As part of our ever-chased dreams of educational superiority at SageRock, I recently had the opportunity to travel to Seattle to be a student of SMX Advanced. Beyond bragging rights, the conference offers the opportunity to be audience to the industry’s innovators while they pump you full of copious amounts of coffee. Ten minutes into day one, we had all given up blinking, sitting still, were really, really stoked to be there, AND COULD NO LONGER CONTROL THE VOLUME OF OUR VOICES. SMX Seattle is LOUD.
SMX treats you to options during session times; attendees may choose to take the SEO, Paid Search, or Social track; or they can be privy to a Sponsored Workshop, which can span the gamut of Online Marketing topics. For my kick-off, I go the Paid Search route and learn how to write killer ad copy. TAKE-AWAY #1: BE CREATIVE AND OUTLANDISH AND WEIRD, and that character counts (sorry, bit of ad humor).
My next session focuses on Twitter tactics, with moderator Danny Sullivan and speakers Michael Gray (aka Graywolf), Craig Greenfield, and Joanna Lord; I’m particularly interested to hear what Joanna has to say, because I don’t want someone out there tarnishing our good name. The next 75 minutes are devoted to Twitter in the commercial sector, as well as what tools are best for marketers. TAKE-AWAY #2: BE CREATIVE AND OUTLANDISH AND WEIRD, and that character counts (140 ways to grow your business, as usually, amirite? Bacon.)
Then we ate. We ate a lot. SMX has it going on food-wise. They do this to counter-act the coffee you’ve consumed during the morning. We start to blink again and lower our voices until slipping into an apple-pie induced coma 45 minutes later. Then, they bring out the coffee cart again.
After lunch, we head to learn what the SEO Ranking Factors of 2009 will be. It’s not the session title that’s so alluring but who will be speaking: Rand Fishkin and Marty Weintraub. Danny Sullivan is moderating. It’s standing room only. Rand Fishkin presents data garnered from extensively surveying search marketers on what components of optimization they feel are most important to success. Marty Weintraub takes the podium, and after 45 seconds of him speaking I wonder where I can purchase the t-shirt that says “Marty Weintraub is my home boy.” It’s his overall persona that is captivating; extremely knowledgeable, forthright, professional, and laid-back. TAKE-AWAY #3: BE CREATIVE AND OUTLANDISH AND WEIRD, and that character counts (let your personality shine through your work; otherwise you’re boring and there’s enough of that in business).
Later, we sit for an exclusive “You & A” with Matt Cutts of Google fame, held by Danny Sullivan. Essentially, it was 45 minutes of “Hey, tell us what Google wants.” “No.” “Hey, tell us what Google wants.” “No.” “Please.” “Well, kind of sort of don’t rely on no index, no follow.” Commence freak-out that lasts for the next 24 hours. TAKE-AWAY #4: BE CREATIVE AND OUTLANDISH AND WEIRD, and that character counts (because Google never has and never will make it easy for a search marketer to make it to the top of results listings; try everything).
The ultimate lesson from SMX Advanced? When it comes to online marketing, don’t do what everyone else is doing, do it better. Be more creative. Take it too far.
Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonacheladas/2488752866/
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