BritMums Live! Guest Post – Kylie from Not Even a Bag of Sugar

We’ve got a cavalcade of amazing bloggers who will be attending BritMums Live! in around six weeks. Attending a conference can be a bit intimidating so we’ve asked for bloggers to share their hopes, dreams and fears to pave the way for a smooth and enjoyable conference. Hopefully these guest posts will help you to see that many of us are in the same boat!

Please welcome Kylie from Not Even a Bag of Sugar…

 

I’m excited! I am going to Britmums Live! Last year I attended Cybermummy11 and I was so scared. I had only ever met one blogger before and I felt at a cross roads. I had a little blog that my friends and family read, but no one else. I didn’t really know what I was doing and my choice was either to stop blogging, or take it to the next level. After Cybermummy my blog grew from strength to strength.

This year my focus is different, and I’m really looking forward to learning a lot, but also sharing my own knowledge too. Without a doubt the session I am most looking forward to is Blogging for the Greater Good. I love using my blog to work with charities, and I want to get better at it. I also want to learn how to help charities use bloggers effectively. I have to say I am immensely looking forward to meeting Camilla Batmangelidjh , she is a personal hero of mine. I have read and heard many interviews with her, and I am sure she will be even more colourful and inspirational in person.

For me, it’s going to be important for me to liaise with brands. Last year I felt completely out of my depth. I didn’t know where my blog was going or what I wanted to do with brands. I want to get better at working with brands and deepening relationships. It’s hard up North, so much happens in London so it is important to make the most of every opportunity to liaise with PR.  My blog is so much more now that just writing about premature babies. It will always be a huge part of my blog, but also living and writing in the present is important too, so I really want to do more posts about toys, games, days out and preschool life, and working with brands could be an exciting part of that.

Last year I felt so out of my depth if I can help someone else feel a little bit more comfortable about attending Britmums Live, that would make me happy. So here are my top tips.

1. Have some business cards. You can do them yourself or get them professionally printed. I didn’t do this last year and deeply regretted it.
2. Make a list of 5 bloggers you’d like to say hi to. You could even get them to sign their autograph!
3. Have a little purse or holder to put cards in, especially brands. Make a note of anything discussed or promised so you can email later to follow up.
4. Don’t feel under pressure to tweet etc all day. Give the speakers your full attention.
5. Take notes of any key points, but there are usually notes available of sessions later.
6. Dress for comfort. The day/s are long, you will be standing and walking more than you think!
7. Keep well hydrated
8. Plan ahead which sessions you want to attend
9. Don’t feel you have to attend every session. It’s quite nice to pop around and speak to brands when its quiet.
10. Enjoy it! Have lots of fun, meet lots of people and learn! You will have a ball!

Kylie blogs at Not Even A Bag of Sugar (www.notevena.blogspot.com) You can reach her on Twitter @kykaree  or follow her facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/notevenabagofsugar)