What are the top three social media conferences combining professional development and mini-breaks?
Social Media Camp encourages ‘no vacation nation’ to use professional development to get a day off
As 2012 comes to an end, business people are looking to plan their professional development and social media training spending for 2013, and while Americans tend to take less time off than other nations, they do combine business and professional development to create mini-breaks.
“North Americans combine business travel and, in particular, professional development travel with vacation time,” says Brenda Anderson, former chair of the Convention Industry Council and director of sales and marketing at the Victoria Conference Centre. Known as the ‘no vacation nation’, a recent study by Harris Interactive found that about 57 per cent of working Americans still had 11 unused vacation days in 2011.
“We want to encourage business people to continue their social media professional development and yet still take a vacation,” says Chris Burdge, co-founder of Social Media Camp. Burdge went on to say that a successful social media conference combines learning from peers and experts, but is also about making personal connections. “While Social Media Camp is growing, we want it to keep the personal touch so attendees don’t have to fight their way in through hordes of app developers asking for a download. We know you need to learn about the latest killer campaigns, but you also need an atmosphere that makes the learning fun so it feels like a break from the daily grind.”
Marketers are seeking out ways to build their expertise in a world that seemingly shifts daily but also need professional development conferences that are sure to get two thumbs up from the boss. While South by Southwest is by far the best known and largest digital conference for connecting with movers and the shakers, here are three social media conferences that provide their own unique educational bang for the buck and also give nose-to-the grindstone business types a mini-break to keep their minds as strong as their bottom lines.
1.) Social Media Camp – May 6 - 8, 2013 in Victoria, BC
The fourth annual Social Media Camp will be held at the Victoria Conference Centre, May 6 - 8, 2013. Social Media Camp is Canada’s largest learning forum of its kind, bringing together the brightest minds in North America for three days of social media workshops and exploration, sharing and teaching, with ample time built in for networking. The agenda will include workshops, panels, key note speakers, roundtables, an Innovation Zone, knowledge cafe, trade show, and the annual Social Media Awards. Sessions will also include clearly defined streams for beginners and advanced users, and by industry group.
What makes this conference different?
Social Media Camp offers a hands-on approach and the ability to ask questions in an informal setting. Typical attendees are smaller brands with smaller budgets that are looking to learn innovative and creative approaches via social media seminar format. Social Media Coaches are assigned to newbies for the duration of the conference. Known for combining accessible outdoor adventure with urban activities and combined with a great conference, Victoria, BC is an undiscovered mini-break destination.
A two-day conference pass for Social Media Camp starts at Canadian $299 Cdn.
For more information and to register, visit www.socialmediacamp.ca, Facebook: SocialMediaCamp, Twitter: @SocMediaCamp. Google +: Social Media Camp.
Social Media Camp also offers a cruise to combine professional development and business. For more on the Social Media Camp cruise schedule, visit http://socialmediacamp.ca/social-media-cruise/
2.) Fourth Annual Corporate Social Media Summit – November 2013 in London
The Corporate Social Media Summit Europe bills itself as the one-stop shop for all the latest social media insight and best practices for building, operationalizing and initiating a successful social media strategy for corporations. Attending the summit will help those who need to learn best practices and strategy targeted at priorities. The conference is designed to solve problems with peers at a gathering place for corporate social media practitioners
What makes this conference different?
This is a big brand conference and attendees can expect to learn from the big budget people and have key learnings that can be applied to business. Known for history, theatre and culture, London is an urban lovers dream mini-break for those who love the hustle and bustle of big city life.
A two-day conference pass starts at €645.
For more information and to register, visit http://usefulsocialmedia.com/europe/.
3.) Social Media Show – April 24- 25, 2013 in Singapore
Social Media World Asia 2013 will bring together Asia’s largest brands, social networks and their partners to discuss developing social media strategies for business, leveraging social media to increase revenue streams, and measuring ROI through analytics. Exhibitors will include social media analytics, social media campaign management, Web 2.0 solutions, digital and mobile marketing solutions, and agencies & consultancies to help attendees discover the latest strategies and trends in the social media world.
What makes this conference different?
For those who sell to Asia it is essential to know what makes social media tick in Asian cultures. Singapore is a favorite of business travellers for the food and cultural experiences that, combined in high density space, optimizes the mini-break experience.
The two-day conference pass starts at $1,495 USD
For more information: http://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/internet-show-asia/socialmediaasia.stm
For more information, Twitter: http://twitter.com/theinternetshow
More about Social Media Camp
The fourth annual Social Media Camp will be held at the Victoria Conference Centre, May 6 - 8, 2013. Created by Paul Holmes and Chris Burdge, Social Media Camp has grown to be Canada’s largest learning forum of its kind, bringing together the brightest social media minds in North America for two days of social media exploration, sharing and teaching, with ample time built in for networking. For more information and to register, visit www.socialmediacamp.ca, Facebook: SocialMediaCamp, Twitter: @SocMediaCamp. Google +: Social Media Camp.
Media Contacts:
Chris Burdge, Social Media Camp: 250-508-7761 or chris@socialmediacamp.ca
Brian Cant, Tartan Group, Marketing Communications and public relations: 250-592-3838 or brian@tartangroup.ca
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