Attending huge SEO events such as brightonSEO might seem daunting, even more when it’s your first time. That’s why I compiled this list of tips for brightonSEO newbies: I wish I knew all that before travelling to the two-day conference.
First, let me briefly introduce myself. I’m Philippine SIKORA, an SEO translator who helps companies conquer the French market. I write web content for international companies and help them with their SEO. I’m based in Ireland, so travelling to Brighton is quite easy.
If you’re new to the SEO world, you might have discovered brightonSEO recently. Let me explain what this event is about in a few words.
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What is brightonSEO?
BrightonSEO is one of the most important conferences for search marketing in the world. Each year about 5,000 digital advertisers and marketers travel to the UK (or to the US since 2023) to meet peers, learn new techniques, discover the latest SEO trends, and network.
The venue is full of passionate people who are here to share their knowledge and learn from peers. All this in a fun and busy atmosphere.
Upcoming brightonSEO UK events
- brightonSEO 2025: 23-24 October
- brightonSEO 2026: 30 April-1 May
Tips for first-timers when attending brightonSEOBe proactive
Be proactive
- Buy your ticket early: the earliest you get your brightonSEO ticket, the cheapest it will be. You can also enter the free ticket ballot (the October 2025 ballot will open on 21 May 2025).
- Don’t wait the last minute to book your hotel: hotels are fully booked during brightonSEO, so make sure to book your room as soon as you can. I saved 45% off the rate when I booked a room, two months before the event. These tips applied to plane and train reservations too.
- Do your research: don’t hesitate to research the speakers on LinkedIn to learn more about their expertise before the event. Some of them even offer 1:1 sessions during the conference!
- Book a table: it’s lunch time. Thousands of people are leaving the venue with one goal: they want to eat (and quickly, please!). You don’t want to spend your lunch break queuing on the street just to grab a dry sandwich that you could have bought the day before… If you travel with a group, booking a table for lunch and dinner is a must.
Or, if the weather is nice (yes, it’s possible, even in the UK) buy some takeaway and eat on the beach.
Get there early
- Print your badge (or…): make sure to arrive early on the first day, or you’ll wait outside for a long time (not fun when it’s raining). And you’ll probably miss the first minutes of the first talk of the day. Even if you have printed your badge…
Or join the other queue. The other queue is for the people who did not print their badge. For my first time at brightonSEO, I printed my badge, but when I saw the looooooong queue for the badge holders, I moved to the other one: I was inside the venue within 2 minutes!
- Allow some extra time to get lost: the brightonSEO venue is a maze. Signs are not always clear and, as a first-timer, you’ll get lost. During my first visit at brightonSEO, I walked back and forth and up and down a lot, searching for the Skyline room. Somehow, finding this particular room wasn’t that easy. And I have a good sense of direction!
Small rooms (Syndicate 1&2) are located at the far end of the building; you’ll need extra time to find them. The number of seats is also reduced in these rooms, so arrive at least 15 minutes before the session starts.
Bonus tips: everyone but reps leaves the venue during lunch. Take this time to visit sponsors’ booths on the ground floor: representatives have plenty of time to answer your questions and it’s the perfect moment to grab some swag. The second day is always less crowded, so take advantage of it to network.
Come prepared
- Buy enough data for the two days: the Wi-Fi signal is quite wonky there, so use your mobile data to stay connected. If you take your laptop to brightonSEO, I recommend that you use your mobile phone as a private hotspot.
- Plan your schedule ahead: use the scheduling feature provided by brightonSEO to plan your day. This way, you’ll know when and where to go next.
- Put these in your bag: a power bank*, a water bottle, some snacks, a notebook and a pen. Bring a large bag with you so you’ll be able to put all your stuff inside, jacket included. There is a cloakroom available at the venue, but you’ll lose time queuing to leave and collect your coat… Be aware that it’s quite hot inside the venue; you’ll be fine just wearing a t-shirt.
A bag is also pretty handy when collecting swag; trust me, you don’t want to spend the day holding five t-shirts, ten pens and a new green mug under your arms!
- Wear comfy shoes: you’ll spend two days walking around the venue, up and down, from one room to another. Pick comfortable shoes for this business trip; your feet will thank you later!
* There are charging stations on the first floor and plug sockets in Auditorium 1.
Network anytime, anywhere
- Bring enough business cards with you: if you don’t have time to print new business cards or if you only have old ones somewhere in a drawer, create digital ones!
I personally use HiHello when networking: it’s free, handy, and you can personalise more than one card.
- Join networking events and activities: yoga classes, a 5k run, netwalking, private dinners, meet-and-greets… There are plenty of events organised by brightonSEO and trusted partners during this two-day event. Pick the ones for you and meet other digital marketers!
Breaks are also great to meet people and create new partnerships. Use the coffee and tea queue to talk to the person behind you instead of looking at your phone.
Respect the speakers
- Be discreet: arrive on time, switch your phone to silent mode and avoid leaving the room between talks. Some speakers are also first-timers, so imagine how stressed they may feel! If you have to leave the room during a session, find a seat near the exit so you’ll not disturb anyone.
- Ask questions at the end of the session: there are often 3 talks within a session. Make notes during the talks and wait until the end of each session to ask your questions. Speakers are always happy to chat near the stage after their session.
You can also ask questions by email after a talk; the email address will be displayed on screens through the day.
If you’re here just for the swag, please behave. Way too many people go to the stands and grab some swag without interacting with the reps. Don’t be like that!
Have fun!
- Take breaks: all the talks are recorded, so if you miss one or two, it’s not the end of the world. You’ll be able to access the slides and recordings later. Rest, go outside for a few minutes (the beach is just across the street), play some games…
- What to do at brightonSEO for fun: play arcade or video games, try tie and dye, get a tattoo, eat delicious free ice cream or popcorn, collect more swag, etc.
My takeaways
Attending brightonSEO for the first time is like going to Disneyland Paris: a lot of people roaming around, it’s loud, we get easily lost, we want to discover everything as soon as we arrive, we’re exhausted at the end of the trip, but it’s so much fun!
And it’s the perfect occasion to meet clients and to learn about new SEO techniques or updates.
If you’re an SEO beginner or an expert, I recommend that you attend this 2-day conference at least once in your life.
