Every year, our annual summer customer conference, Mozcon, sells out to capacity, and this year is shaping up to be no different. In my opinion this is largely due to the speakers and the format. The content is among the best I see each year because the conference has developed a reputation as a forcing function for "upping one's game" on quality of tactics and presentation delivery.
I'm excited because over the past six years Mozcon has risen from a small training event to become something that influences and inspires me throughout the year. It makes me want to step up my game - in my writing, my presentations, my entrepreneurship and the work I do in the marketing field overall. I've seen it do that for hundreds of others, too, and it's the best reason I can give as to why you should be there.
I'm posting about it tonight because we've just announced the full speaker and presentation lineup:
This exceptional group of folks are those we've seen deliver consistently phenomenal talks at events around the globe and many are the writers who've delivered exceptional content here on the Moz blog and across the web.
It seems almost hard to believe, but in the latter half of 2011, I felt so many of the seeds planted by great Mozcon talks sprouting in the blogosphere and social channels of the SEO/marketing world. From Avinash's presentation on analytics to Bob Rains' stories of moving from black hat to white hat to Wil Reynolds' mining of the social graph for link opportunities and Martin MacDonald's unforgettable look at scalable embeds, the sparks that flew at Mozcon caught fire time and again.
This Friday's the final day to get the early bird price of $699. I hope to see lots of you there!
p.s. FYI for those who didn't catch it, Google whacked a lot of sites over the past 48 hours. I expect we'll have a blog post up soon on the topic, but be sure to check out this good discussion started by Cyrus Shepard on G+.
p.p.s. If you can't make it to Mozcon, there's two other west coast events in June I highly recommend - SMX Advanced in Seattle (also usually a sellout show) and Distilled's first ever Searchlove on the west coast, in Berkley, CA (at which I'm speaking).
Be advised:
If you don't have a really valid excuse to go to MozCon... I'LL SNAP YOUR FACE!
Said that, my adrenaline is already at 100% knowing the awesomeness I'll be hearing (and the great people I'll meet) at MozCon.
Question for Rand: no face off this year?
The country distance is quite a valid excuse, especially when you are doing a job and not your own business! But as my previous practice, I will wait for the videos to come live and I will request my manager to buy them for me :)
Good Luck to SEOmoz for the Mozcon!
Sadly, we couldn't swing it this year with Will's personal schedule, but I'll consider whether I should face off against another challenger... Good suggestion :-)
Yes, Yes, YES Rand!
I've been waiting for the face-off all year!! If Will can't make it then I'll be happy if another worthy challenger steps in.
I know who I would LOVE to see step into Will's spot, but I'm keeping that to myself...hehe
...and Dear Mr Fiorelli,
Let it be known the I have adopted a special new pre-Mozcon skincare routine in preparation for the ritual FACE SNAPPING!
Actually, I'm thinking there should be two special lines at Mozcon "Hugs from Roger" and "Face Snap from Gianluca" :)
Sha
LOL
I'm game if you want another Critchlow to go up against.
I like this idea, Tom. I like it a lot.
Laptops at dawn...... :)
Love it Tom!
I'm so in. Will email Erica + Jen about modifying the schedule.
I'm game.
Cough cough.
Ahem.
Cough.
You could crush me and you know it. It'd be a nice undercard sorta thing.
I'm hearing you there gflorelli1
I'm a MozCon virgin, but figured it's was worth the long (and fairly expensive) trip from the UK... if i can't can't turn this much SEO knowledge and marketing expertise into cash, i'll snap my own face!!
Yay! I can't wait to meet you in person.
Already got my ticket. Those of you worrying about the price - I work for myself, going to conferences comes directly out of my pocket. But I have to tell you - MozCon is the conference to attend if you don't have a big conference budget.
The sessions are incredible and I have honestly tripled my SEO income since attending last year. Rand's right - there are great sessions but the inspiration you get from teaching sessions (as opposed to panels) is 100% worth the cost.
(And no, they didn't pay me to write this)
Yay! See you there :)
Hiring and Training Inbound Makreters - Tom Critchlow
3:15 - 3:00 <<
Thats a long one :D
Typo fail. It lasts to 4pm.
Wait, wouldn't it be 'typing fail'? If it were a typo fail it would be correct!
Would love to make it from NZ, but can't. Will await the video's.
How about some kind of Mozcon worldwide roadshow?
Now that would be epic!
We are planning for some Mozcations later this year. I vote that you lobby for NZ as I want to go and will fight my coworkers to be on that flight. :D
Another vote for NZ! It would be a great Mozcation!
Maybe I haven't been paying attention. What happened to "local"?
Unfortunately, all the speakers we were excited about for local SEO tactics had other committments like family weddings during the same time frame. :(
I'm a newbie to both SEOmoz and MozCon, but I'll be there with 2 others from our marketing team. Can't wait. The agenda is awesome.
Excellent! We look forward to meeting you all. :)
Hey, Rand, you have a funny sentence here:
"It seems almost hard to believe, but in the latter half of 2012, I felt so many of the seeds planted by great Mozcon talks sprouting in the blogosphere and social channels of the SEO/marketing world."
I think you were going for "the latter half of 2011" seeing how the latter half of 2012 has yet to come to pass.
Thought I'd let you know!
Fixed! Thanks for pointing that out.
Jedi powers my friend. Rand and Roger have Jedi powers :o
There's so much more to consider than just the cost - Why Mozcon was the Best Investment I made in 2011
(see you there Mike!)
Sha
Thanks for linking to that! Really enjoyed reading it.
It is very interesting concept ... but the price is debatable ...
I hear and I agree about the distance (but, hey!, I'm travelling from Spain too).
Said that, the price is allined with the standard price for a conference of such high level in the USA, if not even quite less expensive than others like SMX Advanced.
The problem is not the ticket price (and the early bird it's making it even cheaper), but the air fares.
Oh you got that right Gianluca.
It is the travel that inflates the price for me from Australia too - well, that and the ridiculous exchange rate for the Aussie dollar, but I am coming anyway!
Those who read my blog post on the subject a while ago will know what inspired me to make the crazy commitment to be in Seattle this July, and for those who are wondering what number is on the counter, it's ONLY 97 DAYS to Mozcon!!
See you there if you are able to make it and if you aren't I'll do my best to share via Twitter & Google+
Sha
it's ONLY 97 DAYS to Mozcon!!
Commence my panic attack. ;) <3s
I agree, too. The problem is not the ticket rate, which I find rather cheap for that power of speakers and knowledge provided.
If you add the cost of accommodation etc. it's really not less money.
I would vote for some contest! Perhaps you can raffle some tickets for free inclusive journey.
I have never been at Mozcon I will probably be there this year with my french/Canadian English SEO accent :)
Wish I could be there :( Guess I'm going to have to wait for the vids
ahah the same thing here! at least we have the videos ;/
My only complaint on the price is I have to buy 2 tickets, 2 flights and 2 hotel rooms :/
That being said, I cant wait!
Unfortunately can't make it to Seattle this year but hope to make it to Mozcon next year. Have fun everyone!
Another great lineup for this year's MozCon. Good luck SEOmoz
This seems like a must do for anyone that does SEO for a career. I wish I could attend.
I'll be coming from the UK. Can't wait! One question, do you get the DVDs as well as part of the attendance fee? I'd love to be able to review the talks in my own time again after the event! :-)
Looks like a great lineup! I'm hoping I can arrange my schedule to make it!
Gutted I can't make it this year from London, will get the video's and definitely be there next year;-(
If we could get there this time we would but we are still in the process of setting the department up. We will definately be making our presence felt next time round though!
Have fun though and "grrrrr" to all attending!
I have a very unique excuse. I will be, wait for it, a camp counselor in North Carolina when this is going down...
Trust me, I was quite upset when I realized the dates lined up. I will be at SearchLove SF though (might not be MozCon, but it's something), but more importantly, I'll definitely be at MozCon 2013 - far away, I know, but that's just how it works out :(.
Wish I could be there!!! Looks like it's going to be a blast!
Send all the campers on a snipe hunt and don't let them return until they've caught one. That should buy you at least 3 days.
Yes all this looks great, more imprortently... Will this event have cupcakes?
I'm speaking... so uh yea, I'll have to make that happen. :)
I'll meet you at Cupcake Royale for breakfast before the sessions begin ;)
Love the cupcakes idea! I will definitely bring some churros ... or cured ham ... mmmm so many difficult decisions :P
I vote for the vegetarian option. :D
oh but Spanish cured ham is soooo yummy :)
Okay, fellow "vegetarian." ;)
I like to think of myself as a "faux vegetarian". One who eats cured meats when brought from Spain. :)
No promises, but we hope for cupcakes. :D
and maybe COOKIES??!!?!
8D
I want to go to this so badly it's not even funny! But $699 for the conference + $621 for three nights of hotel stay + $500 for the plane ticket = $1820, which equals giving my boss a massive corinary.
Play the ROI game... 1820 $ for all the best practices you're going to learn (and some very very interesting, as the ones speakers tell in the Give Up Session) are a investment you are surely going to recover and put into profit within 6 months from Mozcon.
I agree if it's a bit expensive and too far
Too far & Too expensive... Pass!
Next!
Out of interest, what wouldn't be too expensive? What would you reckon a 3-day conference is worth?
its far and expensive for me living at almost 10-11thousand km away from US, in a country where one USD is equal to 90 of our currency. So the whole cost is multiply by 90 for me. Are u kidding me by saying such ideal things?
Obviously, travel is a very real expense, but just for reference - early bird pricing (based on my own research) for other industry events in the US:
Obviously, I'm biased, and I'm not going to debate relative value (which is highly subjective). I think Pubcon is a great deal, for example, and many people speak highly of SMX Advanced. I just want to make it clear that we're on the low end for a reputable, 3-day event.
Yeah, that's right. My statement of "Too far and too expensive" applies to me only, I dont know why is eveyone taking it so personally here.
When and if I am able to attend any such event, i would be the first one to attend it, but for now, too far and too expensive! :)
To be honest the price is very fair, Most two day confrences around the globe around around $1,500-$3,000 range.
you must bare in mind this confrence also has some of the best speakers around, I mean go to youtube and check out Wil Reynolds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSQ0DZdSDMI&feature=related this guy is an amazing presenter.
The beauty of the Mozcon is that he is only one of many great presenters.
I wish I was going but unfortuantly I will be in Europe, hopefully in 2013 I can make it over =) and I will be traveling from Australia!!
If I had resources, I would surely be the going there, but for now, its too far and too expensive, and, its probably something which people living in US and developed countries don't understand yet.
But the thing is Asad if you want something you have to work hard for it. Work out the expenses, work out the flight cost from your country, accomidation and confrence price and book in advance.
I mean you have to put in the extra hours if you want things, do some free lance work outside normal work hours and get the funding set up a niche site make some revenue and sell it to pay for the confrence, be creative with making money.This isnt an agrument about developed countries vs non developed, any one can achieve their goals if they work towards something.
If you don't want to do the above the next best option is:
1. Go to a local confrence, find out what search confrences are in your local region and attend them.
2. Pay for the dvds and download the confrence.
If I want to attend Mozcon next year I will have to work hard for it, put in the extra hours and get the funding.
Lovely tips james, and I second that, and I am working on all this. believe it or not, I practically work almost 15 hours at least throughout the week, and I am working on all things that you have mentioned, the extra hours, the free lance work, the niche sites, the blogging etc etc.
But everything takes time, For now, for this mozcon of 2012, the issue is that its Too expensive and too far... and there is a need to address this by the SEOMoz officials, but unfortunately, all they are doing is disliking my comments rather than addressing a simple and logical issue.
The simple answer could be "Ok we have an online telecasting", "We will be providing videos of it" etc etc.
Thanks james for taking part in the discussion, I appreciate it a lot. Thumb up!
I am going to break record for having most dislikes in SEOMoz community! :P
Yea, I'm not sure I would be proud of that. :)
A record is a record, people remember the good ones, but dont forget the bad ones either. Memories of hitler are still as fresher as that of Churchill are. One has to keep the heart open to criticism, though its easy to say and hard to do.
And by the way, one thing I am proud now is that because of my comment and so many dislikes, I started a good debate about the pricing and accessibility here, which is a valid issue to debate on because you dont have any alternative solution for those who cant reach or attend.
And guess what, disliking comments isn't a solution, its something that the organizers should have thought and addressed earlier while planning. Being a global community, I think you should takecare of everything and realize this fact that not everyone here can attend the event, and they just feel left out. It has proved to be a weak spot in the planning here, there is no solution for those who cant reach the event.
But Asad, what do you suggest the confrence organisers do? Their local home base is where the confrence is been held. what do you suggest they do set up a confrence in every location around the world to keep every one happy? That would not be feasilby possible, hence they have cofrence video for people who can not make the events.
Every one who is an international SEO faces the same problem of distance to go to good events.
Online real time video conferene is not a bad idea, they can provide a clear link in the post above that you can watch it from here, wont cost them too much i guess.
or they can create a Google hangout like arrangement where possible.
Problem isn't with the solution, there can be tons of solutions for this,mozzers will know them better than me, but the point is that why its so taboo to talk about it and raise this issue?
And if I am talking and mentioning it the fellows are just silently disliking it because they live in US and has enough in pocket to attend this one.
No one is asking for a conference in every point of the world, I am just asking for telecasting the event or doing some other arrangement like that. I consider SEOMoz to be a global community and I expect them to act like one.
If a Pakistani is talking to an Australian on a US based platform, it does make a global community, so they should act like one and the moz team led by jen should tell their US members to respect the demands and issues of the global visitors rather than just disliking the comments, its her ethical duty here.
The point remains the same, Too far and Too expensive! Still not addressed by any SEOMoz official!
Hi Asad,
I definitely understand your points about the cost, especially the problem of the exchange rate. I get paid in US dollars which for some time now have been worth less than the Aussie dollar, so I watch a big chunk of every pay check disappear as it arrives in my account :(
I think the answer is to quickly ask for a Mozcation (a 1 day conference in your country) in 2012. SEOmoz has already held these in some countries outside the US and you can fill in the Mozcation nomination form to nominate a location in your country.
You might want to do it quickly because there is a comment from Erica further down the page that says SEOmoz is thinking of holding some Mozcations this year!!
Do it quick ;)
Sha
Thanks Sha Menz for the valuable comment, I ll surely consider it.
Btw, my name is Asad Wahab or just Asad! :)
And overall the responce, the comunity here is giving(except a few who actually cares to talk about issues), i am quite disappointed at this. Check the comments above and you ll know what I am talking about.
BTW, I am getting a Nominations Closed in the link you ve given. But thanks a lot for it.
Apologies for the typo Asad...I realized and fixed it, but not quick enough! :)
Its Ok Sha Menz :)