No Longer A Newbie: UMeTime’s SXSW 2013 Experience
What can be accomplished in ten days at one of the biggest interactive, technology, music, and film conferences in Austin? SXSW just ended and as the streets and city empty of its visitors, UMeTime is jumping back into the daily grind of making the best app possible for local Austinites. But first, let’s take a closer look at how UMeTime succeeded and what we learned from our first SXSW experience.
In a city that is known for its tech startup community, UMeTime has created quite the buzz in the local community. Between press highlights, trending on social media platforms, and being conveniently located near the Austin convention center, UMeTime HQ, has been bolstered by the energy and madness we are surrounded by. But, in vintage UMeTime fashion we still have managed to have some fun!
UMeTime was featured on the front page of the business section in the Austin American Statesman. The article’s premise focuses on UMeTime’s commitment to local businesses and how our platform empowers local business owners with the ability to connect with local customers in real time.
Meeting with Governor Rick Perry
Co-founders Tim Rothwell and Brett Berman, met with Texas Governor Rick Perry regarding their relocation from California to Texas. Rothwell and Berman are adamant about recruiting fellow entrepreneurs from other states to Texas.
What does it feel like to trend as a startup on Mashable. Amazing! It’s an incredible feeling knowing that the local community supports our local startup. None of this success could have occurred without our awesome Twitter followers, Facebook fans, businesses that we work with, and you, the average user of our app.
Prior to SXSW, the UMeTime team preparation included researching what influential speakers were scheduled to attend, what panels were sure to be educational, and what official and unofficial events would be perfect for networking and promotion. The following share strategies that worked for us as well as other takeaways that were suggested by Forbes and Venture Beat.
One of the biggest lessons that we learned was that it is impossible to be completely 100% prepared. SXSW is unpredictable and crazy, so the UMeTime team had to get creative to find a way to stand out. Our office is in a prime location downtown, so we used it to our advantage by attaching a Styrofoam cup to a fishing rod and casting down free swag to the people passing by on the sidewalks. Not only did this give us great publicity, but it was also a fun way to engage with potential users.
Every evening, 6th street was crowded with tons of music and people. This created the perfect opportunity for the UMeGuy to interact and take pictures with the locals and out-of-towners.
Always Be Prepared to Pitch
At SXSW, you never know whom you are going to run into or what contest is going to arise. Always look your best and have your pitch down in case you are asked to film it on the spot or explain it to a potential investor. Also, don’t get down if people say no, there are plenty of other opportunities to share your business or receive valuable advice.
SXSW is hectic even for those that have been before. My personal favorite takeaway is to stop stressing about keeping to a schedule and attending every panel on your list, and to simply enjoy every moment of it. Setbacks such as waiting in long lines and missing a panel are inevitable to occur, but SXSW has so much to offer. Walk around, listen to the music from the streets, and breathe. There is always next year.
While UMeTime's first SXSW experience was extraordinary, we look forward to taking what we learned and rocking it even more next year. SXSW 2013 may be over, but UMeTime is here to stay and provide users with the best exclusive deals and blastouts from local businesses.
P.S. How was your SXSW 2013 experience?
