Three days to help you…
- Command the Social Media Mayhem
- Train Your AI Without Losing Your Voice
- Put Metrics in Motion
- Flip the Script on Executive Social
- Make Videos That Don’t Flop
- Troll-Proof Your Feeds
- Fine-Tune Social Listening
- Select Your Channel Lineup
- Outsmart Disinformation and Deepfakes
- Test Boldly Without Getting Burned
- Understand Social-First Audiences
Join us March 9-11, 2026, at Ragan and PR Daily’s Social Media Conference at Walt Disney World’s Swan & Dolphin Resort in Orlando, FL. The professionals running social media accounts are on the front lines of reputation, risk, response and culture, and the terrain keeps changing. Algorithms shift, platforms rise and fall, crises land, leadership panics and audiences fracture into niche groups with their own inside jokes and expectations. Your job is to keep the voice steady, the story sharp and the brand standing.
This is the only event where social media managers, strategists, and comms leads from sectors like healthcare, higher ed, government, finance and consumer brands gather to solve for what’s coming next. You’ll dive into the weird, urgent, rewarding work of social and digital communication in a world that never slows down.
Get equipped to act fast, think long, and stay ahead of change. Sessions cover everything from meme culture, livestreams and video strategy to AI implementation, crisis readiness and employee-centered storytelling that builds trust from the inside out. You’ll gain real-world tools, irreverent wisdom, and connections with people who speak your language and know how hard this work can hit.
Everything You Need to Elevate Your Social Media Game — All in One Event
THE BEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE
- Industry leading speakers vetted and ready to share
- Choose from workshops, sessions, firesides and more
- Get access to all the speaker presentations
- Dig into the post-event bonus content and extra resources for attendees only
- Hundreds of peers in attendance to brainstorm with
- Discover new tools and technology from our industry partners
RECHARGE, RELAX & HAVE FUN
Visit Magic Kingdom Park — Experience classic Disney magic with iconic attractions like Cinderella Castle, Space Mountain, and thrilling parades.
Explore EPCOT — Discover innovative technology, world cultures in the World Showcase, and seasonal festivals happening in March.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom — Go on a safari adventure, explore Pandora – The World of Avatar, and enjoy immersive nature experiences.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios — Dive into the worlds of Star Wars, Toy Story, and Indiana Jones with rides and live shows.
Universal Orlando Resort — Just a short drive away, enjoy The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, thrilling rides, and entertainment.
Disney Springs — Shop, dine, and enjoy live entertainment in this vibrant outdoor marketplace.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex — Explore space history and see real rockets at NASA’s launch headquarters, about 45 minutes from Orlando.
Unwind with Pools and Recreation — Enjoy six tropical-themed pools, a grotto with waterfall and water slide, and a full array of recreation from white-sand beach lounging to paddle boats, water-volleyball, and poolside cabanas.
Disney’s Boardwalk — Stroll along a lively waterfront filled with dining, nightlife and shopping, all within walking distance from the Swan.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
AGENDA
Social teams cannot afford to spread themselves across every new channel without focus. Three platforms — TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn — have emerged as the non-negotiables for brand strategy, each with constant shifts that demand sharp choices. This preconference workshop breaks down the latest features, paid vs. owned tactics and content moves that keep these platforms delivering. You will also hear how Reddit factors into generative AI search and leave with a bonus checklist of the next five platforms to watch.
- TikTok growth: TikTok remains the fastest-growing platform for younger audiences, with new commerce features and constant algorithm updates that shape discovery.
- Instagram versatility: Instagram continues to act as the Swiss Army knife of social, with reels, shops, collabs and notes requiring careful content planning to avoid dilution.
- LinkedIn leadership: LinkedIn has become the most powerful professional community, with algorithm tweaks, thought leadership dynamics and AI-assisted tools fueling reach and reputation.
- Paid vs. owned: Paid and owned strategies must be balanced across all three platforms, with attention to budget allocation, creative testing and ROI proof points.
- Next five: Attendees will receive a checklist of YouTube, Facebook, X, Threads/BlueSky and Pinterest, with notes on their evolving role in brand strategy.
CASE STUDY: See how one brand reorganized its channel strategy to focus on the big three and what they learned about reach, retention and reputation.
HANDS ON: Build a draft platform roadmap for your organization, prioritizing channels, setting criteria for investment and defining guardrails that keep resources focused.
AI now powers many of the feeds your audiences engage with — but too often, social leaders are stuck with inherited, legacy or half-baked strategies that don’t scale or stand up to scrutiny. The result: Fragmented workflows, content that feels generic and a fight to prove real business value. According to Ragan’s Center for AI Strategy (CAIS), most GEO responsibilities default to IT, marketing and SEO teams — leaving communicators and social media managers out of the conversation. This lab, led by a CAIS advisor, shows you how to integrate GEO, social search and AI workflows into a cohesive social strategy — and allows social and comms leaders to guide how brands show up in AI-driven search and discovery. You’ll leave with:
- The AI playbook: Strategies to improve discoverability, boost engagement, and maintain authenticity in a landscape flooded with AI posts.
- AI social strategy audit: Examples of best-in-class social strategy playbooks and how to quickly stress test or improve yours.
- GEO + social search: How to optimize social campaigns for both GEO and platform-native discovery — plus how the two work together.
- Advanced prompting: Frameworks for text, image and video prompts that you can scale across platforms without losing voice.
- Ensuring authenticity: Tactics to ensure AI generated content cuts through feed and AI fatigue — and that earns trust.
- Practical guardrails: Realistic brand safety guidelines that balance speed, compliance and creativity.
CASE STUDY: How one org scaled fun and engaging social content with GenAI while protecting brand voice and reputation.
HANDS ON: At your table, map a quick “AI stress test” of a recent campaign. Would it perform in GEO, surface in social search and still feel authentic to your
Vanity metrics like impressions won't save you in a boardroom with senior leadership. Social pros need to speak the language of revenue, risk and brand trust — and they need to do it with clean dashboards, clear goals and confident strategy. This session takes you step-by-step through social measurement redesign. You’ll map platform goals to business objectives, clean up your dashboards and build a plan to make reporting less reactive, more predictive and easier to defend. We’ll cover:
- From likes to leads: Learn how to move past surface engagement and connect campaigns to conversions, pipeline and customer growth.
- Social storytelling in numbers: See how to translate brand narratives into metrics that leadership understands, from awareness lift to customer acquisition.
- Channel-specific KPIs: Define success differently for TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms, aligning each to the funnel.
- Marketing ROI clarity: Identify the paid, earned and owned metrics that prove where social dollars and creative investments actually drive return.
CASE STUDY: How one brand built a social dashboard that turned campaign data into stories executives could act on.
HANDS ON: Create a mock social media dashboard in-session, mapping social KPIs to campaign goals, stripping out vanity numbers and highlighting metrics that show true business impact.
Join our informal mixer to keep the conversation you started at our workshops going — and help plan the next day’s learning adventure.
Ragan’s opening ceremony will come stuffed with information, including the seven trends every communicator needs to watch now — from platform priorities to creative tools, from audience behavior to brand trust. You’ll leave with a clear snapshot of what matters most in 2026 and a framework to track the changes ahead. Expect to hear about:
- Marrying short and long-form video strategies: How winning brands design ecosystems where clips fuel conversation and longer narratives drive authority.
- Social as search: Why Gen Z is driving social search, and how platforms are boost AI-driven intent signals.
- Niche communities and authenticity: Why user-generated content, creator partnerships and subculture alignment matter more than blanket reach.
- Data fluency and actionability: The surface-level engagement metrics that are giving way to predictive insights that prove business impact.
When a brand faces rumors, negative press or stale campaigns, social media often becomes both the stage for the crisis and the path to recovery. This keynote explores how organizations have stabilized their image through tone realignment, bold cultural plays online and social-first storytelling. You’ll leave with a roadmap for rebuilding trust, reigniting relevance and guiding stakeholders through a public turnaround.
- Social as the stage: How digital storytelling and risk-taking can reset perception during a brand comeback.
- The before and after: What crisis moments look like on social, and how to pivot the narrative.
- The rebound: Ways to measure credibility regained through culture wins and renewed trust.
- Beyond the audience: How recoveries ripple to employees, partners and communities.
Our facilitator will kick off the discussion of this peer-to-peer session designed not just to serve as an ice-breaker but where you’ll brainstorm on real-world topics with your fellow communication professionals at your table.
Take a selfie with Mickey ears, grab a coffee at our refreshment counter, or use this time to connect with new friends.
Search has changed — AI answers, snippets and zero-click summaries now crowd the top while traditional links sink. If your content isn’t built to surface in this new landscape, your story disappears. This session shows how PR and social teams can rethink discoverability for generative engines and still land with human audiences. You’ll walk away with clear tactics to keep your brand visible and credible across feeds, platforms and AI-driven search.
- Press release to result: Craft PR content structured for both journalists and algorithms.
- Search visibility: Optimize language, metadata and cadence to show up across Google, Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity and more.
- Ranking factors: Build authority with expert mentions, fresh content and structured packaging.
- B2B social: Design LinkedIn posts and thought leadership that rank in AI summaries and strengthen credibility.
- Metrics rebooted: Measure impact with AI citation tracking, visibility in summaries and sentiment lift.
While other networks cut back, Hallmark is expanding on screen and in real life. From themed cruises to holiday festivals, the brand turns content into experiences fans can enter, share and take home. Social sits at the center, fueling buzz, ticket sales and long-tail engagement. This case study reveals how the team planned, promoted and translated events into content that traveled far beyond the venue.
- Cross-channel choreography: See how social mapped the fan journey from teaser to ticket to evergreen content.
- Moments that matter: Learn how to design photo-worthy activations that perform across platforms.
- Fan connection: Explore tactics for speaking to passionate communities in ways that feel personal.
- Unlikely alliances: Hear how Hallmark partnered with competitors like the NFL to deliver breakthrough results.
Audiences don’t just want information — they want experiences. This panel shows how brands pair education with entertainment to build trust, strengthen culture and expand reach. From co-creating with experts and creators to blending real-world activations with digital storytelling, you’ll learn why the “tainment” in edutainment is essential for content that sticks.
- Experts + creators: Co-create short formats that simplify complex topics, myth-bust with proof and stay fun without losing credibility.
- Creator bench: Mix large reach with niche voices for trust, using co-posts and duos for authentic amplification.
- B2B, but lively: Bring professional content to life with stories from customers, employees and industry voices.
- Hybrid campaigns: Anchor activations in IRL moments that generate snackable content and scale through toolkits.
- Planned impact: Map key dates, pre-seed assets and measure beyond views with saves, shares and sentiment.
Trolling, pile-ons and weaponized misinformation threaten reputation, derail campaigns, disrupt engagement and drain social teams. This panel brings together brand marketers, safety experts and social managers who have faced these storms firsthand and built strategies that protect both brand equity and the people behind the accounts. You’ll learn how to spot early signals, steer through flare-ups and safeguard campaigns so your social presence keeps working even under fire.
- Prevention protocols: Learn how to monitor signals, identify weak points and set alerts so sparks get contained early.
- Response frameworks: Apply decision trees that clarify when to engage, when to escalate and when silence works best.
- Platform support: See how to navigate escalation channels, lean on trusted contacts and work around algorithm blind spots.
- Team care: Build playbooks that shield staff as deliberately as your brand, with boundaries, rotations and leadership backing.
- Real cases: Hear how brands contained online threats — what worked, what faltered and what you can apply right away.
Your next brand rep might have flawless skin, zero backtalk and no pulse. Synthetic personas — chatbots, voice clones, CGI influencers — are already running customer service flows and starring in creator campaigns. Some audiences embrace them. Others recoil once they realize they’ve been talking to code. Learn what happens when a brand builds, launches and manages its own AI spokesperson. You’ll see what worked, what failed and what the team had to adjust once the bot met the public.
- Building the face: Crafting tone, behavior and guardrails for a digital persona that audiences actually accept.
- Botfluencers in action: Where the brand saw traction, where engagement faltered and how audiences reacted.
- Voice vs. control: What happened when the bot strayed from script — and how the team course-corrected.
- Risk and reward: The legal gray zones, ethical hazards and reputational stakes uncovered in the process.
AI won’t replace human judgment, but it can strip away the busywork. It runs loops, crunches metrics and drafts channel-ready content so your team can focus on decisions that matter. When built into workflows, AI amplifies your brand’s voice instead of flattening it, learning from past performance and scaling impact. We’ll explore the agentic systems already reshaping social: workflows that generate posts, automate testing and trigger optimizations in real time. You’ll learn how to move beyond copy-and-paste prompting into durable systems that save hours while keeping content sharp, authentic and audience-ready.
- Agentic generation: Set up AI to draft platform-specific posts that learn from your top performers.
- Iterative testing: Automate experiments on timing, creative and calls-to-action without adding workload.
- Performance loops: Build workflows where AI tracks results, flags anomalies and recommends next moves.
- Human guardrails: Insert oversight where tone, nuance and brand voice matter most.
- B2B pipelines: Turn white papers, reports and webinars into social-ready content without losing depth.
Most social teams run lean — one full-time pro, a partial partner and endless exec requests, deadlines and breaking news. The result: competing priorities and splintered workflows. Yet lean teams often deliver the strongest results by scaling through smart systems, sharp prioritization and fearless collaboration. This session shows how to turn a small crew into a powerhouse, align leadership without turf wars, and keep content effective against larger competitors.
- Streamline workflows: Use lightweight rituals, tools and coordination tactics to keep campaigns, reactive posts and crisis comms on track.
- Scale without burnout: Apply calendars, templates and repurposing strategies that expand reach while protecting bandwidth.
- Create with precision: Produce short-form video, visuals and branded assets that deliver clarity on limited resources.
- Build loyalty: Shift engagement from shallow clicks to authentic dialogue, UGC and trusted relationships.
Live video does what polished feeds can’t: it proves you’re human in real time. The stakes are higher, the margins thinner and the upside — when it lands — bigger. But strong live strategy takes more than a ring light and good intentions. Learn what it takes to thrive on live across TikTok, Twitch, YouTube and LinkedIn — and how to use live formats internally without making them feel like punishment.
- High stakes, big upside: From unfiltered AMAs to staged reveals, live content demands clarity, charisma and adaptability.
- Go live or go home: Know where audiences actually tune in — and where they scroll past.
- Prepping for chaos: Build format plans, backup protocols and prompts that keep streams human without going off the rails.
- Multistream strategies: Run a single stream across multiple platforms without breaking the experience.
- Internal lives: Use livestreams for town halls and intranet comms that engage rather than clog feeds.
In an era where every tweet, post and story can spark conversation, controversy, or fandom, the people behind the handles are the ultimate brand storytellers. This keynote pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to maintain a brand voice in the wild across trending platforms, evolving social norms and real-time crises. Join top social pros as they share their lived experiences managing global fanbases, navigating algorithmic surprises, and turning everyday interactions into authentic engagement. Come prepared with your questions: This is AMA panel session will open it up to the audience, and everyone will have the chance to ask the humans behind the handles questions about strategy, crisis management, fan engagement or platform experimentation. You’ll walk away with:
- How to humanize at scale: Tips for keeping your brand voice authentic across platforms, campaigns and global audiences.
- Turning moments into momentum: Ways to spot opportunities in real-time trends and fan interactions without losing control.
- Crisis, controversy and comeback: Actionable strategies for when things go sideways — and how to maintain trust while staying agile.
- Platform fluency: Guidance on leveraging TikTok, X, Instagram and emerging channels to strengthen your reach and relevance.
- The unseen labor of love: Insights into the processes, tools and internal alignment that allow social teams to operate like a well-oiled storytelling machine.
One last chance to make a friend! At their individual tables, attendees will compare notes on the day’s top takeaways. Discuss what resonated most, how the lessons apply to your work and where you see opportunities to adjust your social or marketing strategy with your tablemates — and continue the conversation right into the networking reception.
Global entertainment leaders have some of the loudest, most loyal fanbases on earth — and the highest stakes when things go wrong. This fireside chat looks at how major players in film, streaming and experiences build digital playbooks, adapt to a changing media ecosystem and court both the love (and sometimes the ire) of their global audiences. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes insights into what works, what shifts quickly and what risks brands are willing to take for deeper engagement and cultural impact.
You’ll walk away with insights on:
- Fandom fuel: Learn how entertainment brands turn fan passion into social behavior through nostalgia, multi-generational storytelling, spectacle and meme-able moments.
- Risk appetite: Discover how to balance brand safety with playful unpredictability through surprise moments, influencer content and humor.
- Event amplification, IRL to URL: See how openings, launches and activations translate into scroll-stopping content and online buzz.
- What they’re watching: Explore how global brands invest in cross-platform storytelling, streaming-first content and social experimentation to capture attention.
- Payoff playbook: Understand how to deliver cultural impact through steady narrative control and calculated risk-taking that balance long-term resonance with viral relevance.
The crisis clock moves faster than ever. A power outage triggers panic. A rumor snowballs into headlines. A disaster unfolds in real time. In these moments, social isn’t background noise — it’s the first place people turn and the clearest channel for calm. This panel shows how crisis-tested pros use social to spot trouble early, act with authority and earn trust under pressure. They’ll share firsthand lessons on:
- Sentinel scanning: Implement real-time monitoring across platforms, forums and news outlets to catch threats before they spiral.
- Playbook power-up: Define crisis tiers, escalation triggers and messaging templates for quick action.
- Command center cohesion: Build war rooms that align PR, social, legal, HR and customer care.
- Transparent talk: Balance speed, accuracy and empathy in every message.
- Recovery reinforcement: Run post-mortems that measure sentiment recovery, clarifying reach and engagement.
When two major carriers combine, it’s a cultural reckoning, a customer identity shift and a brand comms challenge that plays out on the most public stage possible. For social teams, the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines hasn’t meant “wait and see.” It meant adapting in real time to an audience full of questions, a workforce full of uncertainty and two brand voices that need to converge without alienating loyalists. This case study breaks down how the combined team is navigating one of the biggest aviation mergers in years — online, in public and under pressure.
- Balance two voices: Manage tone, cadence and personality across separate channels while building toward a unified presence that earns trust from both audiences.
- Control the message: Respond to backlash, surface accurate information and maintain composure when narratives spiral faster than approvals.
- Align internally: Coordinate across social, PR, internal comms and leadership to ensure consistency without creating a bottleneck.
- Consolidate with care: Decide which content archives live on, which legacy posts get repurposed, and how to preserve cultural value while building a new identity.
The platforms will keep mutating. Algorithms will evolve in ways no one can fully predict. Audiences will continue fracturing into smaller, louder and more chaotic communities. Social pros must navigate the noise and shape strategy that serves both brand and audience with clarity. This closing conversation brings together leading voices in social, comms and digital strategy for a candid look at where the field is heading. Expect bold, exclusive predictions grounded in experience, hard questions about the risks of AI and automation, and fresh perspectives on how values-driven storytelling, trusted voices and cross-functional leadership will define the next era of digital communication.
- Trend radar: Emerging shifts in technology, policy and audience behavior that will redefine social practice.
- Post-platform strategies: How to build campaigns that hold steady when channels and algorithms churn.
- Culture as compass: Use brand values to guide content decisions and safeguard credibility across shifting trends.
- Leadership alignment: Frame social strategy in business terms that earn buy-in at the highest levels.
One final table talk, one final chance to take a friend (and a memory) back from Disney. Our facilitator will provide a prompt for this conversation-starter that will be sure to keep you talking all the way to the entrance to the parks this afternoon.
Some days your content trends, other days it vanishes. Every platform tilts the table differently, and now AI-powered search adds another layer of volatility. This session breaks down how to stay steady when algorithms shift, with practical tactics for reading signals early, running smart tests and building resilience into your content strategy.
- When the ground shifts: Adapt quickly when features or discovery systems change overnight.
- Pattern hunting: Spot early signs of visibility drops across LinkedIn, Meta or TikTok.
- Testing tactics: Run lightweight experiments to separate signal from noise.
- Mythbusting: Identify real algorithm behaviors versus baseless fears like “shadowbans.”
- What you control: Use timing, structure, clarity and interaction quality to stay visible.
The days of static career tabs and stock photos are over. Candidates now scan social feeds for signs of trust, culture and clarity before they sign. This case study shows how one brand reshaped its employer presence into a strategic edge by mixing polish, personality and purpose — and how social became the key to attracting top talent.
- Content planning: Learn how to speak to every career level without losing cohesion.
- Platform storytelling: See how LinkedIn, Reels and TikTok spotlighted roles, teams and culture.
- Recruiting partnerships: Get tips for working with HR without approval gridlock.
- Lessons learned: Discover what failed early and what still surprises the team today.
You don’t need a million followers when a thousand true ones will change your business. This panel digs into the strategy behind small-but-mighty audiences — the weird little corners of the internet where brand loyalty forms fast and sticks harder. Whether you’re speaking to aerospace engineers, horror film nerds, rare disease advocates, or pastry chefs with PhDs, niche audiences demand precision, honesty and value. Get that right, and they’ll carry your message farther than any boost ever could.
- Define your niche: Use behavioral cues, community signals and internal data to identify the hyper-specific groups your brand can actually serve.
- Resonate without pandering: Speak the language without faking fluency and create content that earns belonging, not side-eye.
- Measure what matters: Go beyond reach and impressions to track influence, referrals, engagement loops, and brand lift inside the right circles.
- Earn real connection: Build two-way trust with the people who care most, then let them show you what comes next.
The influencer gold rush has matured into a full-blown economy — with contracts, crises and creative control all up for debate. This panel assembles creators, brand reps and legal minds to tackle the mess and momentum of working with talent in an era where your next campaign star might be a CGI composite or a Gen Z grad with a million followers and no media training. From murky disclosures to pricing chaos, the stakes have escalated. You need structure, strategy and sharp instincts to build creator partnerships that drive results without risking blowback.
- Pricing power: Frameworks for setting expectations and negotiating rates based on actual value — not vibes, follower counts, or platform myths.
- Synthetic standards: Guidelines for engaging with AI influencers, from usage rights to brand fit to cultural pushback.
- Disclosure done right: A rundown of FTC expectations, disclosure placement rules and emerging best practices that preserve both trust and reach.
- ROI reality checks: What works, what’s fluff and how to measure lift when attribution is murky but impact still matters.
Your brand is being discussed in places analytics can’t reach. Closed platforms like Discord, Facebook Groups, Reddit, Slack and Fishbowl host unfiltered opinions, while darker corners of the web amplify risks. One global team built systems with burner accounts to monitor these spaces, track threats and translate insights into executive safety protocols. This session shows how to listen where visibility drops, respect boundaries and turn hidden chatter into actionable strategy.
- Dark social decoded: See where brand-relevant conversations live and why traditional tools miss them.
- Listen legally: Learn how to monitor while respecting platform policies, community ethics and user trust.
- Dark web monitoring: Discover how teams surface risks and protect executives even in inaccessible spaces.
- Influence without intrusion: Explore tactics for correcting misinformation or building trust where your brand has no presence.
- Smarter reporting: Translate dark social insights into campaign pivots, product changes and CX improvements.
The right creator partnership feels like catching lightning in a bottle — until mismatched expectations, messy briefs or flat content dampen the spark. Whether you’re working with a mega-influencer, a micro-voice in a niche community, or your own employees as ambassadors, success depends on how well you set the stage. This session reveals the playbooks comms teams use to brief, guide and support creators so their stories align with your brand while still feeling true to their voice.
- Crafting the brief: Translate brand priorities into creative direction that fuels storytelling without boxing talent in.
- Choosing the right voices: Spot the difference between reach and resonance when selecting influencers and advocates.
- Building trust from day one: Establish clear guardrails, approval processes and ongoing support that set partnerships up for longevity.
- Empowering creativity: Give ambassadors the space to surprise audiences while still carrying your message.
- Measuring shared success: Track performance on both sides — brand lift, audience engagement and creator satisfaction — to prove value and strengthen future collaborations.
Clicks show reach and comments give feedback, but sentiment reveals what truly lands. In a landscape shaped by algorithm shifts, audience fatigue and cultural volatility, raw engagement isn’t enough. As E.L.F.’s 2025 partnership with comedian Matt Rife showed, cultural context can flip a “perfect fit” into a miss. This session shows how to track, benchmark and apply sentiment data to sharpen both storytelling and strategy.
- Tools and tactics: Explore sentiment platforms, manual coding and AI tools that capture tone and nuance.
- Context cues: Learn to interpret emojis, tone shifts and platform behaviors to spot real signals.
- Benchmarking emotion: Build dashboards that track joy, anger, fear, surprise and more across time and campaigns.
- Reality check: Understand why sentiment can’t stand alone and how to stress-test talent and campaigns.
- Making the case: Use emotional data to shape creative, guide tone decisions and defend strategy.
Your team has outgrown the group chat scramble and the late-night Canva saves. To meet demand without burning out or flattening your voice, you need a production model that scales. We’ll walk through the shift from reactive, ad-hoc posting to a studio-style system built for volume, quality and consistency, without ballooning your budget or gutting your tone. If content’s your currency, this is how you mint it smarter.
- Content pillars, clarified: Build a flexible framework that lets you move fast while staying rooted in brand voice and purpose.
- Scrappy to strong: Level up your visuals, video and copy using everyday tools, minimal crew and scalable templates.
- Sniff out stories: Source compelling UGC content by tapping employees, customers and communities.
- B2B at scale: Adapt studio workflows for thought leadership, webinars and long-cycle content.
- Frequency versus focus: Rethink how often you actually need to post, what earns repeat visibility and which pieces deserve reinvestment.
Social teams rarely get the luxury of a calm brief and a clean runway. More often, you’re mid-scroll when the client calls in a panic, the CEO wants something “viral” by Friday, or your campaign budget evaporates before kickoff. This panel pulls together seasoned social leads and brand strategists who’ve made hard calls under fire — navigating leadership whims, news cycle chaos and internal misfires while still protecting the brand and the people behind it. They’ll talk about:
- Break down decision diaries: Real examples of when things went sideways and what frameworks brought them back on track.
- Balance data and gut: Know when to ride the numbers and when to push for a move that defies the spreadsheet but delivers the magic.
- Handle content under pressure: Prioritize, pivot and protect your team’s bandwidth when high-stakes requests threaten to upend the plan.
- Speak to leadership: Leave with phrases and playbooks that help you hold the line, pitch alternatives and keep executive trust—even when saying no.
The most credible stories about your brand rarely come from corporate accounts — they come from employees. Their perspectives spark pride internally and authenticity externally, yet too often these voices get lost in top-down messaging. This case study shows how user-generated content, both inside the firewall and across public channels, can strengthen culture, build trust and expand reach while also preparing communicators to manage reviews on Glassdoor, Yelp and similar sites where employee and customer voices shape reputation.
- Turn employees into creators: Equip teams with tools and guidance to share stories that reinforce values while preserving voice.
- Streamline editorial load: Balance employee-generated content with curated storytelling from comms to reduce bottlenecks.
- Extend reach externally: Amplify authentic employee voices across brand channels where they outperform polished campaigns.
- Strengthen culture and community: Surface stories that build pride, spark belonging and create two-way engagement.
- Respond to reviews: Learn how to monitor review sites to protect credibility and show transparency.
INTERESTED IN SPEAKING?
Please reach out to Director of Event Programming
Alyssa Smith.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
- 📊 How to set KPIs that actually connect your content to business outcomes and defend them in the boardroom
- 🤖 How to train and deploy AI tools without losing your voice, credibility, or creative control
- 🔥 How to pressure-test your crisis plan for threats ranging from trolls to tech failures
- 🎯 What it takes to reach and resonate with niche, skeptical, or fragmented social audiences
- 🎥 How to make videos that speak your audience’s language and don’t flop on arrival
- 🔍 How to track emotion, sentiment, and trust in a landscape flooded with content
- 🧠 How to work smarter and avoid burnout with better workflows and team structures
- 🎙️ How to manage chatbots, virtual influencers, and your very human leadership team
- 📡 How to monitor and respond to conversation on closed platforms and dark social
- 🧩 How to navigate the evolving creator economy with transparency, equity, and strategy
- 🚀 How to test bold new ideas without blowing your budget or your reputation
- 🛡️ How to protect your team, your employees, and your brand from disinformation and personal threats
- 🧭 How to pick the right platforms, show up the right way, and adapt when the algorithm shifts
PRICING
| Advanced Rate | Early Bird Rate | VIP Rate | Regular Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conference All-Access Pass (includes the pre-conference workshops) | ||||
| Standard | $3,495 | $3,595 | $3,695 | $3,795 |
| Nonprofit/Gov/Edu | $3,395 | $3,495 | $3,595 | $3,695 |
| Ragan Insider | $3,345 | $3,445 | $3,545 | $3,645 |
| Conference Registration - Individual | ||||
| Standard | $3,095 | $3,195 | $3,295 | $3,395 |
| Nonprofit/Gov/Edu | $2,995 | $3,095 | $3,195 | $3,295 |
| Ragan Insider | $2,945 | $3,045 | $3,145 | $3,245 |
| Conference Recording | ||||
|
Includes pre-conference workshops and conference sessions
|
$1,999 | $1,999 | $1,999 | $1,999 |
For those who can’t attend the conference live, an on-demand option of the conference recordings is available during the registration process. The recordings will be delivered 10 business days after the conference ends.
Download this letter to convince your boss you should attend the Social Media Conference.
Group Discounts
Would you and your team like to attend? Group pricing for 3 or more is available when registering!
RAGAN COUNCIL MEMBER DISCOUNTS
Membership includes free registration passes. Contact Shallon Blackburn for more information on becoming a member.
RAGAN INSIDER DISCOUNTS
Insiders save on all Ragan events. Not a Ragan Insider? You can become one during registration for this event!
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1888-828-8850
Swandolphin.com
We have secured a room block at Walt Disney World's Swan Hotel for conference attendees. Room rates start at $309. The hotel reservation link will be sent to you after registering for the conference from Ragan's Customer Service team. Please note we are not affiliated with any third-party hotel booking services.
Ideally Situated in the Heart of Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Located in the heart of the most magical place on earth, the Walt Disney World Swan offers an extraordinary backdrop for your stay, placing you just moments from world-famous attractions. From the Swan’s private boat dock, hop aboard a complimentary water taxi to Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or enjoy a scenic walk to the parks. Complimentary bus service is also available from the resort to all Walt Disney World theme parks, attractions, and Disney Springs, with departures throughout the day for seamless exploration.
Discounted Walt Disney World Theme Park tickets are available to attendees.
- The Guide for Ethical AI Usage in Communications
- Measurement Guide to Proving Internal Comms Value
- Internal Meetings Handbook and Facilitator Guide
- LinkedIn Executive Thought Leadership Guide
- Six Steps for Change Communications in a Volatile World
- How to Run an Internal Communications Audit
Experience the Magic
Beyond the conference, enjoy exciting networking events, experiences, and all the magic Walt Disney World Resort and surrounding areas have to offer!
NETWORKING COCKTAIL PARTY
Mingle with colleagues, social media leaders and special Disney guests at this can’t-miss networking cocktail party.
Join your peers and conference speakers for a networking party sprinkled with Disney magic. Enjoy great conversations and superb food and drink.
Food For Thought
Connect with colleagues on issues of shared interest and get to know your fellow attendees over a great meal. You'll make new connections during breakfast, lunch, and snack breaks, all included with your registration.
DISNEY MAGICAL EXPERIENCES
Extend your stay and receive:
- Room block rates at Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort
- Discounted Walt Disney World Resort theme park rates
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
Want to become a sponsor? Get in touch with our team to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
WHO ATTENDS?
Communications, Marketing, PR, and Social Media professionals from these organizations have attended the Social Media Conference:
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
You can’t afford to miss this if you work in:
- Marketing
- Digital communications
- Media relations
- Corporate communications
- Social media
- PR
- Public affairs
- HR
- Branding
- Global communications
- Public information
- Internal communications
- Corporate affairs
GET RECOGNIZED!
Each registration comes with a personalized Social Media Conference Certificate of Completion for attending.
THE COMPANY YOU'LL KEEP
WONDERING IF YOU SHOULD ATTEND?
Here’s what past attendees are saying about Ragan and PR Daily Events!
This was hands down the best conference I’ve attended for social media marketers! Ragan truly put in the time and effort to bring together industry experts who shared valuable insights, tools, and strategies that actually work. I left with so much great information and new friends. I can’t wait for next year!
Attended my first Ragan Social Media Conference, and it was an incredible experience! I walked away with so many great insights, fresh ideas, and inspiration from industry leaders. Can’t wait to apply what I’ve learned and take our social strategy to the next level!
Running a small digital marketing agency focused on local businesses, I often feel like I’m working in a bubble. This conference was a game changer—it immersed me in a vibrant community of top social media experts, broadened my horizons, and offered fresh, diverse perspectives on the evolving world of social media. I am already looking forward to next year's conference!
Ragan's Social Media Conference has me inspired for the future of my industry and career. I walked into the conference eager to learn as much as I could, and I left feeling motivated and confident to work towards my next social media goals as I was surrounded by the brightest and most creative minds in the field.
The Ragan Social Media Conference was an excellent opportunity for personal and professional development, providing engaging and dynamic sessions, rich with takeaways. I loved being able to connect with individuals across multiple industries, who are all doing similar work to me, so thank you Ragan for bringing us together!
One of the best social media conferences in the world. As someone who has gone to this annually for almost a decade, I can say it's never failed to inspire me.
The conference fun doesn’t start and stop at the event! Follow us on socials and sign-up for update emails.
Contact us for group rates and share with friends!
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CONTACT
REGISTRATION
SPONSORSHIP
312-960-4628
PROGRAM
Social Media
Conference
MARCH 9-11, 2026
Walt Disney World Swan Resort
Orlando, FL