Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2011 about Twitter on Friday 11th March

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• 3, 2, 1, Twitter: The NASA Tweetup Shuttle Discovery Launch

  by Andrew Cochrane, Pamela Greyer, Phylise Banner, Sophia Dengo and Stephanie Schierholz

  150 Twitter users were selected, from over 2,500 entries, to attend NASA's STS-133 Discovery shuttle launch, with special access at the press site, and two days of programmed events -- meeting crew, talking to astronauts, exploring NASA -- and to top it all off, to view the launch from the countdown clock.

  We formed an instant community (within hours of being selected) via Twitter, created a Google group, FB group, email lists, and 15 of us who had never met before rented a house, and started sharing space knowledge, social media knowledge, etc. 4 other shared houses came together. Our house, the Big House, was the hub of all activities. Never having met meant nothing to us. Our first night there we gathered (over 70 of the 150) and formed our space tweeps family.

  Astronomers, scientists, NASA workers, digital storytellers, educators (k-12 and higher ed), videographers, all passionate about space.

  The shuttle never launched. The communities which were formed out of this experience are still going strong. The entire week was broadcast on JustinTV by one of our colleagues -- sharing the entire NASA learning experience with thousands of folks. We're invited back to watch the launch when she's scheduled to go in February.

  This was an amazing use of Social Media, and a perfect example of the power of these tools, and how they can be used to market, share, teach, grow, explore, inspire.

  • NASA
  • Space
  • Space Shuttle
  • Twitter

  At 2:00pm to 3:00pm, Friday 11th March

  In Salon J, Hilton Austin Downtown

  Coverage video

• The Steroid Culture of Social Media: You Use?

  by Tim Walker

  Ever think about taking shortcuts to boost your numbers? You know, the numb that show the success of all those interactive social media marketing programs. The numbers that decide your end of year bonus. The numbers that make you "important" to all those other social media influencers. I know you have. You know you have. But did you use those performance enhancing social media techniques?

  Humans are naturally drawn to shortcuts. Even when they are already successful. Take Barry Bonds. Not the Barry Bonds you remember with the bulging muscles in San Francisco. The younger, leaner version. The one who was with the Pirates and on his way to the Hall of Fame. Each day he worked hard on the fundamentals of the game. Then, boom, he was on steroids, a caricature of himself and a tarnished legacy. Why? The numbers competition.

  We all know the equivalent of a Barry Bonds in social media. Someone who is enhancing their performance the wrong way. Maybe it started with a simple list buy of Twitter followers. But then suddenly they were researching blackhat SEO techniques for a temporary boost in traffic. Then one day they wake up in a cold sweat after an all night Astroturfing session.

  It's time to get help!

  Join us for a frank discussion on how the steroid culture has infected the social media realm. We will discuss the signs of a social media steroid user, how it hurts us all and a 12-step program to rehab those that have already fallen down the hole.

  LEVEL: Intermediate

  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Social
  • Social Media
  • Twitter

  At 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Friday 11th March

  In Room 6AB, Austin Convention Center