Things I Wish I Knew Before Alt Summit

Before Alt Summit, it should come as a surprise to no one that I did my fair share of research. I read blogs, scoured Pinterest, and stalked speakers and attendees on social media.

Even though I considered myself prepared for my first Alt, there are some things I think should be stressed to attendees.

Clothes Matter.

Okay, no. That came out wrong. It’s what’s on the inside that counts. But at a conference surrounded by hundreds of beautiful, creative women, what you’re wearing and how you look could potentially have a huge impact. That said, DO be yourself. Just turn up the volume. I tend to wear a lot of neutrals. So for me, that meant statement jewelry and other colorful accessories.

Two related notes:

1. SHOES! Shoes are a fun way to spice up an otherwise boring outfit. So, I highly recommend being a little adventurous. But do remember that you will be on your feet a bit. Be sure whatever shoes you go with, that they’re comfortable enough to survive a long day.
2. You have the potential to walk away from every conference day with a slew of papers and freebies. While you will likely receive some sort of tote bag, I also recommend bringing your own (large) bag that you’re comfortable loading up and carrying all day. A cute backpack would be great; I opted for a roomy tote similar to this Madewell classic.

Know what you want.

This is not groundbreaking intel. I probably read it on five other blogs before I went. BUT IT’S TRUE!

I’m still pretty early in my blogging journey. So, pitching to big time sponsors like Alaska Airlines doesn’t really make sense for me right now. I’m also decidedly an introvert, which makes most traditional networking super stressful for me.

For me, it’s all about walking away with practical, actionable steps. Last year, I learned a lot about affiliate marketing. This year, it was about elevating my content and photography. Whatever your personality, there will be things you can take away.

I love inspirational keynotes as much as the next gal, but that kind of motivation fades (at least for me). Be sure to have some measurable goals or specific things you want to learn about before the conference begins.

Be prepared to spend.

Whether it’s one of the fantastic speaker’s books or breakfast that’s more than coffee and a pastry, be ready to drop some money during the conference. Staying off-site? You’re looking at taxi or ride share fare to and from the conference every day, too.

Lunch was provided every day; some meals were better than others. But breakfast was meager and dinner was nonexistent. I personally carried an assortment of bars in my bag (Rx Bars are my new favorite!). But even including a hosted dinner, I ended up dining out multiple times. I *could* have cooked at my AirBnB, but I was already tired enough at the end of conference days.

While it is possible to make it through the week on the cheaper side of things, know that some spending is just unavoidable.

Would you add anything to my list of must-knows?

Be sure to check out my Alt Summit recaps for a bit more about how I spent the week, including some takeaways from my favorite sessions.