Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2012 about Storytelling on Friday 9th March

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• Storytelling for Entrepreneurs & Startups

  by Lyn Graft

  Storytelling is one of the most powerful forms of communication you have as an entrepreneur to assist you in starting a company, recruiting employees, raising capital, securing clients and getting press. Stories are universal and almost 100% relatable to people from all walks of life enabling the entrepreneur to inspire and catalyze an audience. Stories also help us structure meaning around complex situations and enable entrepreneurs to make the intangible tangible. Drawing from the experience gained from filming over 300 entrepreneurs, this panel is designed to share thoughts and examples on why and how storytelling should be weaved into your startup, launch and growth activities. Key points covered: Speaking from the heart and connecting emotionally with your audience; Crafting a memorable story and creating champions to share your story; making sure your baby is not ugly and stands apart from the crowd; and telling people why we do and what we do. Specific examples and techniques for digital storytelling will be shown and explained

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Marketing
  • Startups
  • Storytelling

  At 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Friday 9th March

  In Salon B, Hilton Austin Downtown

  Coverage audio clip

• The Power of Visual Storytelling

  by Becky Johns, CC Chapman, Karl Gude and Charlie Wollborg

  A story can be told in a million different ways and constantly improving technology makes it even more fun for anyone to tell their story in their own unique way.

  Brands and individuals equally need to embrace that they must tell their story to the world. Through the use of photos, video, words and audio your story can be shared in unlimited ways.

  This panel will feature a variety of individuals who have worked with all budgets and all sizes of organizations to present their visual story. You'll leave inspired, informed and ready to go out and embrace the visual.

  • Brands
  • Storytelling
  • Technology
  • visuals

  At 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Friday 9th March

  In Capitol A-D, Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol

  Coverage audio clip

• Get Lit: Why Story Matters

  by Jill Meyers

  You built a product. It's amazing, brilliant, even earth-shattering. You know it, your team knows it, your mom knows it. So why doesn't anyone else seem to get it? The answer may be that you haven't told them the right story. As it turns out, good writing is hard to come by, and people who are good at making things aren't necessarily the best at telling their story. But don't worry: you can learn! In the world of fiction, we've been thinking about story--and how to make it powerful, visceral, and beautiful--for a long time. This panel will bring the practices and structure of fiction to help you transform your idea, product, or service from the mundane to the sublime.

  • Fiction
  • Storytelling

  At 5:00pm to 6:00pm, Friday 9th March

  In Capitol A-D, Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol

  Coverage audio clip

• Smokey Bear Tweetup

  by Michael Bellavia, Smokey Bear and Ellyn Fisher

  Smokey Bear has been a national icon since 1944 and has had a Twitter icon since 2010. Meet Smokey and the man behind the bear's tweets. While Smokey usually reminds folks that only you can prevent wildfires, in this session he'll help you see how you can build a social media wildfire, responsibly. Learn how staying in character is critical to improving the quality of your connections and interactions and get a better sense of how you can make a legacy brand relevant today. Attendees will walk away with 7 tactics that will revolutionize their communication strategy through social storytelling and create social good through social media at the same time. All attendees will also receive free bear hugs.

  • hugs
  • Social Media
  • Storytelling
  • wildfire

  At 5:00pm to 6:00pm, Friday 9th March

  In Assembly Room, InterContinental Stephen F. Austin