2009 DSA Communications & Internet Marketing Seminar

Thursday, December 3 - Friday, December 4, 2009
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa
221 North Rampart Boulevard [map]
Las Vegas, NV 89145-5722

Schedule of Sessions and Special Events

Back to View Meeting

Wednesday December 02, 2009

05:00 pm - 07:00 pm

Wine and Cheese Welcome Reception - Cataluna Room
Get a head-start on maximizing the value of your attendance at the seminar by mingling with fellow attendees and supplier members who can provide solutions for your new media and social networking needs.
(Reception sponsored by Video Plus)

07:00 pm - 09:00 pm

Communications Committee Meeting - TBD
Committee members only

Thursday December 03, 2009

07:30 am - 08:30 am

Buffet Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall - Cataluna Room
Get ready for a full day of learning with a hearty breakfast. While you're there, take time to mingle with exhibitors who have products and services designed with your needs in mind.

08:30 am - 09:30 am

Opening General Session - New Media as the New Marketing Standard - Grand Ballroom
Once dubbed the Pied Piper of the Online World, Mari Smith is known for her no-nonsense tips for online marketing success. In this session she'll set the stage for two packed days of non-stop education as she helps attendees understand how the digital world evolved so quickly, why creating a social media presence can seem more daunting than it actually is and how to accelerate the learning curve. Specifically she'll:

Outline challenges and advantages of a digital environment
Explore the evolution of the marketplace and competitive advantage
Demystify the social media environment

Session sponsored by Touchfon International

Live twittering sponsored by Canada Post International

Ms. Mari Smith
Relationship Marketing Specialist

09:30 am - 11:00 am

1 - Social Media 101 - Begin with the Basics - Grand Ballroom C
If you're not sure how to pass through the turnstile into the Internet marketing arena, there's no better place to start than this session. Get a social media primer when expert trainer George Brown explains the basics of engaging in today's fast-paced online world. He'll provide a roadmap of basic concepts and trends that will help you:

Understand the unique nature of the top social networking sites and how to make those attributes work for your business
Learn to utilize blogs to drive traffic to your content
Reach your sellers and end consumers in ways that will most likely elicit engagement
Build a system to help new sellers build their businesses

Session sponsored by Hepfer & Associates

Mr. George Brown
Trainer
All About Training

2 - New Media Power Users Roundtable - Grand Ballroom E
If you're already a social media whiz and would like to compare notes with others who have graduated from the 101 course, this session is for you. Spend some time comparing notes with other social networking pros as you discuss issues that are causing you sleepless nights, talk about the next new thing and gain new insights as you find out what has worked for others.

11:15 am - 12:15 pm

1 - Social Media 201: Creating a Social Media Strategy that Works - Grand Ballroom C
You've graduated from Social Media 101--now what? Discover how to apply the basic social media principles to your work as a direct selling executive. Learn how to define your company's goals and objectives and create a social media strategy that makes sense. Speakers will cover:

Making the decision to engage online
Social media tools other direct selling companies are using
Choosing Your corporate and salesforce social media goals
Creating a plan that fits your company's culture, resources and marketing plan
Deciding who your corporate audience should be
Considering today what you'll need tomorrow

	Ms. Jennifer Fong Biography
	Ms. Joan Hartel Cabral CEO & Founder Vantel Pearls Biography

2 - Seven Secrets to Improving Your Online Reputation - Grand Ballroom E
The first interaction with your company for many is through a Google search--do you know what they are seeing? Managing a positive online reputation is one of the biggest issues facing marketing executives today. This interactive session will present seven proven methods to repair and strengthen your company's online reputation. Learn how to:

Make sure your company's top Google results include positive information about your company
Respond to negative information
Properly tag YouTube videos so they'll rank high in search engines
Use corporate blogs as a method to improve your online reputation
Determine whether legal methods are necessary to shut down negative Web sites

	Mr. Don Sorensen Associate Strategic Choice Partners, LLC
	Mrs. Ashley Collins Executive Vice President of Global Product Biography

12:15 pm - 01:30 pm

Buffet Lunch with Morning Speaker Q&A - Cataluna Room/Grand Ballroom D
Select from our bountiful lunch buffet in the exhibit hall and then join us in Grand Ballroom D for networking and the opportunity to ask questions of our speakers from the morning sessions.
Lunch sponsored by IMN

01:30 pm - 04:00 pm

General Session III - Grand Ballroom C

Case Studies in Creating and Executing a Social Media Strategy

lia sophia
Our presenters, Bonni Davis (Vice President, Sales) and Mary Jo Hann (Director, Communications), will take attendees through their experiences with exploring the possibilities of social media, deciding to jump in and creating and executing a plan for their company. Hear about the processes they used to:

Educate themselves about the social media landscape
Decide as a company where in that landscape they should be
Create and execute a plan to get there
Analyze and learn from the results and ongoing experience

Team National
Team National's President & CEO, Angela Chrysler, will discuss the evolution of their social media strategy and how they dealt with the question of "now what?" after the initial implementation. Discover:

Why they have a social media strategy and the expected and unexpected benefits
How their social media strategy evolved and how they made adjustments along the way
What is involved in the management of the social media function as involvement has grown
What worked and what didn't in the first year of implementation and the lessons they took away

Training the Field & Your Employees to Use Social Media
Mr. Jeff Stroud, President, Private Quarters
Mr. Mark Bosworth, Sr. VP Sales and Marketing, SwissJust
Mr. Terrel Transtrum, President, ServiceQuest
You may have created the most perfect social media plan in the industry, but it will fall flat on its face if you're not successful in engaging the right audiences. Training the field to do anything new can be difficult. In the case of social media, your employees and your sellers may have no knowledge of this new world or they may be light years ahead of you. How can you train them on the behavior you'd like them to perform online and what happens if they don't comply? This panel will cover the basics of creating policies and procedures to help your field engage with your brand online in the way you envision, as you learn how to train your internal audiences to help with the effort and look at the essentials of making it all work.

04:00 pm - 04:30 pm

Networking Break in the Exhibit Hall - Cataluna Room
Give your brain a rest and refuel with a snack and beverage served in the exhibit hall.

04:30 pm - 05:45 pm

1 - Online Events & Collaboration Strategies to Complement Personal Interaction - Grand Ballroom C
A poor economy can have an adverse affect on event attendance--but in today's digital world there are many ways to help people collaborate remotely. New technology has made e-events and online information-sharing not only possible, but in some cases, desirable! Find out how three companies have used online technology to facilitate collaboration, engagement and interaction that otherwise might have fallen prey to high travel costs and over-filled day planners. You'll:

Discover how online content can be used to complement offline programs
Learn about new tools that will help your consultants increase party attendance and encourage purchases made by invitees who can't be there in person
Look at how broadcasting live events can result in a higher ROI than in-person events alone

	Mrs. Barb Pitcock Vice President Livinity, Inc.
	Ms. Loren Castronovo Chief Marketing Officer
	Mr. Matt Molen Chief Marketing Funster

2 - Is Traditional Media Dead? Media Pitching in a Digital World - Grand Ballroom E
In an age where anyone can be a source of news, is it possible to run a "traditional PR campaign" anymore? The PR landscape has changed dramatically since the days of sending out press releases to beat reporters and dutifully following up. Now bloggers, social media sites and news feeds are essential parts of the equation. This session will show you:

What traditional PR tactics are still alive and well--even though they may look quite different than their predecessors
What skills you need to possess to make sure your messages can compete in today's digital world
What today's editors, reporters and writers are looking for in an enticing story
How you can increase the reach of your company's messages without breaking the bank

	Ms. Jacqulyn Priestly Vice President
	Melissa Meinzer Managing Editor Military Spouse Magazine

05:45 pm - 09:00 pm

Social Networking Hands-On Training Course
After a day of sessions and more information than you can handle, are you still trying to figure out where to begin? This three-hour hands-on crash course will introduce you to the top 10 social networks, walk you through creating a blog account, teach you how to use automated tools to enhance your blogging experience and help you figure out how it all fits together. Participants in this session will leave with 10 social network profiles all stitched together to create an online persona for marketing, and a plan for the next 30 days to create an ongoing system. If you're baffled by all the options out there, this course will help you make sense of it. (Course requirements: Laptop computer with wi-fi capability. Contact DSA if you would like to attend but do not have the required equipment.)
This event is $279 and dinner will be served.

Mr. George Brown
Trainer
All About Training

06:00 pm - 09:00 pm

Hispanic Marketing Council Dinner - TBD
Whether or not you are a member of the Hispanic Marketing Council, you won't want to miss this networking dinner. Join the council for a lively and engaging conversation on recent challenges being faced in this growing market and get a chance to talk with Jose Villa, Founder & President of the Sensis Agency, before he presents for all seminar attendees at Friday's Rise & Shine Session - Engaging Hispanics Online. The Hispanic Marketing Council provides a great venue to network with companies at all levels of immersion into the Hispanic market. No need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to approaching this rapidly changing demographic - this dinner will give you the chance to learn from the successes and failures of your peers.

Party Plan Council Dinner - TBD
You won't want to miss DSA's Party Plan Council Dinner in Lake Las Vegas in December! This evening is guaranteed to give you a great discussion on the ins and outs of party plan! Get the insight you need from your colleagues and fellow direct selling company executives. DSA's Party Plan Council provides a regular opportunity for executives of hostess-driven party plan companies to share information and more fully utilize the many DSA services that are tailored to this unique segment of the direct selling distribution channel. The council provides networking, educational programs, specialized research, promotion of party plan direct selling and a pool of speakers. There is something for every business to gain, no matter how big or how small.

Friday December 04, 2009

07:00 am - 08:30 am

Buffet Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall - Cataluna Room
Rise and shine with coffee, breakfast and a friendly visit with our exhibiting supplier companies. If you are attending the Rise & Shine Session be sure to grab something to eat first!

07:30 am - 08:30 am

Rise & Shine Session - Engaging Hispanics Online - Grand Ballroom C
Rise and shine for this early-morning session where attendees will receive an overview of the rapidly evolving Hispanic digital market and how the engagement model of advertising is smashing many of the most commonly accepted principles of how to effectively reach U.S. Hispanics. The session will provide an in-depth look at the core tenets of engagement marketing, and how focusing on engagement makes particular sense within the Hispanic market, specifically:

Capitalizing on the Hispanic digital market opportunity
Understanding the engagement model
Why engagement makes sense for Hispanics
How to engage Hispanics: an overview

Mr. Jose Villa
Founder & President
Sensis Agency

08:30 am - 10:00 am

General Session IV - Grand Ballroom C

Internet Power Marketing: Manage and Expand Your Brand Online
Starr Hall, Author, Social Networking Strategist
Social networking strategist Starr Hall leads this session, during which attendees will discover pragmatic strategies, innovative resources, and targeted skill enhancements designed to translate directly into effective online brand management, increased sales and business growth. Learn:

How to set and measure the goals and objectives you'd like to attain through your Internet presence
How to use social media tools to launch two-way message brand campaigns and involve your target market in growing your business
The ins and outs of social site privacy
Three things your brand must do to be successful with social media
Top five mistakes to avoid with social networking

Case Study: Amway's Consumer Marketing Program
Jeff Ambs, Senior Digital Marketing Manager, Amway
Jori Hartwig, Vice President, Marketing, Amway
Listen as Jori Hartwig dissects Amway's consumer marketing program, through which they aim to re-introduce the Amway brand to consumers using an integrated program of online and offline strategies and tactics. Jori will give an overview of the plan and its key objectives. She'll also discuss how they have combined marketing tactics to put their messages in the places where people see them in the context of their daily lives. Social media, physical presence and traditional media have all played key roles in their program--find out how it has all come together.
Session sponsored by IMPACT This Day

10:15 am - 11:15 am

1 - Blogging 101 & the Basics of Buzz Marketing - Grand Ballroom C
Deciding whether to have a corporate blog or engage with others online can cause great debate within a company. The potential concerns may seem to outweigh perceived value, but your company can't afford to only hold one-way conversations with its audiences. This session will look at:

What you need to know about starting and maintaining a corporate blog--including whether you should have one at all
What you need to do to stay in control of the conversation while creating a forum that will result in positive impressions of your company
The power of listening: what are people saying about you, your products and your opportunity?
Talking instead of marketing: ways to build a "talk" culture in your organization
Joining the conversation: What do I say next? Creating interesting things to talk about

	Mr. Trey Campbell Vice President of Communications & Government Relations Southwestern Advantage Biography
	Mr. Shane Martindale ASEA Digital Marketing Manager ASEA, Inc.

2 - Online Distributor Recruitment: The Digital Referral Network--65 Million Opportunity-Seekers & Counting! - Grand Ballroom E
Everything in a direct seller's world--from social interaction to the selling itself--is moving online. With 65 million people looking for career opportunities online, you can no longer ignore the importance of online recruitment as you continue to expand your distributor network. But how do you harness the power of online tools to recruit new distributors without losing the face-to-face interaction that makes direct selling so successful? Learn how to:

Evaluate the range of online products and services available
Develop an online brand that complements your current strategy
Target and connect with your ideal distributors using the right mix of tools
Train your field leaders to convert applicants into distributors

Mr. Hunter Arnold
President, Asia Pacific
CareerBuilder

11:30 am - 12:30 pm

1 - Is Your Starter Kit Gen Y Ready? - Grand Ballroom C
Your starter kit can be the key to making sure new recruits have a strong start with your company--but is your kit providing what they need? Not all starter kits are created as equals and if yours doesn't speak to today's audience, you might be losing out on sales before a recruit can even get started. This session will show you:

What new recruits expect and how you can make sure your kit meets their needs
Why your starter kit must be bigger than the box in which it's packaged
What you need to do to make sure recruits are getting the most out of the tools provided to them--even if they're techno-phobic
The elements of your kit that will help increase retention rates and encourage satisfaction

Mr. Bryan Thayer
Chief Marketing Officer

2 - Search Engine Optimization - Grand Ballroom E
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a critical element of Internet marketing. You must not only be in the places where people are looking, but your content must be relevant and meet the specific needs of potential customers and recruits. Casting a wide net can be a detriment, but so can not reaching far enough. This session will look at:

How to evaluate your online content from the perspective of a search engine
What SEO techniques have the most impact on your site rankings
Why a few carefully chosen keywords can be the most important part of your Web site
How contributing to blogs and related sites can boost your company's search rankings

Ms. Joanna Pineda
CEO
Matrix Group International, Inc
Biography

12:30 pm - 01:30 pm

Buffet Lunch - Cataluna Room
Lunch sponsored by NetSteps, Inc.

01:30 pm - 02:45 pm

1 - Web Presence Management: What the Data Tells Us - Grand Ballroom C
From Web site usage to distributor sites to social media engagement, the data gathered in DSA's 2009 Web Presence Management Survey provides a great benchmark for our industry's exploration of Web 2.0 functionality—and just in time as technology practitioners prepare for the shift to Web 3.0. This session will explore the survey results as they relate to the larger social media and Internet marketing realm, including:

How respondents felt their corporate site portrayed their company's value proposition and whether this data matters

The most effective site uses reported and what this means for your Internet marketing strategy

Corporate Web policies currently in place and what our channel can expect if this data doesn't change

	Ms. Cindy Tysinger CEO & Founder GSAT Inc.
	Mr. Richard Schubkegel Vice President of Business Development Rallyware

2 - Email Marketing Goes Social: Promoting Viral Engagement - Grand Ballroom E
Your key audiences are receiving hundreds of "messages" every day--both online and offline. To make sure your messages stand out, you have to have a solid understanding of what makes people take action versus what makes them skim by with barely a notice. Learn what will turn your messages into action when you hear:

Ten things you need to know now about e-communication and your company's future
How to create targeted, content-driven communications that will increase adoption, deliverability and readership interaction
How to avoid message saturation and instead create tangible results you can take to the boardroom

	Mr. Sebastian Leonardi President & Chief Business Strategist DSXgroup, LLC
	Mr. Michael McDevitt President/CEO

03:00 pm - 04:30 pm

Closing General Session - Scentsy Case Study - Grand Ballroom C
Mark Stastny will focus on lessons learned through his company's Internet marketing and social media strategy. What did they take away and how will they make changes based on those experiences? Mark will outline Scentsy's experiences and crystallize them in a set of "best practices" that have resulted.

Mr. Mark Stastny
Chief Marketing Officer
Scentsy, Inc.
Biography

Seeing Around Corners: The Future of Internet Marketing
"New Media" isn't likely to remain new for long, so what's lurking around the corner? Corporate entities often can't or won't embrace new trends quickly, which for direct selling companies means they must often play catch-up to their sellers. In this session you'll find out:

What emerging trends your company should be preparing to embrace
What's hot now that may not stand the test of time--and what will
Corporate planning strategies that will keep you on the cutting edge
Resources you should use and people you should follow if you want to be "the first to know"

Session sponsored by Thatcher Technology Systems