A Viral Concept

• Podcamp began in Boston last September, 2006. Since then it has proliferated to nineteen different events in over five countries, eleven states, and one virtual world in Second Life. To date, approximately fourteen PodCamps are scheduled to happen in the U.S. and in many parts of the world. All this in under one year!
• Combined web traffice for all of these sites is in the hundreds of thousands, unique hit-wise, as the nature of the conference is that people sign up themselves to attend and to lead a session. Repeat web traffic is part of the process.
• The unique branding of PodCamp stresses that messages cannot be “pitchy,” and participants understand that learning is focused on value-added messages versus ads. The community values transparency and appreciated the open environment of networking PodCamp conferences provide.

PodCamp AZ Adds Value

• Our intention is to add value to the new and social media community in Arizona and the southwest of the U.S. by allowing participants and session presenters communicate and learn not only at our one-day event, but also in our online community at: www.podcampaz.org. By bringing together a variety of backgrounds, skills, and knowledge, PodCamp AZ will strengthen the community of leaders and learners in new and emerging technologies.

PodCamp AZ Vision

• Arizona has been consistently noted as having one of the most favorable business climates in the nation to start or invest in a business opportunity. Arizona is the second fastest growing state in the nation, with a projected population of 6.1 million by 2010. For the third year in a row the Metro Phoenix area has been named the No. 1 “entrepreneurial hot spot” in the nation by the research firm Cognetics Inc. Having great universities, well educated high-school graduates, a good pro-business climate, and offering a terrific place to live, Arizona truly is an ideal environment for new and social media to proliferate.
• We believe our unique PodCamp location in the heart of Arizona makes it especially worthwhile to sponsor because of who PodCamp is attracting. Pioneers in the Valley’s new media enterprises, along with educators, professionals in non-profit groups, public relations and marketing, and more intend to explore Internet tools at PodCamp and beyond this day.