Under 30s Round-up Editor Amie Shearer is returning to BritMums Live for a second year and has a few tips up her sleeve to lighten your bag and help you go all digital native at this year’s #BML16…
To celebrate it’s fifth birthday, BritMums Live has had a bit of a make over this year, not least, changing it’s name to #BML16.
If becoming a hashtag isn’t a battle cry to make this the year you go digital, then I don’t know what is.
Last year – my first BritMums Live and only my second ever blogging conference – I saw a lot of posts about ‘what’s in my bag for BritMums Live’. But the truth is, all you need is your phone (and in my case, a red lipstick). Don’t believe me? Let me prove it…
1. Don’t print your tickets.
Who needs paper when you have Apple Wallet? (Sorry to anyone who isn’t an iPhone user… you can just skip this tip!)
Eventbrite, who you will have bought your #BML16 ticket through, allows you to simply add a QR code ticket to your iPhone’s Wallet meaning there’s no chance you’ll forget your ticket on the day. (Because what self respecting blogger leaves home without their phone?)
“But what if the digital ticket doesn’t work?”
I hear this a lot. And honestly, it just will. In four blogging conferences in two years (and countless BA, EasyJet and Ryanair flights as well beyond that – I literally don’t remember the last time I printed a ticket) I have never had this system fail on me. Once downloaded, the ticket is stored on your phone, so you don’t even need to worry about a wifi or data connection. Just make sure your phone has battery…
FYI – Apple Wallet is preinstalled on your iPhone when you get it and you can’t delete it. So you’ll definitely already have this app, ready and waiting to be used.
2. Ditch the business cards.
That’s right, you heard me. We all love a good card swap, but at the end of the day, they cost an arm and a leg only to get lost at the bottom of hang bags and goodie bags and are rarely looked at after the event. Harsh, but fair.
So what to do instead?
- Simply follow fellow bloggers on a social media platform of choice then and there. This way you’re more likely to engage with them in the future and come across their content (and vice versa).
- Start a Twitter list and add anyone you meet / find interesting / want to engage with at #BML16 to the list in the lead up to and during the event. This way you have everyone you want or need in one place. (It also means a streamline Twitter feed viewing only those at the event on Twitter while you’re there if you so wish.)
- Download the free Evernote Scannable iOS app or CamCard for Android users. If you’d rather capture a fellow delegate’s full details, or they give a business card and you can’t bring yourself to refuse, simply scan the card with this app and it will digitally record and store all the information on the card for you to peruse at your leisure at a later date. (This is also great for scanning a quick flyer or someone else’s notes from a session you couldn’t attend on the day too.)
3. Put your pen away!
Now, this isn’t strictly true – sometimes it is easier just to jot things down. But if you have a tablet – or even just your phone – use the notes section or Evernote for free on iOS or Android to take any notes during sessions rather than scribbling away.
The great thing about using Evernote is that you can log into your (free or premium) account on any device and access all your notes and documents in one place. The likelihood is you’ll use your notes from #BML16 – whether that’s writing a round-up blog post after the event or actioning what you’ve learned – when sat at your laptop, so why not have them ready to go in digital format instead?
If you’re more of a visual note taker, try Paper (iOS only) and simply doodle away the day, drawing spider diagrams, scribbling colour co-ordinated notes and more with your finger on the screen.
Alternatively, if you’re sitting near the front, you could even use a dictaphone app or even just the voice memos functionality on your device to simply record the talk to listen back at a later date, meaning you give the speaker your full attention on the day. Just make sure you have enough memory available on your device before you start!
4. Get phigital
The event itself is a hashtag. We are literally attending a hashtag! It doesn’t get more phigital than that people. So pull out your phones, get those selfies flowing and the Periscopes streaming and join the #BML16 conversation both in the lead up to the big day and at the event itself.
5. Stay digital
After the event itself, it’s important to take the time to download everything – both mentally and literally – from the day. Make sure you follow up with any potential leads or contacts you meet on the day. Email is an obvious choice, but if appropriate, connect on LinkedIn as well and send an in mail. Remember, everyone, brands in particular, are likely to receive a lot of emails in the aftermath of #BML16, so make sure your comms – however you choose to go about it – is well written, concise and stands out.
If you’ve used Twitter lists or scanned everyone’s business cards, it’s also worth sifting through and making sure you reconnect with any of particular interest after the event, whether that’s on Twitter, by subscribing to their blog or following them on an alternative social media platform.
So, now we’ve gotten rid of the business cards, the giant note pad, the pen(s), the tube map (use this handy app for iOS or Android instead!) and even your paper ticket, hopefully you’ll find your bag a little lighter and even a free hand of holding that cup of tea or slice of cake as you take notes in the other at the same time. #winning
See you there!
To find out a little more about me ahead of the big day, you can read my post I’m going to #BML16. If you spot me on the day – I’ll be the one surgically attached to my red iPhone, possibly with my matching red iPad in the other hand – do come say hi.
If you have any tips to share for going digital at #BML16, makes sure you let us know in the comments below or on Twitter using #BML16.
Catch up with Amie at her website Finding Our Feet. To reserve your place at this year’s BritMums Live, grab one of the last few tickets available!
