Today’s 2011 Social Media Plus was one of the larger conferences for the DC to New York City corridor to focus on the social Web. It was a success by many measures. Philadelphia magazine said it “will include 1,200 attendees, 50 exhibitors, and 25 sessions.” It’s mildly misleading, or mildly irresponsible, that they published attendance numbers in advance which double last year’s turnout of 700. The actual turnout was 700-800 according to one of the summit’s Co-Chairs.
The conference was billed as the “Mid-Atlantic region’s largest business summit for professionals interested in educating themselves in social Media and Web 2.+ technologies.” Those I spoke with came in with high expectations, and were generally satisfied with the two day share.
Social Media Plus displayed the pride digital media workers in greater Philadelphia have for the technology sector in the city. Personally, it brought back memories of days when interactive media was a smaller universe, but one with a lot of people elbowing in from other disciplines if the money spigot was gushing. Social media today needs people from other disciplines more than when developing and designing websites was esoteric.
We have tools for creating and and using a the digital communications channel that were absent at the end of the Web 1.0 era. Sharlene Sones, Founder of brandstoria, for example, got me thinking how branding experts know the story approach to communications. They are accustomed to using many marketing channels, which gives them a unique perspective when contributing to social media strategy. Some with experience confined to digital have limited experience via platforms like Twitter or Google Plus when they share a story for their employer or client.
New York and Silicon Valley are driving social media such that all other areas are distant thirds. Traditionally, New York, and its Silicon Alley, did not completely overshadow other locations. For example, Boston’s 128, and North Carolina’s Research Triangle have more influence in the larger, more general interactive space. Some of the Web 2.0 and social media conferences in New York send shots pinged around the world that start new trends in social media. A few of the recent and upcoming events In Philadelphia’s 95-miles-to-the-north-neighbor include:
- The SES conference, coming to you on March 19- 23, 2012 will have over 100 exhibitors. Based on prior success, it will draw about 5,000 SEO and internet marketing professionals
- Mashable Media Sumit- Sold out at Times Center venue: November 4, 2011. Super-star list of speakers (2012 TBA)
- Socialize was 3/31 and 4/1/2011.
- BlogWorld & New Media Expo had over than 100 sessions and speakers: 5/24-26, 2011.
- Social Media Week had almost 10,000 attendees, and about 220 events.