Want To Speak At SMX East? Here’s How
For each show, we usually have two different calls for participation.
First, we ask for session ideas. This is the very best way to increase the odds of speaking. Suggest a great session, and if it makes it to the final agenda of a show, there’s an excellent chance you’ll be one of the speakers.
Second, after a show’s agenda is posted, we also do a formal call for speakers. This allows people to indicate particular panels they’d like to speak on.
Session pitches were accepted through June 30
SMX East is a general purpose search marketing event for people of all levels. The pitch should be about 2 to 7 paragraphs long. We don’t need an essay, just a general idea of what the session would be about, along with some specifics about what you might cover speaking as part of that session. You can suggest other potential speakers, but that’s not required.
Also send some background about yourself, your company and the type of work you do. We don’t need a resume nor a lengthy bio. Just a few sentences to describe yourself.
If your session idea is accepted, you’ll get a pass to the entire SMX event. Travel and accommodation are not provided.
What to pitch? Something interesting or unique about search marketing. We especially favor session pitches strong in tactical advice. Also, virtually all sessions at SMX feature 3 or 4 speakers, so keep this in mind when pitching.
What not to pitch? A session about your particular product or service. A session that features only you speaking on a particular topic.h
Agenda posted week of July 20
The SMX agenda will be posted during the week of July 20. If you were accepted to speak as part of the session pitch process, you MIGHT be notified by this time. If not, hang in there until speaking openings are posted.
Speaking pitches accepted August 4 to August 21
f you want to speak on a specific panel, this is the time to make your pitch. Most speakers will get between 12-15 minutes for their presentation, so please keep this in mind. If we have late breaking openings, the form will reopen (and we’ll likely do a blog post about it).
Speaker acceptance notices
We expect to tell everyone who pitched if they were accepted or not by August 28, 2009.
Ready to pitch? Remember, we’re only accepting pitches for proposed sessions at this point, so use the Session Ideas Pitch Form to tell us what you’d like to see at SMX East. If you want to speak but don’t have a session idea to pitch, wait until the speaking pitch form opens on July 6th.