Forum Moderators: open
It's time for me to learn more about this business!
I plan to go to PubCon in Las Vegas this fall.
I NEED YOUR HELP!
QUESTION#1
Should I buy the entire convention package? (it's kind of expensive for me). Or would it be better to merely wander around the convention without buying the entire package?
My main interests are SEO and affiliate marketing info.
QUESTION #2
Is it best to stay in the official hotel or just stay wherever I can get a good deal?
QUESTION #3
Any other bits of advice for me? Things to make sure I attend or not attend?
Thanks in advance for your time and help!
The complete package will allow you to come and go as you please, and, it's extremely good value, even at the on-the-day-rate. PubCon is one of the most affordable conferences around.
See this PDF: Keeping Conferences Affordable [pubcon.com]
Meeting up with other like-minded individuals is one way to extend the event. You don't need to be in the "conference" hotel as you could use a taxi, or walk, to your chosen hotel. However, if you are in the hotel most folks are in, you will save the additional journey time and cost. It really is worth maximizing the amount of time you are meeting with other conference-goers.
Always visit the sponsors and exhibitors. Their contributions always help to bring the events together. In addition, they often bring show special offers.
As to the sessions [pubcon.com], it's a good idea to build your show itinerary to ensure you get the maximum out of the event. There's a menu item on that page to help you do that.
Keep an eye on the conference blog for the latest information which will help you get the best from the conference.
HTH
Is there a way for me to go to just a couple of the seminars without getting the entire package?
(I would also want the exhibit pass and Friday event pass)
While it's good to be able to do face-to-face meetings with the exhibitors in the Expo Hall, I think you'll really be missing out if you only bought the Exhibit Hall pass.
The best strategy for a Pubcon first-timer is to get the gold pass and to make sure you talk to people in between sessions, so you can arrange to go to dinner with a different group each night. Don't be bashful about it, the Pubcon crowd is a friendly bunch of people. :)
Don't worry about getting a nice hotel. If you're doing Pubcon right you'll be going to bed late every night and waking up early every morning and you'll leave with enough ideas, knowledge and insight that you'll be busy for a year just trying to implement what you learn. That's how I was after my first Pubcon. ;)
See you there!
is confrence registration at the convention center on monday? im trying to plan things out.
I joined WebmasterWorld in 2002, and attended one of the first PubCons in London. I was working at a dot-com at the time, and persuaded my boss to send me to the conference. At the time I was a search engine, web design and advertising newbie, and I really didn't know anyone in the community (including Brett!). I think I had about 100 posts when I attended my first PubCon.
I brought enough knowledge back that we were able to improve our site design and get 3x the customer conversions that we had gotten previously. When I left that company, I was able to branch out as a consultant, using this site and regular PubCon attendance to learn more and more. The contacts I've made through PubCon have been invaluable - and I'm not just talking about Brett (ha!).
I am working on three sites right now and I know they will all kick butt because of what I learned (and continue to learn) at the conferences.
Am I biased? Sure. I not only became a mod here, but I eventually married the founder. That's how awesome I think WebmasterWorld and PubCon are. Can you get a better testimonial than that? ;)
Worth the money for the full package? Absolutely. It will come back to you tenfold or more.
Unlike most shows where wandering the exhibit hall is fine Pubcon is the only show I go to when I am not speaking that I am actually in the other sessions.
In short I learn a lot from the speakers, they really do share actionable tips, it's not fluffy marketing talk and jazzy powerpoint (albeit some of the PPT is awesome).
In terms of value for money, even if you only went to a few sessions it would be worth it, but you get the opportunity to attend a load of sessions, network with some of the coolest people in the business (including people who work for the search engines) and make some new friends and business contacts.
Many of the Pubcon old-timers are great friends and always help first timers.
As for staying in the TI, it's a good hotel and as engine said it's not that far to the convention center and there are always a ton of taxis at the hotel. You MUST stay at the show hotel, you'll learn all of the good stuff in the bar over a few beers/wines/spirits.
I'm speaking at Pubcon on a variety of topics including affiliate marketing, and I have some great presentation content, trying to condense it down to the time we speakers get it always the hardest thing.
Go for the full pass, but get in at the early bird rate (by 30th September).
Look forward to seeing you at the show. Vegas Baby!
Can we buy one FULL pass and two exhibit passes and then send one of us into the seminar that interests them?
I.e., can we share the full pass so that each one of us can go to a couple seminars?
Hey guys,
I'm new to Webmaster World as well. Been following your great forum for ages but never got my act together to register...until now!
As I may be attending Pubcon next month (making the trek over from Australia) I would really like to meet anyone interested in exchanging ideas, sharing outsourcing partners, exchanging high quality links or anything that will justify my trip over :)
If anyone is interested in picking some brains over a beer or two (yes we aussies can drink too) please drop me a sticky mail.
If you are interested in what I do, I am in charge of SEO at a company based in Sydney Australia and I manage 18 different websites, across major European countries and languages. Keen to develop business relationships that can help my/your SEO efforts.
If I am going about this the wrong way, please point me in the correct direction ;-)
Many thanks.
Adrian
[edited by: bill at 2:32 am (utc) on Oct. 6, 2009]
I also would like to meetup. Especially on SEO/PPC and affiliate marketing topics. I am internet marketing manager for a company dealing with social security and I also have my own SEO company.
As for bar talk, I'm from Belgium, considered a must visit for all beer lovers, so I'd be happy to share some ideas while having a beer.
Kind regards,
Dominique
[events.linkedin.com...]
Dominique
Is the confirmation booking merely the number in the registration summary?
Shouldn't there be some instructions so people know what to do? There isn't a single thing in my purchase that tells me what I am supposed to do after the successful payment has been made i.e., "bring this number with you to the conference check in". (or something like that)
