Practical And Useful Tips For The Best Haven Conference Experience

If you are a blogger or influencer who is thinking about attending the Haven Conference, don’t miss my list of practical and useful tips to help ensure you have the best Haven conference experience.

Practical And Useful Tips For The Best Haven Conference Experience

Last weekend I had the privilege of attending my first Haven Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of you may remember when I shared about last year’s virtual Haven Conference experience. And while it was amazing in its own way, I can honestly say that it didn’t compare to the real deal.

The conference was so much more than I ever expected, and I feel blessed to have met so many talented bloggers, makers, and influencers.

But…there were also times during the weekend when it felt a bit like I was drinking out of a fire hose!

There was So. Much. Information.

And networking. And pitching yourself to brands. It was all a bit overwhelming.

At times, it was a lot for this extroverted introvert to take in. Looking back, there are several things that I wish I would have know before I went.

As an event planner, I feel like there is nothing worse than being unprepared. So If you are a blogger (or want to start a blog) and have ever thought about attending the Haven Conference, this post is for you!

Here are some of my top practical and useful tips to help you have the best Haven Conference experience.

Who Should Attend Haven?

The Haven Conference is an annual conference for bloggers and influencers in the DIY and home decor realm. At Haven, you find community, share ideas, learn from experts, and network with brands like Ryobi Tools and The Home Depot (just to name a few). 

Whether you’ve had a blog and social media presence for 10 years, 10 months, or you are just starting, there’s a place at the table for everyone at Haven.

What to Pack

First, let’s start with what you need to pack for Haven. Here is my list of must-haves.

• Comfy Clothes. The conference schedule is jam-packed so comfort is key! My best packing advice is to pick clothes that make you feel confidant. Think about outfits that can easily transition from daytime sessions to dinner out with friends. (And don’t forget to pack a cardigan or a light jacket to keep you warm. The hotel gets chilly!) It’s also important to think about dressing for your brand. Do you love cozy neutrals, or are you a lover of bright and vibrant colors?

And before you wrap up your packing list, make sure that you check out the theme for the farewell dance party.

This year’s party was the roaring 20’s, and people came dressed to impress!

• Tote Bag. My second must-have when packing for the conference is a tote bag. It’s great for holding all of the things you’ll need during the day. Plus, it gives you a place to stash all of the swag you get from visiting each of the brands’ booths.

• Extra Suitcase. Speaking of swag, be sure to bring an extra empty suitcase to pack all of your gifts in when it’s time to go home.

Other Packing Must-Haves

• Planner, Pens, and a Notebook. I feel like it goes without saying, but a planner, pens, and a notebook are essential conference must-haves. You’ll take notes. A lot of them! So come prepared and ready to brush up on those old college note-taking skills.

• Business Cards. Hand out your cards to everyone…bloggers and brands! I brought 100 business cards with me and still had plenty left over at the end of the conference.

Your business card should include your logo, full name, contact information, and social media handles.

You’ll meet A LOT of people, so it’s also a good idea to include a photo of yourself. I missed that memo, but I’ll remember it for next year.

I designed my cards using Canva and ordered them from Vistaprint. If you prefer to have someone else make them, you can order your cards on Etsy, too.

TIP: Bring a ring clip and a hole punch to help keep all of your business cards (and the ones you collect) corraled and organized.

• Extra Snacks. The days are long, and dinners are often later at night. Be sure to pack some extra snacks if you need a little pick- me-up in between meals. Some of my favorites are turkey snack sticks, 100-calorie nut snack packs, cheez-its, and Twizzlers (for my sweet tooth).

How To Prepare Before the Conference

• Make a Plan. There are so many amazing sessions at Haven that it’s hard to narrow it down. Look at the schedule and make a plan before the conference starts. During Haven, talk to your friends and share notes for the sessions you missed, or utilize the Conference Facebook page to see if there are others who would be willing to share later.

• Do Your Homework. Think of Haven as a job interview. If you’re serious about pitching to brands, you need to do your homework ahead of time! Learn about the brands and their products. What do you love the most? Think about the DIY or home improvement projects that you have planned over the next year.

If you want to work with them, follow them on social media. Engage with their posts, and tag them in your posts and stories if you use their products.

The more you engage the better!

• Practice Your Pitch! The networking at Haven is amazing, but so is the opportunity to have face time with some of the top DIY and home decor brands in the biz! Be sure to have your elevator speech ready and be prepared to share some projects that you want to tackle.

• When you’re writing your pitch, think about what makes you and your brand unique. What do you blog about? It’s your time to shine, so don’t be afraid to share away. Just remember to tie a specific product and project to your pitch. Then close by sharing why you’d love to work with them and why you think you’d be a good fit for their brand.

8 Useful Tips To Help You Maximize Your Conference Experience

1. Network, Network, Network. Before the conference, join the Haven Mavens Facebook page and get to know some of the other attendees.

During the conference, try to introduce yourself to as many fellow bloggers as possible.

And don’t forget to swap those business cards!

2. Attend Every Session. Although it can be exhausting, it’s important to go to every session. Learn, network, and soak it all in.

3. Take A Break If You Need It. Okay, I know I just said that you should attend every session. But it’s also okay to take a break if you need it. Stay at the conference hotel so you can sneak away to your room for a quick nap or some quiet time to rest and recharge.

4. Visit The Brands’ Booths. Even if you don’t plan to pitch, take time to visit the different brands’ booths.

Many of them offer fun contests and giveaways.

This year I won a $300 gift card to Wagner SprayTech just for dropping my business card in a box!

5. Find Your Circle Of Friends. This goes back to number one. Take notes of other bloggers and influencers with common interests and stay in touch with them.

Start a DM chat group on Instagram, or create a Facebook support page.

6. Participate In Your Mentor Groups. Your mentors are a wealth of knowledge. Use them! Ask questions. And keep building that circle of friends by connecting with the other bloggers in your mentor group too.

7. Tap Into Social Media. Share your conference experience! Post photos and videos to your social media channels and continue to strengthen relationships with the brands and your fellow bloggers.

8. Just Be You. Our strengths come from the things that make us different. So be you.

Because THAT is what sets you apart.

What To Do After The Conference

Chances are your head might be spinning just a bit after you get home from Haven. Take some time to decompress, rest, and recharge.

When you are ready, organize your business cards, review your notes, set some goals, and prioritize your “to do” list.

My Priorities

After having a few days to let it all sink in, I came up with a few priorities for my brand.

2. Follow-up with brands. Demonstrate an attitude of gratitude.

I sent a thank-you email to the brands I met with at Haven to continue to develop a relationship before I pitch any projects.

3. Focus on my Pinterest presence. Pinterest is the key driver of traffic to my blog. But, I know there is more I can do to grow. Learning how to step up my game on this platform will be a big focus heading into the new year.

4. Learn something new. For me, that something new is TikTok. By the end of this year, TikTok will reach 78.7 million users. As a result, it is on pace to surpass Snapchat in terms of total users by 2023. And by the end of this year, more Gen Z users in the US will be on TikTok than on Instagram.

All of that to say…TikTok is where it’s at on social media and a great place to build on what I share here on the blog.

(Shameless plug warning. If you’re on TikTok, I’d love to have you give me a follow! )

Practical And Useful Tips For The Best Haven Conference Experience

Thanks so much for visiting today! My experience as a Haven conference newbie was memorable and one that I won’t forget.

I laughed, I learned, and I left feeling energized (and completely exhausted). Haven 2021 was incredible, and I’m already counting down the days until next year’s conference.

Whether you’ve been to Haven before, or you’re just curious what it’s all about, I hope that this recap full of the best practical and useful tips will help you have a great conference experience if you attend in the future.

If you have any more questions about the conference, let me know! Just drop them in the comments below, and I’d be happy to answer them.

XO,

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