photo credit:
butlerphotography

I’m about to head down to Austin, Texas for South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive for the third consecutive year (2009 recap, 2008 recap). It’s a tremendous event for those of us in the tech, web, social media, whatever you want to call it space. So many people are there, which makes it a little surreal, especially when you visit for the first time.

So, for those of you new to the show, here are my 5 quick tips for the event, in an effort to help you to get the most out of it.

1. Use the Hilton Bathrooms

Even if you’re not staying there. Yes, I’m serious. The Hilton bathrooms are nice, clean and smell respectable. The Hilton is also part of the conference as some of the sessions are scheduled within the hotel. The convention center bathrooms do not even compare. Yes, it’s a short walk across the street. It’s worth it.

I’ve been working on booking speaking engagements for 2010. I’m talking to a number of different parties and hope to have more announced soon, but as I have a pair that are fast approaching, I thought I’d mention them as I always like to meet people at the events I attend. Not only will I speak at the events below, but I will be attending them each and every day.

On March 13 at 12:30 PM CT, I will be co-leading a Core Conversation at South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive with Twanna A. Hines. It’s called “Shameless Self Promotion Without Looking Like an @#$%^&!” Here’s the short description:

Back in September, I was approached by Manning Publications about receiving an advance copy of an upcoming book, “Website Owner’s Manual” by Paul Boag, founder of Headscape and the creator of Boagworld, one of, if not the, most popular web design podcasts in the world. They provided me with an advance eBook, in consideration of a review or advance praise for the book’s cover.

I had met Paul for the first time at South by Southwest last year and we exchanged a few e-mails. He seemed like a pretty good guy, so I agreed to look over the eBook. I’ve since been able to get to know him ever so slightly better and that has only worked to confirm my initial impressions.

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photo credit: jasonkeath

Sometimes, in reference to someone’s writing or a speaking engagement or some sort of content, a reader might say “well, that’s common sense.” As if that’s a bad thing.

Common sense is a funny thing, for two reasons:

• Nothing is common sense. Until it is.
• Common sense for you may not be common sense for me. For every (virtually) universal common sense, there is a common sense more along the lines of “yeah, I agree with you.”

Last March, I spoke at South by Southwest Interactive (see my recap), presenting a solo presentation titled “The Art of Responding to Feedback From Your Community.” The basis of this talk was a blog post that I made on ManagingCommunities.com in January of 2009.

The presentation is based around my three steps for responding to feedback. In short, they are: appreciate, acknowledge and consider. Be appreciative that someone contacted you, acknowledge their perspective and what they are saying and then consider it and how applicable it may or may not be.

If you’d like to check it out, the full video has been posted at ManagingCommunities.com, along with slides.