My SXSW Highlights

The past few days I’ve had the opportunity to experience my very first South by South West event in Austin, TX. I have heard about and longed to attend this event for years and could hardly believe when I was offered the chance to go this year. While the events of the last 48 hours are still fresh on my mind, and before I pass out from exhaustion, I want to recap for you how this event totally lives up to all the hype, how it’s absolutely worth attending at least once, and how Austin has proven to be as cool of a town as I’d expected…

Within my first few hours of landing in Austin, TX, I made my way to the rustic old house that is the Lustre Pearl for the Team Android at SXSW party. This would turn out to be my favorite party of the week. Rather than just listening to loud music and standing around for hours aimlessly, this party kept you entertained with tons of raffle giveaways (we’re talking brand new phones and tablets here!), new app presentations, and just the right amount of opportunity to mingle and make new friends.

But let me back up for just a second as I recognize that not everyone out there really knows what South by South West even is. And if you do, you’re probably most familiar with it as a huge indie music festival (which it is). But the music festival comes after a week of what they call Interactive sessions as well as an indie film festival. I was there to attend the Interactive part….the geeky, nerdy, five days (although I was only there two) of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology. The Interactive portion of SXSW (as attendees like to abbreviate it to) has become famous as the place to launch your new social network (it’s where Twitter was launched), your new app, your cool new phone/tablet/laptop technology, and anything and everything else that can be loosely tied to those things. There is so much energy and innovation at this event, it’s hard to not get swept up in the excitement and just dive in and start trying new things. And while the day time is packed with panels, presentations, and keynote speeches, the night time is equally teeming with party after part after party. Most you are allowed into with your badge, in theory….depending on the line to attend and the capacity of the venue…and most all are sponsored by some company or new technology wanting promotion and attention.

Which brings me back to the Team Android party. This was for fans of Android technology who wanted to hang together, maybe win some swag, and learn about a few new apps. A few apps that impressed me the most, in case you want to check them out:

@foodspotting: is a visual guide to good food and where to find it….complete with food photos, who doesn’t love that?

@sparkmyphone: a customizable home screen for Android with Facebook, Twitter, News, Sports, Deals, Location-aware Weather & More.

@gowalla: an app developed in Austin, TX, this one was definitely the home town hero. Much like FourSquare, but claiming to be better.

Monday I was able to attend a panel about how to effectively tweet/set up a Twitter following if you are a non-profit, followed by an Online Mom Community lecture, discussing how these communities are “hotbeds of influencers.” The highlight of the day was the session with Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyvee) where he discussed the message of his latest book, Thank You Economy. The man is hilarious, energetic, visionary, and passionate and I 100% understand why he is so successful. He knows how to build a profitable business and he’s incredibly talented in motivating others to be able to do the same. I have a feeling I’ll be reading this book as soon as I can fit it in. The evening time involved a lot of walking around downtown Austin, a short time in an area they call SoCo (South Congress), which is a part town I’d like to spend more time in, and checking out SXSW parties till I was too tired to go any more.

Today has been equally full and energizing. I made it to two sessions this morning – one on Unwritten Rules: Brands, Social Psychology, and Social Media…another “how to” do social media as a brand. The second discussed How to Create an Internet Phenomenon from Peanuts led by the man who started Smith magazine and the 6 Words Memoirs.

What had to be the highlight of my session time though was the keynote presentation from founder of TOMS shoes (@TOMSshoes), Blake Mycoskie (@BlakeMycoskie). I love this guy’s heart, his motivation, and his message: entrepreneurship that does good for others instead of only looking to charities and non-profits to do this work. If you aren’t familiar with TOMS, they have a 1-for-1 business structure. For every pair of shoes you purchase from them, they give a pair away to a child who is in need. Blake suggested that giving doesn’t just feel good, it’s actually a really good business practice as well – and it turns your customers into your best marketers. I couldn’t agree more!

All in all it’s been an exhilarating, exhausting, but totally worth it few days. My head is full of new ideas and I’m so grateful that I had the chance to make this trip. If I can help it, I’ll certainly be back next year!

Why I blog, tweet, and facebook

I spend a fair amount of my time keeping up with other bloggers, blogging myself, tweeting, and checking up on Facebook. There a numerous ideas out there about how to be involved with social media and how to do it without it taking a lot of time. The truth is, at least for me, no matter how efficient I am, tracking social media takes time, it is a commitment, and I benefit from it the most when I regularly check in and stay on top of my Google Reader posts and Twitter lists. It becomes a burden only when I’m behind and playing catch up.

But why do it at all?

I know more than a handful of people who still proudly live in blissful ignorance of social media and are happy to be disconnected. And I don’t judge them for their choice. There are days when I, too, wish to unplug and just ignore the online world altogether. But for the most part, I have found entirely too many advantages to staying connected that it’s worth the effort I make to stay involved.

What could I possible gain from social media, you might ask?

Being clued-in when it comes to current events.
Inspiration to be crafty from people more creative than myself.
Cooking tips and recipe ideas.
Motivation to stay in shape and suggestions on how-to.
A heads up on time sensitive deals and bargains…

Just to name a few.

And not to be overlooked, social media also often clues me into the latest in technological advancements and ways that the marketing world is evolving and progressing. Working in the book industry, it is critical that I be tapped into not only how books are going digital but how tools to promote those books have long ago gone digital and only continue more in that direction daily. Like it or not, our world moves at a faster pace today than it used to. For me, the best way to keep up has been to to jump in at any point and figure out how to make social media work for me. If it’s new to you, understand that you may have to tinker with your daily routine a bit to find what works best for you, but it is possible. And from my experience, totally worth it.

So what motivates you to stay plugged into social media? Or, if you’ve chosen to stay checked out, why?

Sports Illustrated got it right

Steve Jobs with the Apple iPad

So it seems pretty evident at this point that the iPad isn’t exactly going to break any sales records its first week out the door. Too much hype and an underwhelming product showing has left even the biggest of Apple enthusiasts at a loss for many good things to say about the new device. This past weekend I was discussing thoughts about the new iPad with friends when the question came up about whether or not it will change the world of technology as we know it, the way the iPod and the iPhone did. And for me, since I work for a book publisher, my thoughts went to how it will effect the written word.

It’s no secret that books are going digital, just like music did. The question on my mind? How soon before there are more people reading books digitally than the good ‘ole printed version that we all grew up with. Sure the Kindle, the Nook, and others are garnering some attention, but I don’t think there’s anything out there yet that is really changing the cultural norm. I lack a real need for the Kindle and other digital readers becuse none of these divices let me interact with my books any more than if I was holding the actual book in my hands. Do I really need a device that can carry around hundredes of books for me at once when I can only read one at a time? No. But what if there was a device that would allow my books to be interactive? What if I could listen to interviews with the author while I read, watch videos that brought the characters in my story to life, or listen to a soundtrack that was timed to enhance my reading experience? Now you’ve got me interested. And that’s where the iPad could take us. It’s not there yet, but I it’s a step closer.

With newspapers and magazines rapidly becoming obsolete in their traditional format, it appears that these outlets are being forced to lead the way in going digital, and in the process, giving us a glimspe as to what’s to come in the book world. I recently saw a video put together by Sport Illustrated, it was shown by Mike Hyatt, our company President, at our last all-employee meeting. This video truly excited me for the future of publishing. While you will notice that the video shows the “new” SI on what appears to be the new iPad, I found the vision and creativity coming from the folks at SI much more exciting than the unveiling of the latest Apple brainchild. I think I resonated with this video futher, becuase it falls into line with where I think books are headed.

Check out the video below…get excited for what’s to come, and let me know what you think.