With only a couple days left till AdMonsters Publisher Forum descends on the Big Easy, we can already smell the gumbo and beignets. Our eager anticipation to consume copious amounts of heavenly food is only outweighed by our teeming excitement over all the engaging and top-notch content in store for our first Publisher Forum of the year. From unpacking a non-textual future for the Web to discussing mobile’s continued impact on publishers and its move towards preeminence, our keynotes at New Orleans will untangle the wires of our fast-evolving industry, helping you break through the noise as you and your pub dive into 2014.
Newly crowned Senior Vice President for Sales at Hulu and New Orleans keynote Peter Naylor will examine how platforms like Tumblr and Pinterest may be driving a shift towards a visually driven Web, and why revenue ops and ad ops players will be key to digital ad success as the way we communicate on the Web moves away from text. Jay Lauf, publisher at Atlantic Media’s mobile-driven Quartz, will reveal the site’s monetization approaches as a mobile-first publisher during his Tuesday morning keynote. And, New Orleans’ own Robbie Vitrano will add a bit of hometown flavor with his keynote on how the spirit of entrepreneurship can help pubs gear up for the next generation of digital media.
Not joining us in New Orleans? Don’t fret! We’ll keep you updated right here on AdMonsters.com with continued coverage throughout Publisher Forum. If you are joining us, here’s what else is in store:
Expect a packed house – there’ll be over 100 of your industry peers in New Orleans, so bring that $1 millon smile and a lot of business cards. And, for all of you East Coasters and Midwesterners, expect a much-needed respite from the freezing temperatures and soggy slush; but, as someone who grew up on the Gulf Coast, trust me, you’ll want to pack some rain-friendly items for those sudden Southern storms (and, according to Weather.com, it may get a little wet).
Prepare your taste buds because we have a special treat in store. Tuesday evening, you’ll be dining in a restaurant that literally once stood atop the Eiffel Tower. Bit by bit, the restaurant was moved by boat to New Orleans from Paris and, in perfect Lego fashion, rebuilt piece by piece for the 1984 Louisiana World’s Fair. Oh, and the Eiffel Society’s food and drinks are the talk of the town – but, it is New Orleans after all.
We’re all about a good adventure; and, we have a fantastic docket of off-site activities to get you in the Crescent City spirit. Activities include a New Orleans Bike Tour of the tomb of the unknown, St. Louis Cemetery #1 and much more. Maybe ,you’d prefer an Airboat Adventure at high speeds on the bayou? Or perhaps a Spirits and Spirits Tour is more your speed? You’ll explore the grim and ghastly deeds of the old French Quarter and learn how to make Sazarac and Pimm’s Cup cocktails. There’s also a community give-back option where you can provide volunteer labor to those still without housing after Hurricane Katrina via the St. Bernard Project.
To gain the most out of Publisher Forum, download the official Publisher Forum New Orleans mobile app now – introduce yourself to potential leads, network with fellow Monsters and keep track of the agenda with a simple touch. And, there’s no need to wait till you touch down, join the community now and say hello to some of your fellow PubForum participants.
One last key tip to being a PubForum champion: enjoy yourself, have tons of fun; but, we will be in New Orleans, a beautiful bastion of action and excitement – so just take your time with the hurricanes (they are very tasty) and you’ll make it to the morning sessions. As for the beignets, it’s probably best to just give in to the temptation.