Location, Location, Location: SOBCon08 Has a New Home!

It is with great excitement that we announce the venue for SOBCon08 -Biz School for Bloggers:

The Summit Executive Center in Downtown Chicago!

That’s right, we’re going to be getting together right in the heart of the Windy City, at 205 N. Michigan Ave.

As you know, we’ve spend much time looking for just the right place to host this gathering, and The Summit fits the bill perfectly.

It didn’t take us long after meeting Summit “Ring Leader” Louise Silberman and touring the facility that we knew we’d found our new home - in fact they practically “had us at hello” with their core purpose statement: “To support education…inspiring professional and personal growth.”

Bingo! (check it out for yourselves on their excellent web site)

So we’ve found our place, and what’s more, the downdown location allows our attendees much flexibility and possibility - flexibility in lodging (there are 4,000 rooms within walking distance of the Summit!) and possibility (all that the bustling city of Chicago has to offer).

Register Now and join us at the Summit!

Stay tuned to this space for further information regarding preferred hotels and special giveaways to all attendees.

Heck, let us put one out there right now - all registrants will receive a hot-off-the-presses book “Problogger Book” by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett compliments of Wiley Publishing, a $25 value. Nice!

SOBCon 2008 Marketing Contest - Day 20

Hi all! Terry Starbucker here once again, reporting on the latest results of our 2008 Marketing contest.

The grand prize is a free registration to SOBCon08, plus two hotel nights thrown in for good measure. And thanks again to our contest co-sponsor, Plante Moran Financial Advisors!

Here are the Top 10 linkers as of 11:38 AM EST on 3/1/08:

1) Todd Jordan - 113
2) Alex Shalman - 104
3) Jesse Petersen - 70
4) Stephen Smith - 59
5) Char Polanosky - 58
6) Troy Worman - 56
7) Joanna Young - 39
Phil Gerbyshak - 21
9) Chris Brown - 11
10) Tie, Becky McCray, and Derrick Sorles - 8

Todd and Alex are locked in a tight battle for first place, but there’s 14 days to go and all it takes is a big “Stumble” (ha) to get lots o’ links!

Thanks again everyone, and tune in next week for the latest results.

And don’t forget to register!

SOBCon 2008 Marketing Contest Report: Day 13

Hi all! Terry Starbucker here, reporting on the latest results of our 2008 Marketing contest.

We have 19 contestants going for the grand prize, a free registration to SOBCon08 plus two hotel nights thrown in for good measure. Let’s also remember and thank our contest co-sponsor, Plante Moran Financial Advisors!

For those of you not entered, there’s still 22 says left in the contest, so if you’d like to jump in send me a note at terrystarbucker(at)gmail(dotcom).

Here are the Top 10 linkers as of 6PM EST on 2/23/08:

1) Todd Jordan - 71
2) Alex Shalman - 49
3) Jesse Petersen - 46
4) Joanna Young - 22
5) Char Polanosky - 20
6) Phil Gerbyshak - 19
7) Troy Worman - 11
Stephen Smith - 9
9) Becky McCray - 5
10) Chris Brown - 4

Looks like quite a contest we have going here! Keep up that promotion - there’s a long way to go.

Thanks all, and tune in next week for the latest results.

Oh, and don’t forget to register!

(PS: I’m so pumped about this I’m going to put out a little hint on our very imminent hotel announcement - just think Petula Clark!)

The 2008 SOBCon Marketing Contest: Test Your Promotional Skill for Prizes Worth $750

Want to get a free registration to SOBCon08, plus two night’s hotel thrown in for good measure?

The SOBCon founders and the good folks at Plante Moran Financial Advisors (www.pmfa.com) are co-sponsoring a SOBCon Marketing Contest, where the blogger who can refer the most traffic to the SOBCon website (www.sobevent.com) between February 11 and March 15 will win:

• A free registration to SOBCon08 in Chicago, from May 2-4 ($450 value)
  
• Two nights hotel accommodations ($300 value)
  
• Podium recognition by the SOBCon MC, Terry Starbucker(promotional value for your blog and business – priceless)

Let’s get to the rules, but first a quick word about our co-sponsor, Plante Moran Financial Advisors (www.pmfa.com). They’re a group of financial professionals that are all about “you”, just as it should be. In their own words, “In saying “you” we encompass every aspect of you, such as your family, business, and personal interests into your investment strategy – today and into the future. You are our first priority and that is why our approach to your wealth management is as unique as you.”

OK, here are the rules:

1. To be eligible you must register your referring site, via e-mail to terrystarbucker(at)gmail(dotcom). You can do this anytime before or during the contest period, but the sooner you’re “in” the better.
2. We will count the referrals to SOBCon08 (defined as a “hit” to the site that comes from a link on your site) beginning on February 11, and running through March 15.
3. The referrals must be from a sufficient variety of network and geographical locations (as determined by Google Analytics), as determined by the SOBCon contest committee.
4. Speakers at the conference are not eligible, as well as the founders.
5. If you’ve already registered, you can certainly enter, and see if you can win your money back (and then some!)

So, do you think you have the promotional moxie to promote SOBCon and get your readers to check out our site, and find out how irresistible and compelling this year’s conference is going to be? Are you looking for a way to get to SOBCon but all you have is a blog, and not the cash?

Than sign up and start promoting SOBCon!!

Good luck and have fun.

Make a Date for SOBCon08!

Hi everyone, Terry Starbucker here. I’m one of the founders of SOBCon, and served as the MC at last year’s conference.

SOBCon07 was a wonderful event that will always have a warm place in my heart, because of the great spirit of friendship, generosity, and shared learning that was in that room for the entire day.

Check out the SOBCon07 page for pictures, and just a few of the comments and posts from attendees.

The common response we got in the aftermath of such a great experience was “when can we do it again?”

I’m quite happy to tell you that we WILL do it again, in Chicago, with the theme “Biz School for Bloggers”, on these dates;

May 2-4, 2008

Mark your calendars NOW and watch this space for an announcement of the meeting place and registration details.

We have an awesome program planned - check out the “program” page for more details.

Yours truly will be the MC, yes, Christine Kane will once again perform, and perhaps even a “bloggy dance” will take place. Maybe

Since space will be limited to 250, I’d also strongly suggest that you get on our priority registration notification list by going to the contact page and filling out the form - that way you’ll be sure not to miss the chance to be a part of this special event.

We’re also going to have a really cool Sunday session called “SpeedSpeaking” - do you think you can “pitch” 20 slides in 5 minutes? Drop us a note if you’d like to be considered for that session

One more thing - if you have any interest in being one of our valued sponsors, please go to the contact page and drop us a note; we’d be happy to send you our sponsorship package. I think you’ll find a package for just about any budget that would bring great value to your business.

See you in Chicago!

« Previous Page — Next Page »