A pre-conference guid

1. Digital Women
Pre-Conference
Guide

2. What to Bring
Checklist

3. What to Bring Checklist
Your personal identification and Eventbrite ticket Emergency contact information
A laptop, tablet or a notebook Email addresses and phone numbers of at least
two other attendees
A Smartphone/camera for taking pictures (be sure
to tag any photos you upload with “SCCTO”) The address and phone number of the venue
and hotel you’re staying at (if different from the
Chargers and power-cords for all your electronics conference hotel)
(phone, camera, laptop, etc.)
Extra room in your suitcase for swag, prizes and
Business cards with your name, blog URL and/or perhaps unplanned shopping excursions
Twitter handle
A small amount of cash for getting around the
A pen for making notes - even just on business city (cab fare/subway tokens)
cards - to remind you of whom you met and what
you discussed Your sexiest heels; your most comfy shoes; and
something in between
A light sweater or cardigan; autumn nights in
Toronto cool down quickly

4. Frequently Asked
Questions

5. What to Wear
You said I could dress casual. Are there
What should I wear? any exemptions?
In a group of 200+ women, you can bet there'll be a variety of Please, no yoga pants, sweats, jammies or
looks - everything from impossibly chic to incredibly casual. So articles of clothing with slogans/offensive
please do wear what you feel most comfortable in; if you feel like sayings. While we want you to look and feel
wearing your personalized conference tee, go for it! And, while your best, this is after all a professional
some women will change for the evening events, there is networking event.
certainly no pressure to pack extra outfits unless you want to.
Our own Donna Marie sported the ShesConnected tee to almost
every BlogHer '11 event - whether it was black tie or red carpet,
she was comfortable and looked fab!
When/where can I pick up my personalized tee?
Conference tees, sponsored by Ford Canada, can be picked up
during conference registration. For your convenience,
registration will commence on Thursday, September 29th at
11:00am, allowing you to have enough time to change if desired.
Don't forget - you can layer the tee over a long sleeved t-shirt or
wear it under a cardigan or hoodie if you think you may be cold.

6. What to Bring
Please refer to our "What to Bring" checklist.
Should I bring my laptop? What if I don't have one?
Laptops are encouraged, and there will be free Wi-Fi in all
areas of the conference to allow you to access your e-mail
and social media. However, some people feel that toting
around a laptop is too cumbersome and impedes their ability
to network and move through the conference area. It's
completely up to you. If you have a Smartphone and are
able to tweet, post to FB and/or check your e-mail, you may
want to ditch your laptop in favour of a good old fashioned
notebook or a few sheets of ruled paper.
How many business cards should I bring?
You will be safe with 250 cards. Please make sure your
cards include your name and Twitter handle!

7. Hotel & Accommodations
I arrive early on Thursday but can't check in until after
the conference has started. Where can I stash my stuff?
The hotel will tag your luggage and/or bags and stow them
safely away until you are ready to check in. If you are flying
in on Thursday morning, be sure to arrive ready to mingle
as you may not have access to your hotel room to primp.
For quick touch ups, there are several public restrooms
available throughout the hotel and conference area.
Is Wi-Fi available in my hotel room?
Wi-Fi will be available in all hotel guest rooms at an
additional charge.
I’d like to find a roommate to offset costs.
Please feel free to check our conference discussion board Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
at http://bit.ly/qeF442. Here you’ll find help finding a 123 Queen Street West,
roommate, organizing a car pool or other logistics-related Toronto, ON M5H 2M9
topics. www.sheratontoronto.com

8. Conference Registration
When can I register for the conference?
Registration begins at 11:00am on Thursday, September 29th
and will remain open until 5:00pm. Registration will re-open
the morning of Friday, September 30th at 8:00am for two
hours only. Please have your ID and Eventbrite ticket ready
in order to receive your conference pass. You will need this
pass to receive admission to all sessions, sponsored areas
and parties.
At the Registration Desk you will also pick up your SCCTO
swag bag, brand passport and customized tee.

9. Networking Reception
When is the networking reception?
The networking reception will be held following the
sessions on Thursday, September 29th from 5:00pm to 7:00
pm.
Will food and drinks be served?
Snacks and beverages will be provided by Janes and
Molson Canadian 67.

10. ShoesConnected
When are the parties? Will food and drinks be served?
Our official conference party, ShoesConnected, will take Light fare including canapés and finger foods
place on the evening of Thursday, September 29th at the will be offered, in addition to two (2) drink
Town Shoes Flagship Store at 95 Bloor St W in Toronto from tickets per attendee. We ask that you please
8-10pm. We are still in the process of confirming a party drink responsibly; know your limit and drink
venue for Friday night, but you are welcome to make plans within it.
with other attendees in the meantime – Friday nights in
Toronto generally present a wealth of options!
How will I get to/from the party?
You will have to arrange for your own transportation to 95
Bloor St W. The party is less than a 5-minute cab ride from
the hotel (2.5 km) and if you share with three others, will cost
approximately $3 per person (fare + tip). Alternatively, you
may take the TTC from Osgoode Station North to Museum
Station (4 minutes) and then walk northeast for an additional
5 minutes to the party. If you prefer to walk please set aside
about 25 minutes.
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
95 Bloor St. West Toronto, ON M5S1M1
www.townshoes.com

11. Connecting with Peers
But I don’t know anyone at the conference! I’m nervous! This is my first conference.
Will I be a loner? You are in good company! Don’t worry; all of our
Absolutely not! Just let a member of the SCCTO staff know attendees are incredibly friendly and don’t be
that you’re riding solo – either ahead of time or at the event – afraid to stay close to some of the conference
and we’ll make sure to show you some love and make some veterans. They’ve pledged to take you under their
cool introductions! wings!

12. Connecting with Brands
When will we be able to get up close and personal with
the brands?
We have dedicated time for networking in our conference
agenda, and this will be the best time to introduce yourself
and speak with sponsors. However, please do not hesitate
to engage the brand representatives at other points during
the conference – the simple act of waiting in line for a coffee
can present itself with a unique (and perhaps valuable)
networking opportunity.
How can I distinguish myself from the other digital
women?
Know your “pitch” – that is, what you and your blog are all
about – and then sum it up in 2 minutes. Research brands
ahead of time to find those are most closely matched to your
blog and blog audience, and be prepared to both ask and
answer questions.

13. See you at SCCTO!
Questions & Inquiries
Donna Marie - donna.marie@shesconnected.com
Lena Almeida - lena@shesconnectedcorp.com
Twitter - @SCConference
Facebook - facebook.com/ShesConnectedSocialNetworkforWomen

14. www.shesconnectedmultimedia.com
www.shesconnected.com
www.shesconnectedconference.com