Pubcon Hawaii Dream Systems Media Shirts

Pubcon Hawaii 2012 is just around the corner, and I am looking forward to attending, speaking and modering. Pubcon is, and always has been one of my favorite conferences throughout the year.  The entire Dream Systems Media crew will be on the Island enjoying the conference and networking.

We have already been passing around DSM Pubcon Hawaii Tee’s … so if you were lucky enough to get one we’d love to have you post pictures of them here (just comment with where I can find them and I will get them added).  I am going to have extras at the conference, so just find me and let me know you want one!   I am really looking forward to seeing all my old industry buds, and meeting and making new ones.

What I will be speaking/moderating:

• Convergence of Social Media and Search - Speakers; Rebecca Murtagh,  Matt Siltala,  Sarah Carling (and Carolyn Shelby will be the moderator for this session)  - I am lucky to be on this panel with 3 lovely ladies and industry pros.  For this session I will be taking a deep look at social signals & factors, and thanks to the fellas at Authority Labs, (for helping me with) a pretty extensive case study on the subject.  There will be some amazing data for everyone to enjoy and digest!  I can’t wait to share it!
• Link Building & Link Baiting for Tourism – Speakers; Mark Barrera & Michael Bonfils with myself moderating the panel.  Link building can be done organically and strategically. This session covers the latest tactics used by top link builders to increase the popularity of a website with quality and relevant inbound links. Check out the latest tools and easy backlinks that count.

Please let me know if you are gonna be at the conference, or come up to me and say hi while there.  Hawaii is going to be EPIC & I am so looking forward to it!

A lesson in Repurposing Content -

I heard an English teacher once say that “Every modern love story is a copy of Shakespeare.” She used Westside Story as an extreme example, stolen from Romeo and Juliet. She went on to challenge us to find a theme that Shakespeare did not cover. But there are those who argue that Shakespeare himself stole content. Who did Shakespeare steal stories from? Well, no one really knows at this point. But if he did borrow some ideas, does that constitute stealing? He took stories and themes and reworked them so eloquently that they became his own. Taking a peak at what people have done in the past and building upon their thoughts and ideas can be a healthy exercise. Adding to the conversation is a good thing. Further, those that we can identify with and build better thoughts with may even thank us. …or not. Matt Cutts may just consider me more of a pest than a pest control guy. I concede. But thanks Matt Cutts for the original Pac-Man Pie Chart idea.

Making Viral Pieces

Do your homework first. Successful viral marketing campaigns don’t just “happen”.  Search out things that have already been done in your vertical. People send the same chain letters over, and over again. In fact, I was shocked just recently to get an email about some scandal 5 years after the first bogus email came through. Yet, the same sensationalism exists, and that email was forwarded and will continue to be forwarded for who knows how long. The point being, if it worked once then it will likely work again. If people liked it before then they will like it again. Weighing human nature into business is part of a winning strategy. Love songs are still sung, and new songs still come. So find something that worked well in the past and do it again. Do it better. You may not be able to judge a viral piece correctly every time, but if you do your homework then you can certainly increase your percentages.

But Don’t mind me, Just a pest control guy… Make it a great day!

-Thomas Ballantyne III
Director of Marketing for Bulwark Exterminating
Follow me on Twitter —> @Thos003

Pubcon Vegas 2011 Competitive Intelligence session write-ups:

• http://www.aimclearblog.com/2011/11/14/reconnaissance-round-up-killer-competitive-intelligence-tools-tactics/
• http://outspokenmedia.com/internet-marketing-conferences/competitive-intelligence-tools-and-tactics/
• http://www.searchenginejournal.com/pubcon-2011-recaps-of-sessions-links-to-photos/35841/
• http://www.seo.com/blog/pubcon-las-vegas-day-3-key-takeaways/

David Mink

We always enjoy the opportunity to share our marketing experience, knowledge and tips with others at search marketing conferences and networking events across the country. Recently, we have been pretty busy doing just that.  Here are just a few updates:

David Mink, one of DSM’s founding partners was asked to serve on the founding board of directors for www.slcsem.org.  David is handling all of the legal “to do’s” that come with setting up a non profit organization.  David will also be heading back to Las Vegas for PubCon 2011 to once again speak on the “Legal Issues of Domain Names and Trademarks” panel with fellow attorney Clarke Walton.

Mat Siltala will be joining David at PubCon to speak on several panels including Foursquare & Gowalla – Geo Location Marketing, Interactive Site Reviews: Focus Brand & Reputation Management and Competitive Intelligence – Tools and Tactics.

Dream Systems Media also became a “dinner sponsor” for Epic Dinner  Pubcon Vegas 2011, and is really looking forward to that huge event… within the bigger event (PubCon) and the opportunity to connect with even more amazing individuals in our industry!

Andrew Melchior, our other founding partner made a trip down to Tucson, Arizona to help Local First Arizona present to a number of businesses on “local search” marketing strategies.

Matt Siltala

The whole crew will be heading to  PubCon Paradise 2012 In Honolulu Hawaii where Mat has been asked to speak & moderate a variety of panels.

All in all, lots of skymiles, meeting with old and new friends and learning from some of the brightest minds in the game.

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

Reputation management is becoming more central to website marketing responsibilities. Whether you currently have reputation management issues to deal with, or you want to be proactive and keep reputation issues at bay, this session will teach you a lot. Want to have your own site reviewed live?

Give your business card to the moderator or any panelist at the beginning of the session.

Speakers:

Brian Chappell, Sr. Social Search Strategist, Ignite Social Media
Giovanni Gallucci, Social Media Ninja
Matt Siltala, Owner/Chief Media Officer, Dream Systems Media
Jennifer Laycock, Director of Marketing/Editor, SiteLogic/Search Engine Guide

Thursday Nov. 12 @ 1:30 pm
Competitive Intelligence: Know Thy Competitor Well
Location: Salon C

Competitive research is important in any business, so that you know what you’re up against. Competitive research online can reveal a wealth of valuable intelligence about not only your competition, but also the need-to-know activity in your industry. Learn all about the tools our experts use and the richness of the data they are able to collect.

Speakers:

Michael Gray, President, Atlas Web Service
Michael Streko, Co-Founder / CEO, KnowEm LLC
Matt Siltala, Owner/Chief Media Officer, Dream Systems Media
Andy Beal, Internet Marketing Consultant, Marketing Pilgrim LLC

Thursday Nov. 12 @ 2:55 pm
Domain Names and Trademarks: Legal Issues
Location: Salon C

Trademarks, domain names, and click fraud are legal issues related to search engine marketing that marketers need to be aware of. This panel will look at the current state of trademarks, click fraud, and some privacy issues related to search engine marketing.

Speakers:

Deborah Wilcox, Partner, Baker & Hostetler LLP
Clarke Walton, Founder, Walton Law Firm
David Mink, Co-Owner/Chief Legal Counsel, Dream Systems Media
Steve O’Brien, VP, Sales & Marketing, Click Forensics

Now you know where we’ll be for sure at those times and we hope to see you there too!