Another day, another event, another load of griping online. If you’re planning a social media conference in London here’s some common complaints distilled into tips for doing it well.

1. WIFI, wifi, wifi: if people are talking about the Web they’ll probably want to go online (and while you’re at it a power socket or two would also be useful)

2. KNOWLEDGE levels vary: it’s frustrating attending a session where half the room want to talk about realtime social web and the other half are asking “so, Twitter, what exactly is it?” Is there a way you can create different learning tracks at your conference or indicate if sessions are 101

3. COLLATE the online conversation: you can bring it into the room on the day and provide resource which extends beyond the event

4. COSTS should be free or very low. There’s too much good stuff  already happening for free in London these days, charging £300 a ticket is not going to work

5. SPONSORS: Further to the above, don’t try and recoup costs by approaching as many sponsors as possible and cramming in a gazillion exhibitor stands. Fewer, more relevant sponsors will provide greater ROI anyway and ensure sponsors are queuing up for slots at future events

6. GOOD SPEAKERS: should be just that and not just “good brand names” or “good budgets” for conference sponsorship…which leads me to my final point

7. PANEL SESSIONS

These can be either hit or miss and 99% of the time they are just dire. As with good speakers, good panellists are often mistakenly picked from sponsors with smaller budgets than individual speakers.

The topic needs to be engaging and clearly defined with panellists prepared ahead of time and hey, what about generating a little debate? Often panels have everyone sharing the same opinions on the same things, essentially negating a panel in the first place.

The moderator is a key role. They must know the topic (it’s amazing how many don’t) and what are key issues. They should ask clear questions, demand an opinion instead of fence sitting and cut panellists short the minute they start to waffle (tough but essential).

rant, rant, mad women go home

Was pleased to see technokitten AKA Helen Keegan blogging that when it comes to the tech conference circuit women are invisible. I also tentatively griped about this with regards to a BBC media debate. (And appreciate Mike Butcher responded). I too didn’t want to be perceived as Keegan states, like a “bra-burning feminist” but this is all getting a little ridiculous based on the male to female ratio at non-speaking events in our respective industries.

But, hmm, what do you think of this? A site which names and shames tech conferences with “a ridiculously high percentage of male speakers” [More at this post by Dori Smith]

Really wanted to keep away from this one. It’s the age old argument that talking about it perpetuates it, then people start “pandering” to inferior candidates etc., but this was something I’d noticed all by my very self. I think it would be unfair to my peers and colleagues who astound me every day with the wonderful things they have to say, to avoid writing;

I think they are not getting the soap boxes they deserve.