Mashable Senior Tech Analyst Christina Warren highlights some of the biggest tech trends at SXSW 2014 and how brands can use those ideas in their own campaigns.
and those who think like them. Grew up with technology and constantly immerse themselves in it. Early adopters and those interested in innovation in business, design, music, television, film and more. Shape the “information revolution.” • • •
Brands Can Learn When these more complex conversations happen, it's important for brands to be aware of the discourse when doing their own marketing. Maybe don't promote an app that records your daily movements, as an example.
Brands Can Learn Even though SXSWi has evolved largely into "marketers spring break" rather than "geek spring break" - it's important to be aware of the "geek" and informed aspect of the audience and attendees that still come to SXSW.
By the Numbers • 450 Million Monthly Active Users, 70% Active Daily • 1 Million New Users a Day • Send 19Billion Messages Each Day, More Than SMS • Over 600 Million Photos Uploaded Each Day • Over 100% Y/Y Growth • Huge Global Reach, Hasn’t Even Taken Off in the US Yet
Brands Can Take Advantage Absolut Unique WhatsApp Campaign in Argentina • Absolut Created an entire social profile for the enter of its Campaign • In order to gain access to an exclusive party, users had to send this profile WhatsApp messages and photos asking to get in. • Hundreds responded, creating a viral, socially relevant campaign, even without official WhatsApp “advertising” • Meet users on their own terms. Use what they use.
Brands Can Take Advantage Ben & Jerry’s on Instagram • Average non-ad post gets about 2,000 likes • First Instagram ad got 387,000 likes – nearly 2000% increase • Instagram ads raised recall lift by 33 points
Tips: • Think About Using WhatsApp As a Way to Do SMS Marketing… But For Real • Try to Integrate These Technologies Into Broader Campaigns • Be Authentic
Beacon? • A Beacon is a low-cost, low-energy transmitters that can alert phones or other devices of their presence • Apple’s implementation is called iBeacon and Qualcomm is making beacons too
the beacon can send a notification or alert to a user’s phone. • It can also trigger actions (check-in in an app, add a digital coupon to a wallet) • Beacons are similar to NFC, but with a wider range and lower-cost Tech’s Next Big Thing / Beacons M
Official SXSW Mobile App • Users could take advantage of Beacon in select sessions and when picking up badges. • Offered threaded discussion platform that lets attendees have a conversation within the app itself. • Allowed users to find out which other attendees (who have logged into the SXSocial platform) are at a session and view tweets from a specific hashtag. • More than 40 beacons were set up around the Austin Convention Center and in certain event venues. • Just the beginning: Official app at the Tribeca Film Festival in April and Cannes Lions in June