The hardest part is getting out the door. But you know you need to do it. Every once in a while you need to get out of your uniform (fuzzy socks and yoga pants, anyone?) and get out of the house! I’m talking about networking. Growing your business by building relationships – live and in person. Exploring opportunities, learning something new and gaining a fresh perspective.
But which events should you attend? How do you know what will be the best use of your most precious time? Because it isn’t easy or inexpensive to travel across the country for conferences. (And believe me – I know what a challenge it is to get away when you have little ones at home.) So you have to be clear about what you expect to accomplish and why you want to attend. Ask yourself the following questions to help you choose the best conference or event for your business or personal growth.
How to Decide Which Conference to Attend
1. Will this conference or event be filled with my ideal clients or people who may refer business to me?
2. Will I be likely to meet potential business partners who can help me grow my business and open new doors for me?
3. Will I be able to speak or exhibit at the event, grow my platform and position myself as an expert?
4. Will the event leave me recharged, restored or rejuvenated in some way?
5. Will I learn a new skill that will help me accomplish my goals?
6. Is the total cost (including travel and exhibitor fees) something I can make up in a matter of months with the new leads, ideas or skills I obtain?
7. Will I be surrounded by others who will encourage and equip me to become a better mom and entrepreneur?
The more “yes” answers you have, the more likely the event is to be a good fit for you.
But what if you don’t know where to start in finding conferences to attend? You can always search on Trade Show News Network or Mom Spark or She Owns It or Enterprising Women or a host of other sites. But I saved you the trouble and compiled this list of some of my favorites!
2013 Conferences for Christian Mom Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur Magazine’s Growth Conference – Featuring keynote speaker Barbara Corcoran of Shark Tank. January 10, 2013, Dallas, TX
First Steps to Success – Dani Johnson’s trademark seminar designed to equip you to succeed beyond your wildest dreams. January 26-27, 2013, Dallas, TX
Beech Retreat – A conference for Christian homeschoolers and bloggers. January 31- February 3, 2013, Captiva, FL
Spark and Hustle – Tory Johnson’s 2013 National Tour for current and aspiring entrepreneurs. Held in 15 cities nationwide – I’ll be attending the one in Washington, DC!
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council – Business developing and networking for women business owners. March 13-14, 2013, Baltimore, MD
Hearts at Home – Practical advice and encouragement for moms in every season of life. March 15-16, 2013, Normal, IL
Blissdom ’13 – The premier conference for women who find and express their bliss by publishing online. March 21-23, 2013, Dallas, TX
Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference – For writers at every level. March 22-26, 2013
Southern Women’s Show – The ultimate tradeshow for women who love to shop, learn and be inspired. April 26-28, 2013, NC State Fairgrounds.
Mom 2.0 Summit – Talk with social media influencers, industry leaders and brands as they gather to share best practices. May 2-4, 2013, Laguna Niguel, CA
BlogHer – Bringing together thousands of women bloggers from around the world to learn, inspire and connect. July 25-27, 2013, Chicago, IL
SheSpeaks – A one-of-a-kind experience for Christian speakers and writers. July 26-28, 2013, Concord, NC
eWomen Network – International conference and business expo. August 8-11, 2013, Dallas, TX.
TypeA Parent Conference, The world’s top parent blogger conference, September 27-29, 2013, Atlanta, GA
Allume – A blogging and social media conference for Christian women. October 24-26, 2013, Greenville, SC
What did I leave out? Let us know about some of your favorite conferences or events for Christian mom entrepreneurs.
Better yet…tell us which conferences you plan to attend in 2013 so we can connect in person. Not sure yet? Bookmark this page and come back to let us know!
EDITORS UPDATE MARCH 2013:
She Builds a Business: We left out the best conference of them all – our very own live event for the International Christian Mompreneur Network! She Builds a Business will be held April 18-19 in Virginia Beach, Va. It’s the premiere training and networking event for Christian mom entrepreneurs. Click here for more information.
