The 4th annual Burlington Social Media Day (#BTVSMD) wrapped up last week (June 28). With the kick-off party hosted at Hotel VT on Thursday, June 27, Burlington’s Social Media Royalty was announced and the games began!
Vote
For three days leading up to the kick-off party, polls were open to vote for your favorite social media tweeps in the Burlington social media scene. Every year there seems to be some campaigning for votes…some classy and respectable campaigning, and some other campaigning just coming across as smarmy and begging. In general, it is all in good fun. Every one that was a winner did at least a little campaigning, whether publicly or within their organization, including yours truly. I also happened to win in two categories: Blogger and Wildcard (wine blogger). Thanks to all who voted and nominated me social media royalty. Also, just like with real election, if you didn’t vote, you can’t complain about the winners.
Attend the Workshops
While I by no means needed to attend the Social Media 101-level sessions, I can always learn something new. Because I did the scavenger hunt on Friday, I missed some of the sessions I would have liked to have sat in on. Lesson learned for next year.
Online Privacy Starts Early and at Home
Elaine Young, Digital Marketing Professor at Champlain College, ran a workshop on “Raising Digitally Savvy Kids.” She discussed the importance of talking as a family about how we use technology, including social media tools. How we use technology individually affects the rest of the family in terms of what content we share and with whom. Young provided a great framework and starting points for having this conversation. Last year, I attended her session with my son, who was 9 at the time. Because of the information Young shared during that session, to this day, out son asks to use technology…it is not a free-for-all whenever he or his siblings want to use a computer or iPad. They have to ask, and they respect those ground rules. He also only plays virtually with his real-life friends. Did I mention I can’t wait until her book comes out?
Participate in the Scavenger Hunt
The scavenger hunt (which I helped to coordinate with some of the VT Mommies) was a fun time. Lots of stops with freebies and discounts made for a good day, but if you hunt on Friday, you miss the workshops (see #2, above). Next year, I think I’ll do some of the hunt on the early side (you just don’t get the perks) so I can attend the workshops. There were a few that I missed that I would have liked to have attended.
Bring a Phone Charger
I spent a lot of the day glued to my phone Tweeting, InstaGraming, and checking-in on Foursquare. I have a back-up battery and a zillion chargers, but do you think I remembered either? Nope. I had to go back to work and beg a colleague to borrow one. It’s the first time I’ve seen my phone at 5% battery and still functioning.
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Thanks for the write-up! I regret that circumstances outside my control prevented me from attending, so I really appreciate hearing about it from an “insider”. I especially regret having missed Elaine Young’s presentation, so I’m grateful that you were able to attend and report. Oh yeah…and congratulations!
Hi there,
Thanks for the write up. I was sorry to miss the event and am enjoying reading the reviews post event.
I had a question which you may already be discussing… Is there any way to move the scavenger hunt around so people do not have to choose between sessions and the hunt? I have presented a bit at conferences and I have always wanted to have a packed house. I would think it would be frustrating for the presenters to know that they are competing for attention. Just wondering if this can be resolved before 2014?
Thanks for sharing your notes!
Laura