STOP! READ THIS SESSION PLANNING ADVICE!

Did the headline grab your attention? We do something similar with the conference handbook we give out to all of our attendees. The first page in the book is full of session planning advice and starts out saying:

STOP!
If you read nothing else, READ THIS!

Do they read it? No. I know, because I often survey the audiences to see who read the key information on that page. Few put their hands up.

OK, so we need to figure out some better way of grabbing attention and spreading the news on how to plan to get the most out of SES. We're working on it, and this blog is part of that.

Here's the thing. SES has over 60 -- SIXTY! -- sessions happening. One person can't attend them all. You need some type of -- pardon the pun -- strategy for Search Engine Strategies.

We do have more and more companies taking a "divide and conquer" approach, where they send a couple of people who split up among sessions. The group discount plan helps companies wishing to do this. But remember, that strategy doesn't work if you don't say goodbye to your colleagues and actually split up for a short period of time! Andrew Goodman who moderates the SEM 2.0 mailing list recently noted (free registration required to view) the "I can stand to be alone factor" as cropping up.

Whether you divide and conquer or not, a good starting place for your attendance strategy is our Conference At A Glance guide. It shows everything at, um, a glance. The online version gives you session titles, links to descriptions, whether a session is new, rated well and particular interest areas it appeals to.

The print version we give out is a small 8-10 page booklet that you can easily tuck away in a pocket for ready reference. It also contains something else you'll find online right now, the Session Planner. That planner gives you a guide to sessions by these interest types:

• BASIC
• ADVANCED
• ORGANIC LISTINGS
• AD LISTINGS (AD/MARKETING INTEREST)
• BEEN BEFORE
• OTHER SPECIAL INTERESTS

Check it out. Each interest type is defined, and I've done my best to guide you in the right direction.

Still uncertain over what you should attend? Feel free to ask me at the show. Honest. I live and breathe the sessions. They're like my children, and I love to be matchmaker for them. As long as I'm not setting up for a session or running for the bathroom (I drink a lot of Diet Coke to keep going but caffeine, well...), I'm more than happy to help as best I can. Many of the speakers are also good resources to ask, as they've often see other sessions, as well.

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