I'm on a mission. The 50 SXSW 2016 talks here are some of the ones that have scored well when put through my BALLSY Content Framework. In addition to my Interactive Programming Committee duties, I've helped UK folk craft proposals. I'm also leading a speaker workshop for those who are selected to speak in Austin next March. See you there?
BALLSY Guide To The SXSW 2016 Talks You Should Vote For NOW
1. TBC London Presents The BALLSY Guide to
SXSW 2016 Talks Vote TODAY. Last Chance.
2. TBC Ballsy Guide To Speaking At SXSW:
My Top 10 Ballsiest SXSports Proposals
’15: Launch of a book I co-authored: Hacker Maker Teacher Thief
’14: Millennial Vs Brand. Always On Vs Always Late w/ Nadya Powell
’14: Jon joins the SXSW Interactive Programming Committee
’13: London Teenage Coder Riot with Alex Goat and Steve Henry
’12: Social TV & Interactive Storytelling w/ BBC Comedy
’12: Future of Fashion & Social for Roisin Kiberd & Angela Buttolph
’12: Hacking SX For Smiles & Dorkbot Street Cred for Caygill/Curry
’11: Newsjacking (Launch of Urgent Genius) w/ Grant Hunter
’11: Crowdsourcing the Power Ballad w/ Justin Hawkins*
*Former singer for The Darkness Justin was recording an album
with Meatloaf in Oklahoma around the time of SXSW, so ask me
what happened with this when you see me.
JON’S SXSW TALK CV
3. TBC Ballsy Guide To Speaking At SXSW:
My Top 10 Ballsiest SXSports Proposals
TIPS FROM SXSW’S HUGH FORREST
Is your idea forward-thinking and innovative?
Does your proposal cover a new perspective on an innovative
topic or an innovative view on a traditional topic?
Is your idea focussed on depth over width?
Is your talk a mile long and an inch deep? Hope not.
Does your talk have a strong, succinct title?
Is your title specific or too general? Go for specific over funny
and broad.
Does your panel feature a diverse group of speakers?
All panels must feature a woman. The others shouldn’t be white
males.
9. TBC Ballsy Guide To Speaking At SXSW:
My Top 10 Ballsiest SXSports Proposals
All of the following 50 talks are rated BALLSY
according to my content methodology.
I will highlight the lead qualities in blue and give a final
rating. (0 is crap, 4 is good, 5 is great, 6 is excellent).
BALANCED
Is your SXSW talk both brave and brand-appropriate?
ACTIONABLE
Does your talk inspire the audience to do something?
LIKEABLE
Does your talk create an emotional connection?
LONG-TERM
Is your talk future-proof?
SURPRISING
Is your talk and delivery surprising in any way?
YOU-CENTRIC
Is your talk me-centric or focused on others?
10. 11 March 2016: Day One Strategy: I’ve selected 10 talks on
different topics. A few will be scheduled at the same time. If
serendipity rules and I miss loads of talks on days 2-5, at
least I’ve got something to blog about on the plane home.
17. This is my four-hour workshop. It will be TWEETABLE and PROVOCATIVE. It will feature EXCLUSIVE,
SURPRISING content. It won’t be all about me aka YOU-CENTRIC. I will practice what I preach.
Day 1, talk 7
21. 12 March 2016: Day Two Strategy: I’ve got a push-scooter so
I will prioritise talks that I know nothing about and 10
minutes in, I will choose whether to stay or scoot to option B
which will be a talk on my passion areas: content & real-time
32. 13 March 2016: Day Three Strategy: I schedule a bunch of
talks and will see most of…Oops, I just ran into some old
friends. Three hours later, still chatting. This is why I come.
No blogging today. No more breakfast tacos. No Shiner Bock.
35. nal connection?
ng in any way?
d on others?
Balanced
Actionable
Likeable
Long-term
Surprising
You-Centric
BALLSY
RATING
(out of 6)
4.9
Day 3, talk 3
43. 14 March 2016: Day Four Strategy: A few different talks then
it’s time to support London friends. Several have talks today.
One guy lost his talk and re-wrote the whole thing last night.
He will need an audience “plant” to stir things up. That’s me.
54. 15 March 2016: Day Five Strategy: I feel for these guys.
They’re speaking on the dreaded day five when everyone’s
brain dead and people are heading home already. Be strong,
Jon. Some of the best talks happen on this day. Go for it.
65. But how, Jon? If you haven’t voted for a SXSW panel before, go to http://
panelpicker.sxsw.com/, register and vote by typing the title into the search bar.
66. Best Way To Work With TBC London: SXSW
Speaker + BALLSY Content Workshops
67. I’ve spoken at SXSW for the past 5 years and I know what the
crowd needs. I’ve teamed with Louisa Heinrich, professional
speaker and founder of Superhuman, to offer a half-day
workshop on how to be a better public speaker with a special
focus on the needs of the SXSW audience where the entire
crowd will be looking down at their phones tweeting if you’re
interesting NOT looking at you.
We will help you make your story the best that it can be. You
bring your brilliant ideas, and we'll help you find the most
compelling, engaging way to bring them to life in front of the
audience in Texas.
SXSW SPEAKER WORKSHOP
68. http://bit.ly/BBQWorkshopLDN
The next open BBQ Workshop is 7th Oct. Tickets here:
TBC presents London’s only content marketing event
fueled by beer, balls and BBQ.
Four times a year, agencies and brands bring Jon in to
find out what’s been going on in content marketing
around the globe. It’s like Contagious magazine but
just for awesome content that fits Jon’s BALLSY
framework. Of course, he’ll also show the biggest
brand balls-ups and you can vote with your ginger
balls as to what you like and don’t like.
The workshop is both serious (you learn stuff) and fun
(you throw stuff). What happens after is just fun. Jon
curates the best BBQ sliders. Just add beer. FYI - He’s
from the global hub of pulled pork Memphis, TN.
BALLSY BRANDS QUARTERLY
TRENDS WORKSHOP
69. Featured Content Workshops
Newsjacking
A workshop inspired by Jon’s book and
his experience building creative
newsrooms with a focus on the role
culture has in branded content
WHAT YOU’LL LEAVE WITH:
A complete understanding of how to
create a content strategy-led approach
to reactive content
A new process for creating culturally
relevant content that earns the trust of
customers new and old
Content Strategy Influencer Marketing
An action-packed workshop where we
explore the importance of a written
content strategy in creating shareable
content
WHAT YOU’LL LEAVE WITH:
A thorough understanding of content
strategy and how it informs the content
calendar and production schedule
A new process for creating a content
mission statement and how it informs a
daily content editorial meeting
A fast-paced workshop where we
analyse the power of influencers and
find ways for brands to turn them into
advocates
WHAT YOU’LL LEAVE WITH:
An understanding of how to find
influencers and create content for
them that they will want to share
A list of tools/platforms and how to
use them to keep track of potential
advocates
70. Why Jon?
He channels unusual levels of
curiosity and energy into
what’s next to find new ways
to solve business problems.
His workshops are always fun
and often dangerous (hence
the helmet) with very clear,
practical takeaways.
FACT: You’re 9x more likely to
remember something you
learn through interactive play.
As advisor to top tech festival
SXSW, Jon’s committed to
staying on top of trends for you.
He started the world’s first blog
on reactive content Urgent
Genius in 2010.
He’s co-authored two
books with his third on the
way. It’s about his six-step
process to better content.