Before Thanksgiving 2022, I was invited by a colleague to visit during lunch of a nationally-recognized online marketing conference. It took place at the Embassy Suites in Dallas Texas near Love Field Airport.

It had several well-known search engine professionals whom I had seen online and even taken their courses/trainings, but whom I had never yet met in person. It was fun to spend time as, despite my being just a visitor, I had the chance to have dinner with them and talk in the hotel lobby after the evening's speakers were finished. Those were the best times to learn as everyone was relaxed and willing to help clarify topics on which they spoke earlier. I also had a chance to ask questions about new opportunities such as the use of new (at the time) web3 platforms like Metablox which incorporated NFTs and virtual real estate. 

The sentiment at the time is that it was too early - but that within a few years, such as around the time of this memory being uploaded, that the technology would start to be used more frequently by actual businesses. The topic of whether web3 platforms will get adopted by mainstream businesses is still is pending, but at least the conference is coming back this year (the 2026 SEO Rockstars conference) to Dallas at the same venue. It is being run by new people, but the new organizers are well known in the industry and have genuine backgrounds in educating people on how to grow their respective online marketing agencies.

The speakers this year are solid, and they have spoken at the conference previously. Unlike other industry conferences, however, I enjoy this one because there are no "sales pitches" and the presentations each year are different due to the evolving nature of the industry, such as the new use of AI LLM platforms by consumers & businesses alike. 

I had really good memories of my time at the last conference in Dallas 3+ years ago as I got to see old friends as well. A lot of good laughs took place in between getting the opportunity to learn a lot from the handful of speakers to whom I listened as a guest that time. I am looking forward to seeing Mike & Gregory this year who are running the show as I have learned a ton about online marketing from both of them going back to 2018-2019. Luckily the VIP day has a lunch at a local well-known BBQ restaurant, so that will make the event that much more enjoyable!