A List of the Best Blog Conferences in 2017 by Niche

Here is a list of the best blog conferences by bloggers in the parenting, food, lifestyle, crafts, DIY, décor, and travel niches. These are their words and honest feedback about each.

So Many Blog Conferences!

So you’ve decided to attend a blog conference – congratulations! Most will help you grow your skills and tribe. If you need help, my blog conference prep is well-rated and fills up. Book it here for your conference.

There are a lot of blog conferences available to US and Canadian bloggers – this list has more than 40! I wrote this article to help you create a short-list of those that are well-reviewed and classified as “the best blog conferences” by your fellow bloggers.

There are so many “best blog conference” articles that are peppered with affiliate links. My purpose with this article is to provide a list without them that contained recommendations from bloggers just like you.

There are NO affiliates in this article to avoid any preference.

Best Blog Conferences for Beginner and Mid-Level Bloggers

Build Your Blog – BYBC touts themselves as the best conference for bloggers to learn and many bloggers believe this to one of the best blog conferences to elevate skills. Hands-down, this was the most popular, consistently well-rated blogging conference.

“My blog seemed to jump forward after that conference. It was very educational.” Herchel, Gym Craft Laundry

“I loved the classes and lots of networking opportunities. The sponsors were really great to work with there and afterward.” Sydney, Tastefully Frugal

BlogHer – Well-rated by respondents, BlogHer has been going strong for 11 years and focuses on training and connection with brands. If you’re relatively new to blogging for business, consider a BlogHer event.

“I’ve attended 2 BlogHer Conferences and 1 BlogHer food and would attend again. Well organized, good sponsors, expo hall and swag. Sessions can be so-so depending on what you want to learn. …It’s also HUGE. Even the smaller BlogHer food had a big conference feel.” Jill Robbins, Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

“Just went to BlogHer Food and some of the sessions were fantastic. Great for networking and meeting ‘virtual friends’ face to face. Justine, The Typical Mom

Best Blog Conferences for Advanced Bloggers

Focused Blogging Conference – This is a hands-on conference designed to take bloggers to the ‘next level.’ What’s different about it as that you work alongside and learn from qualified mentor bloggers. This is a limited availability conference with 100 seats, but session recordings are available.

Full disclosure – this is the conference I recommend for advanced bloggers, as well. If you cannot attend a conference, the audio version can be purchased at a significant discount.

“I have been to Blissdom, Bloggy Bootcamp, BlogHer, can’t think of what else right now – a lot of years blogging. The best conference I have ever been to, hands down, and I would sell my right kidney if necessary to get there, year after year, is Focused. …it is intimate, great sponsors, amazing sessions, PLENTY of networking built right in. Good (not weird or fancy) food and very affordable. The hotel isn’t fancy and that is perfect for me! I don’t want to spend 300 bucks a night just to spend 3 hours in my room. 

I have been blogging forever and I teach pretty much everything to do with blogging. Yet, I walked away from 2 days with a notebook full of stuff, amazing new friends, and actionable tasks to apply to my blog. You want to go somewhere and actually learn AND implement? Focused is the place to be. You want swag and partying then don’t go there. Me, personally, I want to grow, not party. Save your pennies – Focused, by far Focused!!” Kelli, 3 Boys and a Dog 

Best Blog Conferences for Parenting

Type-A – This is a well-rated, large conference for parents who blog and are interested in connecting with brands. They are known for providing training how to turn blogs into businesses and offer multiple locations and virtual conferences.

“My favorite: great content and brands! Geared towards advanced bloggers.” Sarah, Thank You Honey

“I attended Type-A Parent West this year. 1) I won’t attend again, at least if it is in Santa Fe again. Not a kid-friendly town… The conference itself was smaller than I expected. The sessions were fine, some I learned quite a bit from. But there weren’t many sponsors. However, I did get one paid opp from attending… Just, not really what I was looking for, especially since I had to travel so far and stay at a grossly overpriced hotel. Not worth ALL of that expense.” Anonymous

Mom 2.0 Summit – Even though they are called, “Mom 2.0,” this very large conference invites nearly every blogging niche to join them. Since 2008, they’ve been working to give creatives a voice and foster communication with media and brands.

“Pampered to the nines… it’s at the Ritz Carlton and has a red carpet awards show. Very business/woman empowerment driven.” Kim, The Kim Six Fix  

Best Blog Conferences for Creatives and Creative Niches

Haven – Haven has been going strong since 2012 and is a conference for the DIY and decorating bloggers. It’s a large conference that aims to provide education in most areas of blogging. Haven is well-loved by new and seasoned bloggers.

“I go every year because it is the absolute BEST conference for DIY and Decor. It is getting BIG though.” – Anonymous, a DIY home renovation and decor blogger

SNAP! – Per their site, SNAP! is “a conference for creative entrepreneurs and lifestyle influencers.” Although it sometimes has similar sponsors to Haven, SNAP! focuses more on crafts than on DIY projects for the home. Many bloggers in the creative niches love this conference.

“I’m not always impressed with the sponsors, but SNAP! is a good one for me. I see old friends, get to talk with brands, and always learn something.” – Anonymous, a crafts/lifestyle blogger

Best Blog Conferences for the Travel Blogger

TBEX (Travel Blogger Exchange) – TBEX was the only conference repeatedly mentioned by bloggers in the travel niche. It has become a standard in the space.

“It was very professionally done, lots of tracks to choose from for education. AMAZING networking with other bloggers and BRANDS. There was brand speed dating every day with 50+ brands (estimating) you could set appointments. I was majorly impressed. Planning to go again…” Paula, Traveling Family Blog

A Community Divided

BlogU – This conference identifies as an affordable alternative, taking place on a college campus. Some loved it and some would never attend again – there’s just a divide straight down the middle. I didn’t feel it was safe to recommend as ‘best’ because of the divisiveness.

“The all-inclusive meals and accommodations made trip planning effortless, the speakers were informative, and the social aspect was really fun.” Alison, Sparkly Shoes and Sweat Drops

“I went the first year and it was the worst night of sleep of my whole life. Like worse than when my daughter was born and the nurses poked and prodded us all night. Worse! Overall I loved the classes. Some were real game changers.” Anonymous

“Will not attend again. Pretty good content, geared toward humor and parenting bloggers, small, a little cliquey but my main reason for not attending is that it’s on a college campus to cut costs and I’m not down with spending the weekend in a dormitory. #princess” Anonymous 

“The idea was to make an accessible and affordable for everyone – in contrast to spending a s!*t ton on conferences fees and hotels and still provide the same quality of instruction.” Anonymous 

“The conference is sponsored but there is not much opportunity to interact with them…no expo, pathetic swag. The dorms SUCKED. The “big parties” are themed and really cheesy – the year I went it was a middle school themed. Just not my scene.” Anonymous 

Meets, Socials, and Additional Conferences

SoFab OTR (on the road) – An extension of SoFabU (from Social Fabric), the focus is on educating influencers who are part of their program.

“I started getting a ton of Sofab posts after it and I connected with quite a few CMs (community managers). I would probably go back as a speaker to this one-day, “roundtable” style conference.” Herchel, Gym Craft Laundry

“I like that it’s affordable and only one day, and not *too* far away for us to travel to, but there are no sponsors there really to market yourself to and not a variety of sessions to attend. We did do some hands on things, and it was a small group of bloggers so you can network some. So, if it’s close, maybe worth attending, but I wouldn’t stress about missing it either. If it’s IN your town – go. Travel? Maybe not.” Katelyn, What’s Up Fagans

Mom Meet WOW Summit – A meet directed towards health-conscious moms, brands, and influencers.

“Good sessions as well as brand relations.” Katie, Views from a Step Stool

Go Blog Social – This is a conference for creative individuals seeking to grow blogs or social outreach.

“I liked it was much more personable with a very local vibe (as they gathered a mix of local and non as speakers when I attended in Kansas City). Just a very laid back set up with lots of info and brands to take advantage but not overrun like a lot of conferences.” Tessa, Homemade Experience

Blogger Bash (BBNYC) – Connects digital influencers with new toys.  “Tons of fun and a lot of relationships made, mostly for networking not for learning ‘how to blog’ – didn’t result in much paid work at my level.” Katie, Views from a Step Stool

Bloggy Conference – Catered to those interested in social networking and is often cited as one of the best blog conferences.

“Small, good speakers, lots of time to socialize, and affordable.” Kim, Tales of a Ranting Ginger

Summary

This list of the best blog conferences by niche was provided to offer real feedback to those of you deciding which blog conference to attend.

Are you going to a conference this year? Which one?