by Carolyn Shelby on November 10, 2007
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If you’re someone who is responsible for marketing a business website, but doesn’t actually work for an agency, or works for a business that is primarily brick-and-mortar and might be a late comer to the “internets”, you’re probably going to have to justify the time away and cost of your conference attendance to your boss(es). This episode of SEO 101 discusses the value of search conferences and recommends some ways to prepare yourself to give the pitch.
We spent a little big of time on the differences between SES, SMX and PubCon, and which conference we felt would be best to attend based on your knowledge level, overall responsibilities and business goals. Oh, and there’s a coupon code mentioned at the end of the show to get 10% off your registration for SES Chicago.
I should warn you that we encountered some technical glitches during the show (Brian’s office lost power and he got knocked off, and I was doing the show from a “borrowed” wireless connection that was a little flaky (I eventually just called in on a landline). All in all though, it was a good show :)
The important things to take away from this are:
- Search conferences are definitely worth the price of admission (and airfare/hotel/food/bar) because the value of the knowledge you gain in that one week far surpasses what you can learn on your own through self-study in the same amount of time;
- When pitching conference attendance to your boss, anticipating objections and questions and then having prepared answers, backed up by case studies and facts, goes most of the way toward getting his/her blessing and funding.
Popularity: 76% [?]
by Carolyn Shelby on October 10, 2006
Since I’m constantly late about booking hotel rooms for conferences, I have compiled a list of links (to my own reservation system, natch) to hotels in Vegas for PubCon 2006 — but only hotels that I would consider staying at because I’m picky.
The big problem here is that a lot of the convenient or choice places are booked solid for stays beginning on November 13th (the night before the conference begins). I have noticed a couple places DO have rooms if you set your first night to Tuesday, November 14th or later… but for me that’s going to suck to come in early enough on Tuesday morning to drop all my junk off at the hotel and still make it to the first sessions at the conference. (Ah well, I’ll figure it out.)
Please feel free to use the links below to book your rooms. 6% of your total room night cost is profit por moi, and I thank you in advance!
Conference Hotel — Renaissance Las Vegas
3400 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV
On Monorail Line/On Strip — Venetian Resort Hotel Casino
(If no rooms available, try this link for the Venetian instead.)
On Monorail Line/On Strip — Paris Las Vegas
On Monorail Line/On Strip – Aladdin Resort and Casino
On Monorail Line/On Strip — SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand
Across street from Monorail/On Strip – Bellagio
Need to Take a Cab — Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa
- 11011 W. Charleston Ave, Las Vegas, NV
Red Rock *just* opened, and it’s run by the people who run the Green Valley Ranch and Resort in Henderson. I spent 5 WONDERFUL days at the spa at GVR last year, so I feel pretty confident that Red Rock is going to be just as nice.
Need to Take a Cab — Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
- 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV
It’s the Hard Rock… it’s hip and has the coolest pool in Vegas (or so said a special I saw on the Travel Channel).
Popularity: 18% [?]
