First-time attendee guide: Welcome to GSMCON2022

Welcome, first-time attendees, to your first Government Social Media Conference! We’re so glad you decided to join Team GSM either online or in person in Dallas, Texas this March, and we can’t wait to introduce you to this experience.

The hardest part is already over — you made the commitment to invest in not only your career, but also yourself. After our three days together on March 29-31, you’ll walk away — or log off — with the right information to elevate your role, confidently communicate and become the best government social media professional.

Didn’t register yet? Prices increase after regular registration ends at 11:59 p.m. PT this Friday, February 25! Get your ticket now to join hundreds of your peers at GSMCON2022.

Before we meet either online or in Dallas for your first-ever GSMCON, here are some tips & advice to help you have the most successful conference experience:

Find your socialgov support system

Whether you know many of the other attendees, you’ve geeked out over your favorite accounts from afar or you are just starting out in this profession, GSMCON is the best place to find your socialgov support system.

Make sure to attend the Welcome Reception from 7 - 9 p.m., Monday, March 28 to meet your peers in a fun atmosphere. Sponsors, speakers and network reps usually attend, too, and don’t forget to say “hi” to all of us at Team GSM!

During the official conference schedule, meet each other during sessions and at special activities like the Social Media Policy Reboot. For lunch, grab a seat (and some food!) and listen to a panel on Elevating the Social Media Profession on Tuesday and a fireside chat with legal expert Mark Weaver on Wednesday. Mark your calendars now to join in on the Golden Post Awards ceremony 3:30 - 5 p.m. CT on Wednesday to celebrate your fellow peers and hear the winners for Best Facebook Presence, Best Podcast and more.

Start off your Tuesday night right by exploring local eateries with fellow attendees during the Restaurant Romp. Right after conference hours, you can meet up at various restaurants to network — all while grabbing grub together. More details will be available closer to the conference.

After sessions end, the rest of the time is yours to explore! Use the official hashtag, #GSMCON2022, to find out where your fellow attendees are going. If you’re someone who finds coming to conferences challenging as an introvert or ambivert, read your fellow peer’s guide on navigating GSMCON2022 as an introvert for some helpful advice.

How to be everywhere

Multiple concurrent breakout sessions happen at the same time, and odds are, you’ll want to go to many of them at once. Don’t add stress by trying to jump to different rooms! Instead, focus on your most-wanted sessions and use this workaround: the Virtual Pass.

A couple of weeks after the conference ends, we’ll send you access to most session recordings to view on-demand for 90 days. This way, you can view most sessions and any available worksheets and slide decks from the speakers at your convenience.

For sessions like keynotes and other general session panels, you won’t have to worry about missing a thing — each of these sessions have their own dedicated times where everyone will meet at the same place, at the same time.

Personalize your experience

Whether you’re new to the field and are looking for a government social media crash course, a hands-on smartphone video lab or a breakdown of how the First Amendment applies to your social media, you can sharpen your skills by signing up for an add-on, pre-conference workshop. Each workshop is taught by industry experts who will provide you with best practices and practical tips to build your strategy and technique.

All workshops are held on Monday, March 28, before the conference officially starts. How to register? Purchase workshops for $75 each when you save your spot for GSMCON2022, or if you already registered, please reach out to us, let us know which ones you’d like to attend, and we’ll send you a special link to register.

Don’t forget to bring… 

Besides bringing your laptop or notebook for note-taking, here are some additional items attendees like to bring: 

• Your uniform; please feel free to represent your agency during the conference
• Your agency’s challenge coin; many attendees trade with each other every year
• Comfortable shoes, casual or business casual clothing (but feel free to take it up a notch for Monday’s Welcome Reception or the Golden Post Awards ceremony!)
• Business cards to stay connected with your new friends

Start your experience today

Start connecting with your peers now! Getting involved and connecting with your fellow government social media community can be an extremely useful (and fun!) way to solve challenges and celebrate wins together. Here are a few ways you can get helpful advice today before meeting your socialgov support system at GSMCON2022:

• Join the Government Social Media Community Facebook group to chat with thousands of your peers

• Become a part of the free Government Social Media network — only available to full/part-time employees of government or educational institutions

• Our professional association unlocks a support system for government employees handling social media, for only $79/year, where you get access to exclusive member-only content, webinars and more

We’re excited for what will be the most spectacular GSMCON yet, and we’re even more excited YOU will be a part of it! 

It might feel like a lot to keep track of, but Team GSM is here to answer any questions along the way. Make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts so you receive the latest updates, reminders and GSMCON2022 news. During the conference, we’ll also be in touch daily with highlights, after-hours events and more. We’ll see you online or in Dallas!

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Best communicate with the public you serve by becoming a part of the free Government Social Media network — only available to full/part-time employees of government or educational institutions. 

We support the largest network of government social media professionals in the U.S. by guiding government agencies through complex social media issues. Government Social Media helps you successfully communicate with the public you serve, protect your agency and keep public trust while finding your support community.