Dates Set For Convergence 2011

The Radio Ink Convergence conference will be held May 18-19, 2011, at Microsoft's Silicon Valley Campus. Watch this site for agenda and registration information.

Thank you for making Convergence 2010 a success!

Pictures From Convergence, Day One

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer



Pictures From Convergence, Day Two

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

<font size=4>Kawasaki Kicks Off Convergence</font>

Kawasaki Kicks Off Convergence

Entrepreneur, author, and social media expert Guy Kawasaki opened up Radio Ink's Convergence 2010 Thursday with a talk on all things Twitter. He pointed out that Twitter "is very good for monitoring the sentiment, the communication, the overall feelings about any brand," and then went into detail on how to use Twitter from the other side, to communicate and build relationships.

Convergence: Social Changes Media; The Competitive Landscape

Day one of Radio Ink's Convergence 2010 offered a varied lineup of panels and speakers, including refine+focus CEO Zach Braiker leading a panel on "How Social Has Changed Media" and Tribune's Rockie Thomas moderating "The Competitive Landscape And The Convergence Of Your Digital Assets."

<font size=4>Ramsey: 'There's No Such Thing As Radio'</font>

Ramsey: 'There's No Such Thing As Radio'

Futurist and Hear 2.0 blogger Mark Ramsey spoke at Radio Ink's Convergence Thursday, and he started off by saying, "There's no such thing as radio anymore." He said, "Stop thinking of yourself as what you think you are, to get to the next level."

Convergence: Why Mobile, Why Now

The first day of Radio Ink's Convergence 2010 offered the "Why Mobile Why Now" panel, moderated by Vibes Media's Steve Levy, and wound up with the Jeff Haley-led "Giving Advertiser the Digital Products They Want."

<font size=4>Eisenberg: 'Clicking The Ruby Slippers'</font>

Eisenberg: 'Clicking The Ruby Slippers'

Jeffrey Eisenberg was the second keynoter of the day at Convergence 2010 Thursday, talking about "Clicking the Ruby Slippers: Why Business Can't Ignore Social Media." He covered changes in advertising and marketing driven by social media, saying "In business, how transparent we are isn't our choice."

Convergence Day Two: Looking Ahead

In the opening session of Radio Ink's Convergence 2010, day two, McVay New Media President Daniel Anstandig first gave his "Looking Forward" presentation, offering a fast rundown of key trends to watch in digital. That was followed by a discussion with RCS's Philippe Generali and Grooveshark's Josh Bonnain on the evolving music consumer.

<font size=4>Convergence: Borrell Focuses On Local</font>

Convergence: Borrell Focuses On Local

At Radio Ink's Convergence conference Friday, Borrell Associates CEO Gordon Borrell took a detailed look at local online revenue, and the data that's available now. He said, "Follow the trend line on where advertisers are beginning to shift their dollars. Those dollars are easy to get." Borrell believes 30 percent of local online ad spending is within radio's reach.

<font size=4>Convergence: 'Phony Is Out. Real Is In'</font>

Convergence: 'Phony Is Out. Real Is In'

Promote A Book founder Michael Drew gave an exhilarating presentation at Radio Ink's Convergence Friday, explaining in his "Pendulum" talk, with to-the-point examples, how societal attitudes range through long cycles, and how to respond. He talked about the marketing approaches that will appeal now, in the current cycle: "In a civic cycle, if it's not real, raw, and relevant, you shouldn't do it."

Convergence: Found Money; Good Ideas

Presslaff Interactive Revenues President Ruth Presslaff moderated the "Found Money" panel Friday at Radio Ink's Convergence 2010 conference, talking about ideas for online revenue that can be put in place right away. Later, FlyCast chief Dave Kennedy led "Experiments Gone Right," with real digital revenue success stories.

<font size=4>Convergence: State Of The Industry</font>

Convergence: State Of The Industry

Accuradio CEO and Radio And Internet Newsletter Publishers Kurt Hanson did double duty at Radio Ink's Convergence Friday, with his State of the Industry talk and, later, moderating a panel on the state of online audio. Hanson said he sees radio on the brink of a "fourth Golden Age."

New Brand Platforms, And Sites Magnified

Triton Digital Media VP/Strategy Jim Kerr moderated the panel on "Building New Brand Platforms From Existing Assets" at Radio Ink's Convergence 2010 conference on Friday, talking about how radio can "embrace brand leverage" online. In the day's final panel, MediaBridge One's Charles Andrew Whatley led the conversation on "Sites Magnified."

<font size=4>Curley: 'Find Your Niche, And Own It'</font>

Curley: 'Find Your Niche, And Own It'

Rob Curley, senior editor of digital for the Greenspun Media Group and the Las Vegas Sun, gave the closing talk at Radio Ink's Convergence 2010, saying what drives traffic online is "content that people are passionate about." And he demonstrated that passion-inspiring content with examples from the vast, locally dedicated Sun website and the even more focused site for its sister alternative publication Las Vegas Weekly, and gave some info on an exciting new "hyperlocal" initiative.