Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2011 about Blogging on Sunday 13th March

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• Making Money with WordPress (Without Working at Automattic)

  by Shane Pearlman, Alex King, Brandon Jones and Sonia Simone

  WordPress is free! It does astounding things out of the box. But it doesn't do everything. Therein lies the opportunity. Tons of people are making serious money with WordPress, why aren't you? In this session, each panelist will cover a core business opportunity with WordPress: Customization Services, Design Products & Premium Themes, Premium Plugins, Hosting Services and Content Properties. I'll share how Peter & I grossed close to a million in revenue last year from WordPress related design and development services with the help of a small team of talented freelancers. We'll explore the approach that Brandon, the #1 premium theme seller in North America, used to gross $250k in the last year (not bad for one dude). There are no shortages of opportunity. Get insight into how you can be successful from someone in each of these categories who is killing it and making real money (without working for Automattic).

  1. How do I make my WordPress theme or plugin product stand out in an app marketplace?
  2. How do I land 100k+ WordPress design + development projects?
  3. How do I make money from WordPress support without hating everyone I talk to?
  4. Where does the real revenue in blogs actually come from?
  5. What makes someone pay for something thats free?

  • Blogging
  • Money
  • WordPress
  • WordPress Themes

  At 9:30am to 10:30am, Sunday 13th March

  In Salon C, Hilton Austin Downtown

• Bloggers Fight Back: Legal Workshop for Music Bloggers

  by Mehan Jayasuriya and Michael Weinberg

  Have you ever received a takedown notice for an MP3 or video you posted on your blog? Did you get clearance from a publicist only to have the label accuse you of illicitly distributing their content? Did Google delete your Blogspot blog? Are you scared to post MP3s on your blog at all for fear of being sued?

  There's a lot of confusion and disinformation out there when it comes to bloggers' rights--especially where the nuances of copyright law are concerned. In this workshop, we'll teach you how to make sure you're in the clear when posting content on your blog, exactly what your responsibilities are as a blogger and how to fight back if you're wrongfully accused. The presenters--both of whom work for the Washington D.C.-based digital rights non-profit Public Knowledge--will bring a wealth of expertise from both sides of the issue to the table. In addition to overseeing Public Knowledge's outreach and new media efforts, Mehan Jayasuriya is a freelance music blogger and photographer who has worked with publications like PopMatters, Stereogum and DCist. Michael Weinberg is a staff attorney at Public Knowledge, where he focuses on telecommunications policy, in addition to copyright reform and entertainment law.

  LEVEL: Intermediate

  • Blogging
  • Legal
  • Music

  At 12:30pm to 1:30pm, Sunday 13th March

  In Creekside, Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol

• Legal Frontiers In Social Networks, Blogs and Beyond

  by Emilio Nicolas and Stephanie Chandler

  The presentation will highlight and discuss the major legal issues that interactive online service providers (e.g., wikis, social networking sites, weblogs, bulletin boards) should be aware of, including cyber-security, privacy concerns, clickwrap agreements, traditional and user-generated content rights clearance, open licensing, fair use, hot news misappropriation, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Communications Decency Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2257-2257A, internet advertising and monetization, weblog endorsements, and litigation concerns.

  LEVEL: Intermediate

  • Blogging
  • Law
  • Social Networks

  At 12:30pm to 1:30pm, Sunday 13th March

  In Big Bend, Hyatt Regency Austin

  Coverage sketch note

• Building Community in a Blogger-Eat-Blogger World

  by Addie Broyles, Mando Rayo, Pam Penick and Tolly Moseley

  Among bloggers, competition for page views and followers can be fierce, and as more people jump in, it feels like we're all picking at the same slice of pie. How do you encourage bloggers in your online space to collaborate instead of compete, and better yet, how do you build an offline community whose members have real-life, meaningful relationships?

  Learn from Austin food bloggers who have used tweet ups, taco tours, potlucks and blogger events to create an offline community of more than 400 members. By choosing to become friends over foes, the bloggers have been able to give back to their city through fundraisers and awareness campaigns, such as the Hunger Awareness Project where bloggers wrote about living off food stamps and food pantry donations for a week.

  LEVEL: Beginner

  • Blogging
  • Community
  • Food Blogging

  At 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Sunday 13th March

  In TX Ballroom 5-7, Hyatt Regency Austin