We had a great time at SXSW, and we turned six, too. Here are our top six takeaways from the conference. We were, in a word, inspired.
- Job one? Figure out what the “a-ha moment” is going to be for your users. Design for it. Remove barriers that might keep them from having it.
- Think game theory. Incorporate behavioral concepts like feedback, recognition, goals and community to up participation and make site experiences more engaging.
- Failure is temporary. There are infinite ways to fail, but inaction is the surest way. Tweak towards a better user experience if you have to. And if it doesn’t serve users, find out what does.
- Check into it. The real-time web and location based services (LBS) like Foursquare and Gowalla are creating more connections between life online and offline. Just don’t “check in” at home for the foreseeable future — privacy issues are something to watch.
- Inspired is the key word. We could see people’s minds ticking and ideas popping out all over the conference. A renewed focus on ways technology can make real life more effortless, meaningful and fun is driving the web forward at the speed of ideas. Let’s collaborate.
- Repeat traffic is good. We had so much fun turning six, we’re already looking forward to seven. Look for the Springbox SXSW party next year!