So in this literary celebration, we asked some of our Shelton Interactive team which one book is their all-time favorite and why.  Here are some of the interesting answers we collected.

Amber McGinty, newlywed and Web Director, gushed:

I am still reading this particular book, but I really love The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I like this book for a few reasons:

• The author, Stephen Covey, is extremely skilled at making deep insights concise and easy to apply right away.
• I love the genre of self-help, and this book really helps readers shift their mindset and live better lives.
• I also like that much of the principles taught in the book are Biblically-based, but that it doesn’t come across preachy in the slightest way.

Shelby Sledge, Publicity Director and resident IRL happy-face sticker and long-time book lover, decided (upon 3):

Ok, as I write this, I’m thinking of so many other books that could be on this list. Not only do I like to read, but I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by friends who are far more prolific readers than I am:  @peglouke and @mtalbottweets. They’ve recommended some excellent page turners, but I will say nothing hooked me on reading quite like my high school English teachers, nod to Miss Cargile and Dr. Mills. So, that said, for World Book Night, I can’t just pick one. Here are my top three, in no particular order:

1. “The Great Gatsby,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald: This American classic is not only beautifully written, but a fascinating look at the roaring 20s. I always get the sense that it’s a snapshot of the over indulgence that eventually led to The Depression.

2. “To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee: Another American classic that embodies a time period from the not-too-distant past. Harper Lee brilliantly looks at the social issue of racism through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch as they navigate the ugly waters of hatred in the south. As a southern girl, I like this book because it’s a reminder of where we’ve been and serves as a warning to where we don’t want to return.

3. “A Brave New World,” by Aldous Huxley: I was always fascinated with how right on Huxley was with some of his predictions: namely things like test tube babies and technological advances. Huxley looks at what happens to society when the powers that be pre-determine the classes and one’s role in society.

Shelby Janner, digital marketing intern and a writer/fashionista-in-the-making, said:

My favorite book that I can think of right now is “Lord Jim” by Joseph Conrad. I studied it last semester and it’s one of the hardest books that I’ve ever read because it’s so dense, but at the same time very rewarding to read.

Andrea Sanchez, digital publicist said:

I chose The Little Prince because:  It’s a beautiful story that can be read in one sitting. It points out the things adults can get preoccupied with, like rules and numbers, and reminds us the really important things in life like enjoying sunsets and friends.

Katie Schnack, digital publicist and infamous comedienne (in our office at least) seriously said:

Ann Lamott’s “Bird by Bird: Instructions on Writing and Life.” Bird by Bird is so inspirational, wise and funny. An essential read for writers, an excellent one for everyone else!

Susan Savkov, digital PR intern raved:

One of my all time favorite books that I have read the entire series is “Dune” by Frank Herbert.  I love sci-fi and this book really opened my eyes to a whole, new world of other places and people. The concept of good versus evil and one boy’s journey to becoming a man was very compelling. I love that the “Dune” series goes across generations but still carries a consistent theme.

Richard Ricondo, Web & digital marketing coordinator (and Corgi lover), said:

“Brave New World” – Ever since I read it as I child, I was captivated how Huxley could get me to relate to a story that’s quite farfetched. I believe he wanted us to question technology. While such progression might eliminate some of our mental and physical problems, it may cause us to compromise our previously held beliefs, which may in fact be detrimental to the human experience. It begs the question, can science be detrimental? This questions in itself is fascinating and is the reason why I feel this book is timeless.

Philip Loyd, digital marketing intern and occasional bagel sharer, shared:

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. I’m kind of a science fiction nerd, and I LOVE the concept of time travel. Plus you can get this e-book free in the Amazon store! What’s not to love?

Travis Wilson, one of the most hard-working, dedicated digital publicists & biz development people on the block, said, without reserve:

“The Great Gatsby.” It has the best line in a book ever. The last few sentences of “The Great Gatsby” read…”Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but no matter– tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther… And one fine morning– So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

And, my all-time, everlasting favorite novel is, without question, “Pride and Prejudice.” An amazingly timeless classic book that “in my book” beats any current romantic novel or rom-com movie, “Pride and Prejudice” is a book that entices the reader with its humor, brilliance, sharp and witty love story. Elizabeth Bennett is a remarkable woman and of course, we all pine over the sensitive, or seemingly insensitive and outrageous (outrageously proud) Mr Darcy. Mark my words – it’s not a novel to be forgotten.

So we are curious – which one book would you recommend to a new reader, wanting to encourage them to read more and experience the joy of reading?

This social media channel that has been around since March 2010 but has really grown in popularity last year with 11.7 million active registered users. In fact, in Feb 2012, Pinterest drove more traffic to online publishers (blogs/sites) than Twitter who has than 100 million users, 50% of whom log in every day.

How to start:

First, establish your objective in using Pinterest.

Maybe you want to focus on driving awareness as a go-to resource in your area, driving website traffic. Secondarily, you may want to book sales and speaking engagements. Overall, Pinterest can allow you another way to connect with your audience – where they are spending their time online.

Then, define your strategy to achieve this objective.

Create awareness by utilizing Pinterest to share images and videos with links to your website and others. These images should be in line with your personal branding, visually showing your core values and interests, professionally, and building /engaging with the online community.

And, finally get started!

1. Request an invitation here
2. Establish your profile with a profile image to represent you and your brand, including a bio telling people about you.
3. Find friends to follow – Pinterest guides you through the steps.
4. Create boards to categorize your pins by interest (see board suggestions below)
5. Start pinning and interacting with others. Approach Pinterest with the mindset that each like, pin, repin, follow and comment is a touch point, a connection with someone.
6. Track results – review referral traffic to your site and pins from your site.

Pinterest allows you to choose customize your profile page to be consistent with your website’s look & feel by uploading a file that you design. You can choose to connect your Pinterest profile page to your Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as your website, for ease of log in and sharing of images and pins with your fans and site visitors.

What is a pin?

A pin is an image that can be added from a website using the Pin It button (you can download it), or you can upload images from your computer. Each pin added using the Pin It button links back to the site it came from.  You pin to your boards.

Think of boards that fit your brand and the theme of your main message. Come up with creative names for the boards to make your profile stand out.

Some suggested boards for authors:

1. Have a board for each of your books to pin quotes, pictures, etc. that relates to the specific title.
2. Consider a board for topics related to your work, for example, if you are a doctor with a book on health, have a board on fitness, diet, recipes etc.
3. Blog. Pin the picture from your blog post and write a blurb underneath describing the specific blog to direct traffic to it.
4. Books I Enjoy (favorite books, pay it forward to others)
5. Friends Gallery (photos of friends / readers from events)
6. Videos. If you utilize video content, you can pin these too! Remember, they link back to the source you pinned from, directing traffic to your site!

You can edit and rearrange your boards at any time, from the drop down menu at the top of the page.

What should I pin?

Your pins can be images from your blog posts, pictures on your website, book covers, video book trailers or video blogs. Now you can also pin text to your boards to include quotes from readers or you can make a pin from a comment someone leaves on your pin.

Some tips:

• Use the bookmarklet function to add this to your toolbar so you can easily pin images from other sites.
• Add the Pinterest logo and functionality to your website.
• Start tracking your website traffic from Pinterest on your Google Analytics reports. This can be found under traffic sources showing you the sites referring traffic to you.
• See what is being pinned from your own site by using the following URL: http://pinterest.com/source/YourWebsite.com/
• Add the Pinterest app to your iPhone so you can pin pictures you find while online, reading other posts and to pin pictures you take while out and about.
• When someone comments on your pins, like and sometimes comment on them to give them better ranking and increase their reach.
• Repin some of the images or comments people share with you.
• Follow those who pin your pages, showing reciprocity and interest in their pins as well.

As with other social media sites, be social and not too self promotional. You’ll want to share your interests and appreciate others. Nurturing these social relationships is key to successfully using the sites to build awareness for your work among existing and new audiences.

What would you like to share on Pinterest? Let’s brainstorm.

It doesn’t feel like it has been a year since you last took over Austin, but here we are again, prepping for another weekend of high-priced badges, dark-rimmed glasses and, most importantly, really interesting connections and conversations.

Sure, some people say you’re getting too big for your skinny jeans, but we think they fit just fine—after all, you’re still the best conference of the year.

While many of our Austin neighbors are HomeAwaying their houses to hotel-less out-of-towners, we’re staying put, ready to get everything we can out of this year’s conference.

One thing you’re not short on is options—from parties to panels to presentations, there is no lack of things to do. So, what is an SXSW Interactive badge-holder to do? Which events are most worth their time?

We read the entire schedule, cover to cover, and although it’s not quite Atlas Shrugged, it’s not getting any smaller. So, without further ado, here’s our 2012 SXSW Interactive Mega-Preview–a day-by-day guide to the best panels, parties and presentations at South by Southwest:

Thursday

Welcome to Austin!

You just touched down at the best airport in the country (Ok, 3^rd best)—grab some Maudie’s tacos before heading downtown to your hotel/rental/friend’s couch and get settled in.

You can head over to the convention center starting at 11 AM to pick-up your badge. Get it early, if at all possible. The line will swell through the afternoon before shutting down at 9 PM.

Got your badge?

You’re all set. Grab a 512 IPA downtown, but leave some gas in the tank and get ready to kick the conference off on Friday.

Friday, March 9^th

Wheels up on SXSW Interactive 2012.

All the sponsored lounges open at 9 AM, though we recommend that you take the opportunity to grab a bit of extra sleep before heading over to the convention center (you’re going to need it).

Grab an early lunch at 11 AM at the BBQ Crash Course across the street from the convention center at Brush Square Park.

After lunch?

Walk the BBQ off by getting a lay of the land at the various venues for SXSW 2012. Check out the exhibit hall, bookstore and a few of the lounges before heading to your first event at 2 PM.

Disappointingly, we can’t find any Rebecca Black-inspired panels, but Friday afternoon has some very good options.

2 PM ~ David Meerman Scott

David Meerman Scott has a new book out from our friends at Wiley—Newsjacking: How to Inject Your Ideas—and we suggest that you listen to him read some of it in Ballroom G, Convention Center.

Speaker: David Meerman Scott

3:30 PM ~ Can Growing a Mustache Change the World?

November or, Movember, for millions of mustache-growing men (and their cringing spouses), has become the most important month of the year for men’s health. How did Adam Garone and Kory Klem make it happen?

Speakers: Adam Garone, Kory Klem

5 PM ~ Uncertainty: Fuel for Brilliance

Jonathan Fields will be doing a brief reading from his award-winning book, Uncertainty. You won’t be disappointed—this was one of the best books of 2011. (Client)

Speaker: Jonathan Fields

5:20 PM ~ Hammurabi, Horseshoes and Hookers in Social Media

After the end of Jonathan’s reading, head over to see Austin’s own Peter Kim, who wins the award for most creative presentation title. Besides being able to tweet this title, the reasons to attend Peter’s talk are many, including his understanding of anthropology (and the roots of communal sharing) and, perhaps more importantly, how brands can take this knowledge and let it shape their digital strategy moving forward.

Speaker: Peter Kim

Wrap-up

Ok, day one in the books. How are you feeling? The best parties will happen Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so grab your friends and hit the town—there is no shortage of fun to have in Austin and most of the parties (though there are exceptions) are pretty welcoming to badge-holders.

Saturday, March 10^th

Tough morning? Get it together—we’re just getting started. If you have time, grab some breakfast tacos before you head down to the conference and do everything you can to avoid the Starbucks line in the lobby of the Hilton—which, based on the constant size of the line, is really an all day panel focused on the power of the $4 latte.

9:30 AM ~ Dave McClure Uncensored: The Startup Shootout

Who better to get your energy flowing on Saturday morning than Dave McClure? Part of the Lean Startup movement that made so much noise in 2011, McClure is a graduate from the Gary Vaynerchuk school of speaking (awesome content, raw language), but is always entertaining. A must-hit for founders.

Speaker: Dave McClure

10:45 AM ~ Nilofer Merchant Book Signing

I was turned on to Nilofer Merchant by my friend Les McKeown and have really enjoyed her perspective. She’ll be signing her new book early on Saturday and it’s worth checking out.

Speaker: Nilofer Merchant

11 AM ~ I Need a Place to Sleep Meet Up

Uh, if you need a place to sleep, this is priority #1 for your Saturday.

For everyone else:

11 AM ~ Start-up Passion Smack-Down

John Bradberry is one of the most important people I have had the pleasure of working alongside since I started my business. I often refer to him as a founder’s best friend—not because he tells you what you want to hear, but because he’s a voice of reason in a sea of yes-men and “go for it” sentiment. Bradberry has spent his career helping founders navigate the tricky highwire between healthy “passion” and drinking your own kool-aid. This session is all about how know the difference. (Client)

11 AM ~ Real-Time Newsjacking & a Cold-Blooded Tweeter

Ok, I realize this panel also starts at 11 AM, but it’s worth trying to catch after John wraps up. Both panels narrowly beat out Jay Baer’s presentation on balancing free content with paid consulting, thanks in large part to participation by the Bronx Zoo Cobra. Since becoming an overnight sensation following her well-executed escape from the Bronx Zoo, the Cobra will join other panelists in talking about real-time newsjacking. No word yet on whether Angelina Jolie’s right leg will get a foot in the door (I can hear you slow-clapping).

Speaker Grant Hunter, Bronx Zoo Cobra, Esty Gorman, Michael Logan, Remco Marinus

12:30 PM ~ John Bradberry Book Signing

John Bradberry will be signing copies of his recent release, Six Secrets to Start-up Success, which is a must-read for founders. (Client)

12:30 PM ~ Rebuilding LEGO

While everyone in the innovation space rightly points to Apple as the gold standard, Wharton Professor David Robertson likes to remind people of the power of the LEGO story. This presentation will be a precursor to his eagerly anticipated new book, Brick By Brick. (Client)

Speaker: David Robertson

12:30 PM ~ Why Small Is the New Big and Big Is the New Small

12:30 is a competitive time on Saturday, so we wanted to give you one more option over lunch. Our Austin friends Jason Stoddard and Kat Mandelstein will be talking about the changing face of business.

Speakers: Jason Stoddard, Kat Mandelstein

2 PM ~ Startup Wisdom from Steve Blank + ‘Meet the Authors’ Session

Ok, by now you’re seeing a few themes occurring in this preview. #1 – We like books. #2 – We’re very interested in building better start-ups. #3 – We especially like books that talk about building better start-ups, which makes this session a great one to hit. In addition to Steve Blank’s comments, it will also provide a rundown of upcoming start-up books.

Speaker: Steve Blank

(3 PM ~ Rainn Wilson Book Signing – you’re not really going to stand in this line, are you?)

3:30 PM ~ The Visual Interface Is Now Your Brand

This topic is near and dear to our hearts, as increasingly, the first impression your brand will make on potential customers, journalists and other influencers will be via your online interface. How can you make it a great impression? Nick Myers will draw on 16 years of experience to tell you how to make it happen.

Speaker: Nick Myers

4 PM ~ Winning the Story Wars

Jonah Sachs understands that “story-telling” is almost on par with “pivot” when it comes to eye-rolling, overused SXSW terms (also nominated: content, curate, South-By and ‘ping me’), but he will argue in this presentation why it’s time to stop focusing on telling more stories and start telling better stories. This will be a great preview of his upcoming book.

Speaker: Jonah Sachs

5 PM ~ Physical Architecture Meets Interaction Design

This is one of the panels that we are most excited about. Our Creative Director, Taylor Ballard, has a degree in Architecture and we’re absolutely of the mind that what works in physical design has major implications on more abstract design online. We’re excited to hear what Leonard Souza and Sean Coulter have to say about it.

Speakers: Leonard Souza, Sean Coulter

Wrap-up

Is your brain exploding yet? We get it—lots of info—but that’s why you’re taking notes. Give your brain a break by heading over to Iron Cactus on Sixth Street for a frozen margarita.

Sunday, March 11^th

How do you feel about us making Sunday all about book publishing? Can we make that happen? By the end of the day you’re going to have a better perspective on why it’s time to get excited about book publishing and, not only are we going to point you to great panels, we’re going to throw an amazing party alongside our partner agency, Cave Henricks Communications, tonight. 

9:30 AM ~ Publishing Models Transforming the Book

Kick things off by heading to Publishers Weekly’s panel about how new publishing models are transforming the book. Moderated by PW’s Rachel Deahl, this panel features several heavy hitters on the leading edge of publishing’s many changes and is a must attend for both current and would-be authors.

Speakers: Brian Altounian, Jefferson Rabb, Molly Barton, Rachel Deahl, Swanna MacNair

11 AM ~ Discoverability and the New World of Book PR

(*Attention: self-serving recommendation alert*)

Book PR has changed dramatically over the past several years and those charged with promoting books find themselves at the crossroads of three industries that have been completely turned on their heads—journalism, PR and book publishing. How can authors and publishers prepare for this new environment? I’m honored to share the stage with Barbara Henricks, Hollis Heimbouch and moderator Cal Reid for this conversation on making sure good books find their audience.

Speakers: Barbara Cave Henricks, Calvin Reid, Hollis Heimbouch, Rusty Shelton

12:30 PM ~ Social Media Is a Bubble and SXSW Is a Fad

Did you do a double-take on that title? So did we. Although we disagree with both points, we are very interested to hear this panel’s perspective on things. We’re visualizing this panel’s task as similar to these panelists trying to make their way down the steps of a crowded SXSW escalator heading up, full of pro-social media attendees…can they turn them around? Will they be trampled? Will they be met with angry questions and comments—“You’re going the wrong way!”  We’re intrigued (and excited about hearing a contrary perspective from a brave panel).

Speakers: Alyson Shontell, Curtis Hougland, Josh Levine, Lauren Bruksch, Lincoln Lopez

2 PM ~ Ambient Location and the Future of the Interface

We are very excited to hear Amber Case’s keynote speech on the future of UX design based on her research into cyborg anthropology. We don’t know what cyborg anthropology is, but it sounds awesome!

Speaker: Amber Case

3:30 PM ~ For Better or for Work: Married to an Entrepreneur

If you read Inc Magazine, it’s likely you have read Meg Hirshberg’s “Balancing Acts” column, which focuses on the intersection of work and family. In this presentation, Meg will be joined by her husband, Stonyfield Yogurt founder Gary Hirshberg, to talk about how founders and their families can get on the same page with regard to building a great business (and family along the way). (Client)

Speakers: Gary Hirshberg, Meg Hirshberg

5 PM ~ Innovation Case Studies: Austin and Beyond

How did Austin become Austin? “Keep Austin Weird” has become much more than a bumper sticker—it has become a magnet for top companies, top talent and, as a result, top innovation. How did this happen? Adriana Cruz will talk about what others can learn about Austin’s rise.

Speaker: Adriana Cruz

Parties!

6 PM ~ Cave Henricks Communications and Shelton Interactive Books & Bytes Party

This year we’re having our second annual Books & Bytes party at Malverde and we’ll have free drinks and appetizers for our guests. This is one of the few times that publishing comes to Austin and we’re looking forward to hosting a number of friends Sunday night. It is invite only, but if you haven’t received an invite and would like to attend, check your spam filter and then send us an email.

6 PM ~ Wiley’s Annual Publishing Party

Yes, we know it’s a competing party but our friends at Wiley always throw a good one. Their party lasts until 9 PM and is close to Malverde, so head to see us and then finish off SXSW’s Publishing Sunday at the Wiley party. (invite only)

Monday, March 12^th

Did you had fun last night? That third mojito really was worth it, even if it doesn’t feel like it now, but it’s back to business today. You have two days left and it’s time to dig deep—channel your inner college kid—it is spring break after all. You’ll find Monday to be one of the absolute strongest days of the conference in terms of content, so perk up a bit.

9:30 AM ~ The Future of HTML5 Motion Design

Remember the flash crash? Flash was hot because motion graphics were new and, when done well, could improve the user experience. In this session Adobe’s Paul Trani will give a first-hand look at Adobe Edge, which is designed to save time while creating cutting-edge motion graphics for a more interactive experience. Save time? Better user experience? We’re in.

Speaker: Paul Trani

11 AM ~ The Future of The New York Times

As the New York Times goes, so goes…in a must-attend for both journalism and PR-types, this sessions will feature Austin’s own Evan Smith, of the Texas Tribune, and New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson talking about the future of the most prestigious newspaper in the world. Can top newspapers find a sustainable model? We think (read: hope) so.

Speaker: Evan Smith, Jill Abramson

12:30 PM ~ Kill the Company

How’s this for a counter-intuitive book title? Perhaps you have heard of Lisa Bodell and her head-turning innovation consultancy futurethink, or perhaps you’re just interested in figuring our how to balance the need to be more productive with the need to be more creative…either way, this is a book to pay attention to this spring. (Client)

Speaker: Lisa Bodell

12:50 PM ~ Social Role-Playing: Brands and Publishers

I love the title of this panel, because it is so indicative of the current environment we find ourselves in. Brands are working hard to become publishers and publishers are working hard to become brands. Will they meet in the middle? Does one have an advantage over the other? Can actors really be good musicians or vis-a-versa? Excited to hear what this panel has to say about it.

Speakers: Sarah Smith, EB Boyd, Kevin Barenblat, Ruth Hartmann

2 PM ~ Expanding Our Intelligence Without Limit

This year’s main keynote…will be interesting to hear what Ray Kurzweil and Lev Grossman have to say about something that is on all of our minds…what will the future look like?

Speakers: Lev Grossman, Ray Kurzweil

3:30 PM ~ The End of Business As Usual

In the spirit of March Madness, if we’re seeding SXSW Interactive timeslots, 3:30 on Monday is the #1 overall seed. How can you stack Biz Stone, Brian Solis, Aaron Shapiro, Richard Linklater, Morgan Spurlock and #140conf against each other? Vegas would have a tough time seeding this one. From my perspective, although it’s a tough one to call, Brian Solis is the pick.

Speaker: Brian Solis

5 PM ~ Media Measurement: Science, Art or a Load of Crap

For years one of the biggest challenges for PR reps and agencies alike has been defining clear value around the results we achieve for our clients. Based on a lack of clear value equations, most judge “successful PR campaigns” the same way they judge what is or isn’t pornography—you know it when you see it. But in an era where there is no shortage of data resulting from coverage, the challenge for many agencies is not achieving results, it is attaching specific value to those results. How much is a hit in Forbes worth? What about USA Today? How about a tweet from @AndersonCooper? Most PR firms crave the ability to demonstrate not only results, but clear and measureable value assignments for each and every hit they secure. This panel is all about value and, accordingly to the description, they are going to show us why measuring PR success has never been easier. I’m all ears.

Speakers: David Armano, Brendan Lewis, Kelly Mills, Ken Shuman

Wrap-up

You wouldn’t think Monday would be a killer day, but it was—awesome panels—start to finish. So, where to from here? You still have some gas left in the tank right? The best way to use it is to head to GSDM’s “Industry Party,” which kicks off at 7 PM at their very spacious Austin headquarters on west Sixth Street. See you there?

Tuesday, March 13^th

Day 5. Everyone else may be headed to the airport, but you’re headed to Starbucks—powering up for a bit one last day before you hang it up. Think about it…it’s Tuesday and you’re in Austin, taking in the last day of the best conference of the year. Cheer up, if you listen hard enough, you can already hear the music from the “real” SXSW.

9:30 AM ~ Vetting in the Age of Social: Who Do You Trust?

It has been a little more than a year since I heard Michael Pranikoff of PR Newswire talk about the future of measurement and I am curious to hear his perspective on where we currently stand. Although he’s the only panelist I am familiar with, I think this panel is a good target because this topic area is becoming more and more important—not only for individuals, but for journalists, bloggers and other influencers. Who can you trust? What are their motives? How can you filter the biased from the unbiased?

Speakers: Alicia Stewart, Michael Pranikoff, Shelli Whitehurst, Tom Miale, Tony Uphoff

11 AM ~ Pinterest Explained: Q&A with Co-Founder Ben Silbermann

Ok, here’s the thing—this one will be packed. Even though no one yet seems to know exactly what to do with it, everyone is talking Pinterest, based not only on the growth it is experiencing, but the traffic it’s driving. For book publishers who rely heavily on Pinterest’s prime target market of middle-aged women, if the music isn’t enough, this session is a good reason to push your flight back.

Speakers: Ben Silbermann, Christopher Dixon

12:30 PM ~ Content Is Currency: Content for Web & Mobile

My buddy Jon Wuebben has written a really good book on content and he’ll be talking in this session about how bloggers, companies and influencers can take a well-rounded look at how content can impact their brands moving forward. Highly recommended.

Speaker: Jon Wuebben

12:30 PM ~ How to Lead a Social Revolution and Make a Profit

After Jon wraps up, join another friend, Shennandoah Diaz, in progress as she answers one of the most important questions on the minds of today’s entrepreneurs—how can you both make a profit and a difference at the same time? I’ve watched her do it as she has grown her Austin-based agency and I’m excited to hear more during this presentation.

Speaker: Shennandoah Diaz

Hungry? If you haven’t already done it, it’s time to hit up the good trucks on the west side of the convention center. Grab a seat outside and enjoy Austin in March. You’re almost to the finish line.

3:30 PM ~ Social Media & Young Children: Our Kids’ Futures

If you have kids, this is already on your mind. At the risk of sounding like a total nerd, I have Twitter handles, URLs and other online real estate already reserved for my boys, who are two and four, but who knows if that will be either the medium or the model in 15-20 years? Will parents start naming kids with unique first names so that they can “own” it online? Am I crazy to be thinking this way? Perhaps, but this panel will focus on how to begin thinking about social media and how it will impact your kids in the years to come.

Speaker: Christine Egy Rose, Hayes Raffle, Ian Small, Patty Chang, Svetlana Gous

5 PM ~ Scaling to Infinity: Dealing with Rocket Growth

What better way to end SXSW than with an incredibly optimistic panel? I’m in.

Speaker: Andrew Terng, Girish Patangay, Jeremy LaTrasse, Jeremy Edberg, Lee Holloway

Wrap-up

And…it’s over. Hard to believe, huh? Seems like yesterday that you spent four hours waiting to grab your badge and now you’re packing your suitcase and getting ready to head home.

So, what now? Austin’s own Thom Singer, who helps people get the most out of conferences, has a great blog post on how to process information after a conference and it’s your first order of business now that things have wrapped up.  Check it out and safe travels—come back and see us in Austin again soon!

Rory Vaden is the Co-Founder of Southwestern Consulting, a multi-million dollar international training company. He achieved critical success as a self-discipline strategist when he reapplied the principles and practices of the former company (Southwestern Company) to formulate the “Take the Stairs” methodology, which aims to curb procrastination and foster success. Heralded for such an accomplishment, he has been invited to speak for companies such as: Bank of America, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Wells Fargo Advisors, Mary Kay and AFLAC. Now, this approach, which has been field tested by thousands of professionals from all different industries, is covered in-depth in his new book: Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq4WsSiOAR4

Recently, Rory has been hosting live events throughout the country to elaborate on this philosophy, while raising money for local Youth Character Education programs. Tonight, Rory will roll through the “live music capital of world” to empower the community and its residents. Event information is listed below:

Date: Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Address: John B. Connally High School Performing Arts Center
13212 North Lamar, Austin, Texas 78753

Time: 6:00pm – 8:30pm

Charity Supporting: John B. Connally Teaching Garden

The events will be free of charge to anyone who wants to come, and they’ll collect a suggested $10 donation per attendee at the door. Although no money is required upfront you must register online beforehand, as seating is limited.

Register here: www.takethestairsaustin.com

We invite you to show your support, but more so open your mind to the idea that success is achievable only with the right mentality!

The team at Shelton Interactive did it again – we got out of the office and hits the streets to talk directly to you, the reader, about what you think about the publishing industry. This episode has a new twist – besides just getting the scoop on what people are reading and why, we also asked about e-readers and holiday gift giving habits. Check out what people had to say:

In this episode we hit up Congress Ave, right in the heart of downtown. We asked Austinites to share what they are reading, where they heard about the books, where they purchased them, and if their holiday gift exchanges included any good reads – whether it be of the print or e-reader format.

Here are some of the raw stats from our interviews:

Reader on the Street title: The Story of Success
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Format: Print
Discovered: Browsing online
Point of purchase: Amazon
Credit for purchase: Browsing
Preferred method for recommending books: Word of Mouth
Get/give any books for the holidays? No
Get/give an e-reader for the holidays? No

Reader on the Street title: Too Big to Know
Author: David Weinberger
Publisher: Basic Books
Format: Print
Discovered: NPR
Point of purchase: Amazon
Credit for purchase: Unknown
Preferred method for recommending books: Word of Mouth
Get/give any books for the holidays? No, kept them all to himself
Get/give an e-reader for the holidays? No, I prefer actual books

Reader on the Street title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Discovered: Word of mouth
Point of purchase: Barnes and Noble
Credit for purchase: Unknown
Preferred method for recommending books: Word of mouth
Get/give any books for the holidays? No
Get/give an e-reader for the holidays? Yes, I gave my Dad a Kindle Fire

Reader on the Street title: Black
Author: Ted Dekker
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Discovered: Wife got it for him
Point of purchase: Unknown, it was a gift.
Credit for purchase: Wife
Preferred method for recommending books: Word of mouth
Get/give any books for the holidays? Recieved a Barnes and Noble gift card
Get/give an e-reader for the holidays? No

Reader on the Street title: The Fountainhead
Author: Ayn Rand
Publisher: Plume; Centennial Edition, November, 1994
Discovered: Found it at a coffee shop
Point of purchase: N/A, found it.
Credit for purchase: Just thought it looked interesting, so he picked it up and began reading.
Preferred method for recommending books: Word of mouth
Get/give any books for the holidays? Yes, he received a book about different beers, and a National Geographic book.
Get/give an e-reader for the holidays? No

Reader on the Street title: The Book of Flying
Author: Keith Miller
Publisher: Riverhead Trade, January 2005
Discovered: Her sister recommended it
Point of purchase: Bought on Amazon
Credit for purchase: Recommendation
Preferred method for recommending books: Word of mouth, email, maybe Facebook
Get/give any books for the holidays? Yes, got a book by Steven Hawking
Get/give an e-reader for the holidays? No

Reader on the Street title: This is Your Brain on Music
Author: Daniel J. Levitin
Publisher: Plume/Penguin, August, 2007
Discovered: Found while browsing at Half Price Books
Point of purchase: Bought online
Credit for purchase: Just thought it looked interesting
Preferred method for recommending books: Word of mouth
Get/give any books for the holidays? No
Get/give an e-reader for the holidays? No, but wishes she did!

This week’s takeaway:  There was a wide variety of ways that these readers discovered their current reading selection. Some found while browsing online or in stores like Half Price Books, a few from word of mouth or family recommendations, while another man heard about his book from NPR. Print books and offline chatter dominated as the preferred method of reading and sharing, the same as in our last episode. As for the holidays, most of our readers gave or received books as gifts, but nobody received e-readers.

How does this line up with your reading habits? Are you in the same boat as these readers who are still loyal to print books over digital?

Leave a comment below! We would love to hear from you.

Will came to Texas with an appreciation for the written word and an eagerness to explore the Web as a medium for communication.  Thanks to his background in research and his passion for SEO, he found his way into the Web Department at Shelton Interactive focusing on increasing the visibility of client websites.

His goal with search optimization is to help clients focus their site’s content on the queries users enter into Google.  Specifically, he wants to make sure that if clients are taking the time to blog, that those blogs are as effective as possible.

Will takes a pragmatic approach to site optimization: tracking search trends, focusing keywords within content, and using analytics metrics to follow a site’s progress and improve the overall user-experience.

Will earned his B.A. in history at Syracuse University with a focus on the non-western world.  He spent his final semester studying abroad at Tsinghua University in Beijing and is enjoying Texas as his latest adventure.

Travis focuses the majority of his efforts on the Chicken Soup for the Soul account. He manages both the Chicken Soup for the Soul Blog Network, the Chicken Soup for the Soul Radio Network as well as corresponding with the books’ contributors, and making sure each portion of each campaign is executed well.

Travis graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in film/television/and digital media. While at TCU he was the president of his fraternity and graduated cum laude.  He is excited about using his combined experience in media and advertising to help develop the digital presence of Shelton Interactive’s clients.

As Digital Publicity Director for Shelton Interactive, she works with clients to generate media attention and buzz online and off. From business topics to fiction and genres in between, she has garnered clients media coverage with national media outlets, including ABC’s “The View,” U.S. News & World Report, Fortune and Martha Stewart Radio.

Before joining the Shelton Interactive team, Shelby spent nearly four years as a lead publicist at one of the nation’s oldest and most respected literary publicity firms – additionally serving as the firm’s media relations manager for a year-and-a-half. She has represented authors with major publishers, such as  Chicken Soup for the Soul, Guideposts, Thomas Nelson, Wiley & Sons and B&H Publishing Group, to name a few.

Prior to this, she led public relations, marketing and customer service initiatives for an Austin insulation company and an international specialty lighting manufacture, where she served as the Director of Public Relations and Customer Service. During this time, Shelby garnered media coverage with the National Home Builders Association, Parents magazine and Real Simple. She has been a regular contributing columnist to Identity Marketing magazine, where she wrote a column on business communications in the promotional products industry.

Shelby enjoys helping clients tell their story and the excitement around big and small media hits. She is passionate about teaching clients the importance of building a platform and how they can use the online space to get their message out.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Texas Tech University. She is an active member of the Austin chapter of the Association of Women in Communications.

Prior to working at Shelton Interactive, Katie was an associate producer for an NBC affiliate. This time spent in television news gave her valuable insight into the workings of the media and what specifically makes a story attractive to reporters, producers and editors. She now uses that knowledge to help pitch our clients to press outlets in an intentional and effective manner.

Katie is also a freelance writer and aspiring author. Her work has been featured in Austin Lifestyle Magazine, Redbook Magazine, and on several websites. She also worked as a staff writer for Homerun.com, where she wrote about Austin businesses. She loves using words to make people and companies look their absolute best. She is passionate about writing and the publishing industry, and is grateful to be working at a company who shares those same enthusiasms.

Katie graduated Palm Beach Atlantic University with a B.A. in journalism, and was awarded Outstanding Graduate in the Department of Journalism and Entertainment Media.