You can be on Entrepreneur’s cover!

Upcoming Social Media Conferences

By Mikal E. Belicove

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

social-media-conf.jpgWith the economy starting to show signs of improvement, businesses are shifting their focus from how do we survive to how do we grow. When the recession hit, we saw a gradual shift by marketers away from traditional marketing practices and toward online, on-demand venues that eventually fueled a significant deterioration of the traditional marketing model.

The move from traditional to interactive--from push to pull marketing--offered ground floor opportunities for start-ups and businesses of all sizes to combine marketing and advertising with true customer engagement, which is something traditional marketing never offered. Now, with social media, companies are starting to realize that they can tap into timely interaction with customers and prospects at a fraction of the cost associated with traditional marketing.

But, as the folks coordinating a conference this March in Chicago say in their conference registration brochure;
It's a new world with new rules, lower tolerance for errors, and intensified scrutiny over expenditures . . . Every second, every penny and every decision counts, and CEOs across industries are counting on you, more than ever, to demonstrate where and how marketing investments can translate into profitable growth.
Enough said. If your start-up or business is interested in taking its social media-related marketing efforts to the next level, here are some conferences you should consider attending:

February 16, 2010 | San Diego, California
BlogWell
For more information, visit the BlogWell website
Note: Apply the coupon code MIKALSENTME for 10% off registration!

February 22, 2010 | Los Angeles, California
2010 Gravity Summit
For more information, visit the Gravity Summit website

March 9-10, 2010 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Managing Social Media
For more information, visit Managing Social Media

March 10-12, 2010 | Chicago, Illinois
Measure UP: Linking Marketing to Financial Value Creation
For more information, visit the Measure Up website

March 15-16, 2010 | London, England
Social Media World Forum
For more information, visit the Social Media World Forum website

March 25, 2010 | Mount Vernon, Washington
2010 Social Media Conference
For more information, visit the 2010 Social Media Conference website

April 20-23, 2010 | San Mateo, California
NewComm Forum 2010
For more information, visit the NewComm Forum website

May 3-5, 2010 | Boston, Massachusetts
Social Media & Community 2.0 Strategies Conference

May 3-6, 2010 | San Francisco, California
Web 2.0 Expo
For more information, visit the Web 2.0 Expo website

May 23-26, 2010 | Washington, DC
4th International Conference on Weblogs and Social Media
For more information, visit the ICWSM-10 website

June 16-18, 2010 | Beverly Hills, California
The Social Media Conference
For more information, visit The Social Media Conference website

While the above list of social media conferences is by no means inclusive of every single event taking place between now and June, it does highlight some that you and your team should consider attending. That said, if your event or an event you're attending is not included on this list, please feel free to leave some basic event info by commenting below.

Mikal E. Belicove is a market positioning, social media, and management consultant specializing in website usability and business blogging. His latest book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Facebook, is now available at bookstores. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Data & Recovery

This Cloud Storage Deal Can be an Easy Win for Your Business: $25 for 100GB

Keep a reliable cloud storage solution on hand for business needs.

Starting a Business

This Side Hustle Is Helping Landowners Earn Up to $60,000 a Year While Connecting Outdoor Lovers With Untouched Wilderness

If you've got some land, why not make some extra cash while letting others get out into nature?

Health & Wellness

How to Escape Entrepreneurial Burnout When You Can't Just Quit

What do you do when you're experiencing burnout as an entrepreneur and you feel like your entire career is on life support as you barely make it through each day? Try these solutions for entrepreneurs who can't just quit their jobs when they've had enough.

Leadership

How CEO Favoritism Contributes to Workplace Toxicity — and How to Create a Fair and Inclusive Work Environment

CEO favoritism undermines company culture, but these effective strategies for fostering fairness and engagement can help avoid favoritism pitfalls.

Starting a Business

These Are The 5 Critical Factors to Consider Before You Buy Your Franchise

It's a lot easier to leave a bad job than the wrong franchise. To determine which opportunity is right, you have major research and interviewing ahead.

Growing a Business

Who You Hire Matters — Here's How to Form a Team That's Built to Last

Among the many challenges related to managing a small business, hiring a quality team of employees is one of the most important. Check out this list of tips and best practices to find the best people for your business.