Early this morning, as we made our way down the The St. Regis Deer Valley Hotel’s scenic funicular to begin the journey home, I was moved by Park City Utah’s stunning mountain terrain by dawn’s snowy light. The romantic mood was fitting, especially given my gratitude for the experience of speaking yesterday at MediaPost’s prestigious Search Insider Summit. I’ve been traveling a lot folks, so it takes a bit more right now to get me emotional. #MPSIS turned out to be a perfectly fitting wrap to this year’s intensive conference travel schedule and an inspiration.
The session content, venue amenities and authentic networking opportunities were all-the-way first class, a surprise treat for a road weary and knowledge-thirsty guy like me. Thanks to Programming Chair, Laurie Sullivan, Senior Writer and Columnist for MediaPost Communications for the invitation to speak and for sequencing such stimulating sessions. Rock on Laurie!
This CRJ700 is 34,00 feet now, a United flight home by way of Chicago. As our readers know, I am privileged to travel all over the world each year to speak at SMX, SES, PubCon, International Search Summit, DMA, BlueGlass and other events. The opportunity to interact with thought-leading speakers and enthusiastic attendees is surely a favorite aspect of being AIMCLEAR‘s president. I love our community’s people, the exotic locales, sharing and learning with and from the best.
From Sydney to Seattle, New York to London, Minneapolis, Chicago, ‘Vegas and San Francisco, this year I’ve gotten to know so many amazing individuals and companies. Yet, surprisingly there were few familiar faces in the conference hall amongst speakers and audience at Search Insider Summit. This realization in itself was exciting and humbling all at once, real tonic for the soul. I felt so at home, somehow yet again. No matter what we do or accomplish in life, it is only a small fraction of life yet to be lived and new experiences ahead.
#MPSIS s an upper management focused conclave, a terrific crucible in which to meet intriguing new friends and connect with potential clients, agency-partners and vendors. The setting couldn’t be finer. The St. Regis is a spectacular hotel, steeped in regal European influenced ambiance and 5-star service. Believe me, I’m adding #MPSIS to the annual must-attend list
MediaPost’s Search Insider Summit invites, “the best minds in the search industry” together to share cutting edge tips, tactics, anecdotes and networking, “in a think-tank environment.” There’s a focus on, “exploring new technology, strategies and tactics for effective search marketing campaigns.”
My free-wheeling panel addressed the evolution of social signals that affect search engine placement and other visibility. The Moderator was friend and industry veteran Elisabeth Osmeloski, Managing Editor of Search Engine Land. We were joined by Jeff MacGurn, Senior Manager of Covario, Kristine Segrist, Search Managing Director of MEC Interaction and Dave Tan, Vice President of Innovation, Product Development & Content Solutions for Resolution Media.
One is Sliver & The Other Is Gold
AIMCLEAR has always believed that the best marketing happens among friends, who care about the outcome for each other. There have been many times that a conference-friend-made, turned into a client weeks, months or even years later.
I’ve never been to any event where the exchange of business cards felt so immediately personal and deep, like we both knew that next week we’d certainly continue the conversation towards the real possibility of friendship and working together… sooner rather than later.
MediaPost caps attendance at the Summits to safeguard that the aggregate experience is, “intimate, productive and highly useful.” Now I understand why.Though I’m obviously an outgoing person, I actually shy away from most canned networking events and parties…not so at Insider Search Summit. Last night I was sad to see the evening end.
We’re landing now, so I’ll conclude. Thanks to new friends and colleagues made at Search Insider Summit. I’ll be calling on Monday to continue the conversation. You know who you are :). Safe travels…
