Last week's SocialMedia.org Brands-Only Summit was an extraordinary family reunion. It was an incredibly spirited, energizing, and huggy social media conference.
We were blown away by the response: 304 social media leaders from 161 brands attended. (With no vendors, sponsors, or consultants — save for a handful of guest faculty members teaching classes — allowed in the room.)
Getting so many social media executives together reminded us just how special the people leading the social media movement at big brands are. (See the tweets below for a glimpse of the experience.)
We're already working on the next Brands-Only Summit.
We're definitely bringing the Brands-Only Summit back next year, and we hope to have the official dates locked down in the next few weeks. Signing up for our email newsletter is a great way to stay in the loop for event announcements.
Presentations from this Brands-Only Summit will be available soon.
We'll be posting all the videos and slides from the conference in the next few weeks. Until then, this Storify collection of tweets from the event is a great place to start, as is our live blog posts from throughout the conference.
Here's a glimpse of the Brands-Only Summit experience through some of our favorite tweets:
It was an amazing experience — so amazing that people had amazing ways of describing it:
Going to #brandsonly is like visiting your Italian grandmother who just keeps giving you love, advice and more to eat!
— Angie Makkyla (@amakk) December 12, 2013
I think my favorite thing about @SocialMediaOrg in-person meetings is I'm reminded my team and I aren't ever alone. It matters. #brandsonly
— Natanya Anderson (@NatanyaP) December 10, 2013
Congrats to the @SocialMediaOrg team. Over 160 brands attending #BrandsOnly at the happiest place on earth.
— Chad Parizman (@CParizman) December 10, 2013
@nicadler Disney World. @SocialMediaOrg is not a conference company, but absolutely dominates their conferences.
— Ryan Amirault (@RyanAmirault) December 11, 2013
It all started with a pre-conference focused on measuring social media:
New metrics of the social era:
1 Net equivalent value (NEV)
2 Comparative incentive value (CIV)
@jkrohrs #brandsOnly via @mich8elwu
— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) December 9, 2013
Social media is a driver of awareness, not sales. Use it for what it is. And measure impact on awareness. #brandsonly
— Ryan Squire (@RyanSquire) December 9, 2013
The plural of anecdote does not equal data..love that quote from Laura Brooks at @satmetrix #BrandsOnly
— Jessica Williams (@MediaMetricsGal) December 9, 2013
The heart drives the head. Have your advocates be the salesforce for your brand – @motivequest's David Rabjohns #BrandsOnly
— Melissa Mackey (@MACK_ATTACK) December 9, 2013
A "takable" brand is one that understands the value of differentiation, visibility and esteem both online and off #BrandsOnly
— Allie Arends (@aearends) December 9, 2013
Sparkscore the new net promoter score. Sparkscore helps build loyalty and deep customer relationships. #brandsonly
— Jessica Malcolm (@Lilmissmalcolm) December 9, 2013
Social media metrics are not about buzz, sentiment or influencers…it's a relationship with the brand. #brandsonly
— Nikki Newman (@newmanikki) December 9, 2013
Then we kicked off Classes and Case Studies Day with 12 How-To Classes:
Wishing I could clone myself at Day 2 for #brandsonly conference. So many great speakers to choose from!
— Michelle Slater (@Michelle_Slater) December 10, 2013
Social media is usually first in an organization to learn about a crisis, but PR should lead the messaging/response, via @DebCM. #brandsonly
— Tom Buchheim (@tombuchheim) December 10, 2013
Southwest Air has a culture team and all emps are graded on their culture — translates easily into social media @ChristiMcNeill #brandsonly
— Craige Moore (@craige) December 10, 2013
@smaxson says your core social team should be as senior as possible to set the strategy, "they understand the business" #brandsonly
— Tricia Higgins (@thi88ins) December 10, 2013
@keithmcarthur talks about "from listening to intelligence" #brandsonly topic close to my heart pic.twitter.com/A8VZSoFNZP
— Munish Gupta (@GuptaMun) December 10, 2013
What to measure in customer service, social. @sonnygill #brandsonly pic.twitter.com/bdLbxcoiRa
— Joe Schaeffer (@dubelclique) December 10, 2013
Sales = long-tail game. Know where your social presence fits into the purchase path. Inspiration drives sales –@RyanGDickerson #BrandsOnly
— Melissa Mackey (@MACK_ATTACK) December 10, 2013
Three brilliant authors took the stage:
.@mitchjoel: 25% of branded apps get downloaded, used once + never used again. #brandsonly pic.twitter.com/Ap6olsgPCY
— Amy Greber (@amyswrite) December 10, 2013
@robbinphillips shares how reframing convo can trigger emotional brand connection & community it serves. #brandsonly pic.twitter.com/yy8IdqiNqj
— jessica georgopoulos (@jessica_georgo) December 10, 2013
"Integrity is not elastic." @DonPeppers great way to put it! #brandsonly #authordiscussion
— Liz M (@lizmcauley) December 10, 2013
Tyra Banks gave a keynote on the intersection of social media, traditional media, and product marketing:
From @tyrabanks: "Define your brands priorities, bucket them and promote them in different, creative ways across platforms" #brandsonly
— Lainey at McDonald's (@Lainey_McD) December 10, 2013
Clear content strategy & channel charters helps @tyrabanks drive core message to girls to 'screw perfection' with lots of humor #brandsonly
— Sherri Maxson (@smaxson) December 10, 2013
Great honesty and fun from @TyraBanks today in Orlando at the #BrandsOnly Social Media Summit. pic.twitter.com/1NNKvb6gpW
— Dan Phelps (@2DanPhelps) December 10, 2013
Getting 2 biz during my keynote @ @SocialMediaOrg #BrandsOnly! RMR this isn't the 1960s..no 1 wants a perfect brand! pic.twitter.com/cCzlEBWF4F
— Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) December 11, 2013
And we closed out the day with 12 Real-World Case Studies:
w/@TRowePrice's Scrooge Jr. campaign @2DanPhelps leveraged an existing story that didn't need explanation. Effective, efficient. #brandsonly
— Michelle Magoffin (@PeevedMichelle) December 10, 2013
Love this… "Opportunity can knock softly, influence does not always roar" shares @DevonEyer. #brandsonly
— jessica georgopoulos (@jessica_georgo) December 10, 2013
.@thatrobguy: We all live in the world of "nobody cares". it's what customers want. Entice them to speak up. #brandsonly
— Matthew Knell (@MatthewKnell) December 10, 2013
We're creating a world class experience for our customers & need to do the same for our employees. @chriscatania #BrandsOnly #communities
— Alison Munn (@alisonmunn) December 10, 2013
United says if you can't respond to your customers in social, you can't market in those channels. #brandsonly
— Erling Amundson (@XDstrategy) December 10, 2013
Thanks for this @htpotter, I'll be bringing it back to the office for sure. 🙂 #brandsonly pic.twitter.com/IzhXYFRXiH
— Tracy Crane (@tberny) December 10, 2013
.@WholeFoods aims for a 5:1 ratio – 5 from customers to 1 from the brand on Pinterest via @natanyap #brandsonly
— Nick Ayres (@nickjayres) December 10, 2013
With so many smart folks in the room, at times it felt more like a family reunion than a business conference:
Thanks @socialmediaorg and so many smart, passionate participants for great #brandsonly conference!
— Karrie Hawbaker (@karriesue) December 11, 2013
Speaking of #brandsonly so glad to finally meet many folks in the flesh, including @jamieplesser @natanyap @PeevedMichelle and many others
— Nick Ayres (@nickjayres) December 12, 2013
MCO–>EWR. Thanks @SocialMediaOrg for an awesome experience and great reunion. #BrandsOnly
— Melissa Mackey (@MACK_ATTACK) December 12, 2013
Council cross pollination @SarahShehata @agersh #badgeswag #brandsonly pic.twitter.com/tqNF80FlqF
— Melissa Mackey (@MACK_ATTACK) December 10, 2013
Goodbye for now Orlando. What a great 3 days. I'm leaving with new insights, tools, friends and no tan (oh well). #brandsonly
— Lisa Scotti (@lmscotti) December 12, 2013
To the @SocialMediaOrg crew, thank you for another outstanding event. Enjoyed meeting so many smart people. #brandsonly
— Bryan Vincent (@bvincent) December 11, 2013
"This is the huggiest group I've ever seen." @SocialMediaOrg CEO // Aww. #brandsonly
— Amy Greber (@amyswrite) December 10, 2013
Thanks to @SocialMediaOrg and the amazingly smart folks I met for an awesome #brandsonly conf! Back to the cold I go!
— Laura Krawisz (@lkrawisz) December 12, 2013
We had a chocolate emergency, but we got through it:
Finally getting turndown chocolates thanks to @SocialMediaOrg! The national nightmare is over. #toocute #brandsonly pic.twitter.com/gaZkHOMwfK
— Emily FredrixGoodman (@emfred) December 11, 2013
Well played, @WaltDisneyWorld #grandfloridian! Big chunk of chocolate found me at #brandsonly after turndown woes! pic.twitter.com/VgTT186R88
— Emily FredrixGoodman (@emfred) December 11, 2013
We took a few breaks from all the learning to have a little fun:
Muriel from @kohler beat me at giant jenga! #brandsonly pic.twitter.com/6upEgjr9WJ
— YuleKate BurningLog (@kateburning) December 10, 2013
Giant connect four at #brandsonly summit… pic.twitter.com/UIogZpIFza
— Jessica Williams (@MediaMetricsGal) December 10, 2013
Live music during the breaks at #brandsonly. Love it. pic.twitter.com/GxlIxnJtj9
— Michelle Magoffin (@PeevedMichelle) December 10, 2013
We all ate — a lot:
@SocialMediaOrg info overload but food overload. Crazy spreads and I work for a food co. #brandsonly #sofull pic.twitter.com/SiJd3i7vvs
— Renee Carver (@RRCarver) December 9, 2013
.@thatrobguy approves of the snack spread at #brandsonly (I think the lady behind him does too) pic.twitter.com/OrXZD0Xr2Z
— Lindsay Listanski (@LListanski) December 9, 2013
Ice cream for breakfast? You're too kind @SocialMediaOrg #brandsonly pic.twitter.com/lUocyAAfrO
— Lindsay Listanski (@LListanski) December 9, 2013
Finally home from the amazing #brandsonly summit. Just realized no one will be force-feeding me magical treats at regular intervals tomorrow
— Rebekah Winkler (@bogwink) December 12, 2013
We left exhausted, stuffed, and looking forward to the next Brands-Only Summit:
My head is bursting with ideas after #brandsonly and my stomach is saying 'please don't eat for a week.' Great summit, great people & ideas!
— Emily FredrixGoodman (@emfred) December 11, 2013
Great end to an awesome week at @SocialMediaOrg / #brandsonly. Learned from some insanely smart people.
— Sonny Gill (@sonnygill) December 11, 2013
So sad to have the #brandsonly sunmmit end, but a great time with so many tremendous brands. And did I mention the great @DisneyMeeting food
— Lora O'Riordan (@Lorabear) December 11, 2013
Had a great few days at #brandsonly summit. Best @socialmediaorg conference yet!
— keithmcarthur (@keithmcarthur) December 11, 2013
Thanks to everyone part of #brandsonly for the great insights, new friends and abundance of food! Sad to have the three days come to an end!
— Jessica (@JessicaDinon) December 11, 2013
Farewell my #brandsonly family. Sorry to leave the reunion. – Uncle Wardo
— Ward Tongen (Wardo) (@wtongen) December 11, 2013
Brain.Full. #brandsonly #greatweek
— Robyn Homler (@robyn42) December 11, 2013
We're already planning the next Brands-Only Summit — and we hope to see you there. Sign up for our email newsletter for updates on our events and to learn what big brands in social media are up to each week.