The PR Camp Atlanta camp fire

Friday, August 21 I am launching PR Camp Atlanta - a morning of highly-interactive discussions on social media complete with marshmallows and a virtual campfire.  

I want this social media event to be about community building, and I want it to be different from the conferences we normally attend. Inspired by  Product Camp, MobiCamp and Startup Weekend here in Atlanta, I asked myself why not PR Camp?   The “unconference” format avoids many of the conventions of a typical conference.  There will be no panels or PowerPoint demonstrations. Facilitators (camp counselors) will use scenarios based on case studies to guide attendee discussions.

PR Camp Atlanta will explore key issues facing our industry, helping PR and marketing professionals to identify challenges and take advantage of new opportunities.  PR Camp Atlanta will offer a social media immersion experience for PR, marketing and communications professionals at all levels from business, non-profits, government agencies, associations and educational institutions.

Planned topics for group sessions include:

- Get clients and bosses to extend their interest in new media.

- Help senior professionals tap the social media experience of junior colleagues.

- With the blurring of PR and marketing, determine the best ways to measure success.

PR CAMP ATLANTA

Where:  

Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center

250 14th Street, NW 

Atlanta, Georgia 30318 

When:

Friday, August 21

8:00 AM – 9 AM – Continental Breakfast and Registration

9:00 AM – Noon – Sessions

Noon – Wrap Up

Cost:  

$15 (plus $.99 EventBrite fee) before August 1

$20  (plus $.99 EventBrite fee) after August 1

$25 (cash and check only) at the door 

Registration:  Click here to sign up now.  

I hope you can join us for great conversations, a great deal of learning and a lot of fun. Dress is casual.  I want to thank Bill Cutts and GTRI for their generosity in hosting the event.

Please feel free to share your ideas and suggestions and pass on the information to those you think would be interested. I will follow up with updates on the planned agenda in the next few weeks.  You can also follow updates at  @PR_Camp on Twitter or join the PR-Camp group on Linkedin.

We are  looking for moderators, sponsors and volunteers.

Let me get back to you.

I attended Product Camp Atlanta yesterday. Congrats to Jason Brett for putting it together in such a short time.  More than 200 product management folks registered to attend. It was a good kick in the pants for me to move ahead on doing PR-Camp Atlanta.

Jason taking in the moment

Jason asked me to moderate a panel that included Peter Fasano, Lance Weatherby, and Brandy Nagel. Our topic was Product Marketing: Listening to Social Networks. It was one of several sessions. The conversation was lively.  And we covered the waterfront from ROI and intellectual property to the value of listening and tools to do it right.

From my perspective listening is critical in an age when conversations are the defining the brand.  And as everyone knows the best conversationalists are great listeners.

Jason’s motivation for holding ProductCamp in Atlanta was simple. “Atlanta is one of the oldest, largest and most active markets for professional product managers and marketers in the United States. In addition, we have a reinvigorated entrepreneurial community that is driving an increasing number of innovators and businesspersons to start seriously thinking about product strategy and management approaches.”

Brandy surveyed some of the attendees prior to the unconference.  Not surprising Twitter was a growing tool of choice.  And clearly respondents have seen the value of listening to the online community.  The best response came from the question:  How do you avoid information overload?  Answer:  Right now that would be a good thing.  Another question:  How do you separate the good information from the noise? Answer:  Luck

Product managers may not have all the answers when it comes to social media, but at least they have a sense of humor.

Let me get back to you