Explore Portland: The Awesomeness Conference?

We’re one month to the day away from Explore Portland and boy, have we got two days of awesome in store for the Pacific Northwest. In fact, TODAY was supposed to be the last day for early bird registration, but we’ve added so much awesome to the lineup, I’m extending it until Friday so you can get that last-minute budget approval and get your butt to Portlandia.

Explore Portland is Thursday and Friday, Nov. 15-16 at the Embassy Suites Washington Square in Tigard, just south of Beaverton and a short ride from downtown Portland. (Ticket form below. Nice hotel deal on the main event page as well – The rate expires tomorrow, though, so get it now!)

Not only will Explore Portland feature The Book of Business Awesome (and Unawesome) author Scott Stratten in what we’re calling the “Awesomeness Keynote,” but Jay Baer will continue his exploration of the concept of being a YOUtility he started at Explore Minneapolis and has now formed into his new book project. Michael Brito will challenge us to tie all our strategic pieces together. Tom Webster will dive into fresh research on social media use behavior. And awesome speakers lik Tim Hayden, Nichole Kelly, Tamsen Webster, Zena Weist, Rob Fuggetta, Joe Heinl and Tim Washer will make repeat Explore appearances.

But that’s not all … we added more awesome!

Explore Portland will feature The Battle of the Bullshit as B.J. Mendelson, author of “Social Media is Bullshit,” and I, co-author of, “No Bullshit Social Media,” will lock horns in a bullshit battle royale for our Friday Fireside Chat. (I’ll expand on the cage match idea next week after I get B.J. to agree and purchase some additional insurance. Heh.) He says social media is a waste of time for businesses. I say his assertion is that of an idiot. But we’re going to go toe-to-toe and debate the merits of social (all in lighthearted fun and intelligent discourse, mind you) for all to see and even participate in. I’m even trying to sneak a contract rider in that forces him to join me in wearing wrestling gear for the interview. Heh.

But wait! There’s more!

Back to the serious side of the content aisle, the incomparable Ian Lurie will join us to discuss finding data that persuades. Chuck Hemann from WCG World will walk our audience through listening with a strategic purpose, DJ Waldow and Hunter Boyle will combine forces to dive into the next level of email marketing for most businesses — marketing automation. Malcolm De Leo from NetBase, who might be one of the smartest people I know, will show us how to bring balance to the force by pulling marketing insight before you push marketing messages.

And if that’s not enough, we’ll have a Power Panel Discussion on the takeaways, tools and tips you need to tie strategy, execution and measurement together as a marketer. Not to mention, we’ll have a Wednesday night kickoff party with Social Media Club Portland (more info to come) and our in-event Sponsor Cocktail Reception on Thursday after the sessions are through.

Here’s the full agenda:

And here’s the ticket registration form:

So … Portland, Eugene, Seattle, Bend, Olympia, Tacoma, Walla Walla, Vancouver, Medford, Boise, Spokane … you’re up. Come Explore with us. This will be awesome!