Ain’t no party like a Xerocon party
Xerocon newbie Joanne Birtwistle took a trip to London’s Tobacco Dock this week to attend the accounting vendor’s annual bash and see what all the fuss is about.
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A good report Joanne. Thank you.
Your report gives me a very good impression of what the event was like. It has saved me time and money. A big thank you. On reflection, it is not for me. I am not of that Xero mould. I would be so out of place.
I want to know about the product minus the razzmatazz.
The key question is would you attend if you had to pay for it? Give your time to Xero and pay Xero for giving up your time? Rather than, Xero compensating you for making an effort as their sales person(if you were an accountant).
"We are all here because to a greater or lesser degree we love Xero. Let’s test that assumption – who loves Xero?” Cue 90% of the room throwing their hands up."
Wow that is very worrying!
Only by Moonie standards.
Someone will be asking each of the other 10% for their written excuses (didn't bring my hand to work today, arm paralysis, didn't understand the question)?
If its the biggest day out in their lives, then the delegates are welcome to it.
If I was taking a day in the smoke, I would rather go to the cricket myself with my friends than a cringe fest like this.
Each to their own.
Quite and it helps me to know where to avoid ... although for a slightly younger demographic it does sound like a perfect pick-up joint!
You get out of it what you put in. We do embrace Xero at our practice and all the add ons that flow from there. Therefore it is important for us to know where Xero is heading, where the developers are heading and how we can embrace the tech to be even more efficient. We had covered the price of the trip by lunchtime on day 1 with future cost savings and like the article said, had some much needed bonding between us partners too. The party is an opportunity to let your hair down and what the article doesn't say is that if the music and free bar is not for you, then there were plenty of areas to escape that, like the huge area outside. We needed both days and got as much from each.
Anyway, a differing view from the other 3 which may be helpful to some.
Happy that you enjoyed yourself.
But "what the article doesn't say is that if the music and free bar is not for you, then there were plenty of areas to escape that, like the huge area outside" ... is a bit like saying to someone who doesn't enjoy the sight of caged animals that they shouldn't worry about going to the Zoo because there's a cafe there where you can spend all your time.
Not really. It's saying that there is a place outside to network in a wonderful setting to meet fellow accountants and see how they are managing with the struggles placed upon us. Like I say, you get out of it, what you put in.
Makes it sound more like a support group for recovering accountaholics.
And the problem with truisms is that they sound good but don't enlighten anyone ... the most famous of course being that "you get what you pay for", which is literally true but simultaneously misleading in the way that most people interpret it.
The same applies to your intended aphorism "you get out of it, what you put in"!
Not sure where criticism of anyone's experience entered the picture.
But, despite being at the risk-seeking end of the spectrum of tolerance for new sensations, there are an inordinate number of things that I don't need to try in order to form the opinion that they are not for me ... murder for instance, or heroin, or telling other people what's good for them.
Congratulations to Xero and in particular the organisers and designers of the event.
As someone who owned an Exhibition and Conference Company in past years, I can see that the event will undoubtedly have done its job to reinforce loyalty to Xero and by making people pay to attend, this actually makes it more special and desirable, and tends to attract only those that really want to go. This guarantees positive responses from almost everyone there when the hand go up!
Glowing reports like this are priceless.
"priceless" (in both senses of the word) indeed.
But I'd fault their strategic marketing - in that, like you, it seems to me to be geared at brand reinforcement amongst the 'faithful'.
This is an excellent strategy for low/medium volumes of high-value (aka expensive) goods, but isn't anything like the optimal way to break new markets (in particular the pile 'em high, cheaper products that Xero is trying to launch).
The event funded for by the subscribers and doting boutique firms yet it fails every time to deliver Roi for the customer at the sharp end . Then there is a large price increase due sept 2022 with little news coming out of this event to suggest where all that extra inflow of cash is to be invested , a quick read of the financials give a clearer insight that is not reported at this event , ie cash is king . I am seeing agitated customers hence the attrition rate will now accelerate as recent basic developments have failed to impress and address customer wants and needs , so typical of saas operators to push product out and have deaf ears with its differing customer feedback, but party on regardless engaging themselves in a self fulfilling prophecy . Except …. the world is round.. and all parties do end.