April 7, 2015
We’re only a week out from the Marketo’s The Marketing Nation Summit, one of the most exciting marketing events of the year! I’m feeling anxious excitement just thinking about it.
From April 13th to 15th, San Francisco will be overtaken by some of the smartest and savviest marketers today. Marketo is bringing together over three thousand marketers from around the globe to collaborate and learn from one another. With only three days to take advantage of all things marketing during this summit, make sure you have a plan of action meet the right people, go to all the right sessions — and maybe even squeeze in John Legend’s keynote. There is a lot to experience, so familiarize yourself with Marketo’s FAQ and check out our top tips:
Plan out your Agenda NOW!
If you’ve already registered, you likely received an autoresponder (yes, sent using Marketo from Marketo) with instructions for sessions sign up. Spoiler: you will need to create an account and plan out your agenda. When you arrive at the agenda planning stage, I guarantee that you will be overwhelmed. There are no less than one hundred great sessions to choose from, so choose wisely!
- Prioritize categories: We all have different areas of the platform — or areas within marketing in general — that we want to learn more about. Some of us need more insight on reporting, nurturing, or tactical tips. Maybe this year’s KPIs are around tracking campaign ROI or content marketing. In any case, make a list of the three areas you want to focus on.
- Narrow down sessions that pique your interest.
You’ll quickly notice that there will be more than one session per time slot that you’re interested in. Familiarize yourself with the type of sessions available to you. Narrow down your choices by reading the abstracts for deeper insight. You’ll notice there are plenty of sessions on reporting (more than one time slot will help you there), but perhaps not as many on content marketing. Note the overall availability of sessions that pique your interest to help decide. - It’s okay, you can change your mind.
The agenda builder is a tool to help you plan your sessions, but all sessions are first come, first serve. I’m preparing my top three choices for each time slot so that I’m not scrambling to choose five minutes before.
Reach Out to Contacts Early
Most of us have marketers we look up to — many of whom will be at this event. Don’t be afraid to reach out and schedule a quick chat while at the Summit. It’s likely that Hillary won’t be available, but there are many phenomenal speakers and professionals with whom you will want to connect. Send a LinkedIn message, post in the Marketo Community, and make it known that you want to connect. You’ll get the most out of this event through networking.
Find Interesting Vendors
Vendors will be taking advantage of having most of their customers in one place at the same time. Take a look at the list of booths and go see the vendors you’ve been meaning to check out. Get a quick demo, or QA a pain point you are having with a vendor solution. Just by conversing about different ways to track KPI, or methods for executing and tracking closed loop reporting may shed light on new perspectives. Of course, connect with us at the event, and pick up a free copy of our guide, 3 Steps to Effective Email Marketing.
Bring your A-Game (And your Business Cards)
Don’t just socialize with the co-workers you came with. This is not the time to be shy! Don’t miss a great opportunity to meet with fellow marketers, partners, vendors and Marketo employees. Track down the cool and innovative stories, and pick those marketers’ brains! This way, you’ll return to the office with great stories and ideas to share with your team.
I guarantee that other marketers are interested in the innovative things you’re doing with your Marketo instance, or what your biggest pain point is. Be ready to talk through it efficiently — who knows, you may be able to get some answers to your biggest issues during lunch break or happy hour!
As you collect and hand out business cards, don’t forget to think like a marketer. When you’re planning your next campaign or sourcing a list of contacts, you wouldn’t just stop there. Follow up! Whether it’s an email, or an invitation to an event or a quick call, follow up personally with those you had great conversations. Leverage those connections and continue to nurture those relationships.
Don’t Forget to Wine and Dine
Most decent restaurants within a two block radius are likely fully booked, so if you’re looking for a chance to wine and dine, consider some of these classic places or even venturing into different neighborhoods. Below are some of my favorite restaurants:
- Grab a quick to-go lunch.
- Try something quick and yummy at The Grove or Split Bread.
- Or relax on the outdoor deck of Samovar Tea Lounge.
- Grab a cocktail or glass of wine.
- Get wine on tap and a quick snack at Jamber.
- Or come meet Bluewolf at the Press Club.
- Sit down and relax with a great dinner.
- Get fresh oysters at Anchor & Hope.
- Or grab a pizza at Zero Zero.
And last but most importantly, don’t forget to get your caffeine fix at Blue Bottle!
Prep by Reading Content
Get up to speed on some marketing content on your flight, and identify primary areas for growth and development in your current marketing strategy.
Normalizing & Cleaning Your Database
Getting More From Your Marketing Tools
Bluewolf Marketing: Behind The Scenes
I hope these tips help to prepare you and feed your excitement for this year’s Marketo Summit. Feel free to tweet us questions — @Jenny_Iggy or @Bluewolf — as we prepare for a very productive and enriching three days.
