Successful Blog

  • Home
  • Community
  • About
  • Author Guidelines
  • Liz’s Book
  • Stay Tuned

Search Results for: SXSW

SOB Business Cafe 08-13-10: The SOBCon SxSW Panel List

August 13, 2010 by Liz 1 Comment

SB Cafe

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking — articles, books, podcasts, and videos about business online written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the titles to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week is

the list of panels by the friends of SOBCon. If you know these folks, you’ll know that it’s smart and lucky to vote for them.

SOBCon influence invades SxSW Panel picker. Get out and vote for these amazing folks so

  1. @lizstrauss @starbucker @caroljsroth@caroljsroth will present:

    Build, Buy, Partner: Time is Money
  2. @lizstrauss @starbucker @caroljsroth@caroljsroth will present:

    From Jobbies to Businesses: Strategies for Irresistible Success
  3. @ericlukazewski will present:

    Confessions From Social Media Event Organizers

  4. @JasonFalls will present:

    Social Media: The Pink Collar Ghetto of Tech?
  5. @renewabelle @renewabelle will present:

    Making Sustainable Attainable: Energy Efficient Computing
  6. @DaveMurr will present:

    Have Fun to Increase Customer Engagement
  7. @jeanniecwwill present:

    X Marks the Spot: Mapping The Customer Experience
  8. @LisaPetrilli @judymartin8 will present:

    Conquer Your Kryptonite: Superpowers Fueling Kick-Ass Business Deals
  9. @conniereece will present:

    Resources Roulette: Winning Social Strategies for Shrinking Budgets
  10. @ScottMonty @Schwen @ShannonPaul will present:

    Socially Regulated: Social Media in Regulated Industries
  11. @jonathanfields will present:

    Fear and the Art of Creation
  12. @LucretiaPruitt will present:

    Killing Clark Kent; When You Outgrow Your AlterEgo
  13. @GlendaWH will present:

    The untapped iPad Market: Is Your Site POUR?
  14. @hardlynormal Mark Horvath will present:

    A Conversation on Social Change through Social Media
  15. @armano will present:

    Why PR’s Future May Not Look Like PR

Remember, voting ends on August 27th, so do it now. BTW, these are also great people to follow on Twitter.

If you’re a member of the SOBCon community or want to be one and you have a panel you’d like to be on this list, Tweet or DM us at @sobcon, or add a comment to this post.

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like. No tips required. Comments appreciated.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Buy the Insider’s Guide to Online Conversation.

I’m a proud affiliate of

third-tribe-marketing

Filed Under: SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, Great Finds, LinkedIn, small business, sobcon, SXSW

Support the Friends of SOBCon – Vote For Their SXSW 2011 Panels

August 12, 2010 by SOBCon Authors 4 Comments

PP_Voting_OpenWe are pleased to support all of our SOBCon friends who are now part of the 2011 “Panel Picker” process for the popular interactive conference in Austin, South by Southwest, better known as SXSW.

Here is a list of panels up for vote that feature friends of SOBCon, including two to be hosted by SOBCon Co-Founders Liz Strauss and Terry Starbucker. Please support ALL of these great people because we know they will “bring it” at the event.

Remember, voting ends on August 27th, so do it now. And if you have a panel and would like to add your name to this list, Tweet or DM us at @sobcon, or add a comment to this post.

Thanks, and let’s bring the spirit of SOBCon to SXSW!!

@lizstrauss @starbucker @caroljsroth Build, Buy, Partner: Time is Money
@starbucker @lizstrauss @caroljsroth From Jobbies to Businesses: Strategies for Irresistible Success
@ericlukazewski Confessions From Social Media Event Organizers
@JasonFalls Social Media: The Pink Collar Ghetto of Tech?
@renewabelle Making Sustainable Attainable: Energy Efficient Computing
@DaveMurr Have Fun to Increase Customer Engagement
@jeanniecw X Marks the Spot: Mapping The Customer Experience
@LisaPetrilli @judymartin8 Conquer Your Kryptonite: Superpowers Fueling Kick-Ass Business Deals
@LisaPetrilli @conniereece Resources Roulette: Winning Social Strategies for Shrinking Budgets
@ScottMonty @Schwen & @ShannonPaul Socially Regulated: Social Media in Regulated Industries
@jonathanfields Fear and the Art of Creation
@LucretiaPruitt @DaveTaylor Killing Clark Kent; When You Outgrow Your AlterEgo
@GlendaWH The untapped iPad Market: Is Your Site POUR?
@armano Why PR’s Future May Not Look Like PR
@BeckyMcCray Micro-Business Rapid-Response Success-Failure Q&A
@incslinger Converting Checkin’s to Cash: Why Location Marketing Matters
@SheilaS Tourism Catches On: Old Industry Meets New Media
@barrymoltz What We Can Learn from Small Town Entrepreneurs
@webby2001 Everything You Know About Social Media is Wrong
@unmarketing F U 2.0
@prebynski Leveraging Mobile Marketing Methods In My Strategy
@prebynski How To Get A Job Using Social Media
@dustinj Checking in with Successful Location-Based Campaigns
@technosailor Shattering Secrets with Social Media
@hardlynormal A Conversation About Social Change Through Social Media
@jeremywright Naked Dating: Finding Love in 140 Characters or Less
@tedmurphy Check-in, Get Paid: Rise of Cash-sponsored Social Media
@debworks Resistance is Futile! Assimilating Local Marketing
@CathyBrooks Who Are You And Why Should I Care?

Filed Under: Announcements Tagged With: bc

The Castaways of Survivor SxSW Austin: How to Find ADOS Immunity at a Huge Conference

March 23, 2009 by Liz Leave a Comment

Off to the Island We Go

I was still a young pup when I discovered the key to conferences. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in. They’re arranged, funded, and attended by people. People at conferences seem to fall victim to the same behaviors. By the end, the folks leaving can look like they’ve lived a season of Survivor — Take for example this recent conference: Survivor SxSW Austin.

People were off to the island of Austin. Soon enough SxSW castaways realized that their ties to home were gone. We started saying hello; finding common ground; seeing who had a SxSW badge, forming our teams. The people of the town, the people of restaurants, the people in the cars, cabs, and hallways become like so much scenery — we only interacted with them when we needed essentials — food, clothing, and shelter (well, mostly food.)

Survivor SxSW became Reality 2.0. Anticipation was high. Possibilities were higher. Intentions and expectations were everywhere. “Do everything” looked like the only option between now and home. Survival required focus and follow through in the alien environment that only a huge conference can be. The folks who came without training were at a serious disadvantage.

The 3 questions on the Survivor site were heard throughout the week.

  • Who’s most under-estimated?
  • What’s the wildest moment so far?
  • Which castaway seems most out of their element?

Who would be left standing at the end of a week?

It’s easy to feel alone. No one gets automatic immunity. You have to find your own.

The Castaways

Huge conference after huge conference the cast doesn’t seem to change. Let me introduce you to the folks I always see. They were there last year … but like a new season of Survivor, they seemed to be the same people with different names.

  1. The first timer: She was glad to be there and overwhelmed that everyone knew what she didn’t — that just because you know 100 people at the same conference, it doesn’t mean you’ll see any of them. She’s was soon wishing she’d come with comfortable shoes, with a plan, with a friend to keep her company.
  2. The up and comer: He went for the win. In a few hours, everyone knew him. He was networking until the cows came home, or at least back to his hotel. You’ll know him by the number of flickr pix that you find tagged with his name. Do you have a copy of his book? Wait, he hasn’t had time to write it yet.
  3. The information junkie: Her head was in the panels. She could quote chapter and verse of the keynotes and blogged every question. Her program was worn to shreds from handling by Day 2. She exchanged cards with every speaker, but didn’t really have a conversation the entire week.
  4. The party monkeys: Each morning they built alliances on the list of parties they’d attend that evening. The next day they spoke slowly about how long the lines were. They lost their voices and their hearing by bits with each new sunrise.
  5. The rockstar: She showed up for appearances, did her gig, smiled at fans, shook their hands, and disappeared almost as quickly. She might have gotten off most easily because her unreal fame fits the unreality of the conference with a resonating rhythm.
  6. The social jockey: He decided what to do and which people to spend time with based on whether they add to his visibility. You know your star is rising if his kind spoke with you this year.
  7. The sponsors and the sponsored: They worked their butts off and hardly had time to talk. They made everything happen. When they had downtime they talked business or partied like the attendees.
  8. The camera crew: The camera crew was busy with their cameras. They are not allowed to interact while the cameras are on. They’ll experience the conference when they look through their flickr accounts.
  9. The pros: They treated the conference like a Twitter stream — taking part in what they found valuable, letting the rest go by. They did business. They attended some sessions and events. They skipped others for quality conversation. They got sleep every night. They kept their feet on ground and their thoughts in perspective.

Lots of regular folks were there too, by Day 4 they were easy to identify. They were the ones who were still awake and itching to find their own pillow. A Survivor Experience can wear on the most grounded psyches. These are the folks who disappeared from the interwebs when they got home.

How to Find ADOS Immunity at a Huge Conference

Lots of great things happen at conferences. SxSW is outstanding for what it offers –incredible opportunities to expand your network and constant input to move your thinking to new levels. You’ll meet great people and if you try, you’ll get a chance to know them. To be successful, you need to find immunity to an extreme case of ADD that someone called ADOS — AD-oooo shiny.

Five ground rules will help.

  1. Build your network before you go. Meet people via email and telephone long before you get to the “island.” Huge conferences are more valuable if you already have a connection to the people you’re going to meet. You’ll also find that more of the meetings that you plan will actually take place.
  2. Invest in a goal. That will give your conference a direction and a basis on which to make decisions about what to do next when unexpected opportunities jump in front of you.
  3. Only plan 3 – 5 things each day and be lethal about getting those done. Interruptions and opportunities to explore people, places, and conversations will be everywhere all day long. If you find you have time to do more than you planned, you’ll be ahead of the game.
  4. Make time for at least one important conversation daily. Go to lunch with smart people. Talk about smart things. A week of continuous small talk can make any person feel shallow, insecure, and a little lost.
  5. Make time for sleep. Don’t think you can do everything. No one will notice if you missed that third party on Tuesday. Everyone will notice if you look a wreck and can’t think by Day 3.

Those few strategies can help keep your balance. You’ll accomplish your goals, get a return on your investment, and learn plenty from just being there. You’ll head home a Survivor, feeling like the tribe was worth every minute you spent in their company.

What do you do to survive huge conferences?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Register for SOBCon09 NOW!!

Work and network in a small quiet space with a dream team.

Filed Under: Marketing /Sales / Social Media, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, conferences, LinkedIn, Marketing /Sales / Social Media, Productivity, relationships, SXSW

SxSW People and a Panel that Rocked Butt

March 15, 2009 by Liz Leave a Comment

Gee “Butt” It’s Great to Be Back

Sometimes you have to take an airplane clear across the country to have a conversation and conversations are being had. From the minute, I came down the escalator to baggage claim and saw Becky McCray waiting for me the talking began. Before the bag even arrived, Jonathan Fields and David Maher Roberts showed up.

From the airport, it was off Vignette for Austin Social Media Club — where I finally got meet up with old friends and new Connie Reece , Mike Chapman , Ben and Lani Rosales , Lauren Vargas , Aaron Strout , Jason Falls , Shannon Paul , and many others.

Later we caught up with the guys from Radian6 and had finally found our way how to @SheliaS and @CFanch where Becky and I are holed up.

We collected our badges and @Tojosan in the morning and set up Table2.0 for a Tweetup Firday that corresponded with @EricaOGrady’s birthday party. We also met up with @ShashiB, @EricaBiz and few others, including @Geekmommy and @SaulColt

Later it was on the BlueSky event, I finally got to see my friends @ChrisBrogan and @Copyblogger and to meet the famous Pam Slim. So many good conversation were had.

I had the bp pleasure of walking over with a great group of the Walmart Moms to the high point of any conference is the @BrianSolis and @StephAgresti Tech Set event.

Amazing how much fun you can have in a new pair jeans – heh heh!

BTW, Sheila Scarborough’s travel panel rocked butt!! Watch the video.

(CC) Brian Solis. www.briansolis.com
(CC) Brian Solis. www.briansolis.com

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Register for SOBCon09 NOW!!

That many incredible people make it incredible!!

Filed Under: SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, LinkedIn, SXSW

What I Missed at SxSW

March 14, 2008 by Liz Leave a Comment

Friends

relationships button

It’s a joy to be able to spend time meeting with folks I know down Austin — Sheila was a gracious and generous host. Becky made sure I toed the line and helped me sort the world. That Chris Brogan is a rock star and personally delivered on of my favorite dinners. Aruni is even more beautiful inside and out. Christina, Shama, and Shashi made a group lunch just by being there.

Still I have to say that I missed talking to everyone I meet here in the morning.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Leah Jones was speaking to a group about the people she knows online and said this, “I’m not going to use quotes. [My friends online] are real friends.

It’s a right choice for me to be “gone” when I’m gone on conference. Otherwise, I find myself torn in too many directions — trying to do too many things. I lose track of where my focus should be.

Conferences come and go. Hopefully, I found some new thoughts to share with you.

What I missed at SxSW was talking to you everyday.

I also missed sleeping with my own pillow.

Thanks for being here to come home to.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

Filed Under: SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, SXSW

SxSW and Small Business: A Conference with a Purpose

March 11, 2008 by Liz Leave a Comment


A Flexible Plan

SxSW Interactive

When I booked to go to SxSW, I had a few considerations on my mind. My blog is the center of my small business . . . a small business needs to be open for the folks who visit here. Still, if I want myself, my business, and my network to grow and go deeper I need to be part of the relationships I care about.

Conferences do matter, especially to small business. For these reasons and many more.

  • Meeting the people we already know face to face deepens relationships that make doing business more meaningful and more effiicient.
  • Sitting in conversation with them allows us time to explore how we might align our mutual goals.
  • Interacting with new people let’s other folks get a real life, real time experience of who we are and give us a chance to elaborate on what we do. Nothing beats eyes on fire when we’re explaining how much a project has captured us to tranlate our investment in quality work.
  • Most importantly, if we want to grow our networks, we have to move to where we can interact with folks who don’t know us, but want to.

I went to SxSw with purpose — to learn more and meet more people. I’m bringing back more perspective, more clients, and more friends to interact with you.

I know a conference where you can do many of the same things. . . . it’s in May. Come to SOBCon08 with a purpose!

–ME “LIz” Strauss
Need help deciding? Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

Filed Under: Business Life, SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, conferences, sobcon08, SXSW

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 8
  • Next Page »

Recently Updated Posts

9 Reasons To Use WordPress

Useful Marketing Tools That Wont Bust Your Budget

Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Successful Blogger?

Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Successful Blogger?

6 Tips for the Serial Side Hustler

How to Make Your Blog Popular

Helpful Tips for Business Blogging



From Liz Strauss & GeniusShared Press

  • What IS an SOB?!
  • SOB A-Z Directory
  • Letting Liz Be

© 2023 ME Strauss & GeniusShared