Self Replicating Awesomeness! What We Learned at SXSW 2008

On Friday, myself and ten of my colleagues headed out to Austin to attend South by Southwest, one of the most intense, knowledge savvy conferences that anyone in the interactive, film and music industry would want to be a part of!

Why, you might ask? Because only some of the brightest and most knowledgeable minds on the forefront of technology were there, that's why! From big corporations like Microsoft to individuals that have made it big through ingeniousness (like Tim Ferris), the representation was astounding! :)

One of my absolute favorite panels that I enjoyed was on Monday, discussing the Marketing of No Marketing, So, what does this mean?

This panel was comprised of the following incredible people:

• Deb Schultz (deborahschultz.com): Believes strongly in personalizing your brand. How do you get live journal, social software background, music business, social software tools, customer service, and product development? Give!
• Chris Heuer (the conversation group): Presented how to make a place where you want to be, how to use social media as an element, and how we relate amongst each other. He also presented the changing dynamics of business as consumers no longer want companies to sell to them, they want companies to try to them make smarter decisions. Remember the best thing you can give away is Knowledge.
• Jermeiah Owyang (web-strategist.com): Addressed communities and bloggers to let customers take charge by establishing personal embassy, amongst getting feedback from clients. Enable ambassadors of the community with self replicating marketing.
• Tara Hunt: Presented her research on social capital and the value of relationships. With the online community, the more you give the more you get; so, bring goodness to the world. 
• Hugh McLeod: Shared case studies over harnessing blog writing and give-away items to promote the company.
• Russel Davis: Demonstrated how big brands have tons of little small ideas, ie. starbucks tables and Apple ear plugs. A BIG BRAND= good little things
• David Parmet: Answered how the future of the economy is free: by giving it away!

There was so much to take away form all of these wonderful people, but mostly the theme was unanimous in the sense that you have to give to get! That's right, give in order to get! We have been listening to our moms tell us this since we were kids, remember the word share? When you give, you're offering something because you want to and those that receive will talk well about you for doing so. It's about edifying your friends, your friends' businesses and the things that you get excited about! Its not always about the bottom line and how much money you will make. Companies forget this sometimes.

A really great example of a company that follows this example was Zappos. com they were so good at listening that when it started pouting down raining on Sunday, they had rain hoodies for everyone at SXSW to wear! Now that's what I call good giving!