You want to become more successful online with your business? Learn from the great examples the speakers share. Apply it to your business in one day.
In 2009 I watched SOBCon Chicago for the first time. It was all online and I could not see everything, but @JenChicago made me fall in love with this event. She used the webcam of her laptop and shared the event live via Ustream.
It was that year I said to myself, “Next year I am going to SOBCon.”
Why SOBCon is a different conference
During most events there are presentations where you can sit back and listen to the experts. You get a lot of ideas for your business and how you can implement what the expert is talking about.
By the time you are on your way home you are overwhelmed with ideas and inspiration. The next morning the event is over and business as usual takes over. The inspiration fades away. Nothing changed
There are also events with workshops. This is already better. You get information and tips from the expert and start implementing these that same day. By the time the event is over the first steps are already taken.
At SOBCon there are great speakers that talks about a topic. The topic has been set with Liz Strauss (@lizstrauss) and Terry Starbucker (@starbucker), so all topics align with the events goal.
After the presentation, there is an explanation of the model that is in relation to the topic of the speaker. Then you start working on the model for your business.
Now the big plus of SOBCon will hit you. You start discussing the model and how you will use it in your business with the other people at your table (about 6 people).
This is the moment you learn from other business owners, marketeers, bloggers, entrepreneurs how they are going to apply the model for their business, and you share your ideas. A double learning loop.
You can understand by the end of the day you have a good understanding of the people on your table. You have build new relations with business owners that you can help and whom can support you. The relation continues beyond the event.
Things have changed. First actions have started. New relationships.
Speaking at SOBCon
In 2010 I was invited to speak at SOBCon, Liz Strauss wanted me there and got me on a panel. Now I just had to pay for the flight and hotel. After a few weeks I found a sponsor to go to SOBCon.
The panel was about Small Business and was hosted by Becky McCray (@beckymccray) and Sheila Scarborough (@SheilaS).
First Becky and Sheila held a presentation about how they founded Tourism Currents at SOBCon the previous year and had a profit within the first months after the launch. Then the panel could share their thoughts on how to become profitable fast.
SOBCon 2011
This year I was again at SOBCon and found some great ideas.
Derek Halpern gave me some great ideas and tips I started implementing in my blog and clients websites.
I loved the presentation by Tim Sanders and his new book Today We Are Rich. The presentation by Steve Farber on leadership was again amazing and we got his new book Re-energized.
Other presentations that rocked Cathy Brooks, Michael Port, Chris Brogan, Carol Roth, Chris Guillebeau and Jonathan Fields.
All great speakers sharing some great experiences and valuable lessons.
You like SOBCon too now
You think this is a great event. You want to be there too next time. Go and register for SOBCon in Chicago May 2012.
Wait, You can join SOBCon in Europe. After discussing it with Liz and Terry, the founders of SOBCon, we are bringing SOBCon to Europe.
June 12, 2012 in Amsterdam
Come and join us.
- Meet Liz and Terry, listen to their motivational presentations.
- Learn from the experience that Arko van Brakel has with the internet. (author Iedereen Ondernemer)
- Learn from the SEO specialist Joost de Valk how you can improve your website.
- Listen to Nils Roemen and the explosion of Durf te Vragen on the web.
- And some more surprises on the way
Together with Pieter van Osch I am organizing this event. He already brought the Growth Summit successfully to the Netherlands. We are also two of the organisers of the monthly Social Media Club Amsterdam.
You don’t want to miss the opportunity to be at the first SOBCon Europe.
Register now for SOBCon Europe in Amsterdam and enjoy a EUR 100.00 bonus when you register before February 1, 2012.
