Social Media Portal (SMP): What is your full job title and role (what do you do there) at Six Degrees?
Ross Hutchings (RH): Marketing manager, but the marketing team at Six Degrees works on a level playing field so we are all responsible for getting the events to market and guaranteeing a high level of attendance.
SMP: Briefly, tell us about Six Degrees, what is it and what does it do?RH: Six Degrees is an event management company specialising in building combined conferences and exhibitions in the social media sphere. Currently we have eight events called the
Social Media Series.
SMP: Why was Six Degrees started?RH: Six Degrees was started when a gap in the event industry for good quality conferences covering social media was noticed by serial entrepreneur Ian Johnson.
SMP: Who are your target audience and why?RH: The target audience for our events are key decision makers both within social media and all the industries and professions which are very rapidly becoming involved in social media. For instance broadcast, public relations, marketing and politics are all heavily reliant on, or are moving into the realm of social media.
SMP: How did you initially attract users to your events, and how do you do it now?RH: The core of our marketing practice has always revolved around building key industry partnerships, whether it is with international publishers creating magazines, or key figures that write their opinions on a blog; we aim to partner with everyone. This puts us in front of the right audience and builds trust with the industry.
SMP: What are the high moments of what you have been doing so far?RH: The Social Networking World Forum London which Six Degrees ran last March was extremely enjoyable to work on. With over 2000 delegates from top social networks, agencies and brands the event went exceedingly well, I?m just looking forward to working on the larger 2010 event.
SMP: Now that you are established, what do you see as your biggest challenges and opportunities?RH: The Six Degrees team has worked hard to get a viable product in front of the market and now that we have established an event in the sector we hope to build all of our events into the ?must attend? series for social media gurus.
SMP: Briefly, tell us about the Social TV Forum; why this type of event and why now?RH:
The Social TV Forum will look at the steps being taken within the broadcast industry to incorporate social media platforms into satellite, cable and ipTV packages. It seems to be the perfect time to launch a conference covering this topic with many big players from broadcast now beginning to experiment with solutions.
SMP: What sort of professionals are going to find it most of interest?RH: Target audiences for the Social TV Forum will be broadcasters, vendors, telecommunications companies and service providers looking to learn about how social media can be integrated into their package.
SMP: What are the next moves for Six Degrees?RH: At Six Degrees we are aiming to build our series of shows into the leading group of events for the social media industry. We will be looking create a high quality event where delegates are in the correct environment to learn, purchase and broker deals.
SMP: What?s the next big step for social media and networks?RH: Social media and social networks are now realising the potential of being integrating within other interactive environments. This looks like the next big step for social media to move forward and stay current with its audience.
SMP: What?s going to be the most interesting aspect regarding social media / technology throughout 2009?RH: I think that many brands are now realising the potential that social media offers. This is evident with the large array of company?s now looking to utilise the capability?s that social media channels can offer.
SMP: How does this fit into plans at Six Degrees?RH: Six Degrees will be building upon its recent success to expand its series of shows and develop its partnership with some of the leading social networks, Brands and agencies for future events.
SMP: Best way to contact you?RH: I?m contactable through the following channels: ross @ sixdegs.com, or via telephone on +44 (0) 117 946 8870