SocialDay is coming to New York, and we can’t wait to bring so many talented social media, creator, and influencer marketing specialists together in one room. There will be plenty to learn, people to meet, good food, and time to talk about the challenges and ideas that don’t always get enough attention during a busy working week.
We call it a forum because the day is about everyone in the room. Alongside the speaker sessions, you’ll have opportunities to meet experts, ask questions, share experiences, and get to know people who understand your working world. You might work for very different brands, but there’s a good chance you’re figuring out some of the same things.
A little preparation can help you get even more from the experience. Here’s where to start.
Bring your burning questions
Before you arrive, think about what would make the day useful for you. Are you struggling to show the value of your social activity? Trying to find time to create better content? Working out which technology is worth adding to your workflow, or how to approach your next creator partnership?
Make a note of the questions you keep coming back to and bring them along. Having a real challenge in mind can help you spot the sessions, conversations, and people who could help you move it forward. And please ask questions during the day. Someone else in the room will probably be glad you did.
Start connecting before you get there
Take a look around the event app before you arrive and connect with people you’d like to learn from. That could be a speaker, an expert, or another attendee whose work interests you.
You don’t need a polished introduction. A message saying what you do and why you’d like to meet is plenty. Having a few familiar names before you walk in can make that first conversation much easier, especially if you’re coming on your own.
Let people know you’re coming
Follow SocialDay on LinkedIn and share that you’re attending. Tag us in your post and tell people what you’re looking forward to or hoping to learn. You might discover that someone in your network is coming too, or start a conversation with someone you’d love to meet.
During the day, we’d love to see your photos, takeaways, and thoughts. Tag SocialDay so we can see and share your posts, and connect with the people you meet while those conversations are still fresh.
Make time for Meet the Experts
Meet the Experts is your opportunity to bring a specific question into a conversation. From measurement and technology to saving time and creativity, think about where you could use some practical input.
Come ready to explain a little about your situation. “How can we improve our measurement?” is a starting point, but sharing what you currently track and where you’re getting stuck gives someone much more to work with. The same goes for a creative challenge, a workflow that takes too much time, or a tool you’re trying to understand.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you ask. That’s why we’re bringing people together.
Leave room for the conversations
Give yourself some space between sessions to enjoy the people around you. Sit with someone you haven’t met over food, carry on a conversation after a session, or ask another attendee what brought them along.
Be open to people outside your immediate specialty, too. Someone working with a different audience, budget, or platform might have an approach you haven’t considered. Share what you’ve tried as well as what you’re hoping to learn. Your experience could be exactly what someone else needs.
Have a game, take a photo, relax
SocialDay isn’t a stuffy corporate conference. It’s a relaxed, fun day, and we want you to feel comfortable getting involved.
There are ping pong tables and lawn games to help people get talking without having to stand around waiting for an opening. Invite someone to play, enjoy the photo booth, and give yourself permission to have some fun. Getting to know someone can be much easier when you’re doing something together.
And yes, come with some space on your phone. Between the photos, new connections, and ideas you’ll want to capture, you’ll be glad you did. A charged battery and a portable charger are worth bringing, too.
Take your ideas back to work
Before you head home, make a quick note of what you want to try, who you want to follow up with, and which questions you still want to explore. It’s easy to return to a busy inbox and let a useful day disappear into your notes.
You don’t have to change everything at once. Pick something you can put into practice, share a useful takeaway with your team, and follow up with the people you enjoyed meeting.
The event app will stay open after the forum, with on-demand sessions so you can keep learning and connecting. Return to a session you want to spend more time with, catch up on something you missed, and continue the conversations you started in person.
Keep the conversation going all year
The day doesn’t end when the last session finishes. Through The Sauce at socialday.live, SocialDay offers content, ideas, and opportunities to connect 365 days a year for people working in social media, creator, and influencer marketing.
At the end of the day, we’re here to learn from each other and share what we know, including the things we’re still figuring out. Having people you can turn to for advice, a fresh perspective, or a little reassurance can make the job feel a lot less lonely. As the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved, and we want those conversations to carry on long after New York.
We can’t wait to welcome you. Bring your questions, your experience, and a willingness to get involved. You’re part of what makes the day.
Find out more at socialdayforum.com, and keep learning with us at socialday.live.