With over 150 events on the docket, Social Media Week Chicago is going big this year. Sessions and networking events will take place at venues across the city from Monday, September 23 through Friday, September 27. Individual event registration is now open and the free spots are set to go quickly. See the full schedule and claim your spaces on the official SMWChicago site.
We dug through the lengthy schedule and selected 10 must-attend events — that’s a manageable two events for each day of the conference.
Monday, September 23
Content Marketing That Wins: Making Brands, Readers AND Google Happy 10:30am-11:30am | MorningstarCramer-Krasselt search, social and content strategists will offer “an integrated perspective and concrete tips to…create high-quality content that reinforces your brand, delivers value to your customers and meets the needs of the mighty search engine.”
Good Habits of Successful Social Media Managers 2:30pm-3:30pm | Tribune TowerPanelists from Sprout Social, Divvy and GrubHub will “share real life best practices of great social managers, discuss key habits to adopt and provide tangible steps to achieve success.”
Tuesday, September 24
Making The Cut: How Cars.com Turns Auto Journalism Into Shareable Social Content 1:00pm-2:00pm | Tribune TowerCars.com will take the audience behind-the-scenes to show how “designers, auto experts and [the] social media team collaborate to choose the posts that are worth sharing.” The team will also cover journalistic standards, design standards, measuring appeal and saving time.
“Sure, You Can Take a Picture of That”: Enabling Social Media at the MCA 1:30pm-2:30pm | Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoThe MCA’s presentation “will discuss the ways the traditional museum experience is changing as artists and the museum itself enable and encourage the audience to take possession of their art experience through online interactivity and photography.”
Wednesday, September 25
Share, Don’t Buy Your Social Media Community 1:00pm-2:00pm | Willis TowerIn this session, HY Connect’s Patrick Kopischkie and GreatGood.org’s Noah Horton will share how two brands can establish a successful social media partnership and “share” social brands. The focus will be “getting out of the silo of an individual brand and embracing mutually beneficial partnerships.”
Tapping Into Twitter to Rebrand & Reawaken a Brand 4:00pm-5:00pm | MorningstarThe team from Mike’s Hard Lemonade will demonstrate how they are using social media to change brand stigma. On Twitter, the brand uses the irreverent and snarky Mike’s voice to gain the attention of a new demographic.
Thursday, September 26
Social Media In Highly Regulated Markets 9:00am-10:00am | EnovaThis session will focus on how to do successful social media in highly regulated markets such as financial services, energy and government agencies. The team from Enova will demonstrate tips and strategy for creatively executing social in these environments.
Multiculturalism + Transparency + Healthcare Reform; How to engage in a time of uncertainty 4:00pm-6:00pm | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Conference CenterWith healthcare reform on the way, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is leaning into social media to share changes and updates with customers. The BCBSIL social team will discuss managing complex customer relationships as well as strategies for running a large-scale multicultural, multilingual program.
Friday, September 27
Social Media & Competitive Intel: How To Beat Your Rivals 2:00pm-3:00pm | Rise InteractiveJon Morris, founder and CEO of Rise Interactive, will discuss the ways that marketers can improve their reputation and content in social media with competitive analysis. Tracking, measuring and reporting tools will also be covered.
Designing for Real-Time Marketing 3:00pm-4:00pm | GolinHarrisWe’re all familiar with Oreo’s Superbowl real-time marketing win, but what does “real-time marketing” really mean? This session will focus on best practices for real-time marketing including workflows, challenges and examples.
That should be enough to keep you busy during Social Media Week Chicago 2013. Which sessions would you add to our list?
