Web 2.0 Expo 2008 Preparation Begins.
Posted on March 3rd, 2008 by Simon ChenIt didn’t seem that long ago that I was with 10,000 of my closest web friends at the 2007 Web 2.0 Expo in San Franciso. Now we’re getting ready to head over again.
Someone was asking me today whether or not I got any value from attending the conferences and gigs I attend. Well, I’ll tell you this.
Last year, at Web 2.0, I sat in a presentation by Avinash Kaushik. I quickly discovered that Avinash is the Analytics Evangelist for Google and probably one of the world’s leading authorities on web analytics. After some research and digging around, I found this to be undeniably true.
Fast forward to today and we can say that we were incredibly lucky to meet Avinash last year. We’ve ended up working on some great stuff together. And I’ve had the privilege of visiting the Googleplex twice since then. He was instrumental in getting us as a company to focus very hard on web analytics.
So, are these conferences worth it? What do you think? Easy decision right? Er, not quite.
I don’t care what anyone says - the heartbeat of the web is on the West Coast of the US. Full stop. Period.
It makes sense then that people who have anything to do with the web - whether they be in the US, Europe, or Asia Pacific, should make as many “friends” and create as many relationships as possible in Silicon Valley.
For me, the Web 2.0 gigs are a good way of tapping into the Zeitgeist. I’m a bit more fortunate this year - because the organisers gave me a Media Pass - I’m not quite sure what I’m supposed to do with it but I’ll figure it out on the plane ride over.
I truly do hope I see more Aussie companies there this year. Attending the event is clearly a worthwhile investment - even if it’s to give you some much needed “thinking time”.
Drop me a line if you’re going. Or deciding to go. We can complain about Bud Light together…
PS. One of the featured speakers is Marc Andreessen - one of the Valleys most articulate and experienced billionaires. Now that’s one guy I intend to shove my digital camera in front of…
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March 18th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
It’s appropriate that the conference has a green banner, because that’s how I feel - green with envy. Looks like a great program and I hope you will be carrying and using your trusty camera and tripod to record good stuff for the rest of us.
Yes, Avinash is a true original, isn’t he? So knowledgeable, so passionate, and so humble in the best way. It was a highlight of the year also for me last year to have the privilege of sitting in on his session at BlogWorld Expo.
This year you’ll have to get someone else to complain with about Bud Light. Right now, I would have to say it’s the 2009 event for me, not next month.