(highlight:: Social Search Engines: Asking "I do X. Who do you think I should meet?" at Conferences
Summary:
Read the bios, not the session titles. Look for interesting people, not just panelists. Approach the moderators after panels and ask for recommendations.
Repeat this process to meet important people.
Don't oversell yourself when approaching referred individuals.
Offer to buy them a drink. This methodical approach helps navigate the overwhelming number of sessions.
Transcript:
Speaker 1
So how do you choose among all the sessions? You probly have some big, fat book that youre like, my god. How am i possibly gong to tackle any of this? Number one, read the bios, not the sessions. The session titles may not tell you the whole story. For interesting people, not titles of sessions. And secondly, don't just look at the people on the panel. Look at the moderators. And so what i did my first time to south by southwest is i would go to a panel, i would listen to these amazing people on the on a given panel, and then i would go up, not to the alisters on the Panel, afterwards, i would go to the moderator, many of whom are equally impressive, in their own right. And i would go to the moderator, whois usually not nearly as mobbed, and i would give them a quick explanation at sahe thisis my first time at southby. I don't know anyone. Connel lost. Just finish my first book. It's about a, b and c. Personally, i'm interested n at the time, say, brazilian jujito, this, this and this. Is there anyone here you think i might really hit it off with? Anyone you think i should talk to? I'm pretty good at this and this? And they be as sure, yes, i thinkshul o, this person and this person. And i just repeated that line of questioning over and over and over again. And that's how i met many of the people who led to the tipping point for the book. And when i went up to those people who were referred, by the way, don't say so and so, said, we should really meet. Don't, don't oversell it. Just say i went up to them, i asked them this. They said this. I figured, what the hell, maybe we'd hit it off. Can i buy you drink? It's a very methodical way to go about tackling deluge of sessions.)
- Time 0:18:56
- networking, social_networks, socialhuman_search_engines, snipdpost-queue,

(highlight:: Selling Your Ideas Through Sheets Of Paper
Summary:
To make a positive first impression at events like South by Southwest, don't try to sell someone in person.
Instead, hand them a well-crafted pitch on a folded piece of paper and include your phone number. Leaving a memento and acknowledging their busy schedule can also help make a good impression.
Transcript:
Speaker 1
How do i make a positive first impression? Your job at south by southwest is to not make a bad impression. Oeh. Because if all you're doing is trying to sell someone, there are many different ways to do it, aside from coming to south by southwest. What i would recommend, especially ini an instance where you're trying to reach, say, an alister, write somebody who's getting mobbed and pitched all day long, like an anthony bordan, Or whoever it might be, don't try to give the pitch in person. Give them a folded up piece of paper with a page that you've painstakingly crafted. That is the perfect pitch. Include your phone number. You'd be surprised how many v ip folks like to call. Folks we esciped have a conversation. Is supposed to send you their personal emal for instance, don't make an impression. Leave a memento. Just say, hey, i realize you're super busy agout this long line of people. You're under a lot of pressure. I've thought about this. I think this will be of great interest to you.)
- Time 0:20:35
- snipdpost-queue, networking, pitching, professional_networking, sales, entrepreneurship, startups, job_hunting,

(highlight:: Passively Pitching Your Thing: Ask, Tell, Simmer, Gauge Interest, and DON'T Follow Up
Summary:
Men often try to impress others in a conversation, but that can backfire.
Instead, when joining a group conversation, wait for the right moment to politely ask if you can join. Be genuinely interested in the topic and ask questions to spark a debate.
When someone asks about you, give a brief answer and gauge their interest.
Offer to send them a promotional copy of your book if they show genuine interest.
Avoid following up too much and respect people's boundaries.
Transcript:
Speaker 1
So the key here, and this is mostly a problem with men in my experience, or boys, or guys, an anything between, is we try to impress people. So we stroll up and welike, but that's a good point. You know, it's even better point. Or someone says something you like, you know, but that reminds me of the story that won up your story. Don't do that. And in fact, you should do the opposite. So one of the riences that i had, and challenges that many of you will have is, how do you get into a group conversation? How do you interrupt people? So my rules for that are, number one, if it's two people who are deep in conversation, don't interrupt. K remember, don't rush. Play the long game. If it's two people, just don't interrupt. Wait. If it's more people, three, four, et cetera, you can saunter up and do what i did in two thousand seven wou say, hay, guys, do you mind if i join you? Just eavesdrop. It's my first time here. I don't know anybody. I'll by au guise around o drinks. It's usually a place whre ycan get free drinks. So it works out really easily. And there'l a sure. Now, the reason you don't just walk up and say, lik ha, guys, i'm just going to eavesdrop is, even though they're never going to say no, at least you asked. Be polite, a right? Sad, then they be, whatever. Man. So i'd hang out. Typically there'd be a lot of engineers. I'm not a coter, not an engineer. And if someone said something that i was genuinely interested in clarifying. So the be. Well, we did let it iond. Of course, we ended up with ruby on rails. And i'd say, i'm really sorry to interrupt, but i'm deep in the ignorance pool here. Why was ruby on rails the obvious choice? I don't know what it is, but why was it such an obvious advantage? And that will oftentimes spark a a debate among the people in that group. And so every once in a while you throw out one of these questions, again, being the idiot, which is what good an por hosts also do, by the way. And eventually someone will say, await, who the hell are you again, ikwita? What's your story? And then you give them the shortest answer possible. Do not launch into a really rushed, long ass pitch. So i would say, well, nit, it's my first time here, and i just finished my f book, and the publishers basically controlling everything except for digital. So i'm here to try to figure it out. Pause. Then you wait to see who asks. If they do, what's it about? Great. And then you say, well, it's about this, this and this. But i think most people here reply find this interesting. And you see who digs deeper. All right. You'll see the logic to this in a second. Soless you say you've a group of six people, there's one person who has expressed extreme interest by digging and digging, in the case of the four hour work week, maybe they'reinterested In world travel, virtual assistance, that kind of thing. Then at the very end, you know, we'd bounce around talk about all sorts of subjects. That's it, you know, a zero pressure. I would never expect you to write about it or do anything like that. But i have a bunch of a promotional copies from the publisher. I could very easily just tab the 15 to 20 pages that i think you would find most interesting based on what we just talked about, and i can mail it to you, and, you know, can use it as a doorstop If you want. And because ih'd already hone down to the point where i knew who was interested, i would say probably 90 % of those folks said yes, were enthusiastic about it, and then at least half of Them ended up promoting it in some way, because they loved it, not because i asked them to do it. Does that make sense? And if you say, no strings attached, do not fucking follow up and bug the ship. It's a great way to get a huge amount of negative back lash. Don't do it. And will come back to that. But i tend to do very little follow up, except for something people have asked for, because people get enoughfemale as it is.)
- Time 0:22:06
- pitching, sales, snipddont-post, entrepreneurship, job_hunting, networking, professional_networking, startups,

(highlight:: Don't be a traffic bigot: Getting noticed by thought leaders
Summary:
Don't be a traffic bigot. Instead of targeting the biggest influencers, focus on thought leaders and up-and-coming individuals. Build relationships, be candid, and ask for their support.
Even if their audience is small, it can still be valuable exposure.
Don't overlook the potential of lesser-known but talented individuals.
Seek out the pre-VIPs and make meaningful connections.
Transcript:
Speaker 1
Don't be a traffic bigot. What does this mean? This means that you may be, if you have something to promote, if you have service, web side, start up, book, album, whatever it might be, movie, you might be tempted to go straight for The person who has the biggest megaphone, the biggest sight, the most twitter followers. And the problem with that is that you are going to be one of a thousand people who pitch this person while they're here. 99 point nine % on the time, it won't work. You can there's no harm in doing it tactfully. It usually won't work. What i did in two thousand seven, and there were blog rolls at the time, doyou rmember those. A is i tried to figure out. And you can ask people right up front. Moderators are good people to ask as well. Who do these people view as a thought leader? Oh yes. You have this group of ten traffic leaders who do they read? Who are the nich folks that they read very influential? Who are the thought leaders? And then you approach the thought leaders, invite them out to a drink, and you do the same thing that i just described and be very, very candid, masically, do like the puss in boots, you Know, holding the hat with the big eyes and a and it's amazing what miracles can come of that. Because if you get covered by one of those thought leaders in an interview, for instance, or anything like that, or you send them an exclusive excerpt, though they have a small sight, You send them an exclusive excript of the book, what happens? They put it up, and you're like, who cares? 20 thousand readers. But guess who those 20 thousand readers are? K, it's like being in front of 20 thousand tedatends. Kaso, don't be a traffic bigot. And i would also say that don't necessarily focus on the people whom you perceive as the a listers or v i ps. Now, try to find the pre v ip. Does that make sense? You're trying to find the up in comers. So you ask again, ask people who have been here a few times, who are the best ike up and coming, hot designers. You know, he the folks that are not very well known, who should be well known, or who are the the t the hot up and coming film makers who haven't had any press, who are they? Go meet those people.)
- Time 0:25:47
- snipddont-post, marketing, personal_branding, networking, socialhuman_search_engines, thought_leadership, social_connection, pitching,

(highlight:: Tips for Pitching to Influential Individuals
Summary:
When approaching someone to pitch an idea, it's important to ask if they have a moment first.
Making a good impression is crucial, so asking one question and showing interest in their team helps establish credibility. At events or book signings, it's best to identify the person's publicist or publisher as they can be a gateway to communication.
Remember, you are the messenger, so establish trust before delivering your message.
Transcript:
Speaker 1
I'm going to sprint up too algor and give him a pitch. Well, how should you do it? What are the questions? What are the ice breakers for the alisters? And the first rule, as far as i'm concerned, is ask if they have a second. Don't just run up and pitch. Because a great pitch, the perfect pitch at a bad time is a bad pitch. It won't work. And like i said at the beginnin it's not about making a good impression. That's about not making a bad impression. If you make a bad impression, they won't want to communicate with you later, even if you correct things. Sell. Mister miss x, may i bother you for 30 seconds? Mister miss x is now in ok. Time for one question. If you say that, don't ask three questions. One question. A ha. Now, number two and number three here actually work very well together, youknow, mister d missus x is now in oke. Time for one question. Who on your team could i emal about whatever you're iterested in? They're not going to give you their personal email. They're not going to give you their personal phone number, usually. And it's going to make them very uncomfortable to say no. So realize that and ask about their team. That will immediately put you in the pro category. Is supposed to the amateur category. And another thing, if you're in a group, let's just say, at a book signing or something like that, you have to realize, even if they wanted to give you their personal emal phone, they can't Say it out loud, because ten other people are goingto hear it. So who on your team could emal about? Bla, and if they have anterage around them. Meaning, lest you say, you go to book signing a for pill in the blank, write michael pallin, and you see someone who's just kind of patiently waiting there ten feet away, that is probably His publicist or his publisher or someone ong those lines. Get to know them. They are probably the gateway to communication with mister pollen. So you don't have to pitch directly. And this relates to everything i've just said in like, i spent a tanta time on it. But you have to prove the messenger before the message, you are the messenger.)
- Time 0:28:18
- snipddont-post, startups, pitching, entrepreneurship,

(highlight:: If You're Unsure of Who to Talk To, Look for the Most Relaxed Person in the Crowd
Summary:
When trying to pick someone out of a crowd, avoid working the room and instead look for the most relaxed and unrushed person.
They either have little going on or have already achieved success. So, if you want more air time, choose them.
Transcript:
Speaker 1
How do you pick someone out of a crowd? You're scanning the room. You want to work the room. Number one, don't work the room. Number two, if you had to pick people out of the crowd, i would say, go for the most relaxed, unrushed looking person. Not necessarily the a list are surrounded by a huge phalanx of people, if that's the right word, because unless you just want to listen, if you want to listen, that's fine, bu yure, not Going toget a lot of air time. Look for the most relaxed people in the room. They either have very, very little going on, or they've kind of already made it and they don't feel rushed. So hit or miss. But if you have to pick people out of the crowd, i would say go for the most relaxed, unrushed looking person.)
- Time 0:31:30
- snipddont-post, networking, professional_networking, social_connection,

(highlight:: Follow Up a Minimum of Two Weeks After An Event/Conference
Summary:
Don't make enemies by constantly keeping in touch after an event.
Give busy people space and don't bother them. Follow up after two weeks to stand out from the crowd.
Transcript:
Speaker 1
Next follow up. All right, so during the event, after the event, how do you follow up? First of all, don't do anything to keep in touch. It will just make enemies. You don't need to ping busy people just belike has a gone. Don imagine that you are calling them, like three p m i. So you call them, they're lik its an investment banker running around on, my god, you're starred up here. Like we need an underwriter. So you call this busy investment banker at three p m. You're like, hey john, it's it's tim from south by. Ilike a time temperis he don has gone to day. Don't do thatkin. You speek lik what tova, busy. Don't do that. So follow up is a dish best served cold. What i mean by this is most people are going to walk out of south by pockets full of business cards, big ideas, people to follow up with, people to ping brains to pick don't ever ask anybody F you can pick their brains over coffy, by the way. But that's a separate story. So follow up, wait two weeks. Wait two weeks. Why? Two weeksbe s if you do it now, it's going to get lost in the avalanche of similar stuff.)
- Time 0:36:25
- snipdpost-queue, snipddont-post, following_up, networking, pitching, professional_networking,

(highlight:: When Networking, Play the Long Game: You Often Just Need One Lasting Human Connection
Summary:
Play the long game by developing deep human connections with a few key people.
This will save you from having to constantly network. If you focus on building long term relationships outside of the tech world, you can potentially avoid the exhausting and offensive transactional networking forever.
Transcript:
Speaker 1
Play the long game. Play the long game. All this means is you don't have to rush. Why? Because you just have to have one deep human connection with one person. That's it. If you can accomplish that and develop a long term relationship, you can potentially never have to network again. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but if you look back at the people i spent the most time with in two thousand seven, realistically, you you'll probly be able to have a couple of These human interactions. Try to get ot of tech. By the way. Don't do all tech. If you look at the people i spent the most time with in two thousand seven, about 90 % of them, this is two thousand seven, what is that? Seven years ago, my they are still some of my closest friends to this day. That is what you want. Because if you don't do that, you play the short game. You have to then do this very time consuming, very energy consuming, very likely to offend transactional stuff every year for the rest of your life. Do you really want to do that? No, no, you don't.)
- Time 0:38:04
- snipddont-post, snipdpost-queue, long-term_strategy, networking, professional_networking, socialhuman_search_engines, strategy,