SXSW Bound In A Few Hours

It's 1:00 a.m. and I find myself sitting here with ideas and stuff running through my head that keeps me up at night, especially on the eve of SXSW. It's a big tech/media/social event in Central Texas that I try not to pass up. For me, it's the only time I'll see some of the amazing people I've met online. I hope to change that in time, but for now, with all the panel sessions, expo floor participants, and late evening get togethers, it's a wonder if I'll get any sleep during the next week.

Nevertheless, it's bound to be a good time. I'm looking forward to meeting many of you out in the real world. I've got plenty of hand shaking and laughing to go around and as I work on solidifying existing relationships, it's the new ones that I'm always aware of. I'll be able to chat with people that inspire me and help me define my own goals by what they write or say.

If you're going to SXSW for the first time, or you've been in the past, what are you most excited about? Leave a comment below, I'd love to see what you're hoping to walk away with by the end of the conference.

See you all in a few!

Places I'll Be - Let's Connect

The next month is going to be a very busy month. There's a lot going on and I thought I'd share some of what's on my radar already and perhaps we can connect. I meet a lot of people at the conferences, Tweetups, Meetups, and all places in between that are truly amazing in their own right, and I want to meet more.

Got a story to share? Something you'd like to say? Maybe you'd like to be featured on the Tech in Twenty podcast? All of this possible, but let's shake hands and share a cup of coffee, a bottle of water, or a bite to eat.

This is where you can find me.

• Innotech San Antonio (it's done and over with, great presenting, created a lot of content, had lots of fun in the Social Media Lounge. Thanks to Brewing Media for that sponsorship)
• RISE Austin (featured speaker, in town for a few hours if you'd like to get together)
• SXSW (I'm in all through interactive, we'll be recording for SXSWi so let's meetup somewhere)
• OASIS (teaching class)
• San Antonio American Marketing Association TBA (featured luncheon speaker)
• Northside Chamber of Commerce TBA (featured speaker along with Jennifer Navarrete)

As much as I love my digital relationships, I love turning them into real live connections. Looking forward to meeting you all!

The Other Half Time Show: Behind the Scenes

Thanks to an amazing effort by Alan Weinkrantz and all of the organizers who helped make this event happen, the Twitter Jam Bad rocked the house for The Other Half Time Show. After the Super Bowl's opening act, The Who, the Twitter Jam Band played their set raising money for Hugs4Holly.

Using community efforts and social media for social good, this event was organized and put on without the multi-million dollar budget of the NFL. This singular cause was broadcasted on Ustream to the entire world and the world was indeed watching. Donations were coming in from around the US with viewers from as far as Europe and some from South America.

I had the opportunity to be an organizer which I was happy to support. While I was there, prior to the show, I recorded some practice sessions and behind the scenes planning to share with all of you.

Super Bowl Sunday's Other Half Time Show

Today's the big day! For an entire season football fanatics have awaited the mega-event of the year in the NFL. Super Bowl Sunday has arrived and while millions of millions of people around the world will be tuning, there are many more that have an opportunity to make a difference in one person's life.

Today's NFL halftime show is going to feature The Who, playing the songs of old that a great many of us know, remember, and cherish. While that halftime show is all well and good, local PR specialist and new media leader has brought a social cause into the lime light by supporting it with his efforts to bring social media into the realm of social good. Alan Weinkrantz of Weinkrantz & Co. has created an effort called The Other Halftime Show which will focus on a specific cause every year. This year's inaugural launch will be focusing on Hugs4Holly.

Believing in Yourself

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Magaly Chocano, founder of Swebapps. It was a business meeting of sorts, but mostly it was also an introductory meeting since I am a huge fan of what they do and wanted to find a way for the show I co-host, Tech in Twenty, and her company to work together on a few projects. Pesonally, her story is amazing, the success of her company unparrallel, and the outlook is outstanding. All of it coming not just from hard work but from believing in yourself.

Blogging 101: 30 Most Asked Questions Part I

Today’s topic will highlight some of the most asked questions about blogging. Consider this a blogging 101 for those looking at starting a blog or at least understanding what they can do for their blog. I've known many people who start a blog not really understanding what else they can do with the content they are creating.

This post along with part II will highlight some common questions I get via email or have come across during the various presentations I've done.

Bringing Great Minds Together

Today I've had a great opportunity to gather with some great minds to work on some projects that I've got going and one that I was brought into. It never fails to surprise me the network that I have, and the types of thought leadership that exist within that network. It is from these individuals that great projects with great outcomes have been born.

I'm curious to know from my readers who they draw inspiration from and if they gather with local leaders to share ideas and lean on one another to start and finish projects. I think it's vital that as much as spend time online, that we not forget the people in our own backyard.

I can say I'm happy to know the people that I know and am always ready, when I'm available, to help them in their endeavors. So share your thoughts in the comments and let me know if you still rely on real world relationships, and also if your real world network has grown due to online engagement.

Photo Credit drinksmachine

Professional Awareness For New Media Types

New Media is the transition that we're seeing now, whereby traditional media outlets are now being transitioned to "newer" types of available media outlets like mobile technology, online sites, and various unique ways of creating content to either share information or promote a product or service. During these times of transition we see a lot of experimentation, some succeed while some fail, but all in all it's a space that is very fluid and forgiving. This allows for many of us who are exploring this space to go "back to the drawing board" as they say and determine what worked and what didn't and become better than our previous iteration. This forgiveness works for the industry and against it.

Live Blogging Introduces Informational Immediacy

For bloggers, nothing says success more than readers, and readers are drawn to bloggers that have valid and relevant information. This relationship can be hard to maintain and sometimes feel like a tug of war on certain days. Still, a blogger that allows themselves to lose the fight will find themselves alone, their message not getting to a single person except for the occasional web surfer that might find their site.

So how do you tackle this? What are some ideas that make viewers want to come to you as the source for information? I hope to answer these questions for you by explaining the tools and techniques of live blogging.

Bloggers Unite for Haiti Relief

If you're looking for a way to make an impact in the world around you, Bloggers Unite has always been a worthwhile cause, especially since...well you're a blogger. I woke up this morning with a notification that Bloggers Unite is looking for a few good writers to help with the relief in Haiti. If you look to the right hand side of this article you'll see a little widget in support of this cause.

Whether you joined the texting campaign or if you'd like to get your community to support the relief in this way, do something to help the millions upon millions affected by this horrendous natural disaster.

I've shown my support, why not get a widget for your site and show your support. If you need the code for the widget, let me know, I'd be happy to share it with you.