Perhaps the greatest convergence between entrepreneurs occurs when a Product person collaborates with a Marketer. Web services and mobile apps are increasingly easier to build but creating the next Mint, Square, or Mailchimp requires product genius. Exponentially increasing the likelihood of success, reducing risk, and scaling growth in a venture comes from a marketer who understands product architecture, market segmentation, viral coefficients, conversion funnels, search, and social marketing. Combined, the two are unstoppable.
Where I excel (I believe) at one, I am not the other (at least not yet).
Saturday, January 15 from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, at the AT&T Conference Center on the University of Texas campus, product genius converges for ProductCamp, “the premiere event for Product Management, Product Marketing, and Marketing professionals to teach to, learn from, and network with each other.”
I’m going to swing by to soak up what I can while I continue to get to know Austin, TX.
“Camp?”
A camp is a popular trend amongst conferences for the unconventional style. Attendance is almost always free but participation requires you get involved and not just hang around on the walls. The agenda isn’t set until the day of the event when the room is packed with attendees. The group determines what sessions to host and from the audience, tags expertise to host, moderate, or assist with the various topics. As ProductCamp puts it,
“Bring your ideas, lead a session in your area of expertise, facilitate a roundtable discussion, network, or volunteer.
These days you can find a camp for just about everything; with LaidOffCamp and FreelanceCamp being two of the larger with which I’ve had the pleasure to participate.
If you need more insight or convincing, there’s a great, insider perspective to ProductCamp Austin from advisor Paul Young. But who needs more reason to attend than my being there!? ;p
You can share some ideas for the January 15th event or register to attend at ProductCampAustin.org. Marketers are welcome (I hope), I just have this penchant for catchy headlines.
You are going to LOVE product camp. I feel the same way as you – so much so that I lead a session at the Boston Product Camp that I titled “Product Manager, Product Marketer, Marketing Manager, PR”- What are the best practices for hiring – managing – and integrating these functions in companies today. A great number of people came to the session and after a brief overview – we had a great interactive discussion. One of the conclusions – it’s very common for a Product Manager to move to a more Marketing focused role! Have fun!
Thanks William, no question the lines between product and marketing are blurring. I’m looking forward to the event for that very reason. Hopefully I can share some experience in marketing but I hope to sponge what I can about getting some product ideas off the ground.