While I'm in Atlanta next week for the kick-off of Social Media Club Atlanta there is another event going on, Social Media 2007. Here is how the conference bills itself:
Social Media 2007 will focus on corporate blogging and podcasting case studies. Geared for small and large organizations looking to implement social media to engage their employees, reach their customers and build their brand, attendees will have a unique chance to learn from those who already are reaping the benefits of this new phenomenon. Specifically, attendees will learn how to achieve corporate buy-in to launch your social media program, discover the key steps and strategies for setting up and managing an effective blog, how to market your blog/podcast internally and externally; and how to build the business case and demonstrate ROI.I'm not sure how much I'd get out of the event, I'm just more interested in seeing what others are teaching & preaching....specifically looking to root out any blog-or-you-will-die evangelists.
If I hadn't seen Geno Church talk at the WOMMA DC summit, I'd probably just like to go to hear him. The event's $500 for two days which isn't too bad. We'll see. If I go I'll post some recaps of the sessions. However if the 'conference' blog is any indication it might be a bit slow.
I did e-mail the conference organizer, Business Capital Edge, a while back asking if 'conference bloggers' could get a reduced fee but I never heard anything back.
Visitor Comments
After reading Stowe Boyd’s explanation of social media and social computing, I agree that social media doesn’t need any more terms. This semester I am taking a course in social media and can admit that it’s a little overwhelming at first. For students and PR professionals to really understand and learn about these new communication tools they need to be as simple as possible. Many of these new tools are difficult to use at first, they don’t need to be complicated anymore by being defined and redefined.
Although I don’t think social media needs redefinition, I liked Boyd’s explanation of the term social architecture. I specifically like that he mentioned that “individuals come first”. From my experience with social media so far, I think it’s important to remember that it’s a way to communicate with others, not just a new technology. I believe that sometimes it may be easy to get caught up in the new technology and forget the real reason someone invented the tool, to reach out to people.
Our professor Robert French has just taught our class how to create our own blogs and use Skype and Hotrecorder. All three of these tools are interesting to me and I hope to learn more about other tools.
Posted by: Liz R. | January 28, 2007 11:19 PM
Josh,
Thanks for the kind words. I am the Social Media 2007 conference director. I do not recall ever receiving an email from you -- I would have let you attend the conference and write about it. FYI, we got a great turnout and great feedback in Atlanta in January -- so much so that we are doing the conference again in April in Chicago. Please let me know if you want to check it out -- I'll get you a pass.
Bob Chiarito
Posted by: Bob Chiarito | February 19, 2007 10:09 PM