Heading to SXSW? Tips for Making the Most of the Experience

In one week, the biggest and brightest minds of the online world will gather in Austin, Texas, to talk up the latest and greatest in social media, technology and everything wired. The interactive conference at South By Southwest — better known as SXSW — is billed as “an incubator of cutting-edge technologies,” featuring five days of compelling presentations and networking events with industry leaders in emerging technology. Innovators, tech startups, social media gurus and Fortune 500 companies alike can appreciate the magnitude of this one event.

SXSW has become the “not-to-be-missed” event for more than 20,000 attendees to preview promising new digital developments. To give you a little perspective, Twitter was practically launched at SXSW in 2007. The 2009 SXSW Interactive saw the launch of Foursquare.

Makes you wonder, what’s in store for 2012? No less than 30,000 South Floridians employed in the tech field are wondering, too. Many of our local digital media professionals and enthusiasts will themselves be making their annual pilgrimage to the conference.

J. Ricky Arriola, president and CEO of Inktel Contact Center Solutions in Miami Lakes, says SXSW is the “Super Bowl” for digital types. “It is perhaps the largest concentration of industry players in the country.”

Why is it important to be there?                         

“The opportunities to learn and make business connections at SXSW are endless,” says Aubrey Swanson, social media coordinator at Kaufman Rossin in Miami.

Day and night throughout SXSW, there are expert sessions, panel discussions and keynotes covering everything from ads in the age of personal data to technology’s effect on niche marketing.

 “The sessions help confirm my current strategies and ideas, teach and prepare me for what the future holds, and inspire me with creative new ideas to implement once I return to Miami,” Swanson says.

If you are among those who tweet and tumble from the 305 but are staying Southeast during SXSW, there are a number of ways to get looped in to the SXSW Interactive event, which runs SXSW Interactive will take place March 9-13:

This will be my second trip to SXSW. This time, rbb is launching SXSFL.net as South Florida’s portal to SXSW. We will post daily on the keynotes and sessions, talk to the experts and listen with a South Florida ear to the issues and trends in the global digital marketplace. Check out the conference rundown at https://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/. We’d like to know which issues you feel are most important to the South Florida economy.

Attend the SXSFL Tweet-up at The Stage Miami, 130 NE 38th St. in the Design District, from 6 till 9 p.m. on March 6, co-sponsored by rbb Public Relations and Social Media Club of South Florida.

Follow the live coverage on Twitter at #SXSFL and #SXSWi.

If this is your first time attending SXSW, it can be a little overwhelming. Here are a few tips to make the most of your experience:

Make your own personal schedule.  You may not stick to it but at least study the options in advance and make a loose wishlist.  You will discover interesting things and most likely end up with a Plan A, B and C. 
Change it up and make room for networking. It’s not all about panels. There are keynotes, exhibitions, workshops, author events, and parties.  Aim for variety. 
Use the tools on the SXSW website, including SXsocial, to make connections and glean insights that can help you get the most of your time. 
Study the Maps.  The convention center is a very large venue. And there are events scattered around the area.  Locations must be taken into consideration when planning your itinerary.
Bring the juice.  Tweeting, Foursquaring and Facebooking day and night will mean you need extra power for your mobile devices.  Get an extra battery pack, and bring your charger everywhere you go.
Pace Yourself.  Resist the urge to do it all on day one.  With so many inviting choices, you will have to make some tough decisions to avoid being overwhelmed or disappointed that you didn’t get to it all.

Christine de la Huerta is a vice president at rbb Public Relations and head of its social and digital media division, Digital Park. A South Florida native and professional marketer for more than 15 years, She will be providing on-the-ground coverage from SXSW for SXSFL.net. She can be reached at Christine.DeLaHuerta@rbbpr.com.

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