When I was offered the opportunity to be an ambassador at Ad:Tech this year I was overwhelmed by all the great sessions I would be able to see (you can see my initial list of "must-sees" and notes at the end of this post) but finding out that Arianna Huffington would be a keynote speaker, and that she would be talking about the part that social and mobile has played in recent history, really put me over the top.
If you've watched (any) news lately you know that Facebook, Twitter and mobile technology are getting a lot of credit for enabling the communication that revolutionary citizens across the world need in order to overthrow oppressive government leaders. Politics aside, I think it's amazing that the same platforms some people had disregarded as silly and wasteful now act as the main support for those who are currently turning the tide of history. Culturally speaking, this is a big deal. History is being made and we are witnessing it and participating in it. The "democratization of the web" is not just a catch-phrase, it's the literal embodiment of "power to the people." It's incredible what people can do when they are able to connect with each other and communicate freely. Twitter, Facebook and mobile aren't driving the revolution, they're enabling it, making it possible.
I'm sure that the information, stories and insights that Huffington shares during this session will be fascinating.
I hope you'll join me for it!
If you'd like to see where else I'll be during Ad:Tech here my initial notes on what I'd like to see and do:
Exhibitors
• SmarterAgent, LTU Technologies, eBuddy, Sponsormob, Mobile Messenger etc – I’m really interested in mobile so I want to see what kind of apps these guys are developing
• Snackable – “advergaming” is an intriguing market category, I'd like to learn more
• CitrusLeaf, Neustar, StatusStalker – “emerging technology” always catches my eye so looking forward to checking these guys out
• comScore – I love good data!
• ExactTarget! Had to add this one
Sessions
• Inspire Hour 1 – The idea of everything being connected is really interesting, I can’t wait to hear what Erikson has to say about it.
• Inspire Hour 3 – I don’t know why but education has always been a side passion of mine, particular improving it so we can in turn improve our society, can’t wait to hear Deierlein’s story about advertising professionals making a difference in that area.
• Tuesday’s Keynote – “Audience first” is really close to ExactTarget’s “subscribers rule” philosophy so I’m totally onboard with this topic.
• Mobile Marketing – Like I said, I think mobile’s the future so I want to learn more about marketing in that medium
• Keynote Art of Enchantment – Love Guy Kawasaki – I’ve seen him speak a couple times and it’s always interesting
• Marketing to Men – can’t resist trying to learn more about what makes guys tick…
• Marketing to Tweets and Teens – I love marketing because I love learning what makes people tick, so I like sessions about how to market to specific segments
• Keynote Changing Face of the Internet – Got to keep up with the future before you’re in the past
• Social Media (both) – I’ve seen all kinds of social media presentations but “new laws of creativity” sounds interesting and I can never pass up a good case study
