One of my highlights of SXSW so far was a panel that focused on how social media can be used for social good just as we saw with clean-up campaign after the London riots. Bringing together a range of senior agency people and chaired by Economist journalist Matthew Bishop, the panel debated how digital communications can help deal with some of the big issues facing the world today, from child health to social change.

This is a topic close to Porter Novelli’s heart: when our agency was founded 40 years ago it was to pioneer the idea of social marketing – using the power of communications to change people’s lives for the better by helping them live more healthily and happily. Fast forward to 2012 and this topic is again back on the agenda and judging by the way the digerati of SXSW packed in to join the discussion, more relevant than ever. Read more »

SXSW loves a feisty discussion, and the good-natured grilling that Guy Kawasaki gave Google’s head of social business, Vic Gundotra, around Google+ ignited the conference.

Guy Kawasaki admits he’s a bit of a Google+ fanboy (and even has a book out on the subject) but that didn’t stop him from quizzing Vic about lack of user engagement and negative feedback from influencers. Read more »

Our fascination with the differences between men and women has spawned countless tv shows, hit songs, and bestselling books. And now we’re starting to understand how gender also influences social media use. Drilling down into the facts and stats around social several clear trends emerged showing…