Exploring the Power of Stories with SMW Accra
As one of the world’s leading conference series, Social Media Week has an undying commitment to equipping community members with the tools, insights, and practices for shaping their business in profound ways that positively define the industry.
This year, with the global theme, “STORIES: With Great Influence Comes Great Responsibility,” SMW ACCRA will bring its unique perspective into the power of storytelling in changing how people think and act, and our responsibility to use this influence for the greater good to the discussion table.
We sat down to speak with the organizers of SMW ACCRA about the forthcoming event, what sessions have the most intricate ties to this year’s theme, which partners and brands they’re most looking forward to working with, key questions that will be addressed in their specific SMW edition, and much more.
What do you think will be the most important attendee takeaways from this year’s conference?
Our attendees will walk away with a number of actional insights that they can use to drive their business immediately. More specifically, we’ll be exploring how stories have evolved over the years and the various formats in which stories can be told today on social.
We’ll also look at how brands can shape their narrative to attract the next generation of consumers. Yet another key topic we’ll dig into is the monetization of stories and the opportunities social offers to drive ROI.
How does your overall agenda tie into this year’s global theme?
This year’s agenda is split into three subthemes, each for a day packed with masterclasses, trainings, keynote and panel discussions, fireside conversations, and networking opportunities.
These formats are shaped into category topics presented below:
- The Storytelling Industry and the Business Narrative
- The News Story: How the Media is Using Social Media to Tell the News
- Telling for a Cause
Which partners or brands are you most excited to be working with this year?
We are really looking forward to working with Webster University, Citi TV/FM and Multichoice.
What are some local trends you are seeing in your market?
A very important we’re seeing is that brands are skewing towards creating short forms (e.g. drama, animated features, blogs etc.) for their digital presence. This is not surprising given the information abundance we face today in our industry.
What are some of the key questions that will be addressed during your edition of SMW?
Several underlying we’ll be incorporating into the conversations are how can influencers position themselves when looking to partner with brands. Additionally, we’ll look at how emerging technologies such as artifical intelligence can be woven into the brand narrative. Finally, we’ll take a hard look at news reportage and social media’s role in how it shapes society’s understanding of current events.
Where can potential attendees find news and updates about your conference?
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