The best of the #SocialShakeUp

The 2014 Social Shakeup is the first of the Social MediaToday conferences for me, actually it is the first conference I have attended as a guest. I was not disappointed.

I was excited in the days and weeks leading up to the conference. There would be so many great opportunities to learn and grow as a social media strategist. The breakout sessions looked very interesting. And better yet, they would be taught and led by some of the industry’s top practitioners. Still, I didn’t create any illusions or expectations of what I thought I would learn (exactly), do, or people I would meet. The source of all pain in life is expectations. A motto to live by and the reason I was not misled on the benefits of this gathering.

I was quite pleased with the conference and I have compiled a list of my eight favorite things about the Shakeup.

Industry leading ideas

The speakers and participants both discussed industry leading thoughts and ideas, such as whether social is dead. I appreciated being surrounded by so many minds that ponder such questions, I, as well as many other attendees, am not able to get this sort of thought provoking dialog out of a normal work day.

Breakout session panels
These were led by and facilitated by the industry’s top practitioners. They offered examples, best practices, and advice. Plus when taking a question from the audience, there were multiple answers from different view points. Most of the sessions also summed things up with one top takeaway form each panelist.

While I did not feel every session was as beneficial and relevant as the rest, all provided piggyback ideas and the opportunity to hop out and join another more fitting breakout group.
 

Layers of networking

Networking and social media go hand in hand at this type of conference. The opportunities to connect with people are much more than the typical opportunity. In addition to meeting and speaking with some great minds, we were able to also network on Twitter using #socialshakeup. This meant that I was able to connect with more people than it would be possible to meet and connect with people who had thought provoking insights on the conference, as seen on Twitter.

Following the conversation

A streaming feed of the comments and thoughts of fellow attendees and speakers at the shakeup provided valuable insight. Via that hashtag on twitter, attendees were able to follow the conversation and see a summary of key points.

This came in handy when it came to the breakout sessions. People could use this as a gauge to decide which of the other rooms they should slide into when they had given up on their own.

Also, people could use it to glean important points and notes from the sessions they couldn’t make it to or had to miss. I often looked at the feed during the day and afterward to see if there was any great insight I missed out on. Allows us to be in more places at one time.

The pacing of the event

I never felt rushed or hurried in getting from one agenda item to the next. Things were very well paced. The breakout sessions were just long enough, although I felt as if there was plenty to keep talking about if the groups were allowed to run amok. It gave just the right taste of the topic. Lunch was long enough for eating, networking, and device charging.

While I felt exhausted at night after the events had ended, it was not because I was running around like crazy all day. Rather, the exhaustion came from taking in all of the ideas and possibilities that were discussed that day. It was a happy and content exhaustion.

 The delicious food

It has been my experience that conference-goers typically get pastries and fruit for breakfast and boxed lunches that center on an average sandwich for their meals. That was not the case here! I was pleasantly surprised by the food. At first I thought it was a fluke that I was getting a breakfast burrito with my fruit that first morning. However, lunch came around and I munched on salad with a peach dressing, green beans, mac n’ cheese, and catfish. Excellent! Day two was no less stellar. Social Media Today took care of its conference goers by having meals sponsored by a company, which meant they were able to serve us better food.

 Great location

Sure, I wondered why a social media conference was being held in Atlanta. There are a number of top national and even global companies there, but is it tops when it comes to social media and tech ideas?

I decided to reserve judgement on this. After all, this was the second year for the Social Shakeup, and the conference was also held in Atlanta the year before, so the southern city must have something to offer.

I did not choose to attend the sessions that spoke on Atlanta and technology and what has been done to make the city more social. However, there were representatives from quite a few companies that are headquartered there. These people aided in the conversation and represented the social virtues of the city.

The hotel

The conference is held in the elegantly swank and luxuriously comfy W Midtown hotel. The staff was very curious and attentive. Their Whatever/Whenever policy is refreshing.

I did not use their roof top bar, although the conference did have a reception there and it is said to be very nice. I also did not use the workout room or the spa, but those are also available. As a bonus, there is a wet deck on the fifth floor where people can sit back and relax as though they are at a resort and are not actually in a city.

The view from my room was great, 17^th floor. My quarters were spacious, complete with a giant bed, a wrap chaise, and a desk/t.v. area. Additionally, there was the dressing room/entry way and an open bathroom with a soothing shower. I was very pleased with my stay.

The 2014 Social Shakeup was a success in my mind. It left little to be desired and made me excited about the possibilities of next year’s London conference. However, I would be remiss if I led readers to believe everything was perfect on my trip.

• My name badge was wrong on both days. I had emailed weeks before asking if I could change the company that would be listed below my name since the old was bought by a new company and dissolved. I was told this would not be a problem. After the first day’s events I told the worker at the registration desk about the error and he said they should be able to print an accurate badge for me for the next day. That did not happen. Oh well, this was really a non-event.
• The mid-afternoon snack on the first day featured large soft pretzels. They looked so yummy, glistening with their butter brushed glow. There were not enough. I was about three back in the line when they ran out. I told myself they were probably gross and dry and I was better off for having missed it.
• Lastly, the conference area was cold. Mostly noticeable in the main room where we met for breakfast, keynotes, lunch, and afternoon speakers. This seems to be an industry thing though. The office I work in also has convention space and the office manager likes to keep it cold. I don’t really understand this because it makes people uncomfortable. I hear people in my work building complaining. I shivered a little upon first entering the main conference room at the shake-up. But it is something I got used to.

Like I said, none of these complaints was anything earth shattering, harmful, or worth much fuss. However, what kind of reviewer would I be if I didn’t present the other side? Overall, this is a positive review!