It's SXSW Panel Picking Time

For music, film and tech lovers, the South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) is one of the biggest events of the year. It's a place where we can get together, enjoy great entertainment, great panels, preview great advances in technology and network with some of the most influential people in music, film and technology.

I'm really excited because I have proposed a panel for one of my clients, to be considered for the 2011 SXSW Interactive Panels. The panel is called "In Living Color: Marketing and Branding to Urban Audiences. The panel will be presented by my client, twtMob, an in-stream advertising network.

Here is an overview of the panel:

Panel will bring together experts from various areas of the digital frontier who’ve successfully carved their niche, thus, building some of the most successful online brands in “urban” America. From TV/ Film, Music, Entertainment, Fashion and Technology, the panel experts have excelled in developing online destinations and executing winning viral campaigns through online and offline partnerships.

Prior to the panel discussion, panelists will be able to present individual brief slide shows/ videos of their brands, demonstrate the history of their brands’ development and share case studies/ success stories. Panelists will also:

- Review trends and case studies of consumer online habits.
- Review challenges of marketing.
- Discuss the rules of engagement.
- Discuss the importance of listening to audiences when developing key messaging and brand development.
- Explore and examine the cross-promotional branding opportunities.
- Discuss social and corporate responsibilities vs brand integrity.
- Discuss the challenges and tips to maintaining relevance in the changing social media landscape.
- Examine technical challenges.
- Examine the growing trends in blogs; beyond beats, gossip and fashion.

Panel attendees will gain a better understanding of:
- Brand strategies involved in marketing.
- Tools for marketing brands, bands, products, events, etc.
- Unconventional and out-of-the-box promotional tactics.

Panel attendees will also leave the session with:
- Practical exercises to incorporate in their current business model.
- List of resources to refer to when developing their brand.
- Tips for successful marketing and campaign execution.

In order for the panel to be a part of the SXSW Festival, it must be voted on by the public.

Here is where you come in. Take 5 minutes to register at the site to vote for this panel. Your vote will help bring another diversity panel to this forum. Year after year, attendees comment on the fact that there aren't enough diversity in the panels. Here is your chance to help change that.

Thanks in advance for your participation and assistance.