Self Replicating Awesomeness!

Friday, Myself and 10 of my colleagues headed out to Austin to attend SXSW, 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? Only some of the brightest and most knowledgeable mind on the forefront of technology were there, thats why! From Microsoft to individuals that have made it big through ingeniousness( Tim Ferriss) the representation was astounding!:) One of my absolute favorite panels that I enjoyed was on Monday, the discussing was the Marketing of No Marketing, HUH??? This panel ws comprised of the following incredible people:

Deb Schultz-(deborahschultz.com)- She believes strongly on personalizing your brand. Live Journal, Social software background, music biz, social software tools, customer service, product development: how to get? GIVE!!!

Chris Heuer-(the conversation group)- Making a place where you want to be! Social media as an element. How we relate amongst each other. Stop trying to sell me and start trying to help me make smarter decisions. www.theconversationgroup.com : remember the best thing you can give away is Knowledge.

Jermeiah owyang-(web-strategist.com)- Communities and bloggers: let customers take charge, i.e .a personal embassy, amongst get feedback from clients. Ambassadors of the community. Elf replicating marketing. www.web-strategist.com

Tara Hunt: research on social capital: value of relationships. Online community. down in out in the magic capital KARMA woofee: www.horsepigcow.com, The more you give the more you get- bring goodness to the world. Web 2.0 demo crazing for the world we are in. Book: blue ocean strategies. How do you become successful? Theme here is : GIVE!!!!

Hugh McLeod: storm hook winery, blog writing, and boost! Giving away bottles, company didn't have any $$, Impromptu geek dinners and bringing wines take pics and post, Conversations about the product and the people, Social communication among geeks is objects. Hence became social gestures, now turn into social markers. Examples of your objects: www.gapingvoid.com : Russel Davis, big brands have lots of little small ideas, ie star bucks, apple, tables, ear plugs. BIG BRAND= good little things

David Parmet: the future of the economy is free? Giving it away! www.marketingbeginsathome.com

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! Thats right, GIVE to get! We have been listening to our moms tell us this since we were kids, remember the word share? It works like GIVE, your offering something because you want to and those that receive will talk well about you for doing so. Its 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 ion Sunday, they had rain hoodies for EVERYONE at SXSW to wear! Now thats what I call good GIVING!