Online Marketing Summit Reflections

It is day 4 of the Online Marketing Summit and my head is full of new ideas. I've been tweeting throughout sessions @nimblepress using #oms11. Here are my reflections and observations.

1. Twitter handles are sooo much better than emails.

I can include them in my tweets about sessions to attribute remarks without all the characters of the name and the presenters have quick access to all of the tweets and notes taken during their session. Not only have presenters given me insights and opinions, they've given me a way to easily stay connected by following them without clogging up my email box or theirs.

2. Social media is easier than social.

The conference was crowded, more than 1000 people shuffling into hallways for coffee breaks and into just 4 session rooms. While there was a lot of conversations, I saw many people turning to their devices rather than meeting someone new by turning to a neighbor. I can only speak for myself, but when I felt that awkward quiet, wondering how to break into a conversation, I often turned to my phone--email, facebook, twitter...lots of social distractions there. Challenge to self, stay off phone during networking breaks.

3. The art and analytics of listening is a priority.

Many presenters cautioned marketers to listen before beginning a social media campaign--know your audience, where they are and what they are saying. Turns out that listening is complicated and resource intensive (as far as I can tell). But it can have a big payoff. Joining a conversation is better than throwing a party where no one shows. 

4. An interesting mix of people makes for a good conversation.

Conversations and presentations get interesting when they have a mix. Over the past few days, I've learned from big brand marketers with global challenges, agencies professionals who specialize, independent consultants with compelling books, technologists with innovative tools, and more. I've met people from little companies, big companies and everything in between.

5. Digital segmentation is professional and personal.

I did not realize the sophistication of automation and analytics that companies have begun to use in their interactions with me. Professionally, it is so exciting to see the level of detail and segmentation available and how it can be tracked to measure what works. As a writer and content provider, I want to know what works. Personally, I wonder how I can manage this for myself.

Thank you Aaron, Hope, and the OMS team for a great conference.