How to Prepare for any SEO Conference, Including MozCon

Conferences are a whirlwind experience. Regardless of your industry, conferences give you the chance to step out of your home office and into a dynamic environment filled with valuable talks from industry experts, vendor booths offering swag and software solutions, networking opportunities galore, and unforgettable experiences with your favorite SEO pals. 

SEO conferences, like MozCon, are more important than ever as more teams are distributed across countries and time zones. With the right preparation, you can use conferences to boost your energy, strengthen your team, and enhance your enthusiasm for work during and after the event. This guide will equip you with essential tips to make the most of SEO conferences, in-person or virtual.

This year, we have two exciting events to choose from 

📍 New York – Tuesday, July 14 at The Glasshouse - snag your ticket 

📍 London – Friday, November 13  at Convene 22 Bishopsgate - snag your ticket

Click on the whiteboard image above to open a high-resolution version!

So you've secured your ticket to an SEO conference —lucky you! It's time to gear up and make the most of this experience. Whether you're attending in person or via a remote-friendly live stream option, preparation is key to getting the most value. Follow these essential steps to maximize your experience and ensure you're fully equipped for any conference, including our very own MozCon.

When I'm thinking about a conference, I break it down into what I need to think about before the lead-up, while I'm there, and after the event. Remember! It doesn't stop once the event finishes. You can continue to get value out of a conference even after it’s over.

The fantastic thing about this industry is that there is usually a meetup, event, or fully-fledged conference that suits your bandwidth and budget, no matter where you’re located. I'm based in London, where the SEO community is truly thriving, and I have attended lots and lots of conferences, community events, and meetups. I don't think I would be where I am today without these fantastic experiences. 

I've also had the opportunity to work alongside some incredible people, who put on our very own conference, MozCon. And the fantastic news is that we have events this year in New York and London. MozCon 2026 brings the magic to each of these cities for one day only! 

Preparation for any SEO event starts with securing your spot, so do these things first:

1. Search for a conference in your location or in areas you can easily reach.
2. Connect with your peers and ask them where they are going.
3. Follow speakers on LinkedIn you'd like to see and catch them at their next speaking gig.
4. Convince your boss to send you to your preferred conference.
5. Snag your ticket early to get the best price.

It's always important to snag your ticket early. This is because you'll get the best price, and also it means you can get ahead of booking your travel and accommodation. Prices of these things always tend to rise, so it's really important to be prepared if you can.

Ramp up your SEO learning

Define what you want to achieve and create a plan to maximize your experience. Having clear goals will help you stay focused and make the most of the event. Subscribe to Moz's Top 10 Newsletter (curated by Moz’s Senior Search Scientist Tom Capper), check out the latest here on the Moz Blog, or explore the SEO Learning Center to refresh your knowledge. These will give you access to a wealth of content to boost your knowledge before the big event. From basic SEO to local search and technical details, there's something for everyone. 

Gather your note-taking tool of choice

Make sure you have all the necessary tools at hand. Charge your laptop or tablet or choose any other preferred method for note-taking. If you plan on sharing takeaways with your team, well, unfortunately, telepathy won't work, but you can still find ways to communicate effectively.

Find and connect with your people

MozCon and many other SEO conferences offer you ample opportunities to meet new people and expand your professional network. Maximize your networking opportunities before you get there. 

Before you arrive, get familiar with the digital landscape by following the #mozcon hashtag on social media, and while you're there, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, because why not?

Also, think about how you can connect and find people, your people. Finding your community and seeing who in your network is also attending means you won’t feel alone when you get there.

You can start broadly by looking at big SEO communities, like Noah Learner's SEO Community or Areej and Erin's WTS Community. There are lots more out there. But they're a great place to start, and then you can drill down from there. 

If you are already in the Women in Tech SEO or Noah Learner's SEO Community, you can join the #MozCon channel in these Slack communities. This will keep you updated on MozCon fellow attendees’ plans and movements and allow you to engage with speakers and ask questions.

Find your people. Find who's going. Start making plans early. 

It's the day of the event! If you've followed all the tips above, you know exactly what you want to achieve and may even have made some connections with other attendees or speakers. But if not, no problem! You can still maximize your SEO conference experience while avoiding burning yourself out. Whether you’re attending online or in person, we’ve got some tips from seasoned MozCon speakers and attendees to keep you engaged during the event.

Pack your essentials

Your ultimate packing list doesn't have to be a mile long. You can pack light and still be well prepared. Just don't forget to pack:

• A water bottle to stay hydrated
• Long sleeves, cardigan, or blazer — opt for comfort if you tend to get a bit chilly in office buildings and conference centers
• Your comfy shoes — you might be on your feet quite a bit during the conference
• A power supply for your laptop — stay charged so you don't miss a thing!
• Your business cards — yes, they are still a thing, but if you're so inclined, you can also create a digital business card with a QR code. Either way, don't lose touch with the folks you meet and chat with.

Register early if you can!

When attending any conference, it’s helpful to get the lay of the land before the event so you can float through to the action uninterrupted. If you are arriving early and want to get a jump on badge collection and a sneak peek at the new venue, drop by registration to check in and pick up your badge. Set your alarm and arrive at the conference bright and early so you're not rushing your morning cuppa and missing the opening remarks!

Attend every session

Controversial perhaps? And, of course, impossible for multi-track events. But for single-track events, like MozCon, I would advise making the most out of the conference experience by attending every.single.session, consider the gauntlet thrown! This also means you have the chance to network with every speaker if you bump into them in the conference hall or the after-party. Luckily, MozCon is a single-track event, so you don’t need to make any difficult decisions. You can find your spot in the auditorium, set up camp, and let the inspiration absorption begin!

Feeling overwhelmed when it comes to meeting people IRL? Don't worry. You're not the only one. In fact, we have a blog post filled with tips from 21 marketers for networking as an introvert.

Define your goals and objectives

Knowing what you want to achieve will help you make the most of your time and focus on the sessions and activities that align with your interests. Think about what you want to have achieved once MozCon wraps. What do you want to feel? Aside from more than a little bit spent. Do you want to feel more connected? Do you want to have an answer to a burning question? Do you want to meet someone IRL? Do you want to have a stash of valuable notes to take away and share with your team? 

MozCon gives you the ability to achieve all these things. At MozCon, in addition to learning from incredible speakers, you will have the chance to mingle with like-minded people during breaks and discover your next software solution at our partner hubs, talk to SEO experts at the Moz Pro, Local, and API booths, and much more! 

Clear your calendar

That meeting can wait! While I don't want to leave you in a jam, if your virtual sync can wait, and we know it can, then block it out of your calendar in advance. Too often, I see folks hunched up in conference corridor corners taking calls during events. I know it's not always possible, but if you can push that meeting out, try because you're going to feel way more present if you're able to be fully at the event.

While there are lots of conferences going on throughout the year, your company, or if you're freelance, YOU, have funded your ticket, meals, and travel to this event. Be present, be engaged, and be ready to learn. 

Jot down hot tips immediately

You've been following these steps diligently, haven’t you? If so, you have already prepared your note-taking tool of choice. Whether it’s a giant Gdoc filled with links and screenshots, the notes app on your tablet, or a trusty notepad and pen. Even if you’re not a massive note-taker, there is nothing more valuable than jotting down a few lines as your gray matter is percolating.

When we're thinking about taking notes, everyone is different. But I like to think about recording my big ideas. So think about how it relates to the work I'm doing, and how it could be connected to something that's really important to me. Instead of just jotting down every single point, think about how it applies to what you're doing and record those really big ideas

Light bulb moments happen in a flash. If your boss or colleague asks you what you learned, you’ll be pleased you thought of your future self and kept a few bullet points for yourself and anyone else who asks.

Familiarize yourself with the agenda

For multi-track conferences, in particular, it's important to know what sessions you want to attend.  Take a peek at the speaker lineup and bookmark your faves. For the hyper-organized, or disorganized depending on how you look at it, you can add events to your calendar so you don't forget (I pretty much do what my calendar tells me to do anyway). 

For those who have attended Brighton SEO, you'll know that the smaller rooms tend to fill up quickly. I like to turn up early to the session and snag a chair, so I don't miss out.

MozCon is a single-track event, so I definitely advise planning to attend every talk. There is plenty of time in the breaks to pick up swag, get a picture with your team, and all that other good fun stuff. 

As we get closer to the event, be sure to check out the MozCon minute-by-minute agenda to identify the topics that align with your learning goals. Even if a particular topic seems unrelated to your work, it can still provide valuable insights. Some of the best ideas can come from tangential topics!

Sign up for fringe events

I also recommend thinking about signing up for fringe events. For example, one of the many BrightonSEO conferences coming up has fantastic fringe events, including podcast recordings, group meetups, and beach cleanups. 

There are lots of ways you can get involved that will make your time there feel more valuable and help you make connections with people beyond the day-to-day work. 

Connect with the speakers before the event

Check out our impressive lineup of speakers; perhaps there is someone speaking you’ve not yet connected with? Take some time to understand their specialty. Even if you’re not currently working within that field, it may be a new learning opportunity for you, or it may help you gain a better understanding of the challenges your colleagues are facing. Ultimately, conferences are a great opportunity to develop a more well-rounded understanding of the entire search industry, what’s on the horizon, and what to pay attention to in search.

Many of our tips are applicable to attending virtual events. You just need to get creative about how you network and stay engaged. To get the most out of any virtual event, you will still want to plan how you will take notes, connect with speakers on social media, and set your team up to make the most of the talks.

Treat it like an IRL event

I still recommend booking out your calendar when attending virtual events. It’s so easy to get distracted, and as much as we tell ourselves we are capable of multitasking, how much are we really absorbing? Clear your calendar and your headspace, take as many notes as you feel would be helpful to you, and filter your X feed by #mozcon to stay in the fold and be part of the fun.

Set up a watch party

Book your office conference space and order some snacks so you can watch the conference live from wherever you are. If your team is distributed, set up a lunchtime sync to check in and chat about what you’ve learned so far. If you are all in different time zones, create a new Slack channel to share insights with your teammates.

Hydrate

Even if you’re solely powered by caffeine and SEO insights no one can deny the boost a bit of H2O provides (especially if you’re jet-lagged.) Folks travel to conferences from near and far, as a past MozCon attendee's pin map below attests. Make sure you're able to be your best self despite the impact of travel on your energy levels.

Give yourself time to think

Thinking and doing are two very different things. If, like many of us, you're busy executing projects five days a week/52 weeks a year, this may be the time you need to let thoughts enter your brain and connect with other thoughts in order to, in some abstract way, find a solution.

Network network network!

There is one experience that isn’t replicable outside of an IRL conference, and that’s the opportunity to connect with people in real life. Maybe you know them through LinkedIn, maybe you follow each other on social media.  Nothing cements a professional connection more than chatting over breakfast, grabbing a much-needed coffee.

And I know that networking is not everyone's favorite word. But if you've done your preparation early and connected with your people, it won't feel like hard work; it will feel natural.

So what happens once the event is over? You've had a fantastic time. You've met with people. You've learned lots of things. Maybe you've gone for a swim. You've tidied up the beach. You've gone for drinks. Or you've done a life drawing class.

Whatever it is that you have done, you've done it all. You've checked all your boxes. It doesn't stop there, because you can do a few things after the event that will make your next event an easier ask.

First of all, share all those big ideas you've recorded with your team. You can share them through your internal channels or maybe you want to put some time in with some people and talk them through and say, "Hey, let's talk about how we can apply this idea I got from this person at the event I attended."

Maybe you want to go on to share that more widely with the community. Is that on LinkedIn, tagging speakers, or through a roll-up blog post or those Slack channels you maybe already joined earlier?

Be sure to follow up and connect with your contacts. Did you have a valuable conversation with a speaker? Did you meet with someone for the first time who you've only interacted with on LinkedIn? Follow up and say, "It was great to see you." Ask where they are headed next.

Doing so will help make the next event even easier. 

With all of this, hopefully you're thinking about the next event you want to attend. And you might even have some collateral that you can take to your boss or the person holding the budget and say, "Look at all the value I got from this event. We were able to complete this project and move it forward more quickly. We had absolution. I met with someone who validated something for me.": Make that case. Have something really solid to make that case so that then, when you're asking for budget, you're more likely to get a yes.