Note from Phil: One of my favorite people to learn from at SOBCon is Sheila Scarborough, a Navy veteran and one smart social media for tourism peep. She’s someone who doesn’t hold back and would let us know if we weren’t holding up our end of the SOBCon bargain. What follows are her reasons why she keeps coming back to SOBCon, and why if you’re waiting to buy your ticket, you should move NOW! SOBCon is NEXT WEEK! SIGN UP! Or keep reading and find out why Sheila says you should be in Chicago next week!
Phil: Who are you – and what is your business focus?
Sheila: I’m Sheila Scarborough, and I guide you to the good stuff. Together with Becky McCray and Leslie McLellan at Tourism Currents, I do training in social media for tourism and hospitality. We help you put your town on the map …. the word-of-mouth map of the social web.PG: When did you attend your first SOBCon – why did you sign up – and what did you expect to get out of it?
SS: I attended the very first SOBCon in 2007. I came because I trusted Liz Strauss and the community that she’d built during Open Mic Night on her blog.
PG: Did you get what you expected (or more or less or just different) from your first SOBCon?
SS: It was a stripped-down affair – an airport hotel at O’Hare, nothing fancy – but I didn’t care about the venue. I cared about meeting Liz and other people who did what I did….blogging. The cool thing about my first SOBCon is that I roped in another travel enthusiast to attend, Wendy Perrin. She’s the Director of Consumer News & Digital Community at Condé Nast Traveler magazine and at the time, was the only one on her staff who blogged and had a clue about social media. When she attended with me, and said, “These people do what I do! They understand me and don’t think I’m a freak,” that was the BEST feeling. I’d brought her to her tribe. It was a perfect first SOBCon experience.
Here’s the deal: when you can get in on the ground floor of something great, DO IT. I went to the first SOBCon. I went to the first SoMeT (Social Media for Tourism conference.) They’ve since taken off like rockets, but the first ones were like a pickup basketball game – informal, playful, low-cost, “Hey, let’s see if this’ll work.” Support (with your wallet and your presence) the people who hustle and make a new thing happen. It matters.
PG: How many additional SOBCon events have you been to?
SS: Every one held in Chicago. I adore Chicago! Go on a CAF (Chicago Architecture Foundation) tour while you’re there. The fact that CAF is terrific at social media is merely a bonus.
PG: What keeps you coming back for more SOBCon?
SS: Great speakers who don’t talk for very long, including me when I was honored to speak at the event. 
Small, self-selected Mastermind groups. My Tourism Currents business partners. The extraordinary S. Anthony Iannarino who clears my head every year, and makes me laugh.
Small, self-selected Mastermind groups. My Tourism Currents business partners. The extraordinary S. Anthony Iannarino who clears my head every year, and makes me laugh.PG: What has been the biggest impact on your business because of SOBCon?
SS: We are all about tourism and social communications. After SOBCon, people think of us first when it comes to that vertical. Yes, we’ve gotten referrals and business from SOBCon.
PG: What advice would you give someone thinking of attending SOBCon for the first time?
SS: Review all of the conference attendees ahead of time, and pick 2-3 to meet. Read the SOBCon blog posts so you know what to expect. Bring your “Big Picture” eyeglasses. This event is for big ideas, not chicken-poop tactical stuff.
PG: What advice would you give someone thinking of attending SOBCon for a second (or more) time?
SS: Who did you meet before who blew your mind? Carve out gobs of time to talk to them in more depth, but make sure you’re giving them as much help and value as they’re giving you.
PG: Anything else you’d like to share about the event or anything else?
SS: There are very few conferences like this where you can really drill down and think about your business – with expert advice – over a couple of days. Do not miss the opportunity.
So what are you waiting for? Check out the 2013 program and get your butt signed up!
