PPC-Advice.com

If you thought SES San Jose was big last year, wait until you see what the organizers have in store this year.  They call it “Connected Marketing Week,” which literally translates to “hang on tight.”  This time we’re all descending on San Francisco, but not for a measily trio of 9-5 days — this time it’s 5 full days of crazy.  Focusing on all facets of our digital world, including social media, email marketing, ad networks, search optimization, and real-time information, Connected Marketing Week promises to satisfy everyone.  To sort out all this madness, I interviewed Anna Maria Virzi, Executive Editor at ClickZ in an effort to get a better idea of what’s in store:

Garry: Anna, thank you for joining me because I really wanted to get the record straight; a show like SES San Francisco (previously SES San Jose), to me, is the granddaddy of all online marketing shows.  In my mind, it is the pinnacle event.  Making it bigger, through Connected Marketing Week (CMW) is beyond my comprehension, how did CMW come about?

Anna: The very first SES took place in San Francisco November 1999, so this event represents a homecoming of sorts for SES.

Connected Marketing Week was conceived by my colleagues  Mike Grehan and Matt McGowan to better serve SES attendees and readers of ClickZ and our sister publication, Search Engine Watch. Connected marketing, after all, is the future of marketing. It makes sense to have an umbrella brand — Connected Marketing Week — that covers all aspects of online marketing, including search marketing, mobile marketing, display advertising, e-mail marketing, and online video advertising. What’s more, the team at SES has been developing partnerships with other organizations, such as Aaron Kahlow’s Online Marketing Summit, and Tim Ash’s Conversion Conference; so they are now under the umbrella of Connected Marketing Week to better coordinate activities.

Garry: That’s what is making me a bit nervous because when I read Greg Jarboe’s post about bringing cross-trainers to CMW, I could only think about how totally out of shape I am.  In all seriousness, with so many options to choose from in all the different disciplines, what’s the best course of action for prospective attendees to learn more about what to see and do?

Anna: Well, the hills in San Francisco will give you a better workout than anything you’ll find in downtown San Jose.

On a serious note, determining what to attend at Connected Marketing Week will depend on your background and experience. Whether people are new or experienced online marketers, they will find inspiration at SES from keynote speakers such as former Kodak CMO Jeffrey Hayzlett.

Newcomers will learn the basics by attending introductory sessions such as “Introduction to Search Engine Marketing” and “Introduction to Analytics.” Sessions such as “Successful Information Architecture” and “Enterprise Level SEO” are designed for marketers working on complex marketing initiatives, including those with international sites.

Garry: And with the addition of so many other organizations, the wealth of speakers in unbelievable.  With all those great sessions and speakers, what do you think are of the biggest sessions planned for CMW?

Anna: That will depend on your business and professional goals. If you want to learn more about the latest developments in display advertising, including demand-side platforms, then the one-day forum, “Future of Display: Ad Networks and Exchanges” is an obvious choice. If you need to get up to speed on global marketing issues, the one-day International Marketing Forum will feature marketing experts with experience working in Japan, China, India, Latin America, and more, to share their insights.

Garry: Aside from the sessions, last year’s SES San Jose saw a rip-roaring Webmaster Radio Search Bash party, which I’m glad to see makes a return this year. Any other special events on the horizon for CMW?

Anna: Indeed, the Webmaster Radio Search Bash party takes place on Tuesday. Also, everyone registered for Connected Marketing Week events are invited to the meetup on Monday. Those arriving to town by Wednesday can attend the IM Charity Party and/or network at “Black Hat, White Hat Un-conferenced.” Be sure to get to the Black Hat/White Hat gathering early if you want your choice of a white or black hat. At SES NY, the white hats went faster than a speeding bullet.

Garry: Still no grey or off-white hats?  Just kidding!  Anna, thanks for talking with us, the event sounds fantastic.  I look forward to a great show, and some great networking opportunities.

If there’s one show you need to go to this year, it’s Connected Marketing Week in San Francisco, running August  16-20th at the Moscone Center.