When the Lights Go Down In the City…
Apr 13th, 2008 by msdanielle
I’m so excited, tomorrow I’m leaving for San Francisco! Woohoo! I pretty much love everything about San Francisco — the people, the air, the food, the music, the lifestyle — which is why I’m so happy to be attending ad:tech in the middle of it all.
Scheduling has been the most challenging part for me this time, since I’ll be traveling by myself and there will be lots of people to connect with and lots of sessions to attend. However, I’m learning how to organize and prepare for an event of this magnitude, which will benefit me for next time.
I’d like to pass on a thought to you my sister shared with me when I was finalizing my plans. (My sister is no stranger to conferences and consulting, starting her own software consulting firm after working for a major technology solutions company.) Anyway, she was advising me that these types of conferences are critical to attend if you own your own business. We don’t have the resources of major firms. Basically, no one is sending us to these conferences, no one is paying for our training, we have no co-workers to set the competition bar. We’re on our own, and should take the initiative to learn, network, and grow as marketers. It seems obvious, but the point is that when you own your own business it can be difficult to keep up with what’s happening in the bigger picture of your industry.
For this trip, I’m hoping to learn more about the online advertising industry as a whole and what’s going on outside of PPC, which trends are on the rise, who the big new players are, and what it all means to online advertising for this year. There are so many vendors as well (about 300), I’m going to have to practically run through the exhibit hall just to get through them in between sessions. Perhaps I should pack my New Balance tennies 
In any event, I’m looking forward to meeting some interesting people, hearing some great discussions, eating some amazing food, and reporting back as much of it as I can. Are any of you attending ad:tech San Francisco?
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Have an awesome time! I’m so angry I was there just last week… didn’t want to spend all the extra money to kill another week there to attend AdTech. Would have been cool though
thanks zac
hope the weather was good to you guys!
I last went to San Fran 2 years ago. It was my first time on the West coast. I had so much fun, even though it rained every day! The food was great too, seeing that it was freshly caught everyday. I can’t wait to go back. You will have lots of fun!
San Fran is a great city. I had a blast the last time I was there.
Make sure you go down to fishermans wharf and watch the homeless guy that scares people by sitting on a bucket on the sidewalk holding a bunch of big leaves. People walk by and he jumps out at them.
He’s been doing it for years.
oh yeah i forgot about that guy. he was doing that when i was in high school so yea he has been doing it for years…decades actually!