UPDATE 12/10: My social shopping talk has been approved! Thanks to all who voted… see you in Austin!

Voting for next year’s panels, talks and convo’s, at South by Southwest, is now in full swing! SXSW, or “Spring Break/Camp for Geeks” as many of us lovingly refer to those 5-10 days, is one of my most favorite times a year, and I’m beyond thrilled to be a part of the actual conference, too! I’m up for two rad panels (and have linked to a few recommended panels, at the end of this post):

• Social Shopping: The Future of Selling Stuff Online – it’s on!
• Brand Your Friends: Social Asylum at SF Embassy – sadly didn’t make the cut, but the SFEmbassy will be in full effect in 2011!

Below you can read about the talk that I’m giving, which will be structured very much like what SXSW calls a “core-convo”, even if it gets listed as a talk, because I’m a firm believer in the power of many minds and voices for the process of reflection and learning! It’s somewhat similar to talks I’ve done previously, but this one has a new twist. I’m really interested in thinking about how we’ll be buying and selling online in a few years from now, and am excited to discuss the topic in that realm, in addition to best practices for selling online today.

So, I would greatly appreciate it if you would take a minute to read through these, and if you like what you see, give me your thumbs up vote! I also welcome any comments, suggestions, questions, etc. Actually, if you can click through and add those right on the SXSW Panel Picker website, that’s best.

Social Shopping: The Future of Selling Stuff Online

Markets are conversations. As the web continues its neverending voyage toward Social, indie merchants must learn to engage and interact with their existing and future customers in new ways. The era of Social Shopping has begun, so get the info you need to stay ahead of the curve. Learn how to take advantage of the social web to help your indie business make more sales, connect with your community, and build devoted followers around the world. Perfect for small business owners, artists, crafters, musicians, authors and anyone else with something to sell.

1. What online tools make it easiest for your fans/customers to share your products throughout the web?
2. What is the Social Graph, and what does it mean for my independent business?
3. How can sellers use their online presence to reach a global audience?
4. How to create a network of support – both through your online social media networks, and with friends in your own city.
5. Beyond Twitter and Facebook, what online communities can add value to your brand?

Vote & Comment »

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Then, I’ve also been included on an awesome panel, based off our phenomenal SF Embassy experience earlier this year (SXSW’10). I’m really excited about this one (as well as SF Embassy ’11!), and truly honored to be a part of it alongside Gabe, James and Micah. My friends are rockstars. <3

Brand Your Friends: Social Asylum at SF Embassy

With a bag of one inch round buttons featuring San Francisco’s Sutro Tower and the promise of bacon and a band at brunch, the SF Embassy helped a couple hundred people form instant, powerful, trusted connections at last year’s SXSW. By branding a group of connected apartments in the madness of 6th Street as a place of social asylum, the SF Embassy gave this spontaneous community a framework to navigate the conference and their relationship with it and each other. Brand has played a powerful role in identifying and differentiating our communities for as long as we’ve had community. Increasingly, this identity is provided not by tribe or nation, but by lifestyle brands, technology companies, and rock bands. In this panel, we’ll explore the hunger for cultural identities unmediated by corporate interest, how the SF Embassy satiated that hunger for its citizens, and discuss how to apply several design patterns to strengthen ad hoc communities of all kinds. Towards the goal of creating a United Nations at SXSW, we’ll also provide downloadable templates and tools that you can use to establish your own embassy!

1. How are corporate and cultural branding different? What do they have in common?
2. What responsibility does a branded community have to make it’s intimacy gradient (how inclusive or exclusive it is) clear?
3. What came out of SF Embassy, both during the week of SXSW and in the year following?
4. What went horribly wrong?
5. How can I start my own embassy?

Vote & Comment »

Lastly, I want to tip you off to a few others I’m really looking forward to attending. Note, however, this is just a start, and a running list, as I still need to take the time to do some scouring. Therefore, feel free to give me a heads up on ones you think I should see! Post a link in the comments, or tweet @ me & I’ll check em out.

• Are Your Customers a Crowd or a Community?
  There is no better person to speak on this topic than the loving, darling, and “community cultivator” Thomas Knoll.
• Agile Ain’t Just For Developers: Agile People Manifesto
  Two great friends (one of them is my NBFF/Canadian Husband, Jay!) & incredible minds in the field of HR and managing/cultivating successful teams.
• Abolish The Hourly: How Value Pricing Wins Clients
  As a freelancer for 8+ years, I can relate to this one!! Right on, Lee.
• The Future of E-Commerce (Spoiler Alert: It’s Social)
  This is my friend Jon‘s talk, and while it may seem similar to mine, he’s got an AWESOME lineup of panelists joining him (to be announced soon). His viewpoints take on a more grand scale view of the innovation we’ll be seeing in the technology behind e-commerce. I’m excited to hear what they all have to say.
• Empowering Conscientious Consumers: Take the Power Back
  Jon’s wife, Janette, is also doing a talk… and this one is one that is close to my heart! My eco-friendly, organic-loving, let’s-change-the-world hippy heart! :)
• Love Can Pay The Bills
  Not only am I new fan of Evernote, I’m fascinated with the premise of Freemium. So going to this!
• Everything You Wanted to Know About Launching Websites
  Jay Goldman has been in this industry for so long (seriously, read his bio), making waves on everything from design to coding to management & HR… this is going to be super informative for anyone looking to hear what you need to know for a successful launch.

Bah, there’s so many more, I know – sorry for those I’ve missed – but I’m running out the door & want to get this posted. Again, please post a link in the comments, or tweet @ me with a heads up on ones you think I should see, and I’ll gladly check em out.

Thanks in advance, my friends! I’m excited to see you all in Austin for another year of making mistakes. Um, I mean, memories. :)

p.s. Seasoned SXSWers, you might also be interested in the other post I wrote (aka ranted) today, The Evolution of SXSW & the Hive Mind. I’d love to hear your comments and perspectives on that one (after you go read/vote on the panels above, of course. ;)