I’m excited to share with you one simple tip that will completely change how you take notes and apply what you learn at any conference you attend.
But first – confession time. Prior to discovering this tip, I barely glanced at the notes I took from the very first blog conference I attended. Page after page of contacts, tips, and action items got buried and forgotten. Who has time to dig through notes to find that one great idea – not this blogger! I told myself I would, but it just didn’t happen.
That is why I needed this tip. What is the point of paying for a conference if you are not going to remember and put into action what you learn? The key is to organize your notes BEFORE you even take them!
My tip is easy as four simple clicks of a pen. Buy a multi-colored pen and color code your notes. For example this is the coding I use for the blog conferences I attend: Green = Money Making Ideas, Blue = Networking, Purple = Action Items, Pink = Blog Post Ideas.
This one tip made my notes much more usable and saved me a lot of time. With a quick scan of the page, I could quickly see the bloggers I wanted to touch base with after the conference or the notes I had made about a specific sponsor. After the conference, I set my timer for at least 15 minutes a day to focus on each of the color-coded items. More connections were made, more ideas were put into play.
Do yourself a favor! Get a multi-colored pen and make your conference notes the most colorful and productive ever this year.
If you are reading this after having already attended a conference, don’t worry! I have another easy tip for you. Grab a pack of highlighters and color code your notes right now. Reading over all of them will make them fresh in your mind and highlighting them will enable you to quickly sort them into action items.
Ready for more productivity tips? Check outย a Day in the Life of a DIY/Craft Blogger.
23 Comments
Laina Turner · April 29, 2015 at 7:35 pm
What a great idea!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) · April 30, 2015 at 12:20 pm
That is a good idea. My luck, I would forget which color meant which thing ๐
Heather Lawrence · April 30, 2015 at 12:29 pm
Great tips!!
I have yet to hit a blogger conference but I’m tucking these away for future use!
Tiaras & Tantrums · April 30, 2015 at 12:54 pm
oh these are great tips!! I look back at notes sometimes from conferences, but color coding them is an awesome way to peruse quickly for something you recalled.
AJ @ NutriFitMama · April 30, 2015 at 3:15 pm
Now this is a great way to take notes!
Tracie · April 30, 2015 at 5:10 pm
This is genius idea. This will definitely help keep my notes straight.
Mama to 5 BLessings · April 30, 2015 at 5:51 pm
What great advise. A smart and easy way to stay organized and keep things neat!
Ashley @irishred02 · April 30, 2015 at 6:00 pm
Great idea, I love taking hand written notes and color coding is right up my OCD ish alley lol
Lois Alter Mark · April 30, 2015 at 6:03 pm
Such a great, simple idea! I’m definitely going to do this at the next conference I attend!
becca · April 30, 2015 at 6:04 pm
Awesome idea. This would help son study as well.
Rosey · April 30, 2015 at 7:14 pm
I like that you used a timer. That’s a sure fire way to ensure you put in the time you’re wanting to put in. I do that here but for different reasons, like the kids cleaning. ๐
Heather · April 30, 2015 at 8:17 pm
Great tips to put to use during my next conference!
Lorane · April 30, 2015 at 9:04 pm
I like these tips . actually have various journals for different things. For e.g I have one for Blogging , Marketing and Events. I guess color coding things would save on all those journals
HopscotchNJellybeans · April 30, 2015 at 10:27 pm
I really like your idea. I think I really might incorporate it
Christina · April 30, 2015 at 10:51 pm
This is such a great idea. I haven’t been to a conference in a while, but this is a great plan. Definitely going to try this next time I get to go to one!
Tina @ My Highest Self · May 1, 2015 at 6:55 am
Great tip, wish I had thought of this a LONG time ago!
Melissa Vera · May 1, 2015 at 9:22 am
What a great tip. I tend to draw a box around a blog post idea because I always seem to only one pen in my purse.
Kelly Hutchinson · May 1, 2015 at 4:41 pm
I actually learned this trick when I was in nursing school. It completely changes how you take notes and how you prioritize them as well.
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom · May 1, 2015 at 8:23 pm
I always color code my planner notes, but never thought to do this for a conference. What a great idea!
Debi · May 3, 2015 at 9:27 am
This is fantastic. I am never organized but this would be a huge help.
Laura Funk · May 4, 2015 at 11:49 am
OH! I do this with my normal class notes but I totally need to prep for my first conference soon and this is a great tip
Sydney @ Tastefully Frugal · February 18, 2016 at 7:49 pm
This is an awesome idea Tara! I bought a few color change pens for Valentine’s Day and I’m totally taking them with me to BYBC. Thanks for the great idea!
Summer · February 19, 2016 at 12:25 am
Oh I just love this idea and am now wishing I brought different colored pens with me.