
Hi Beth ,
where I live there are no events near I could go to,
only maybe on the internet.
But I can imagine that is very interesting to meet
people and talk about business and blogging .
A good way to know what to write about.
Thank you
Erika
October 2, 2016 at 8:30 pm
Hi Beth,
This is my first visit to your blog.
Nice post! I like #4 – Connect the Dots.
I write about my experiences, not gotten into videos yet. I have participated in one podcast where I was interviewed.
I was pretty nervous about it. It came out well and now I feel like looking into it further.
–Michael
October 3, 2016 at 12:25 am
Hi Beth,
Wonderful to see you picking up the pace in your renewed blogging journey.. I’m going to add one .. “Become your own mover and shaker” there are so many positive benefits from being the one people go to for answers. All the suggestions you have shared are excellent! You have to learn, you have to LISTEN to the experiences of others, grasp what makes sense to you, and create your own path. I believe anyone can be a influencer over time 🙂
October 4, 2016 at 11:43 am
Good to see you back, Beth! Yes, events are amazing opportunities. I’ve been to a few, mostly Internet Marketing related and it’s so good to put faces to names (real faces, not avatars!) I love the post and love the list of ways you can write about an event. I always found after an event I was writing several blog posts on it afterwards. There just always seems to be something else to say! Hope you are ok and doing well!
Enjoy the journey!
October 8, 2016 at 3:57 pm
Hi Mandy,
So great to see you on my blog and really great to be back. Looking forward to reading your posts again.
Beth
October 8, 2016 at 4:19 pm
Hi Michael,
Great to meet you and glad you enjoyed my post. Congrats on the podcast. I’ve done lots of webinars but not been interviewed yet.
Looking forward to reading your blogs.
Beth 🙂
October 8, 2016 at 5:01 pm
Thanks for visiting my site Sonal. I’ve just headed over to your blog. Looking forward to reading more of your great content.
Beth 🙂
October 18, 2016 at 12:50 am
Because I am a good student here are my answers:
What was the last event that you attended. ConnectHer
Do you prepare yourself to create content either whilst you are there or afterwards. Ideas start popping while I am there and I will often prewrite prompts
Do you prefer to make video content or write about your experiences? Write but should do video too
I’d be interested to hear about how you find events and what you biggest takeaways have been.
I learn of events through friends and blogger groups. One of my biggest takeaways is being prepared with your elevator speech.
October 23, 2016 at 6:02 pm
Hi Beth,
Good tips about making the best of attending events. Most of my live events are with community service clubs. Never thought about sharing them on blog posts. Have to rethink that.
Thanks,
Edward
October 23, 2016 at 6:30 pm
Hi Elise,
Thank you for sharing all your answers. I agree about needing to know and have a good elevator pitch.
Beth
November 22, 2016 at 2:40 am
I tend to shy away from events because I’m not very good in crowds. But you’ve got me thinking maybe I should venture out a little more often and see what happens. Just putting my foot in the door would be enough for a blog post for me. 🙂
November 25, 2016 at 10:35 pm
Hi Ruth, if you are unsure, find smaller networking events, or maybe take a friend with you. There are some big events which can be very daunting if you aren’t used to them. But there are so many really supportive groups as well. 🙂 Please let me know how you get on. I’m going to check out your website. Just wondered if you were currently a member of the Simple Blogging Network group? It’s free to join. https://simplebloggingnetwork.com/join-the-community