Dream Systems Media Blog

If you are attending Pubcon this year in Las Vegas, you should know that we will be there representing as well and I do have to say that we are getting a little bit excited, could even say giddy, about our soon approaching travels to Vegas for Pubcon.  Pubcon means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but for DSM it comes down to good eats, good drinks, good friends, good business, and good times.

Along with everything else that comes with the territory, both Mat and Dave will be speaking this year.  Here are the details and I suggest you don’t miss these sessions as they could change your life forever!

Wednesday Nov. 11 @ 2:55 pm
Interactive Site Reviews: Focus on Brand and Social Reputation Management
Location: Salon F

David Mink, Industry News, Matt Siltala, speaking Las Vegas, Pubcon, speaking

I have a lot of respect for Andy Beal, (Marketing Pilgrim and Trackur) and we have become good friends over the years of knowing each other and speaking at/attending conferences.  Lately I have been playing around (ok, its my new obsession) with DailyBooth, sort of like a Twitter updates, but with picture updates and snapshots of your daily life. Andy has been following me on DailyBooth because I tend to make some funny faces and fun with it, and put a smile on his face. Soooo, Andy decided it would be fun to do a contest with one of my funny faces – that day has arrived. Whoever gives this the best caption to this photo -

is going to win a 25$ gift card to iTunes …….

Matt Siltala Contest, DailyBooth, Marketing Pilgrim, Matt Siltala

My daughter drew this picture today, and when I asked her what it was; she told me: “It’s what you do all day, don’t you know that?”  Point taken!  I just think its funny how she has my companies (Dream Systems Media) Logo included, and my picture (like on profile sites)  Its funny, cause its pretty good drawing of what I am doing most everyday.  Love how she included the GOATIE too!!!  When I asked her what it all was, and to explain it, she said its you on those sites you are always on that have your picture and friends. …. OH, and Google she says.  Again, love it!  BTW – is that a Mac?

What Daddy Does All Day!

Matt Siltala Dream Systems Media, Matt Siltala

People You Need To Follow On Twitter

I love getting feedback from my readers. I especially love getting questions; and do my best to help at any opportunity.  The other day I received a question from “Lise” about using Twitter.  She had some valid questions and points of concern regarding Twitter that I wanted to address in a blog post.  To do that, I thought I would bring in some Twitter “gurus” to help me answer this question.

I really appreciate these amazing Internet marketers taking the time out of their very busy days to answer these questions.  I really think this can benefit a lot of people and hope you will feel its worth the read!

Here is the comment & question that “Lise” asked me:

So Mat. I am really enjoying your blog and have started following you – with thanks to Gerald. But I have a challenge that no one seems to be able to help me with – perhaps you can.

General, Matt Siltala, SMX aaron wall, Alysson Fergison, andy beal, ann smarty, Cameron Olthius, Dave Wallace, mat siltala, Michael Gray, Nate Moller, Twitter

I have been doing my best to teach my kids about being smart with money, especially with everything thats going on lately in the economy.  It wasn’t until I was in my twenties (I’m 32 now) that I learned what ROI even stood for (Return On Investment).

I want to make sure my kids understand money differently then I did growing up and understand what it means to be in business and build wealth, instead of just making money for an employer, and making them rich.  I was taught you finish high school, get a degree, find a company and work for that same company for the next 40 years until you retire making 10k more per year then what you started at … no thanks!

Matt Siltala return on investment, ROI

At some point we all die, I understand that, but it does not make it any easier when someone you know does pass on.  Say what you want about Larry H Miller, but he will be missed.

I had a unique experience a few years ago to meet Larry H Miller at the LHM Motorsports speedway in Tooele, Utah.  He was out there with Bob Bondurant, founder of The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving and a few other people who shared his passion for racing testing out his new track.  It was amazing to see these guys like little kids in a Candy shop around what they truly loved – Race Cars!  Bob had just finished up a major heart surgery like 3 weeks before and he was racing around that track at 150 mph – he always said he wanted to go while racing!  I wish it could have been better circumstances for Larry – My thoughts go out to him and his family during this time.

Matt Siltala larry h miller

Thomas Schmitz

When it comes to whether you should use SEO tools you must consider both the good and the bad – like every other choice in life. Tools are good for gathering data. However, tools can be expensive, produce inherent errors, and have many limitations.

Scripts are tools that you create. Save time. Save money. Thomas recommends adapting your scripts from existing open source code.

Dave Wallace At SMX

David Wallace

Recommends having a routine that looks something like this:

1. Begin your day with email, bloglines, and Twitter. With Twitter just looks for DM’s and @replies.

2. Write your new blog posts.

3. Now do everything else. Deal with clients. Deal with business. Deal with finances. etc.

David says that he is really big on structuring his email. (Our own Andrew Melchior is a wizard with organizing email!) Develop a category structure.

David Mink, Matt Siltala, SMX being productive

Would I be able to hang in Bedrock?

This morning I was outside sitting by the pool, getting some work done on the macbook and enjoying a beautiful sunny Arizona day when something IMO funny dawned on me.  Do I know how to interact with people without technology? LOL, of course I do – but it got me thinking and laughing.  (Side Note) Even though it was 84 here today the pool water is still way to cold, but it was very tempting!  Just two more months!!

Anyway, my wife was inside sitting at our kitchen table (playing on her macbook), and our backdoor was even open and up pops a instant message.  We must have chatted for over two minutes on the messenger program before my wife said, “I guess I could just come out there and talk to you about it”  We were talking about some things we needed to get at Home Depot.  It just made me laugh because of all the technology around us.

Matt Siltala technology

If you are a lover of football – especially the NFL you enjoyed the Superbowl last night.  That was one of the best games I have watched all year.  Exactly what you would expect from a Superbowl!  I am sad that my Cardinals did not win, but the Steelers did an amzing job pulling off a last minute victory touchdown after all hope had seemed to be gone for them.  Thats just how things went this year in the NFL – it was a crazy year with an even crazier ending!

Here is a picture my daughter drew rigth before the game, and I never felt so bad in my life when I saw her crying after the Cardinals loss.  My son too – they were so into it this year.  They are begging for season tickets next year.  I think the Cardinals did a good job this year making people believe, and even though they didn’t pull off a Superbowl victory – they changed football in Arizona forever!  Again, as a HUGE fan, I would like to congradulate the Arizona Cardinals on an amazing Superbowl and great year!

Matt Siltala Arizona Cardinals

For the first time ever – The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Superbowl!  I am so proud of this team for not giving up, and for the fans NEVER losing faith that they would make it!  I just had a feeling that they would do it after the Seattle game.  It was like they became a new team.

I was reading a great post from Nate Moller talking about Kurt Warner and the power of never taking no for an answer.  People said the Cardinals could never get past Atlanta, they did.  No way they could get past Carolina, they did.  OK, now there was NO WAY they could get past the Eagles and guess what they did.  All with a QB everyone said was to old.  Kurt Warner is going to be the 3rd oldest QB to ever play in a superbowl and IMO, he’s gonna win.  He does not take no for an answer!

Matt Siltala Arizona Cardinals, Kurt Warner, Matt Siltala