What I Learned at SOBCon

Me in the Phils cap. Photo by Kurt Scholle

by Jason Teitelman
@jaybetee

I’ll begin this post by admitting that although I have tried to change my lazy ways, I am still a bit of a slacker. So, it’s only after reading many other reviews of SOBCon that I figure it’s about time I sit down and write one of my own!

Let me start this recap by explaining what SOBCon is to those of you who may not know: it’s an awesome blogger conference where bloggers, or anyone else interested in harnessing the power of social media, can come to learn from the best.

Created by blogger superstar Liz Strauss, this intimate conference brings together a mix of knowledgeable speakers to share their wisdom with a small group of info-hungry social media addicts. Some notable speakers from SOBCon ’09 are: (the aforementioned) Liz Strauss, Terry Starbucker, Brian Clark, Chris Brogan, Julien Smith, Geoff Livingston, and Jason Falls. There were too many great speakers to list, but if you want know take a look at the Program page of the SOBCon site.

One of the questions I have been asked repeatedly about SOBCon is what I took away from it. Now, I mentioned before that I slacked a bit and am a little late in posting my recap; one benefit of my laziness is that I have had the pleasure of reading other recaps. Just today, I read one written by Glenda Watson Hyatt (who, by the way, gave one of my favorite SOBCon presentations) in which she clearly states what I believe to be the most valuable part of the SOBCon experience:

Every conference I have been to is chock full of great speakers who inspire you and educate you, but the great thing about SOBCon is that the audience is also full of amazing attendees that inspire you and educate you. So, to all of the great people I had the pleasure to have met and spent time with, thank you. Each and every one of you was inspiring in your own way, and learning about the many ways in which people are using the power of social media to grow businesses, fund charities, or even just spread their own unique message across the globe was just amazing.

The lessons I learned at SOBCon were both practical and empowering. I learned how to track engagement on my site, but was reminded that without trust and sincere social interaction these statistics mean nothing. I learned tricks of the trade to get my message out to a broader audience, but was reminded that without a clear focus and a strong voice that message will never make an impact. I learned that it takes a lot of determination and hard work to gain online success, but, most of all, was reminded that anything is possible when you’re willing to put in the work.

A big thanks to Liz Strauss for organizing this great event and making it possible for me to connect with so many great people!