Social Media Week’s global theme for 2015 – “Upwardly Mobile: The Rise of the Connected Class” – is all about how digital technology is creating seismic shifts in nearly every industry and in the everyday lives of billions of people worldwide. Today, we’re more connected than ever before, and we have the power to make our voices heard by governments, brands and the world at-large. The sessions featured later this month will offer insights into this theme through the perspectives of the thought leaders, journalists and business mavens who are on the front lines in their respective fields.
To help you navigate the rapidly expanding calendar of events at Social Media Week New York, we asked a few of our attendees to share their top picks for events taking place throughout the week. Below, Sean Foster, Chief Executive Officer of Crowdtap, gives us a look at the events that are catching his eye:
1. The Ten Rules of an Open Brand: Evolving with Your Consumers & Industry
“John Winsor has built his company, Victors & Spoils, on the opportunities that are unlocked when marketers tap into the collective brainpower of many. I look forward to hearing his extended POV on what it takes to become an ‘open business.’”
2. The ROI on WOM: A First Look at “WOMMA’s Return on WOM” Brand Data Study
“An important report for brand marketers to take in, courtesy of our friends at WOMMA. Major findings include how WOM can amplifying marketing and how WOM influences sales.”
3. Networks of Influence: Hosted by Elite Daily, Translation & Crimson Hexagon
“This should be an interesting perspective on the Millennial generation’s feelings toward marketing (spoiler alert: they don’t trust traditional advertising) and how brands can align their efforts with this shifting consumer mindset. Elite Daily gets this audience more than most.”
4. Is Social Media Just Media? The Future of Paid, Earned and Content
“With social platforms systematically cutting off ‘free media’ opportunities for marketers, the paid-earned balance is becoming an increasingly important conversation in our space. Matt Britton, CEO of MRY, joins Lisa Weinstein, President of Global, Digital & Data Analytics at Starcom MediaVest group for this can’t-miss session.”
5. From Fans to Advocates: How to Build Community and Grow #BrandLove
“Community is absolutely central to the Crowdtap platform, so we can get on board with this session devoted to what makes for a vibrant brand community.”
You can catch Sean’s own session, “People-Powered Marketing: A Crash Course in Putting Consumers at the Heart of Your Brand,” on Friday, Feb. 27 at 10:45 a.m. If you haven’t already, be sure to pick up your pass to #SMWNYC, and join us for what will be an extraordinary week.
About Crowdtap:
Crowdtap, the People-Powered Marketing Platform, is a new operating system for brands powered by the people who love them. Our platform makes it easy for brands to put consumers at the heart of their marketing to drive product ideation, inform marketing strategy and create authentic content that fuels earned media.
In 2014, Crowdtap was named one of the 100 Most Promising Companies in America by Forbes and the No. 54 fastest-growing private company in the Inc. 500 List. The company has been ranked as the No. 3 Best Place to Work in New York by Crain’s, and the No. 6 Best Tech Company to Work For by Mashable.
With a growing community of passionate members, Crowdtap works with leading brands including General Mills, Heineken, Kraft Foods, P&G, Verizon, Walmart and Yum Brands.
Visit corp.crowdtap.com for more information.