The WHIR Networking Event in Chicago, IL is one of the numerous networking events spearheaded by WHIR (Web Host Industry Review). This event is the perfect place for  individuals working in the greater Chicago area to meet  fellow industry executives and corporate decision makers, all  within the cozy and relaxed atmosphere of Rockit Bar and Grill. Attendees can do business, make new connections and learn more about the web hosting industry.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their business cards to earn a chance to win prizes from the various participating sponsors of the event. These exciting prizes include game tickets, iPods, a Roku player, and iPads. To date,  there are about 61 companies said to attend (and still counting).

For more information about this event, please refer to the following links:

• RSVP
• Venue
• Hotel – The W Chicago
• Contact WHIR

From their website:

WHIR Events are a chance to do face-to-face business and networking with executives, solution providers and corporate decision makers in a relaxed environment with complimentary drinks and appetizers. Our goal is to provide a local venue for you to do business, make new connections and learn more about those in our exciting industry.

WHIR Events: If you work in or will be visiting Chicago or neighboring cities come out to the WHIRs’ Web hosting networking events and meet like-minded industry executives and corporate decision makers face-to-face in a relaxed environment with complimentary drinks and appetizers. Our goal is to provide a great local venue, to do business, make new connections and learn more about those in the web hosting industry.

• What: HostingCon 2008
• Where: Navy PIer, Chicago
• When: July 28-30, 2008
• Who: Hosting executives, technical managers, sales managers, marketing managers, systems administrators, investors, press representatives

HostingCon 208 has a broad selection of conference sessions and keynote addresses that will guide you in the steps that you need to take your business to the next level. This includes You will be joining other professionals and vendor representatives in fun and exciting events where you could learn much while networking with others. You would also have the chance to get great exhibitor giveaways like an Apple iPod Nano, Apple iPhone 8GB and iPod touch.

The topics are categorized into four major components: Marketing, Growing, Technology and Leaders. There would be key note addresses, mini workshops and luncheons in between. The registration starts at 7:30 in the morning and by the conclusion of the convention, there would be a Navy Pier Rooftop barbecue and fireworks.

• Register
• Attend Home
• Show Schedule
• Conference Program
• Special Events
• Exhibitor Giveaways
• Hotel and Travel

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• What: ad:tech Chicago: Mastering brand performance and effective marketing solutions
• Where: Navy Pier (Festival Hall B, Lobby 2, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL)
• When: August 5 – 6, 2008
• Who: Professionals and amateurs in SEO and SEM.

The ad:tech Chicago conference will be one of the biggest conferences in the world of SEO and SEM. Speakers from world-renowned companies such as Kraft, Google, Digitas, CBS, Yahoo!, ConAgra Foods, Kimberly-Clark, Comscore and others will impart their secrets regarding internet marketing. The two key speakers include Kevin Kells, CPG Industry Director of Google and Clay Shirky, author of the book Here Comes Everybody. Kevin Kells has been helping companies to boost their marketing strategies for them to have more customers and clients. Through the company he is working for (Google), he acts as a bridge between the companies and the consumers for the former to reach the latter wherever the latter may be. His clients include Unilever (Pond’s), Revlon and Diageo (Guinness). Clay Shirky on the other hand, is a writer, consultant and teacher of internet related issues. In his recent book, he tackled on how organizations and the like can benefit from content production and dissemination.

The conference per se will last for 2 days, followed by an exhibit by 20 prominent companies that use internet marketing (mostly companies that are in the communications field). Sessions will include tactical and practical advise from leading marketers and companies, Making Mobile Work: Real World Examples, Sneaky Search Tricks and Driving Innovation: A Practical Guide to Leveraging Emerging Media.

• Registration/pricing
• Conference schedule
• Exhibiting companies
• Sponsors/partners
• Hotel/travel
• Advisory board
• Exhibit or sponsor

• What: SES Chicago
• Where: Chicago Hilton, Chicago, IL
• When: December 8 – 11, 2008
• Who: Anyone into search engine marketing

The Search Engine Strategies Conference and Expo in Chicago, IL is different from all the other SEO conferences and expos since it tackles almost all the aspects of search engine promotions. It is not only limited to the usual SEO and SEM strategies but it also includes mobile marketing. The conference will have strategic development workshops and some multiple session tracks as well as an opportunity to meet other professionals in the field of SEO and SEM. Kevin Ryan is the host of the said conference, making it one of the most exciting conferences to look forward to. His credentials and accomplishments (with clients including Rolex Watch USA, Toyota Motor Sales USA, Panasonic and Hilton hotels among others) will surely make the participants gurus of search engine marketing after the conference and expo.