Here, at the Ad Council, staff is busy getting ready for Advertising Week starting October 3^rd. For those of you not familiar, this is the annual gathering for the advertising community that features over 200 different events, panels and discussions that focus on the power of advertising.  Sounds like a lot, right? Well, it is. So, I’d thought I would highlight some events that sound pretty interesting.

Of course, I have to put the Ad Council and Google’s briefing on the top of that list. This year’s panel will discuss how issue-based “product placement” can motivate consumers to think differently about a social issue and spark change. We have top level speakers from the Legacy Foundation, Participant Media, MTV and the agency that brought you the great Google Chrome ads on the It Gets Better project.  (Be sure to RSVP!)

Other events of note include:

October 3^rd:

Moms &The New Zeitgeist: The complex world of the world’s most important audience (9:30 – 10:15 am) – Learn new insights about what to do and what not to do when talking to your most influential consumer.

Local Matters.. More than Ever (1:00 – 1:45pm) – Technology has created more options than ever to reach consumers via local media: TV, print, radio and online. What are major local-market-focused companies, advertisers and agencies doing to reach the fragmented, but more critical than ever local marketplace?

October 4^th:

The Shift – Is Mobile attracting traditional dollars the way digital has not? (11:30 am – 12:15 pm): Senior leaders in the digital space who all share a unique perspective. They built digital from the ground up, and now are seeing their clients and brands succeeding in mobile. Some believe mobile will eclipse online, and be the core digital channel, to those who think mobile has a way to come.

October 5^th:

Get Schooled! (11:30 am – 12:15 pm): Join Chegg – the inside network for college – and take a real look at this powerful, yet elusive demographic. Hear directly from students, what makes them tick as they navigate millions of choices, flirt with new brands and build relationships that lasta lifetime. Benefit from original research and lessons learned as Chegg evolves from the #1 textbook rental company to a social learning platform. 

Tuning Tales Through Technology (2:00 – 2:45 pm): “Storytelling” is the new digital buzz word. And you’ve probably got a great tale to tell — but who can land their story without the right audience, vehicles and engagement? Jenn Creegan, Microsoft’s Head of Brand Advertising, will help untangle the important issues like how to achieve scale, ROI, and how to optimize creative assets across screens. Storytelling just got real.

October 6^th:

How the Internet Killed Mass Market Mediocrity (11:00 – 11:45 am)
There is a new breed of publisher that isn’t adhering to an overarching “editorial voice” or trying to appeal to a mass-market audience – instead, they are offering honest opinions and creating real conversations. These new influencers discuss retaining authenticity, transparency and credibility within their communities while partnering with marketers.

You’ll have to visit the Advertising Week site to learn more and sign up. Hope to see you there!