The Value of SXSW

posted on February 24, 2011

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Every year around this time the same thing happens.

Those of us gearing up to go to SXSW in Austin, Texas begin to get excited and those who are not going get cranky. (Yes, there is a third group who could care less about the conference and go about their merry way enjoying life to the fullest.)

But, this year I’m seeing more and more people questioning the relevance, worth and value of attending SXSW and I wanted to provide my answer to what value I find in attending.

This will be my fourth year attending the conference and every year I come away so happy that I was able to attend. Once again I’m speaking at the event by doing a Content Rules book reading. (I’m still not sure how a book reading happens there, but we’ll find out.)

The way I describe SXSW to people who have never been is that it is as if the entire Internet came together in one place and you’ll leave having made new friends and becoming closer with old ones.

Sure, there are a ton of great presentations, parties and more then enough great food and drink. But, for me the value in going to SXSW is the people you get to meet and spend time with in Austin. Looking back through my photos I’ve taken at SXSW you’ll see most of them are of the people I meet.

Through the years as I’ve worked on different marketing campaigns, I’ve used technology from vendors I saw on the expo floor, involved influencers that I hung out with over breakfast tacos and more than once formed business relationships with people I met in the hallways of the convention center.

While I haven’t conjured up a magical spreadsheet to measure the ROI of this to me, I know it in my heart and wallet that the value is there. That is why every March you’ll find me in Austin, sleep deprived, inspired and counting the days until the next SXSW.

Trust me, that it is up to each of us to find value in everything we do. It is not cheap to attend and you need to make sure you get what you want out of it. Need some tips? Here is my SXSW Tips video I made last year at this time.

And to anyone that criticizes or complains and yet has never attended, you don’t get a voice OK? SXSW is truly one of those things that you have to experience to fully appreciate.

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Categories: Events

http://www.enterdialogue.com Tyson Goodridge

CC- couldn’t agree more- Last year was my first time (yes am still a rookie) and words can’t describe the value.. Its connecting with Twitter friends you’ve never met IRL, spontanous breakfasts, lunches, and breakfast tacos, seeing you (cuz i never seem to see you in Boston) and simply putting context and more “meat” around relationships. Shared experiences here are the best, can’t put a price tag/ROI on that…

http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

BINGO!

Are you going this year?

http://www.enterdialogue.com Tyson Goodridge

Is the Pope Catholic?
Yep- see you there

http://www.facebook.com/thechuckwilliams Chuck Williams

I failed to prepare, and the $750 walkup for SXSWi seems a touch steep to me.

http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

If you are in the area, you should still go. Plenty of great stuff going on outside of the panels and awesome keynotes.

http://www.christophersharpe.com Christopher Sharpe

I bought a badge this year JUST so I can stalk you and buy you breakfast tacos. It is going to happen!

http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

YES! We must finally have a beer together. We’ve been trying for faaaaaar too many years.

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http://matthewebel.com Matthew Ebel

I hate SXSW and everyone going there.

(‘Cause I can’t afford to get there yet. Then it’ll be awesome and sooooo worth it.)

Fly safely!

http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

You just can’t ever post something without snark can you? *laugh*

Yeah, you should definitely be there on stage sometime. Did you submit your music? Some social media smart brand would do good to hire you to perform at one of their parties. You’d rock it for sure!

http://matthewebel.com Matthew Ebel

I think it was JC Hutchins that asked, “when did wit become rebranded as snark?”

And believe me, I’d love to go. SXSW, DragonCon, and Midem are three big conventions I’d love to hit one of these days. But in the mean time I will simply wallow in envy, that’s healthy right? Hope you have fun though!

http://www.davemadethat.com Dave Delaney

I feel like Dorothy at the end of The Wizard of Oz (spoiler alert ).

“I think I’m going to miss you most of all.”

Wish I was able to come this year.

http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

I know man. It is NOT going to be the same without you and I’m going to miss our little tradition of kicking it off with a burger and a beer.

http://www.davemadethat.com Dave Delaney

We’ll do it again next year! Hell, I hope to see you before then though.
http://www.davemadethat.com Dave Delaney

This is a reminder that on November 2, Dave Delaney sent you an invitation to become part of their professional network at LinkedIn.
Accept Dave Delaney’s Invitation

———-

http://scottmonty.com scottmonty

I’m with Dave. It’s hard to sit this one out, knowing the great stuff that goes on and comes out of SXSW. Plus, you know, no accordion.

http://www.davemadethat.com Dave Delaney

I miss you without even going to SXSW Scott!

http://www.enterdialogue.com Tyson Goodridge

Yep- coming!
http://www.purplestripe.com Lynette Young

I’m a SxSW n00b, finally getting out this year to see what the big deal is about (which means the conference has jumped the shark). For the past few years I’ve had to skip because of other obligations, and was in the ‘bitter’ camp for sure. Honestly, from the outside, as a newbie, SxSW looks like one big clusterfook of people with inflated egos or eager-to-land VC with just a dumb idea. My hope is that it’s not like every other tech conference. Hey! I still sound bitter! Let’s hope the actual experience changes my mind.

http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

If that is how you feel why in the world are you coming?

There are plenty of people like that but they are outnumbered by good hearted folks.

http://www.purplestripe.com Lynette Young

I’m excited to be going for the first time, but as the date gets closer and I ‘research’ more about it, I’m disheartened. Much of what I’m reading from past events revolves around what party someone got into (or didn’t), how to make sure you are ‘seen’ with the right people, and how to make yourself seem as A-List and elite as possible. I’m not into the status thing, and think that maybe I had my heart set on what SxSW used to be, not what it is now.

With sessions like “How To Not Be A Douchebag at SXSW” & “Help Save SXSW from Marketer Douchebaggery” I feel like I’m going to be the outcast/outsider right from the start. Really? If that’s how the speakers view ‘me’ how is the general attendance going to treat me? (For the record, I’m a TECH in the social space, not a marketer – YOU know that but not everyone reading this does.)

If the value isn’t in the sessions but the networking, why even have them? To give people a doorway to hang out in? If there are a number of good hearted folks, I sure hope I find a good bunch early on. It seems like anymore people go to SxSW to say they were there. I don’t have time for that, I want to go to SxSW to make solid business contacts to develop relationships with after. I could care less if I’m at the coolest undisclosed invite-only party like so many others seem to care about.
http://twitter.com/Fierce_living Jim Fierce

Lynette, I will be in Austin but can’t afford SXSW. I plan on hanging around the fringe and getting some other business deals done while I am there. There are going to be a lot of HIRL events so I hope to see you at one of them and meet IRL.
http://twitter.com/Fierce_living Jim Fierce

Ok now I feel silly as this thread was posted last year

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http://alexascordato.com Alexa Scordato

Hope we get to hang out and have a beer or two!
http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

I am going to SXSW for the first time and did realize that second group of people complaining…

I look forward to watching your session with Ann

http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

Be sure to come up and say hello after the session is done.

http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

Wao that was quick… I really enjoyed your speech at IMS10 …
http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

That would be part of the power of Disqus because comments come in via
e-mail and I can reply to them right from the message. Love it.

Thanks about the IMS10 speech. That was a fun one!
http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

I am a big fan of disqus.. I don’t know why everyone does not use it..

What is the one thing I should certainly not miss?
http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

There is FAR to much going on at SXSW to narrow it down to that. Two of my
favorites are Ewan Spence’s Social Media Breakfast and The Fray Cafe.
http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

I will take that as one of the options.. Thanks again CC.. I really appreciate your replies.
http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

I will take that as one of the options.. Thanks again CC.. I really appreciate your replies.
http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

I will take that as one of the options.. Thanks again CC.. I really appreciate your replies.

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