If you haven’t noticed on Twitter the past few days, geeks have been having a field day in Austin, otherwise known as SXSW-Interactive. I’m often asked which social media conferences are ‘must attend’ events, and although I don’t think SXSW is right for everyone, I do think that anyone that’s active in the social media space should attend SXSWi at least once.
If you ask most attendees what makes SXSW so great, the response you will hear 99% of the time is ‘the people’. In fact, it’s a bit of a stretch to call SXSW a conference, because most attendees aren’t there for the program, the sessions. They are there for the discussions in the hallways. The talks over dinner between 10 people that up till yesterday you only knew online.
But at its heart, SXSWi works because it gives us the chance to connect and share ideas. Which is when the magic happens. So how can you draw inspiration from SXSWi even if you weren’t there? Here’s some ideas:
1 – Comment more on other blogs. And don’t just comment to leave your feedback, become a participant in active conversations. Talk to my friend Lisa Petrilli, she is doing an amazing job with this.
2 – Become an active participant in Twitter chats. @JDEbberly is actively involved in several Twitter chats, including #blogchat. I’m sure it’s greatly expanded his network because he’s constantly meeting and engaging with new people.
3 – Start a Twitter chat focusing on a topic you are passionate about. Seriously, I have no idea why more people aren’t doing this. Beth and Anna started #IMCchat because the need for integrated marketing is a topic they believe in. But it could be anything, it could be about your love of NASCAR, Civil War memorabilia, or politics in Rhode Island. Pick a topic you want to discuss and run with it. I didn’t wait for anyone to tell me that it was ‘ok’ to start #blogchat, I just did it. You don’t need permission to connect with other people that are just as passionate about a topic or idea as you are.
4 – Attend local social media events/Tweetups – And especially if it’s a Tweetup, wear a name tag with your Twitter name on it. A great icebreaker! Nothing in your area? Float the idea out to your friends about having a Tweetup or maybe even a Barcamp/Podcamp type meetup.
These are some ideas to get those connections, both online and offline, going. And if you DID attend SXSWi, how are you going to keep that level of inspiration going once you get back home?
One thing I know I need to do more is comment on blogs. All too often, I get stuck behind the RSS reader and don’t actually hit the individual blog to share my thoughts.
And mark it down, I’m going next year. Somehow.
Daniel you really should go at least once if you’ve never been. Most of the sessions suck, a lot of the parties suck, but the networking/connecting potential blows any other event out of the water.
Great points, Mack. For those of us who missed out, there are certainly no shortage of ways to get inspired locally. In fact, funny thing is, even though I didn’t attend SXSW, I had two different in-person meetings with local folks that will hopefully lead to what I believe will be killer events here in MSP later this year. And, by following a few people I trust at SXSW, I actually feel like I did learn a thing or two (check out my friend Greg Swan’s posts on the Shandwick Social Studies blog–http://www.socialstudiesblog.com/).
Nice reminder, Mack.
@arikhanson
Nice list Mark. You posted simple things we all can actively work on– and it just takes a few moments to do. Her I was at home working on a new poem wishing I was on my way to SXSW like my 2 producers David Franz and Francis Phan and I see a tweet about getting inspired even if you don’t make it to a conference. So—i officially promise to do more of #1 at least.
Cheers!
Iyeoka
Thank you Mack, not only for your compliment – which means so much – but for your encouragement as well.
The real gist of your post is the power of networking, which is something that as an introvert it took me a while to fully embrace. Once I realized that it’s so much more rewarding to go into networking situations looking to help others (help them connect, find resources, get advice…) then networking itself became a lot less daunting.
Thanks to your encouragement, and to thinking of “commenting on blogs” as a way to give back to a blogger who has inspired me in some way or provided a unique insight, I’ve found it to be a fulfilling new way to share my thoughts. And I’ve enjoyed participating in #blogchat the most on nights when I’ve felt that my experiences might provide something of value to the other attendees.
Finally, I’m inspired by your post to ask @mattChevy, who I’ve been trying to get together with for coffee now for months, if he and I should just host a NW Suburban Chicago Tweetup…at least this way we’ll finally have a drink together. Of course, if we do, you’ll be invited… 😉
@LisaPetrilli
.-= Lisa Petrilli´s last blog ..LisaPetrilli: Fiesty discussion, great comments @BethHarte post "Social Media Marketing” vs. Classic Marketing http://bit.ly/bI1MnJ =-.
Great points Mack. I benefited greatly by Laura Barone’s (Outspoken Media) live blogging of SMX West. Her posts of the meetings were not only informative, but fun to read. Just has an added suggestion – for conferences that have sessions you wish you could attend, finding someone who is live blogging could be a way to glean something even thought you can’t be there. And of course – leave a comment while you’re there. 🙂
.-= Heather Villa´s last blog ..How Entrepreneurs Can Get the Benefits of a Team (Wihout Selling Part of Their Business) =-.