What better way to learn social media than at a major conference where the experts gather? Just a few years ago, there weren't many options out there. But in 2015, there are a few events that I consider "can't-miss" if you are serious about your social media marketing.
The first event worth highlighting is the Social Media Marketing World event. Featuring 2,500 participants, the event is held in March each year in lovely San Diego. The Social Media Marketing World event featured many keynote speakers, most notably the following: Guy Kawasaki, Mari Smith, Chris Brogan, Jay Baer, Ann Handley, Michael Stelzner, Michael Hyatt, Laura Fitton, Joe Pulizzi, Mark Schaefer, Cliff Ravenscraft, Nichole Kelly, Ted Rubin, Chalene Johnson, Darren Rowse, Joel Comm, Kim Garst, Martin Shervington, Marcus Sheridan, Gini Dietrich, Pat Flynn, John Jantsch, Andrea Vahl, and Brian Clark.
The next event, which you can still attend (hint, hint), is the Social Media Today Social Shakeup 2015. Taking place in Atlanta, the roster of contributors reads like a "Who's Who" of powerhouse brands. If you register before May 22, you can save 20% off your price of attendance. The event kicks off with a day of workshops and the Employee Advocacy Shake-Up on June 8, with the actual Shake-Up occurring June 9-10. Learn more about it by visiting this page.
I'm extremely excited for this event. Here's a quick look at some of the brands that will be there sharing the latest in strategy: Bank of America, Microsoft, GE, Whole Foods, Dell, Siemens, Arby's, Hootsuite, Southwest Airlines, and many more. Featuring forty breakout sessions and the ability to customize your seminar schedule right on their website, I'm thrilled to be attending this event.
Lastly, after hopefully enjoying your summer and incorporating all of the tips you learn from the above conference, the last big event of the year is held in September in San Francisco. Dreamforce 2015 features 1,400 breakout sessions, making this very unique and offering a diverse set of sessions you can attend. In 2014, Al Gore, Neil Young, and Neil Young all were in attendance.
If you are serious about upping your social media game, these conferences are great ways to build on the fundamental tactics.
social media conference / shutterstock