Attending any sort of conference is hard for an introvert like me, but with a little planning, it can be the best part of blogging--meeting new people who share your passion. I'm here to tell you that attending a blogging conference is a lot of fun, you meet some great people, and you should do it if you have the opportunity. To help you out, I've rounded up some links to help you (and me) get ready for a blog conference.

Get Your Head in the Game

• The Introvert's Guide to Conference Networking by Lisa Barone
• Advice for People Attending Conferences by Chris Brogan
• 27 Things To Do Before a Conference by Chris Brogan

I found these articles last year before my trip to Las Vegas for a blog conference and they helped me immensely. If you're an introvert like me, I encourage you to leave your comfort zone for a few days (you can always head back to the hotel if it's too intense) and meet some people you wouldn't otherwise approach. You'll be happy you did. If you're an extrovert, you'll be in heaven. A blogging conference is high energy!

Consider Finding a Sponsor

I've been lucky enough to secure sponsors for past conferences, but this year I decided to forgo sponsorships and make the investment myself. Why? Well, it's a lot of work to attend a conference, take notes, network, vlog, and share information with y'all. I love it, but it's a lot of work. If I add a sponsor into the mix, I also have the added responsibility of promoting that sponsor at the event as well as in my posts for you. Now, having said that, there are many bloggers who wouldn't be able to attend a blogging conference without some sponsorship help. To that end, here are some links to help you put together a proposal for potential sponsors.

• Companies...What Mom Will You Sponsor at a Conference This Year? by Jessica Smith. This article is written to the companies who may consider sponsoring a blogger. I think you can use to your advantage. Look at what Jessica is telling those companies to consider, then figure out how you fit that criteria. Pitch yourself to a company that's a good fit.
• BlogHer (and other conference) Sponsorship by Jodi Grundig. Jodi asks other bloggers to share their strategies on finding and securing a conference sponsor.
• How to Get a Blog Conference Sponsorship by Tara Kuczykowski. Tara explains how creating a media kit can help you sell your brand to a company and convince them to invest in you via a conference sponsorship.

You're There. Now What?

When I attend a conference, I usually attend because I want to learn something or become better at something. Then I want to share that information you so you can learn too. The problem is how to do that efficiently and still be part of the conference. You'll be networking and attending panels. You need to pay attention. You're also going to need to multitask. A few things you may already be doing:

• Use Twitter. Use the hashtag for the conference and update your Twitter stream. You can also follow what others are tweeting about the event by subscribing to the event's hashtag.
• Use an offline blog editor. There are times when you won't have internet access (yes! even at a blogging conference!) and you just have to get a blog post down. In those instances, it's helpful to have a third-party application installed on your computer so you can write the post and upload it later. Webhost Checklist and Six Revisions have reviewed many apps you might be interested in looking at.
• Record your interactions. You're talking to interesting people all weekend, why not share those conversations with your readers? Invest in a small video camera and interview the people you meet. Have them talk about what they do, how they help people, what their blogging goals are. My Flip Mino allows me to take a few hours of video and upload it easily to my computer. I can share it instantly if I have an internet connection.
• Live blog. Aliza Sherman's article, Preparing to Live Blog an Event will help you put together a live-blogging game plan.

That's a lot of information, I know. You may want to bookmark this page so you can refer to it as needed. Maybe you're not headed to a conference any time soon, but it's never too early to start planning.

Melanie Nelson writes tips and instructions for bloggers at Blogging Basics 101. If you see her at a blogging conference, don't be afraid to come say hi. She'll be forever grateful to you just for talking to her.