SXSWi 2011

Have you heard? Last week, there was an event down in Austin, TX called SXSW. We hear it was pretty big. You may have seen a few tweets about it.

Among the many from the PR world who attended were Waggener Edstrom. While there, they talked about some of the firm’s digital tools. Today, Kent Hollenbeck, SVP of marketing and comms, is talking about some of the observations and key takeaways from the event. Any key points you’d like to note? Please share in the comments section or @PRNewser.

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Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews.

While sitting on a panel at the SXSW conference with three other executives from Japanese mobile and social networks, Takahito Iguchi nearly broke down when he got to a slide on his deck that said “SAVE JAPAN.” According to the New York Times story about the panel discussion, “the executives described in interviews how mobile and social sites became vital when the earthquake struck because landlines went down, as did voice and e-mail services on cellphones.”

Tak Miyata, SVP of global business at Mixi says, in the story, that his site’s traffic went up 800 percent.

SXSW attendees have demonstrated their awareness of the aftermath of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, with donations to SXSW4Japan nearly reaching its $50,000 goal.

Social networks, media outlets, and other businesses and organizations have been getting the word out about news and philanthropic efforts following the quake and tsunami. After the jump, a few examples.

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Prior to landing in Austin, Waggener Edstrom announced its mobile app Hot Spots @ SXSW, which would use Foursquare check-ins to help visitors find the most popular events. Today at SXSW, WE is introducing an updated version of this app as well as two other digital tools.

Hot Spots in Austin has added a Buzz feature to track trending topics at the conference. The app will be customized for future events. It’s available for Windows Phone 7 and iOS smartphone platforms.

WE is also highlighting Ripple Effect and a new Social Graph tool.

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[Photo courtesy Nick McGlynn]

Julia Allison, the ubiquitous Web personality and columnist, has hired her first PR agency. One South By Southwest (SXSW) attendee who was present at an event with Allison at the Fast Company Grill yesterday tells PRNewser she announced a new relationship with Susan Blond‘s agency.

Allison is not working with the legendary Blond herself, but rather another publicist at the agency.

PRNewser contributor Joe Ciarallo is on the ground at SXSW giving us the scoop on what’s up in Austin.

This morning, he spoke with GalleyCat’s Jason Boog for a SXSW-focused Morning Media Menu podcast. According to Joe, it looks like this year’s attendance exceeds last year’s 13,000, the Apple pop-up store is “flooded,” and there’s grumbling over the challenges of getting to the different events scattered about the city.

Click here to listen.

One of the bands performing at SXSW, Reading Rainbow.

It seems every average pursuit is being pushed in group format these days, and the annual South By Southwest tech and arts conference, which starts today in Austin, is no exception.

BusinessWeek proclaims in this 25th year of SXSW that group texting may be the highlight. Companies such as GroupMe, Beluga, Kik and TextPlus are making their names in this space, which takes the function of a chat room and moves it to mobile devices. What a great tool to have at SXSW, where the ambitious music fans can catch 100 bands in four days and still keep up with each other, connect inside the venues, and meet up for breakfast at sunrise.

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Waggener Edstrom has developed a free mobile app for Windows Phone 7 and iOS smartphones, Hot Spots @ SXSW, that will single out the most popular events based on Foursquare check-ins.

According to a WE spokesperson, this app will be reworked for future big conference events. Also, the firm is working on adding a Buzz feature that uses WE social analytics products to pinpoint rising trends. At left, a sample screenshot from the iPhone.

Is your company or CEO willing to poke a bit of fun at themselves at SXSW? Go on camera with Alex Blagg, founder of the satiric social media strategist site Abajillionhits.biz and IFC’s host for South by Southwest Interactive. For a bit of what to expect, check out Blagg’s “How To Be South By South Best” intro video.

His pre-conference tips include, “make sure your social nets are all plugged into each other so your Instagram’s go into your Facebook into your Foursquare into your Twitter into your Tumblr into whatever new social network you discover and early adopt while you’re down there.” Solid advice.

PRNewser will be on the ground at SXSW. Send us your news, event info and other fun stuff.