There’s Still Time! Let’s Get Usable! Market Your Brand at SXSW 2014
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I interviewed Tony Hsieh for a once in a lifetime chat about his business growth, passion for his customers and The Downtown Project. Check it out here.
I interviewed Tony Hsieh for a once in a lifetime chat about his business growth, passion for his customers and The Downtown Project. Check it out here.
As a marketer, I am always fascinated by the “art of marketing,” from what gets your attention, to what gets you to buy. And, from what big brands are doing, to what smaller ones are doing to become bigger brands. I’m especially interested in the “why” as it relates to these things. This year, however, SXSW marketing gave me a little more “why” then I bargained for, as brands pined for the attention and time of over 500,000 people. Here are the winners of the SXSW Marketing Game:
As a marketer, I am always fascinated by the “art of marketing,” from what gets your attention, to what gets you to buy. And, from what big brands are doing, to what smaller ones are doing to become bigger brands. I’m especially interested in the “why” as it relates to these things. This year, however, SXSW marketing gave me a little more “why” then I bargained for, as brands pined for the attention and time of over 500,000 people. Here are the winners of the SXSW Marketing Game:
Beats by Dre provided SXSW-goers with an interesting branding installation of their new Beats Pill. The sleek, compact and wireless bluetooth device was “prescribed” (get it, it’s a pill) by “doctors” outfitted in lab coats or sexy nurses in… you get the visual, at the Beats Clinic in exchange for a state-issued ID. Once prescribed, you could walk around with the very portable device, playing your favorite band, or peek into a corner of the Austin Conference Center to hop on a conference call. I grabbed one, courtesy of the Beats Marketing Team, and here is what I thought of the new Beats Pill.
Cricket Wireless has been revolutionary in providing low-cost mobile phones and service to a targeted “urban” demographic. They were also one of the firsts to actually provide good mobile devices in the MVNO market – placing those looking for affordability on par with those who can afford to splurge on the latest device. Then they did something else. They incorporated a music service into their rate plans. Now, that’s ingenious. Muve Music, which comes stock with all Cricket Android Rate Plans, provides unlimited song downloads, ringtones and ringback tones to its customers at no extra charge. For customers, access to Muve means instant gratification. I tried out the service at the Cricket booth in the Austin Convention Center during SXSW, and the quality is amazing – especially when paired with one of their Android devices powered by Beats Audio. For the music industry, however, the service seems to do a little bit more… Like actually pay artists for their music.
Cricket Wireless has been revolutionary in providing low-cost mobile phones and service to a targeted “urban” demographic. They were also one of the firsts to actually provide good mobile devices in the MVNO market – placing those looking for affordability on par with those who can afford to splurge on the latest device. Then they did something else. They incorporated a music service into their rate plans. Now, that’s ingenious. Muve Music, which comes stock with all Cricket Android Rate Plans, provides unlimited song downloads, ringtones and ringback tones to its customers at no extra charge. For customers, access to Muve means instant gratification. I tried out the service at the Cricket booth in the Austin Convention Center during SXSW, and the quality is amazing – especially when paired with one of their Android devices powered by Beats Audio. For the music industry, however, the service seems to do a little bit more… Like actually pay artists for their music.
Fast Fig, one of nine startups in the inaugural Austin DreamIt Ventures Class at SXSW, is a word processor for math. Students, teachers, and professionals can type and solve math problems and collaborate entirely online. Math functions include basic math, calculus, and more.
We are building for tomorrow because tomorrow is the future and we want to make a contribution to the wonderful digital age that is awaiting us.
