SXSW is a gongshow. Every last bit of it. Whether you've been attending every year for the last ten years, or if it's your first time, you're going to run into issues trying to navigate the panoply of equally amazing sessions offered. As a mobile event app company, we sifted through the Interactive sessions with a radar for all things mobile and app related, but also left room for a few fun must-sees. Read on for our shortlist of 10 not-to-miss SXSW Interactive 2014 sessions.
Behavioral Intelligence: Mobile's New Frontier
The Time: March 7, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
The Location: Wanderlust
The Reason: If you're fascinated with mobile's ability to capture data, hit this panel. It discusses how mobile user's behavioural data is used to understand more about an individual's general interests and develop effective targeting strategies.
Big Data Inverted: The Best Candy from Strangers?
The Time: March 7, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
The Location: Sheraton Austin
The Reason: Another user data panel, but this one looks at the flip side of the one above. While data can give enterprises an idea of their users' interests, targeting strategies have the potential to prevent users from being exposed to certain products or events. This session considers the potential alienation forced upon users when businesses engage in target strategies.
Star Power: Innovative Ways to Engage Millennials
The Time: March 7, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
The Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 6AB
The Reason: Millennials are inevitable consumers of your product if it's anything tech-related, and as they get older they inch closer to your target demographic. This session teaches you how to engage this digital savvy generation via celebrity endorsements and culturally relevant messaging. (Swaggy!)
Always Be Innovating: Thinking Like a Startup
The Time: March 7, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
The Location: Hilton Austin Downtown
The Reason: How do you keep your innovative edge as you grow from a start-up to a large company? EasilyDo, Zite, and Tagged comprise this panel that delves into how to maintain the mind of a start-up as technology changes and your company expands.
43 Tongues: Emerging Market Apps for IOS & Android
The Time: March 8, 11:15am - 11:30am
The Location:Austin Convention Center, Ballroom E
The Reason: Inspired by Voice of America's initiative to create a universal app in 43 different languages, this session is an education not he roadblocks and solutions in international app creation such as usability testing with cultural awareness and global localization for digital content.
Media & The Personal Brand - ESPN, Grantland & 538
The Time: March 8, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
The Location: Austin Convention Center, Ballroom D
The Reason: You may not be a sports fan now, but you will definitely leave this panel as one. ESPN launched popular culture and sports website, Grantland (run by Bill Simmons), who recently hired Nate Silver and acquired his site, FiveThirtyEight. There is lots to glean about personal brand from these guys. Definitely worth attending!
Mobile – from Apps to the Enterprise
The Time: March 8, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
The Location: InterContinental Stephen F. Austin, Ballroom B
The Reason: As apps proliferate a variety of markets—games, education, events—this session offers tips on how to seamlessly integrate mobile apps into your business.
Mobile Means Business: Learn How to Get Ahead
The Time: March 8, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
The Location: Wanderlust
The Reason: Presented by Urban Airship, this mobile-focused panel will not disappoint. Delving into the best strategies for mobile integration, this session will provide you with the tools to not just incorporate mobile efforts, but build a mobile business.
The Untold Story of SXSW Interactive: An Oral History
The Time: March 8, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
The Location: Austin Convention Center, Ballroom BC
The Reason: Who wouldn't want to hear the uncensored history of a two decade old festival that launched the likes of Twitter and Foursquare. This is a must see session for SXSW-ers new and old!
Geek Out for Good: Apps that Change the World
The Time: March 10, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
The Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 9ABC
The Reason: We all what to make a difference, and with apps, the possibilities are endless. Join reps from Digital Democracy, GitHub, NationBuilder, and more on how you can create an app that makes a difference.
