Your Conference Experiences

What are the pros and cons?

[Rickfb]

Hoping some folks might weigh in on this subject. I've attended Search Engine Strategies and AdTech conferences. I've definitely seen value in both.

I'm looking for people's impressions of WebmasterWorld Search Conference. Can anyone offer a comparison of the quality of content or sessions? Is it worthwhile thinking about attending if I've been to the others? I realize this is sort *asking the choir if they're believers* but...

[stuntdubl]

I'm a huge fan of pubcon ... My favorite part: the people. It is such a laid back atmosphere, and it is much more demonstrative of what a cottage industry SEO is (at least for now) than the other conferences have been imho. I really enjoy the people who have carved out a living on their own rather than working for large corporations. You can see how rewarding it is to them when you speak wiht them about it. To these folks SEO and internet isn't just a job...it's a way of life. The people are all EXCITED about work and talking about it. I can't think of a single time I've been snubbed sidling in on a conversation at pubcon...I can't say the same for other conferences though maybe I just smelled funny or something.

Personally, I couldn't go on enough about how cool the people are at the WebmasterWorld events. If you make the attempt to meet people you will be glad you did. Both of the two I attended I went alone, but left with many new friends and business associates.

Only problem in my opinion is the folks who don't jump up and introduce themselves gripin' later about no one sharin' secrets.

No, I don't get any commissions on new signups, and I would still plug attending pubcon to anyone

Here's some past discussions on conferences.

Thoughts on Vegas Pubcon [webmasterworld.com]

Orlando roundup [webmasterworld.com]

Scoring brownie points at pubcon

[url=http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum78/7173.htm]Pubcon Vegas [webmasterworld.com]

SES Chicago [webmasterworld.com]

Getting the most out of the conferences [webmasterworld.com]

Conference Dress Code [webmasterworld.com]

Pubcon is over for now [webmasterworld.com]

What I want to see or hear at the conference - lighter side [webmasterworld.com]

Even more on pubcon [google.com] and conferences [google.com].

[bakedjake]

SES is good for networking within the search community. PubCon is good for networking within the search community.

PubCon is slanted more towards trench workers and tech, and SES is slanted more towards managers and marketing, but both conferences have a good mix of both sides.

If nothing else, you'll have a good time in a fun city.

And no, I'm not paid in any way by WebmasterWorld.

[Brett_Tabke]

These threads are always tough for us as well as the members. Lets stay to the positive aspects.

PubCon - we try to focus more on issues for site owners, publishers, and webmasters. We feel that Search is just the beginning, and that a well rounded approach to web site management is 10 fold more successful than one that focuses most of its energies on marketing. We also focus on fun, fun, fun ;-)

My experience of AdTech is it is focused more on old school advertising and old agencies. I like it, but to me AdTech is described as The Corporate Clueless (that is not necc a bad thing). When you ask someone at PubCon or SES whether an Affiliate program or Contextual advertising program makes more money - you will be into a conversation for hours. You do the same at AdTech and they will ask, "huh, What's AdSense"? (which is good if you are an adsense optimizer...lol)

SES is the meticulously focused search conference. Who can fault Allan and his boys as to the job they have done. He runs a tight ship and a tight conference.

[ken_b]

Many people will mention the in person networking potential of the WW conference. No doubt for a really good networker that's true.

BUT, even for someone like me who is clueless about networking and it's apparent etiquette the conference is well worth attending.

For one thing, people can be, and often are, more open in a face to face situation.

It doesn't take a whole lot to make the ROI well worth attending.

Sadly, it doesn't look like I'll get to N.O.... drat!

[I'm nominating Madison, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Minot as possible future locations]

[skibum]

Never been to Ad-Tech. SES & PubCon have a fair amount of overlap in that the same industry reps tend to present at each. There are plenty of events after the sessions at both. SES skews more toward the marketing manager stereotype & WebmasterWorld skews more toward the affiliate, smaller business, and hands on crowd.

[nakulgoyal]

Vegas PunCon was my first ever SEO conference visit, and a great experience altogether.