As the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the remarkable journey of running five successful PPC Live events in 2023. As I sit on my couch, watching Family Guy on mute, it's almost surreal to grasp the achievements we've made.
This year has been nothing short of great. We brought together nearly 200 PPC problem-solving experts and had the privilege of hearing insights from 17 brilliant speakers across our five events. Our goal was simple yet powerful: to create a PPC event accessible to everyone eager to learn the intricacies of running effective Paid Search campaigns.
Navigating through the updates of Google Ads and Microsoft Ads, and adapting to changes when beloved features sunsetted, we've maintained affordable ticket prices. Early bird tickets started at £17, only modestly increasing to £20.
A key factor in our success has been the support of our sponsors, and among them, ClickTech stands out prominently. The ClickTech team has been by our side since our July event, choosing a unique position to sponsor us multiple times. It's noteworthy that the events with lower attendance made the most significant impact on ClickTech, as stated by their representative, Ben Marshall:
"The engagement was like nothing we’ve ever seen before."
This partnership has flourished into discussions about long-term sponsorship and an investment deal. Stay tuned for exciting developments in the new year.
Already considering ClickTech as partners, our commitment to a long-term sponsorship deal continues. Despite some fluctuations in attendance between our first and second events, we've experienced steady growth since.
The positive feedback from our audience reaffirms that there is a genuine demand for this unique networking event. Not only have we heard this desire locally, but there's also a clamor for PPC Live in different cities across the country. Responding to this, we're thrilled to announce the expansion of PPC Live to two new cities next year.
Beyond the events, we take immense pride in building a robust audience and community. The blog, newsletter, LinkedIn page, Slack group, and WhatsApp group have all contributed to fostering a community of brilliant problem solvers. The WhatsApp group, in particular, has seen remarkable growth—from nothing in June to over 550 members now.
As we reflect on the successes and challenges of this year, we embrace the journey with gratitude. In 2024, expect more funding to ensure we provide the best PPC events for our community. With the digital marketing landscape constantly evolving, we anticipate more updates in the coming year, especially around cookie depreciation and the importance of first-party data.
Amidst all the changes, one thing remains constant: the need for events like PPC Live. In the midst of uncertainties, following the basics becomes paramount, and we discuss it all at PPC Live, where people are still winning.
Join us in 2024 as we kick off another set of amazing events on February 1st. Thank you for sharing this journey with us so far. We can't wait to see where it will take us next year.