Siouxland Social Media conference set for Feb. 21

SIOUX CITY — “No Excuses.” That’s the theme of the second annual Siouxland Social Media Conference, set for Thursday, Feb. 21.

Speakers and panelists will help local businesses overcome obstacles to the digital world of Facebook, Twitter and other social media participation.

Set at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City, this day-long event will feature local, regional and national speakers on various social media topics, including: Developing content, brand image, overcoming pitfalls, privacy issues, and return on investment.

Four speakers and a number of panelists will energize business and marketing leaders with the power to take on social media in their organizations, and the applicable skills to start today.

The day’s key speakers include:

Gloria Huang, as part of a three-person national team, develops and carries out the American Red Cross social engagement strategy. She also created the backbone for the Red Cross Digital Operations Center and social engagement training program.

Nathan T. Wright, owner of Lava Row, a Des Moines social media and education company. He will address the roadblocks that businesses must overcome before making the leap into social media.

Hugh Weber, Curator of the OTA Sessions conference, and many other small businesses in Sioux Falls, S.D., will talk about the importance of good content and good stories, and how to create a business out of social media and storytelling.

Scott Meyers, co-founder of digital agency 9 Clouds in Sioux Falls, S.D., will talk about tracking your success through analytics, and about the ROI that business leaders can expect from developing a social media strategy.

The Siouxland Social Media Conference will begin with check-in from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. A welcome begins at 8:15 a.m., and then speakers and panelists will run through the day until 4 p.m. After 4 p.m., professionals will have a chance to network at the Get Social mixer.

Reservations are $49 for students, $99 for Siouxland Chamber of Commerce members and $149 for non-Chamber members. Professionals also may attend just the lunch with keynote speaker Gloria Huang for $30. Register online beginning Wednesday at www.siouxlandchamber.com. For further information, call the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce at 712-255-7903.

Here is the complete schedule for the day:

Siouxland Social Media Conference Schedule

Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, Marina Inn Conference Center, 385 E 4th St., South Sioux City, Neb.

7:30-8:10 – Sign-in.

8:15-8:25 – Welcome.

8:30-9:15 – No Excuses – Get Started by Nathan Wright of Lava Row.

9:30-10:30 – Concurrent breakout sessions
Panel 1 – Getting started – Bomgaars, House of Q., Best Friend’s Pet Grooming
Panel 2 – Social Business – Developing a culture, with Sarah Fish, Belle Touche, and other speakers TBD.

10:45 – 11:40 – Hugh Weber, good storytelling and making a career of social media.

Noon – 1:30 p.m. – Catered lunch. Keynote address by Gloria Huang, Senior Social Engagement Specialist, American Red Cross.

1:45-2:30 – Concurrent breakout sessions
Panel 1: Privacy for healthcare, legal and financial officials with Nathan Wright of Lava Row, a Sanford Health marketing representative and Mindy Mullen from Lilly Family Dentistry
Panel 2: Content strategy and the Brand Journalist: Donna Beery of WITCC, Sam Burrish of Sioux City Ford and and other speaker TBD.

2:45-3:30 – Analytics and ROI – Scott Meyer of 9 Clouds in Sioux Falls.

3:45 – Get Social – Short Q&A with speakers – Bar will be open at this time, and people can network, listen to the Q&A and mingle.