We recently returned from sunny San Diego after attending Social Media Marketing World 2016, and we are excited to share with you some of the things we learned during the conference.
It’s not always about the sessions
The best part of the digital ticket is that you can rewatch the sessions. That means while we were attending #SMMW16 we focused more on connecting with like-minded individuals and building relationships because we could watch the sessions digitally later. There were many 
opportunities for meet and greets, networking events, and early morning power walks. We really enjoyed reconnecting with friends from previous years and meeting people for the first time.
And, the people we met early in the week would continue to find us later on, and we would continually reconnect throughout the length of the conference. So, it almost became more about what you do outside of the sessions. If you go next year we recommend inviting people to your own networking events or dinner and connecting with others as much as possible. Because meeting so many people can be overwhelming, it's a good idea to map out ahead of time who you would like to meet up with, which sessions you would like to attend in person, and what you ultimately want out of the week.
Participate in leading-edge thought
One of the main messages we took away is that Facebook is still wildly important for marketers and businesses. One crazy statistic we learned is that eight out of every 10 minutes spent on any app is spent on Facebook! Regardless of your industry, your audience is likely hanging out on Facebook, so it’s still enormously important to have an online presence there.
There was also a great message about creating good content. We all know that we have to have good content that has quality and value, but how do you get that content seen? Well, you need to invest in the places where your audience is hanging out. What platforms will be relevant to your audience? You need to spend your time sharing your content on the platforms you know will work for your audience. As we mentioned earlier, Facebook is one of the best places to have a presence on because of the sheer amount of people who spend their time there, but there are many others where your audience may spend time.
While we love diving into new technologies, you don’t always need to jump on the latest platforms. Many brands fall prey to prioritizing on what's new. Instead, be authentic to yourself, your business, and your customers. Where would they look for you?
Lastly, it’s important to be personal. People buy into you before they buy into your business. Nobody wants to interact with a cardboard cutout, instead, people are looking for human interaction. It’s even okay to show your flaws and own them. Being open, honest, and human can make all the difference between you and the competition.
The best part of #SMMW16? Making memories!
We really mean that. When you come to #SMMW16, you will make memories that will last you forever. Through initial connections, you’ll find friendships, friendships, and 
collaborations, which can lead to joint business ventures. And we found that Facebook Messenger made the whole thing easier!
We even began to use Facebook Messenger instead of swapping phone numbers and business cards. It worked as a streamlined way to connect at meet-ups. We would hang out with a great group of people, and throughout the week message each other to meet as smaller, more intimate groups. It was a blast! Hope to see you there next year!
To wrap things up, here’s the gist of what we learned:
- Use every minute to make connections and lifelong friends.
- Don’t be afraid of new tech, instead, embrace it, but use it wisely and think about your audience.
- Map out ahead of time the people you want to meet, sessions to attend, what you want out of it the week.
- Just go for it. Much of the value of the conference is outside of the conference. We recommend coming in a day early or staying a day late.
Join us next Tuesday at 4 p.m. EST for #MagnetMarketers.
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