New Media Europe isn’t just about the great speaker line-up, workshops and speeches! We’re also offering some terrific networking opportunities for you to connect with like-minded people during scheduled breaks, parties and meet-ups.
The conference is coming up soon, so we’d like to introduce you to the interesting individuals who will be joining us in Manchester this September. If you missed the first part, check it out here. Now get to know a couple more of our awesome NMEU attendees…
Martin Huntbach
Martin is an SEO enthusiast and video blogger from Manchester and Blackpool. He helps business owners get more customers from search results! You can tweet him @MartinHuntbach or visit his site.
1. What is your number one new media tool right now and why?
I love Evernote because I’m obsessed with writing things down. I usually misspell everything but I love to make notes.
2. What is your favourite podcast and why?
I like The Fizzle Show because Chase Reeves has me in hysterics. Although I’m listening to more audio books recently.
3. What is your favourite blog and why?
I love Brian Dean’s blog posts at Backlinko. They are so detailed and although he rarely posts, you cling to every single word.
4. Why did you decide to attend New Media Europe 2015?
Because I’ve always wanted to go to a big conference like this and when I found out it was in Manchester, I knew I had to go. Although it was Chris Ducker who asked me if I were going originally when he saw I was from Manchester.
5. Who are you looking forward to meeting the most at #NMEU 2015?
Everyone. I have only heard of half the speakers but I can’t wait to learn about them all before I go. I am also extremely excited to meet the other attendees and make some great friends.
6. Have you got a ninja tip on how to make the most out of a conference?
As this is my first proper conference, I am no expert; but I would say that if I can live by one single rule for the entire weekend, it would be this…
Treat everybody you meet as a “celebrity”; that includes guests, speakers, attendees and organisers—even the hotel staff at the Midland. Ask questions, ask for advice and give advice where possible. Every single person you meet could influence you in some way shape or form, or you could inspire them in some way too, but like I said… I’m no expert on conferences but that’s how I live my life and it seems to work well for me.
7. If someone is intrigued by this post and would like to buy you a drink at one of our networking parties, what would that drink be?
I like Jäger bombs and I’m not ashamed to admit it… okay, maybe a little ashamed 🙂
Patricia McGuire
From Zürich, Switzerland, she owns a recruitment consultancy and a holiday rental business. Get in touch with Patricia through Twitter: @PurpleSelect.
1. What is your number one new media tool right now and why?
Working in the German-speaking areas of Europe, in particular Switzerland, my priority media tools have to be the business networks, XING and LinkedIn. These two platforms, without a doubt, have been and continue to be the most productive media tools for my primary business.
I run a recruitment business and a holiday rental company, and I’m experimenting with SoundCloud and Instagram marketing. I’m at the early stages and the results have already been positive. After encouraging experiences with these platforms, I am looking forward to testing Periscope in order to further engage with my clients.
2. What is your favourite podcast and why?
Being an entrepreneur can often mean that you focus too much on the business and not enough on yourself, so I make it a rule to walk for at least an hour a day, come rain or shine. During this short break, I listen to a number of podcasts for inspiration, ideas and enjoyment. My favourites include:
- Echo der Zeit, a news broadcast popular in German-speaking Switzerland, because I enjoy being up-to-date on local and international news.
- Jon Buscall’s Online Marketing and Communication Podcast, because Jon is a professional whose knowledge and observations have proved helpful to my businesses.
- David Bain’s Digital Marketing Radio, because his clear format allows his informative guests to share practical ideas for business marketing.
- BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs is a no-brainer; it’s the most consistently fascinating program on radio, with an astute host who brings out the best in her guests.
- Finally, I’ve just discovered The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast with Stuart Goldsmith. I’ve found the insights that the professional comedians give into the methodology behind their content creation and performances are transferable to the work I do.
3. What is your favourite blog and why?
I have always found that the time spent reading blogs could be more productively spent doing other things, whether business-related or for pleasure. This is why I enjoy podcasts so much; they offer a means of delivering content that better suits my lifestyle and interests.
4. Why did you decide to attend New Media Europe 2015?
There are marketing events closer to home that I do attend and find valuable for making contacts within the region in which I live and work, but I’m always working in my second language. When I saw New Media Europe, I thought it would be more beneficial to go to an event that was taking place in my mother tongue.
The primary advantage of is the ability to develop relationships with other delegates who may have unique perspectives on digital marketing that I would not have come across in my area. I believe that this conference will spark ideas that will give me an edge over my regional competitors.
5. Who are you looking forward to meeting the most at #NMEU 2015?
I am looking forward to meeting the other attendees. From your podcast, I already know that there are a number of people who have very similar backgrounds and interests to my own.
6. Have you got a ninja tip on how to make the most out of a conference?
My ninja tips for making the most out of the conference:
- Don’t just take note of ideas, but write down concrete actions that you intend to take after the conference. Knowing the actions that you want to take gives you clear direction and is a powerful motivator. Crucially, make sure you’ve designated time in your first week back in the office to achieve these goals.
- The key benefit of any business conference is being in a room with so many like-minded people. Great ideas could come from any conversation: maybe the person sitting next to you at lunch, or the person standing next to you at the bar. Don’t be a wallflower—talk to people!
7. If someone is intrigued by this post and would like to buy you a drink at one of our networking parties, what would that drink be?
Being an expat, there are always certain things I look forward to when I come home, one of them being lashings of proper traditional ginger beer.
See also: Meet the NMEU Attendees (Part 1) & Meet the NMEU Attendees (Part 3)
