With less than a day remaining until the start of South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive in Austin, it’s time to think about how to tackle this massive event.

Now, I’m no pro with just one SXSW Interactive Festival under my belt (2009), but I’m excited to return to Austin this year knowing what to expect and ready to maximize the entire experience. Thus, I want to share with you my seven tips to tackle SXSW. 

1. Sorting those business cards

My 1A should be to bring some form of business card or contact information with you to Austin. You’ll quickly find contact information being traded faster than items in Farmville. Have a system in place to actually do something with those cards other than stacking them up.

I recommend using some customer relationship management (CRM) software like Salesforce or 37 Signals‘ Highrise. When you get home put those cards in your database and consider writing a follow up email to those new contacts you want to stay in touch with. Photo by Lachlan Hardy via Flickr, Creative Commons.

2. Take half as much stuff and twice as much money

My grandpa used to always say that before preparing for a vacation or family trip. From the moment you walk into the convention center in Austin until the day you leave you’ll find opportunities left and right to grab some free swag. In fact, I’m convinced that I could attend SXSW with the clothes on my back and find enough free T-shirts to dress myself for the entire week. Maybe I’ll even try it.

So save that luggage space and pack a few extra $20 bills. Be ready for that impromptu business lunch or an opportunity to buy the first round of beer for your new friends. SXSW is definitely a social event and you don’t want to miss out on the fun. Photo by Chris Radcliff via Flickr, Creative Commons.

3. Utilize the SXSW Tools

The whole event can be very overwhelming but their are tools out there to help you. I’d recommend utilizing my.SXSW to connect with other attendees and get familiar with the day’s schedule. I’d also suggest to register or RSVP for any parties or private events you may want to attend even if you’re unsure of your schedule. Plans will change but you want to have the option, so get invited.

If you need your schedule on the go make sure to download the my.SXSW app. Other great ways to stay in touch in Austin this year will include Foursquare, Gowalla, and my personal favorite new tool this year SitBy.Us (yes, you do want everyone to know where you’re sitting).

4. Choose name over title

By the second semester of my sophomore year of college I finally realized that it was best to choose your classes based on the professors teaching the class and not the catchy title of the class. I was reminded of this same concept at SXSW in 2009.

Last year every other title included the word Twitter or social media. This year I’ve utilized the my.SXSW tool and selected presentations based on the names I want to hear. The speakers I’m going to make sure and not miss this year: Ze Frank, Clay Shirky, Gary Vaynerchuk, Scott Belsky (Big Omaha 2010 speaker), and maybe that Slobotski guy, too. Photo by marceatsworld via Flickr, Creative Commons.

5. Don’t expect to sleep

When you ask your boss for work off to attend SXSW, I’d recommend asking for one more day off when you return from Austin. You’re going to need that day just to catch up on your sleep.

Now SXSW doesn’t have to be an 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily event, but I don’t want to miss a thing! There are fantastic parties every night and opportunities to meet some of the coolest people around, but the next day there will be an amazing panel at 8 a.m. that I don’t want to miss. I guess you just accept the madness for the six days and know that there will always be time to sleep. Photo by gillat via Flickr, Creative Commons.

6. Recharge when possible

No, I’m not referring to recharging your sleep with a power nap, but actually recharging your gadget power. Everywhere you turn in the Austin Convention Center you’ll see a power outlet plugged with iPhones, MacBooks, and video cameras

This may seem like a foolish tip, but I’m just suggesting you grab those precious minutes of lithium juice back at the hotel or during lunch. Heaven forbid you won’t be able to tweet everything you overhear from that panel! Photo by futureshape via Flickr, Creative Commons.

7. Best plan is no plan

It’s true. After all of your planning, packing, scheduling, and tip sharing my #1 rule of advice is that the best plan for SXSW is no plan at all. Have an idea or strategy of what you want to experience, where you want to go and who you want to meet, but know that the real value of SXSW is simply going with the flow. Last year I was sharing a beer with a buddy at the Seesmic party one minute and then live-streaming with Robert Scoble (pictured left) on Chris Pirillo‘s video chat the next. You won’t know what will happen, but know that it’ll be awesome. Photo by alexdecarvalho via Flickr, Creative Commons.

Rock SXSW 2010 and make sure to join us all at the Silicon Prairie Party on Sunday night.