The UP Experience Blog

At last year’s UP the participants were excited, enthusiastic and curious. On the breaks they reconnected with old friends and made new ones. They shared their experiences and their insights, and how they would apply what they had learned. They began to create community.

We’ve made a commitment to continue to create and develop that community through UP 2009 and beyond.  Social media, like Facebook and Twitter, make it easy to inform and gather community through Mini-UPs, MeetUPs and TweetUPs.

The first Mini-UP was a formal gathering and dinner at Tony’s on February 19. When you register to attend The UP Experience, you’ll receive invitations to attend the next Mini-UPs via e-mail.

Facebook and Twitter are the giants among social media sites, and each offers a dynamic and personal way to connect. If you’re not familiar with Facebook or Twitter, it’s easy to get started.  Simply sign up for a free account at Facebook.com and Twitter.com. The UP Experience is listed on Facebook as an event (go to our page and click that you are attending!), and you can also go to our “Fan Page.”  Use the Search box on Facebook to type in “The UP Experience,” and then click on what comes UP.  UP Community is already gathering there!

Take some time to post a photo of yourself, or your avatar.  Fill in some information on your profile so we can get to know you.  Connect with others who are interested in UP by sending a friend request.  The community grows before your eyes.  When you meet them in person, you’ll feel like you already know them.

Twitter is growing at an incredible rate. It is called “microblogging” since you are allowed 140 keystrokes to say what you want to say. Given that constraint it is amazing to see how it is being used and the new ways people are creating to use it.  You can find us on Twitter  and choose to follow The UP Experience. You’ll then receive “tweets” in real time about our speakers, new postings on the UP Blog, AND spontaneous invitations to TweetUPs. You can also follow me, Chris Welsh (cwelsh) or MaryBeth Smith (divamover).

Tweet-UPs are face to face real world meetings between two or more people who normally communicate on Twitter. For example, I could send a Tweet that said I would be at CoffeeGroundz (my favorite coffee shop in Houston) from 1-4 in the afternoon, come join me to talk about UP. Those who are interested can come join me at that time.

Meet-UPs are informal local meetings for interested people. You’re notified via email, Twitter, and Facebook several days to a week in advance The meetings could focus on the UP Experience in general, or could focus on particular subjects, speakers who have presented or will be presenting at the UP Experience, or just as a social gathering.

This is the start of creating the UP community. It is an experiment in using social media. To learn more about social media, check out Clay Shirky’s TEDCast or read his book, Here Comes Everybody. Also see Evan Williams’ TEDCast. Evan Williams is one of the founders of Twitter.

Tomasz Tunguz, a social networking expert with Redpoint Ventures, gave a thought provoking presentation at the Mini-UP on February 19. In October at The UP Experience, he will undoubtedly say more about the future of consumer internet, online marketing, and digital media.

Won’t you join us in the experiment to create the UP community? Get hands-on experience now: learn about, and use these exciting social media. Come join the fun and play!

Let the games begin.

Chris Welsh

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