Our EconSM conference planning is kicking into high gear, and we have several new speakers and topics to announce (with more to come this week):

-- We’ll hear from Jeff Weiner, Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) EVP-Network Division, who, among other responsibilities, has the key role of making sure Yahoo’s content, technology and ambitious social media efforts finally mesh. For Weiner, like other Yahoo execs, the goal as Microsoft looms isn’t business as usual—it’s full steam ahead.

-- We’ll be diving deeply into the intersection of advertising, entertainment and social media with Frank Cooper, VP-Marketing, Pepsi-Cola North America; Gordon Paddison, EVP-Marketing, New Line Cinema and Dick Glover, CEO, Funny or Die.

-- We’ll be examining the ROI for media companies layering community into their existing sites with Jeff Price, President, SI Digital; Kinsey Wilson, Executive Editor, USA Today; and Thomas Mueller, VP/Creative Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

-- And we’ll probe the current investment landscape with the likes of Geoff Yang, Founding Partner, Redpoint Ventures; Michael Hirshland, General Partner, Polaris Venture Partners; Ross Levinsohn, Partner, Velocity Investment Group.

Other confirmed speakers include Leonard Broady, CEO, NowPublic; Dalton Caldwell, CEO, Imeem; Chuck DeFeo, GM, Townhall.com; Shawn Gold, Social Approach; Betsy Morgan, CEO, The Huffington Post; Keith Richman, CEO, Break.com; Robert Scoble, FastCompany.TV; and Kara Swisher, AllThingsD.

Early bird registration will be closing shortly, so click here to register for the conference April 29, 2008 in Los Angeles.  Check the conference site for hotel details; we have great room rates for you.

For sponsorship queries for EconSM, contact our business side at advertising AT contentnext.com.