ENHANCING YOUR SXSW EXPERIENCE WITH TWITTER

ENHANCING YOUR SXSW EXPERIENCE

Guest Blog Post By Alex Villalba

Over the past few years, social media has evolved from a mindless escape from reality to an extremely effective marketing, networking and connecting tool for businesses, individuals and explorers alike.

In fact, a large part of the success of my lifestyle blog, seemefeedmereadme, can be attributed to social media in general and Twitter in particular.

Twitters various marketing, publicizing and exploring tools have provided my blog with a powerful platform from which I can share my ideas with a global, targeted audience.

I got prime opportunity to see the awesome power of Twitter in action at SXSW.

During this fast paced, music, film and interactive expo, there’s one thing you need to keep in mind:

“Twitter Is Everything At SXSW”

From getting updates to communicating with the masses, there’s a plethora of ways Twitter can help you get through SXSW.

So if you’re looking for ways to get the most out of SXSW here are some great tips on how to use twitter to enhance your experience.

Gain Followers & Connect With People

When it comes to gaining exposure and getting ahead, it’s all about who you know - and this is especially true in “The Twitterverse”.

Since SXSW is a global showcase that interests millions of people from all around, you can take advantage of the fact that you’re one of the lucky people that gets to go and broadcast it to the world through Twitter!!

During this one week in spring SXSW is trending like crazy.

Every day hundreds of thousands of people are searching for information about it.

So by tweeting and sharing your experience before, during and right after the festival, you can connect and network with people across industries all over the world.

In today’s rapidly evolving online world you never know where one of these connections may lead!!

Win Prizes & Exclusive Invites

SXSW is a non stop party packed with vendors, film makers, innovators and more all looking to showcase their offerings to visitors and passers by.

But what most people don’t know is most of these ‘booths’ are really active on social media, since it allows them to keep a finger on the pulse of the festivities.

Many vendors and booths like to reward those Instagramers, Tweeters and Snapchatters who are buzzing about their products by dishing out prizes and incentives for using the “magic word”, a.k.a using the omnipotent hashtag along with the name of their product.

Don’t believe me?

Tweeting about AMC’s the The Animal Kingdom while I was playing at their booth just so happened to snag me a free pair custom, limited edition Vans.

….. and the perks don’t stop there!!

So, during SXSW, make sure your hashtag game is strong because it may just be your ticket to a free show, party or an awesome prize.

Find Out Where All The Celebrities & Secret Parties Are

Viva Goes To SXSW!!

Fly Felix + MAAGS House Show Hosted By FosterATX

The SXSW festival is a happening hub for celebrities, up and comers and artists from all over to connect with their fans and make some new friends.

….. but just because the A-listers are in town doesn’t mean festival goers or badge holders get a minute-by-minute itinerary of their daily activities.

So if you want to rub elbows with all the Hollywood elites, you’ll have to find their secret after-party hiding spots and hangouts, which aren’t exactly publicized on the handy SXSW mobile app.

This is where hardcore festival fans get on Twitter to scout out all the celebrity spotting and meet and greet opportunities happening behind the scenes.

You just saw Ryan Gosling at the opening night film premiere, and now you’re wondering where he’s hanging out in Austin.

As for me, I got the chance to meet one of my favorite actors Crispin Glover at the Twitter house, which took over a popular bar on Austin’s iconic Rainey Street during the festival.

By strategically following SXSW accounts and celebrity twitter accounts, you dramatically increase your odds of getting a superstar selfie or super exclusive invite.

Get Up To The Minute Updates

If you’re planning on attending all 7 days of this action packed, star studded festival, then you’re going to have a nearly impossible schedule of events to manage.

Just accept one thing about the process:

You’re going to miss things that you want to see because you’re at other things that you want to see more.

Luckily, SXSW has created a helpful mobile app that badge holders can reference throughout the day so they can keep track of what’s going on.

But if you really want to stay current on the festival’s hundreds of daily activities, be sure to follow all the SXSW related Twitter accounts and definitely turn on push notifications because, during SXSW, things happen fast.

You, never know who may make a surprise appearance or where, and Twitter is a treasure trove of tips and news updates to help you stay ahead of the game.

Increase Brand Awareness

For many artists and entrepreneurs, SXSW is the ultimate opportunity to promote their hot new product or brand to just the right audience.

But you don’t have to be a participating vendor or exhibitor to market yourself during SXSW.

Take advantage of the social media buzz around SXSW and put your product on the map by sharing as much content on Twitter as you can at this super trendy festival.

During SXSW the Twitterverse will be taken over by artists, vendors and followers who are interested and actively searching for this event.

Tweeting about what’s trending will help you gain followers, which can easily be translated into customers and subscribers to your brand or cause.

So take advantage of this tailor made audience by posting related content often and using the hashtag #SXSW.

Then simply sit back and watch the new followers roll in.

Have fun with the ideas and let us know how your SXSW experience is in 2018.