Social Media Week London

Social Media Week LondonSocial Media Week returns to London 23-27 September 2013, joining a host of other cities across the world in a hectic week of panel discussions, presentations, meetups and loads more. 

Event submissions are now open, get involved as a speaker, smwatchinwag [dot] com (volunteer) or find out about smwatchinwag [dot] com (sponsorshop opportunities).

Check out last September's full schedule. Keep up-to-date with Social Media Week London on Twitter & Facebook and of course the blog. 

Social Media Week London Events

Using Social to go Global supported by Open to Export
Mon, 24 Sep
Want to take your business global? Find out how how to use social media, online communities and collaborative tools can help build your company’s international business. Hear from international experts, case studies & quiz UKTI, Nokia, Hailo, the FT and more. Plus a free networking lunch and time for one-to-one Q&A.
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Global Keynote: Alex Balfour, Head of Digital, LOCOG (London 2012 Olympics)
Mon, 24 Sep
Join us for the SMWLDN Global Keynote, a fireside chat with Alex Balfour, the at the centre of the digital delivery of the massively successful London Olympics and Paralympics Games. Opening this Sep’s Social Media Week and hear about the trials, tribulations and successes behind the digital success of the games.
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The £800m Elephant in the Room: Social Inside the Enterprise hosted McKinsey & Co
Mon, 24 Sep
McKinsey Global Institute principal Michael Chui discusses the potential value in using social tools to enhance communications, knowledge sharing, and collaboration within and across enterprises. He'll be joined by an expert panel who'll reflect and discuss the dramatic changes 'social' is making inside the enterprise.
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Heroes of Social Innovation, supported by Nokia
Mon, 24 Sep
The rise of social media and social technology has demonstrated its power to revolutionise industries. In a very literal sense, the power to connect and collaborate is quite literally changing the world. Mobile technology and social networks enable groups to self-organise campaigns to gain worldwide momentum.
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SMW '12: Behavioural Economics for the Web
Tue, 25 Sep
Join us for a very exclusive breakfast and brunch to discuss the latest experiments and techniques from the masters of behavrioural economics – and how as digital natives, we can leverage these to take over the world.
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Making Social Work for your Business, hosted by Oracle
Tue, 25 Sep
The explosion of social has been tremendous, as Facebook closes in on one billion consumers and Twitter approaches 200 million, not to mention emerging platforms like Google+, Instagram and Pinterest. Join experts from Oracle, Maersk, MediaCom, We Are Social, Starcom, IPC and Luxury Hotels of the World and find out more...
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The Decision Makers: The Truth Behind the Family Purchase Dynamic
Tue, 25 Sep
#SMWLDN Families in the UK spend around £187B a year yet not much is known about the complicated decision making dynamic that goes into how that money is spent. This session will look at who in the family makes what decisions, how the members of the family influence each other and what role social media plays in inter-family communications.
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Facebook 1 Billion: End of the Beginning or Beginning of the End? hosted by Betapond
Tue, 25 Sep
Facebook approaches its 1 Billionth user while under the spotlight as never before. A few years ago Facebook was one of many social networks. Now it’s the world’s most important social media platform. On Tuesday at 9am in Unruly, our panel will discuss Facebook’s future.
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Nosh: The Social Business of Food
Tue, 25 Sep
The food business is in a constant state of flux whether it’s the rush for Michelin stars or shiny food trucks or the latest pop up restaurant. Its marketing is no exception...
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How Small Businesses Win in the Socially Connected World
Tue, 25 Sep
Did you know that on average you need to connect with prospective customers seven times before they actually buy from you? That’s an expensive way for you to grow your business. What if we told you that there was another way?
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How Small Businesses Win in a Socially Connected World hosted by Constant Contact
Tue, 25 Sep
Did you know that on average you need to connect with prospective customers 7 times before they actually buy? That’s an expensive way to grow business. What if we told you that there was another way? Sound interesting? Then join us and we’ll take you through how to create your own Engagement Marketing plan and turn your customers into your fans.
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One-to-One Social Health Check Sessions hosted by Oracle
Tue, 25 Sep
The Oracle one-to-one Social Surgery sessions will run from 12pm-1pm. They will give organisations the opportunity for one-to-one social media health checks with leading Oracle's team of social strategy experts.
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Facebook Marketing ROI: A master class with Nokia, The Social Partners and The Humane Society
Wed, 26 Sep
After selling-out tickets for this event on Tuesday, we're happy to announce that we will hold it again at Facebook Headquarters on Wednesday 26th September. However, this time, we have some new speakers to give additional insights and strategies for proving the success of social marketing within your organisation.
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Through the Eyes of a Child: The Social Media World of 6-11 Year Olds
Wed, 26 Sep
#SMWLDN Kids are inherently social and are very active on many social media platforms; therefore they are a hugely important part of the social media landscape. This discussion will focus on what kids are doing on networking sites, how and why they are so engaged with each other and the platforms, and look at the psychology behind these behaviours.
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Developing a Digital Strategy in a Social World hosted by Chinwag
Wed, 26 Sep
Digital media has gone through more revolutions in the last decade than other forms of media have experienced across their lifetimes. From web 2.0 to commoditisation of display advertising to sweeping changes of social media. How do the world's leading digital strategists handle the brand challenges? Join our expert panel for this discussion.
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Sustainable Brands Doing Good by Doing Well in Social hosted by Betapond
Wed, 26 Sep
How has social media changed the way brands approach CSR and sustainability initiatives and what will the future hold? What challenges and opportunities to brands face as they use new methods? Our panel will include brand marketers and experts who have seen the potential, join the discussion...
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Content Creation Collective: Secets behind social media
Wed, 26 Sep
If you’re a writer, editor, blogger, videographer, designer, producer or otherwise involved in the creation of cool stuff online then you need to come along to Content Creation Collective: Secrets behind social content on 26th September aboard the HMS President (1918), in association with Social Media Week.
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Oversharing or misUnderstood: Automatic Sharing in Social hosted by Betapond
Thu, 27 Sep
When Facebook unveiled Open Graph and made it possible for apps to automatically share what you’re listening to, watching or reading, it divided opinion. “Frictionless sharing” is a great way to discover new stuff from friends but some think it’s Too Much Information. Come along and join the debate...
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Multi-Channel Social Media – Small Biz Friend or Foe?
Thu, 27 Sep
Are you unsure which combination of Pins, Tweets and Likes will give your small business a bang for its buck? It’s a conundrum that’s facing many owners as they fight to juggle the time spent between marketing their business and actually running it.
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Multi-Channel Social Media - Small Biz Friend or Foe? hosted by Constant Contact
Thu, 27 Sep
Are you unsure which combination of Pins, Tweets and Likes will give your small business a bang for its buck? Register today, come along and don’t forget to come along with your questions, thoughts and challenges. Our panel is waiting to help you navigate the right mix of social ingredients.
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Chinwag's Careers Day at Social Media Week London 2012
Fri, 28 Sep
Hundreds of graduates, jobs seekers and experienced workers looking for that next challenge will be flocking to the Careers Day to meet the likes of Nokia, Financial Times, Imagination, Tempero, News International and more, so don't miss out. REGISTER NOW - it's free!
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Latest Blog Posts

[Guest Blog] How Social Media Can Influence the Buying Process and Drive ROI

This is a Guest Blog written by Joel Davis of agency:2 – the Social Media Agency, about their event, How Social Media Can Influence the Buying Process and Drive ROI.

As the UK’s first social media agency we’re thrilled to be involved with Social Media Week 2011. The event promises to demonstrate the importance of social media, the vast range of opportunities that it offers and the measurable success it can help achieve.

Delivering results is at the heart of all the work agency:2 does for our clients. Whatever the campaign and whatever the industry, our focus is always on harnessing the unique power of social media to maximise ROI.

That’s why our breakfast seminar will discuss how businesses can use social media marketing to engage with consumers at every phase of the buying process and ensure that the success of each campaign is truly measurable.

From brand exposure before purchase to customer support during the use of the product; right through to a relationship with the brand after purchase, social media allows brands to engage online users in targeted and relevant conversations at all stages of the Buying Cycle.

Through the right tracking processes brands have the ability to track key performance indicators throughout the cycle and gain unique insights.

The results? Improved brand perception, maximised brand consideration and increased sales.

We hope that this has whetted your appetite for the event. If you would like to find out more about social media and the Buying Cycle, you can register for your place here.

We look forward to seeing you all there.

Visit the UK’s first social media agency for more information about our speakers and us.  You can also follow us on Twitter @agency2

Photo (cc) PlayPennies

Event Pre-Registration Opens for Social Media Week London

Tick, tock…the countdown has begun to Social Media Week London. In less than four weeks on Monday 7th Feb, the doors will fly open to dozens of events taking place across London.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and event partners the majority of the events throughout the week are free-to-attend. Neat, huh? The catch?

Space is limited and will book up quickly, so it’s best to keep a beady eye on the Social Media Week London schedule, follow @smwldn, Like us on Facebook or if you’re feeling a little more old school, there’s also an email newsletter.

The Schedule

The good news is that you don’t have to wait! The first batch of tickets are now available through the website, peruse the schedule and sign-up now.

Many of the event organisers are releasing tickets in batches, so if you miss out this time, keep your eyes peeled for more tickets. And of course, there’s more events being added all the time.

The SMW London schedule is your ultimate guide. All of the event organisers, will be adding their events here. For those liking their calendars as feeds, there’s also an iCal feed and a Google Calendar.

What’s On?

In short, heaps of different events: Breakfast Briefings; Seminars: Networking events; Workshops, Huddles Unconferences; Agency Open Houses; an Ideas Pop-up Shop and of course, an exciting closing ‘do’.

Here’s a few tasty morsels to whet your appetite:

Breakfast briefings:

Start the day with some of London’s leading social media practitioners for a spot of breakfast and some tasty insight:

Seminars:

Networking events:

The core of Social Media Week’s mission is to bring people together, and it wouldn’t be complete without a plethora of networking opportunities, including:

Workshops, huddles and unconferences:

The learning never stops with dozens of panel sessions, get-togethers, presentations, clinics and more:

Open Houses and pop-up shops:

Organisations across the capital are throwing open their doors, or event setting up temporary shop to share advice, get feedback and join the global conversation, including:

  • Volunteers from Ogilvy Group UK are offering free advertising and marketing advice and ideas to small businesses, charities, arts and community groups and entrepreneurs at a secret pop-up shop (location to be revealed soon) in Central London.
  • London’s leading agencies including 1000heads, Precedent and We Are Social, are opening up their offices for you to learn more about Social Media and how they might be able to help you.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on @smwldn on Twitter or the Social Media Week London Facebook page for regular updates.

Photo (cc) TheTruthAbout.

[Guest Blog] Announcing the Be2Awards 2011

This is a Guest Blog by Paul Wilkinson from Be2Camp, about his event, the Be2Awards and ConstrucTALKs, happening during Social Media Week London.  The Be2Awards celebrate best practice in using social media in the built environment (architecture, engineering, construction, etc).

In the middle of 2008, four people started a Twitter conversation about how people in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sectors might be able to use social media tools and techniques to plan, design, construct, operate and maintain a better, more sustainable built environment. The outcome of those early exchanges was the formation of a social media advocacy movement,Be2camp (history), with which I have been involved ever since.

Over the past 30 months, Be2camp has organised 15 events, combining face-to-face with digital interaction and sharing as much content as possible online. Hundreds of people have attended our ‘unconferences’ and lots of new and interesting applications of Web 2.0 approaches have been identified. The logical next step was to highlight some of the best examples of social media in the AEC and related sectors, and so we have launched the Be2awards: the world’s first awards for social media in the built environment.

The Awards programme is being run in a concentrated six-week period, and is distinctly social. We won’t be following the approach of most awards programmes – no cosy decisions made by judges in private here. Instead, the Be2 award nominations are being sourced from you, our “crowd”, and will be voted upon by the same “crowd”: you. The intention is to get a wide spread of nominations and then to encourage shortlisted candidates to mobilise their supporters once online voting begins (and we’ve even left open the opportunity for people to suggest a new category or two).

The 2011 Be2Award categories:

  • Built environment blogger of the Year
  • Best sustainability blog
  • Best AEC social media blog
  • Best use of Twitter
  • Best AEC collaboration platform
  • Best AEC community, network or application
  • Best use of Web 2.0 for construction products
  • Best location-based AEC application
  • Best ‘internet of things’ application
  • Best mobile application
  • Best virtual or hybrid event
  • ‘Old media/new media’ award
  • Best AEC PR campaign
  • Best AEC marketing campaign
  • Best education and learning award
  • ‘Other’ (suggestions please!)

Countdown

The Awards website was launched last week, with nominations being made via an online discussion forum. This process will be held open for two weeks, with nominations closing on 18 January. From 19 January, we will enable online voting through to midnight GMT on 7 February. The awards will be announced at a Be2camp “unawards” event in London on Wednesday 9 February – a date selected to coincide with London Social Media Week.

Held at the Building Centre, the awards event will also include an ‘unconference’,ConstrucTALKs, featuring some thought-provoking industry speakers on the interfaces between construction and technology, social media and business.

The awards

For the winners, securing a Be2 will mean they have successfully gained the recognition and endorsement of a substantial online community, with the merits of their award clear for all to see. The winners will receive a trophy, and a Be2 winner badge that they can display on their website, blog, literature, etc. Additionally, some award categories also feature prizes donated by sponsors – the first big announcement has been the involvement of HP who have offered Designjet 111 printers to the winners of two categories.

Can you help?

Throughout the planning and implementation process, we have been keen to show the power of social media in spreading word of the Be2Awards. There is, of course, a Be2Awards blog (with RSS feed), and you can follow @Be2Awards on Twitter. Details have been posted on LinkedIn, and will be added on Facebook shortly, and the message is also being shared on other networks, including Ning-based communities such as AEC Network and tCn.

However, we really want to get the message out as widely as possible, so if you are interested in helping, please let me know. For example, you can help by tweeting or blogging about the awards, by sponsoring an award, or by nominating someone for an award (yourself, your company, a client, a blogger who’s output you like, a Twitter feed you enjoy, an application that you can’t do without, etc,).

Of course, awards are great for marketing and public relations, and there are also two categories for PR and marketing professionals. If you work in these fields, this is your chance to be highlighted for your successful use of social media as part of an AEC industry campaign.

Photo (cc) Paul Wilkinson