Vote with Your Feet

Seth Godin, marketing blogger extraordinaire, asks two important questions today. First the latter: “Did I mention you should vote?”

Vote with the power of your convictions today, vote with your fingers, vote with your mind, vote with your voice…but whatever you do, get out and vote. There are many important political races being decided with the U.S. elections today: no matter which way you vote, your ballot should be cast. Your pottery shard, with your vote inscribed, added to the pot.

Next, the former: “This is a real question for every marketer with an idea to sell. Do you find an existing tribe (Harley drivers, Manalo shoe buyers, frequent high-end restaurant diners) and try to co-opt them? Or do you try the more expensive and risky effort of building a brand new tribe? The good news is that if you succeed, you get a lot for your efforts. The bad news is that you’re likely to fail.”

In a sense, Podcamp Pittsburgh (PCPGH3), Pittsburgh’s version of the blogging/podcasting/social media unconference started by Boston Podcamp, targets both an existing tribe (global set of new media veterans and tyros) and a whole new tribe (regional subset of new media tyros) — by doing this, PCPGH3 has thus far succeeded in an historically conservative region.  The concept of the new media appeals to a younger crowd interested in expanding their currently passive/aggressive social spheres, but is also beginning to draw older folks interested in how the internet is pervasively entering all of our lives.  These two groups of spectators and participants come together to learn and share together because of one strong component:  Easy blending.

• The unconference concept means that the event is generally free.
• The new media concept means that the technology is generally accessible.
• The internet component means that the world is generally available as an audience.
• And the creative aspect means that those of artistic bent, be that writing, audio & video recording, drawing, painting, and all other aspects of artistic production can be produced for general/specific consumption.

By blending these components together, a diverse group of people come together who wouldn’t ordinarily mix: Wrestling afficionado’s mix with emarketing experts; rabbit breeders mix with deer hunting experts; PittGirls mix with HouseForlorns; sitcom video producers mix with vlogging college kids; Libertarian politicians mix with traditional media reporters.  Podcamp succeeds by allowing diverse elements to blend together into a group with one goal: learn and teach each other about new media methods, styles and energies.  The Podcamp tribe is refreshed and ready to go forth and produce, and preach the new media gospel to friends, neighbors and acquaintances around the world.  Podcamp Harrisburg may be the next Pennsylvania podcamp, and Podcamp Cleveland may emerge from this maelstrom of activity [note: both websites are set up, but not created yet].

Voting, of course, also takes place.  Within an unconference, attendees can vote with their feet: if they feel they’re not getting what they want from a session, they’re free to get up, walk out and go to another session.  The presenters know not to take offense…and actively encourage such behavior.  Hopefully, such freedom is taking place across the United States today.