Five Annoying Trends To Avoid During Advertising Week
Press your suit. Shine your loafers. Charge your Twitter machines. Advertising Week is here.
The annual rite of passage for newly funded ad tech startups is a great opportunity to learn, network and get fired up for an exciting year ahead. Since its launch seven years ago, I have grown to love Advertising Week. It’s a week-long orgy of panels, speeches, parties and networking, networking, networking.
Regardless, there are a few annoying trends that have developed. Here’s your guide, from one industry executive to another, of what to avoid.
- The “super excited” executive
Yes, we get it. You like your product. But your excitement isn’t contagious, it’s a bit scary! You’re not the first DSP. You’re not the “leading provider of” fill in the blank. The event isn’t about your product. Assume we don’t really care about your product.
- Over-multi-tasking.
If you take the time to leave the office and learn new things and meet more people, keep your phone in your pocket and your computer in your bag. Speak to people. Introduce yourself. Put yourself out there and good things will happen. Avoid the temptation to sit idly as a new partner or client walks right in front of your drooped head, staring at the Twitter feed on your mobile device of choice.
- Print is Dead
First, it’s not dead. The experience of reading a magazine is an enjoyable one and is not going away any time soon. Second, this has been the top du jour for a few years now. Move on. Choose a topic or two you’re interested in and try to go deep. One of this year’s most important topics will continue to be social media. A large Facebook contingency will be in town, including Facebook’s COO. Here are just a few of the social media related events: http://www.advertisingweek.com/events.php?searchStr=social
- Overextending yourself
Pace yourself. Advertising Week is a marathon. It’s not a sprint. Don’t go too hard during the day as much of the action, activities and networking are at the evening parties. And there are a ton of them. I think of Advertising Week as just another week with a series of events I’ll seek out. Trying to do everything will be counterproductive. And if you have to choose, choose the evening or late-day events.
- Over-syncing of your social profile
We all love social media, but some of it love it a bit TOO much. Don’t be that guy or gal that has 18 different apps synced up to your Twitter or Facebook feed, especially during a week when there’s so much going on. It’s just too much noise. You may love Advertising Week. Your followers, fans, friends and others may not.
Advertising Week has helped further solidify New York as the center of the media and marketing worlds. It’s the one week of the year that the west coasters actually flock in force to New York. Enjoy it. Cherish it. And avoid the mistakes that will ruin it for you and others.
Of course, if you’re interested in what I’m up to, I’ll be speaking at a few events. [Link: http://www.buddymedia.com/blog/buddy-media-at-advertising-week-new-york]
