You know the old adage, you’ve got to spend money to make money? Attending a Blogging or Social Media Conference is a little like that. Jumping in feet first will get you motivated to up your game and get out of your comfort zone. Spending money on your brand (which is YOU after all) will be a great investment in the long term.

3 Reasons To Get Yourself To a Social Media Conference

Learn New Skills

Can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Fuggetaboutit! Attending a blog conference will give you multiple opportunities to learn directly from successful bloggers. Whether you write in a specific category, like fashion or photography, or you are a passionate essayist who jumps from topic to topic, most conferences have specialized tracks where you’ll easily get your money’s worth in new ideas.

Plus there are several niche based conferences out there. BlogHer runs a foodie blogger conference. And the SitsGirls have created smaller 1 day conferences specially designed for newbies all around the nation.

The upcoming BlissDom conference has a whole track devoted to teaching the legalese of blogging in our brave new world of Federal Guidelines and tax implications. Writing tracks and social causes are also popular conference fare.

Networking on Redbull

Have you figured out yet that Twitter is the perfect place to find new contacts? Imagine getting to meet those people you’ve connected with online for the first time ‘IRL’. Blog conferences are geared at their heart to networking plain and simple.

Many bloggers show up to conferences over and over not necessarily to attend marathon sessions and classes. They know the real business of blogging takes place in hallways and lobbies, late at night way after the sponsored parties are put to bed for the night.

Connecting in a real way with brands and PR reps is so much more likely when you get to meet up with them face to face. Have your elevator pitch ready because you will (literally) need it on almost every elevator ride you take.

Amanda Henson of HighImpactMom.com and @HighImpactMom:

“I attend conferences to expand my field knowledge, glean valuable wisdom from savvy women I respect, and spend time connecting with like-minded women (and sometimes men). I find that the information and inspiration that I bring home from attending conferences translates financially in my “real life” by equipping me with a fresh mind and new ideas that I can use in my consulting business at home. I have also found that the companies I work with benefit directly from my attending conferences in the same way!”

Increase Your Income

Does this sound like you? A few paying blog gigs have come in. You have an influential Twitter following and you’re increasing your Facebook base. You are ready to prove to yourself (and likely to your husband) that you can make money, that this isn’t just a hobby. But where do you start? How do you get in the door?

Attending a blog conference will give you additional skills, additional contacts and creative new ideas. In a nutshell, you’ll come home with confidence. Once you realize how many others are finding ways to monetize their blog and their influence, you’ll start creating your own blogging success story.

Jessica Rosenburg creator of It’sJessicasLife.com and @Kikarose:

“Each time I attend a blog conference I increase my personal sphere of influence and make myself exponentially more marketable. But to me, the true value of conferences lies in basking in a community of like-minded individuals. I go home once again reminded that I might be alone at my coffee shop table, but a huge community of bloggers sits virtually by my side, working with me on furthering the cause of social media marketing. It gives me the strength I need to keep working at what I believe in so strongly.”

2011 is the year bloggers are going to get paid what they are worth; for their time, efforts and influence. Check out conferences like SOBCon and BlogWorldExpo, they do a great job of talking about the big picture and finding ways to monetize your site and your brand.

ShePosts.com listed 10 Blog conferences to note in 2011. Many other interesting conferences didn’t make this list. There are giant conferences like BlogHer, which moves around each year and there are smaller location conferences like EVOconference in Park City, Utah. A cost saving tip: Cut down on travel costs by locating a conference within driving distance and then road trip with a blogger in your area.

If  you are attending BlissDom, Mom2.0 or BlogHer this year, be sure to find me! I want to meet you in 2011! Let’s kick some bloggy butt ya’ll. And if you haven’t already, join GigCoin and add your own sponsorship pitch!