ad:tech New York Closes: Despite Economy, Optimism Reigns

While it’s said attendance was down slightly from past conferences, the New York ad:tech conference was, by all counts, alive and well despite 24/7 news reports of doom and gloom. It’s true the economy is not doing too well right now nor is it expected to improve over the course of the next year. But, thankfully, the online and interactive market space is one of the few bright spots amongst the graying economic skyline.

In his keynote address Tuesday morning eMarketer Co-Founder and CEO Geoff Ramsey said he expects to see a 14.5 percent growth rate in U.S. online ad spending in 2009, not bad for an economy that’s supposed to be tanking. Many other sources have proclaimed such health as well for the space which bodes well for those of us making our living in online marketing.

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Idea For Next Year’s ad:tech NY

How about setting up “laptop zones” in the main presentation rooms?

There’s a sizable contingent of people using laptops in sessions, so why not take, say, a quarter of the room and run power strips along the floor so everyone can plug in? Added benefit: All the keyboard-tappers are kept in one area, so won’t be as annoying to someone else who doesn’t want to hear it.

I’m just sayin’ ...

... if I hear the word “ecosystem” one more time, I’m gonna throw up.

ad:tech New York Is Going to be A Ball

Yes. Literally. A ball. That is according to Marketing 2.0 which sent out big yellow Have A Ball balls to attendees and/or press. It’s got their booth number, 919, on it of course. So…come to New York and have a ball at ad:tech. If enough people bring their balls (no, not those balls, sicko), we could all convert the very cramped Hilton exhibit hall into an all out volleyball match between booths. The booth that wins gets…I don’t know…a giant pair of yellow balls to hang from their…oh we’re just going to stop right there.

Seriously. have a ball.

Wine Library TV’s Gary Vaynerchuk to Speak During ad:tech New York

On Wednesday, November 5 at 6:30P, Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV fame will give a “motivational speech” at The Volstead on 125 East 54th Street which is just four blocks from the Hilton where ad:tech is held. I’ve heard Gary speak two times and, believe me, it’s definitely motivational. But not in that cheesy, self-help sort of way. Gary gets right the fuck to it. Yes, he will swear but it will be the most meaningful use of the word you’ve heard in a while.

Gary is one motivated dude. His career began when he was a kid and launched a lemonade stand business. And a business it was, not just some random, end of the driveway thing. He made money. Lots of money and he’ll probably tell you that story when he speaks at the event, organized by Mashable.

RSVP on Facebook.

Lost is a Great TV Show But Not A Good State of Mind

Ted McConnell, Paul Woolmington, Sean Finnegan, Rob Masters, Max Ruxin. These are just a few of the people you will hear from during ad:tech New York taking place the first week in November. Featuring a gathering of industry leaders representing billions of dollars in digital ad spending, ad:tech New York offers chance to find answers in a world full of questions brought on by a media landscape seachange that has caused many people to throw their arms up and scream, “WTF?!?”

So if you’re feeling a little bit lost these days, you are not alone. If you want to feel a little less lost, come to ad:tech and learn from the experts. Just don’t go into the exhibit hall. You might never come out of that labyrinth. Kidding. By all means v visit the vendors in the exhibit hall. They are a wonderful source of knowledge as well.

Ad Spend Might Be Down…But Not So Much In the Online Space

The latest promotional email from ad:tech concerning the upcoming New York conferences reads, “The first quarterly Epsilon CMO Survey reveals that nearly two-thirds of CMOs said their interactive/digital marketing budgets have increased in the past year. This spells good news for media, marketing and technology companies trafficking in the measurable medium of the web; where even Internet ‘television’ is beginning to enjoy the binary benefits of metrics and accountability. Ensure you’re up to date on how digital is affecting all media.”

While there may be a sense of impending doom regarding overall marketing budget spend levels, multiple studies have indicated online ad spend remains a bright spot. This is, of course, good news for anyone in the space. At the New York conference, that bright spot and the increasingly multi-platform nature of he medium will b discussed during Power Panel: Media and Entertainment - Programming, Distribution and Advertising in a Multi-Platform World. Moderating the panels will be Advanced Media Ventures Managing Director Shelly Palmer. Panelists will include P&G Interactive Innovations Director Ted McConnell, Sony Pictures EVP Michael Arrieta, Time.com GM John Canfarella and Hulu Advertising SVP Jean-Paul Colaco.

Other planned power panels will cover the role of advertising exchanges and whether or not they are bottom feeders or super efficient methods of buying media, how digital is transforming the media economy and online video advertising which is predicted to become a $7.5 billion market by 2012.

As they say, Register Now!

ad:tech New York Registration is Open. Make Your Plans Now

Yes, it’s that time again. It seems the Chicago ad:tech conference just ended but the New York Conference is already upon us. Several keynote speakers have been announced including CNN President Jonathan Klein and Ogilvy & Mather Chairman & CEO Shelly Lazarus.

Early Bird registration is open and that means discounted rates for those who act before October 3. Use the code BRNYZ9 to get the discount. For those planning of getting an Exhibit Hall pass, which includes access to the keynotes, it’s free until October 3. If you’re planning on going, now’s the time to make your plans.