Let’s Go to She Speaks! June is for Getting Things Together!

This post was originally published in 2016.
It has been updated with links and information related to She Speaks 2022. 

Ack!!!  It’s June already!! Can you believe it? Just a few short weeks until we are all together in Charlotte for She Speak 2022!

There is still much to be done in these last remaining weeks, so let’s get right to it!

Review the Conference Schedule

Log in to the She Speaks portal and review the schedule.  There is plenty of time for networking and getting to know your fellow conference go-ers.  Start making plans now for meeting friends a meal times and the meet-and-greets.

I created two worksheets to help you plan your conference time and be prepared for networking.  Enter your info here to get them straight to your inbox!

Business cards

Oh one of our favorite and most talked about prep activities.  Yes, if at all possible, it would be great to have business cards at She Speaks.  You’ll make about 250 new best friends and will want an easy way to share your contact information.  A few tips for creating your business cards:

  • Include your name, email address, phone number and social media info.  Most people don’t have a need for your physical address.
  • Include the name of your ministry and your tagline. (Don’t have a tagline?  Check out this post for a worksheet and step-by-step webinar to come up with one!)
  • Add a nice headshot to help match names and faces.
  • Don’t use a solid dark background on the front and the back. When I get someone’s card, I like to jot some quick notes on it, what we talked about and anything I want to follow up on from our conversation.  Those memory joggers are super helpful when you get home!
  • Use the back of the card for more information, but leave space for people to write on the back.
  • Keep it simple and don’t stress over it.  I can promise you I did not get home and think, “Now who was that girl with the pretty flourish thing on her business card?”  Nope.  But I did say, “Who was that amazing girl who has the really cool ministry? Let me go find her business card and contact her.”  It’s a simple tool to help make connections.  Keep it that way.
  • Vistaprint and Moo are two popular places to order your business cards. You can design them right on their site, and can often find special deals.  You’ll want around 200 cards.  If this is your first time to get cards for your ministry, don’t get too many.  You’ll probably want to change them at least once. Or twice.  (Can you tell I’ve been down this road??)

Pro Tip:  Vistaprint runs special deals on business cards often.  Subscribe to their site and you’ll get notices frequently.  Design your card there and save an order in your cart so it will be quick and easy to purchase when you see a special. It takes around 10 days to get your cards, so you have until the first week of July or so to place your order.

One Sheets

One sheets are a good thing if you have something special you want to promote.  Maybe you have a new series coming up on your blog or an event you are speaking at or a special promotion for your faith-based business.  Speakers also often have them to share more about their speaking ministry. One sheets are totally optional.  You’ll only need 20 or so, and they can be printed two to a sheet if there is not too much on them.

 

For Writers

Did you get your publisher appointment request in?  If you are signed up for an appointment, you should have received an email from the She Speaks Leadership Team with the list of publishers attending and instructions for making your request.  And if you are on the publisher wait list, don’t despair!  A LOT of people will choose not to schedule an appointment and it’s likely you’ll hear from P31 later this month.

Let’s Get Together!

I’m looking forward to attending the meet and greet in the Marriott lobby on Wednesday evening.  I hope to see you there!

 

RESOURCES

Check out my podcast episode about networking at the conference.  Episode 63 of Just One Simple Thing

Essential Elements of a Speaker One Sheet – This blog post has a ton of good layout ideas that can be used for any kind of one sheet … not just for speakers

Check out the other posts in the She Speaks series in case you missed any!

  April   –   May

RESPOND

How are your preps coming? What has been the most difficult part so far?

 

33 thoughts on “Let’s Go to She Speaks! June is for Getting Things Together!”

    • Yay for my Breakfast Buddies! Did I mention presents? There may or may not be a little something special for the breakfast gang 😉

      Reply
  1. Christa,
    This “thank you” is long overdue! I have followed this series since the beginning and I am incredibly thankful for you and all the information you have presented. This will be my first time at She Speaks and while I had no idea what to expect in the beginning, I am feeling much more comfortable because of what you are doing here. You are a jewel for sure!!! Count me in for breakfast! I am excited to meet you and chat in person! Sweetest blessings to you! And, again, thank you, thank you, thank you for running this series!

    Reply
  2. Fantastic advice, Christa. I own TLC Graphics, an author assistance company, and for the third year, we’ll have a book there. My advice comes from a different angle. If you’re a writer (no matter your experience), please try not to be nervous when telling people about your story. The agents, reps, and us are just people who love to help authors reach their dreams. God knows exactly the right company to help you produce that book, so you’re not going to mess up His plans. 😉 Just be open to talking with anyone and about all methods of publishing. We’ve seen some pretty cool miracles happen right at She Speaks. Amazing stories! Can’t wait to meet you, so stop by to say hello, even if you’re not a writer! If you are, though, we’ll be holding 15-minute consultations at our booth. Contact She Speaks to set that up. Oh, we’re also launching our book for authors there and sales will benefit Proverbs 31 Ministries.

    Reply
  3. Christa, I have thoroughly enjoyed this series! This is my first year going to She Speaks and the info your offering is priceless! Thank you for letting us glean from your wisdom & experience.

    Reply
    • Well, my wisdom is gained from a grand total of ONE trip to She Speaks, so I’m not that much ahead of you, and way behind many. But I do remember that overwhelmed, chaotic feeling from last year and hope I’ve helped you avoid that. Some. A little. It’s still scary, I know!

      Reply
  4. Many thanks Christa for the work you have done to get us ready for She Speaks 2016! I am beyond excited and so thankful for the resources and timeline you have provided. I’m looking forward to being a part of this amazing experience.
    I’ll be there for breakfast on Saturday morning and can’t wait to see you.

    Reply
  5. Many thanks Christa for the work you have done to get us ready for She Speaks 2016! I am beyond excited and so thankful for the resources and timeline you have provided. I’m looking forward to being a part of this amazing experience. I’ll be there for breakfast on Saturday morning and can’t wait to see you.

    Reply
  6. Such a helpful post Christa! I wish I would have had access to this when I attended She Speaks in 2014. Have a fabulous time! Thanks for linking up with the #RaRaLinkup. 🙂

    Reply
  7. I need to redesign my business cards! Good thing I need to order more. Thanks for the tips! I would recommend MOO. They were fast, easy, and mine turned out beautiful! So excited to meet you ladies.

    Reply
  8. Your posts have worked wonders to calm the nervous nellies out if be. I look forward to having breakfast and of course meeting so many wonderful ladies at the conference

    Reply
  9. Hi Christa! Your posts are super helpful, as I’m attending for the first time in July 2017. Looking forward to meeting you, maybe at Saturday’s breakfast. So many people to meet, so little time 🙂

    Reply
  10. I’m going to SheSpeaks for the first time this year (2018). I’ve got a quick question regarding your business card tips. I personally have my own blog, which is more every day life. I have social media accounts for this blog. Then I have my ministry site, which is more focused on a particular topic. The ministry site also has social media accounts. The book I am prepping the one sheet for is based out of the ministry work, however there is crossover between the (personal blog, ministry site). Should I include the social media information for both or primarily the ministry site since that is more directly related to the one sheet/proposal?

    Reply
    • Gena, I’m so excited about your trip to She Speaks! Your business cards will mostly be used to connect with other attendees, so I would feature the social media info for where you most want people to connect with you. But definitely put both. You could also do a two-sided card. It’s not much more from Vistaprint. Then you could do one side with branding and social media for your personal blog and the other side for the ministry site.

      Reply

Leave a Comment

Let's Do

our-thing

Help For

your-thing

Is your to-do list out of control?

Grab my best to-do list tips and learn to overcome the de-railers in your week

WHY I DO MY THING

Do A New Thing equips busy communicators and leaders with project management and problem solving skills so they can turn their big ideas into a successful ministry or business.

Privacy, Disclaimers and Disclosures

LET'S CONNECT

Contact Me