Brett Tabke has worked in the computer industry for three decades. Tabke is currently the CEO and founder of Pubcon Inc. He was also the founder of PHD Software Systems, a specialty software manufacture that produced a line of software for Commodore computers in the 80's and 90's.
Tabke has run community networking sites continuously since 1984. The evolution from stand-alone BBS's to forums on the web and his commitment to community building is a logical extension for Brett. His fascination with the web spurred him to start building web sites and learning as much as possible about online traffic. He quickly became an expert on the subject of Internet traffic, search engine optimization, and was a source of information for many of his business contacts and associates who were looking to get better traffic from the search engines.
Pubcon internet marketing conference, organically started out of the WebmasterWorld forums at a Pub in London. Nearing it’s 20th anniversary, Pubcon is the longest running Search related conference in history.
Tabke coined several SEO staples as "Link Farm", "SEO Themes", and the classic "SERP" (Search Engine Results Page). He was also featured in the Biography Channel special on the Google founders. Tabke was also a founding board member of SEMPO. He also wrote a chapter for the best selling "Google Hacks" book. He is also the first known person to have fully decoded the Excite and most of the Altavista search engine algos. Tabke's "26 Steps to 15k a Day" is one of the most widely read documents in SEO history.
Joe is the Vice President of Strategic Communications & PR at Aimclear®. He manages reputations and creates profound brand presence and profitable exposure for a wide range of clients. With professional roots in broadcast journalism and strategic communications/PR, Joe brings to Aimclear a holistic storytelling background. From integrated PR to crisis communications, social media strategy/execution, omni-channel advertising and brand management, he has shaped reputations for clients across industries and continents.
Joe’s work has supported leading organizations in financial services, business technology, digital marketing software, HR & enterprise software, global customer relationship management, manufacturing, and labor relations to achieve measurable communications objectives.
Storytelling is in Joe’s DNA. He channels classic business values, rising above the noise in our fast-paced instant-publishing world to craft communication strategies that reflect the compelling value of brands.
His work has netted coverage in national and international print, broadcast and online media including the Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, Bloomberg Television, CNET, BBC Television, and dozens of other forums.
Rob Karwath is the Vice President of Integrated Content and Public Relations at Aimclear®, directing the Communications Practice Group. Before coming to Aimclear®, he was founder, president and CEO of North Coast Communications, a Minnesota-based strategic communications firm with clients nationwide. He also served as a journalism professor and general manager of campus media at the University of Kansas.
Rob began his career as a reporter at the Chicago Tribune and rose through the ranks to become business editor, political editor, Sunday editor, general manager, product development director and innovation editor. As business editor, he led a team of reporters whose series on the downfall of the legendary Arthur Andersen accounting firm was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. In addition, Rob reported and created programming for WGN-TV and WGN-AM, both owned by Tribune Co.
Joe Warner serves as Chief Technology Officer for Aimclear®. With 25 years of deep industry experience and 12+ years at Aimclear®, Joe leads a team of top professionals to orchestrate powerful tech solutions to pressing business challenges.
Specializing in website & app development, eCommerce, web analytics, technical & semantic SEO, systems architecture, database management, and other critical aspects of IT, Joe leads from the forefront of technology. He and his team deploy game-changing technology to support extraordinary websites, powerful eCommerce engines, analytics protocols that provide deep insight, and reporting tools that give brands a competitive edge.
As a senior executive with Aimclear®, Joe also ensures collaboration and integration across marketing disciplines, aligned with client needs. He seamlessly aligns the agency’s expertise across marketing, content, PR, SEO, and project management to bring brands to their next level of business performance.
Joe works at the forefront of the most popular open source platforms and frameworks. His expertise incorporates the IT aspects of supply chain, CRM, conversion optimization, business intelligence, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
Amanda Farley is a marketer, performance strategist, and business success leader. She is the CMO at Aimclear®, a highly decorated, integrated marketing agency dominant in customer acquisition and winner of 27 US Search Awards including 7X most recent Best Integrated Agency. Aimclear®’s differentiator is the balance of holistic brand-builds, PR, data, and integrated performance marketing. Clients and colleagues describe Amanda as an “Expert in behavioral strategy,” always “Thinking ahead and looking out for blind spots,” has a “Genuine dedication to success of team,” a “Breath of fresh air,” “Student of the industry,” and demonstrates a “Well-rounded expertise.”
Aaron Weiche is the cofounder and CEO of Leadferno, a text messaging platform for businesses to close more leads faster. Aaron is an entrepreneur founding and leading multiple software companies and digital marketing agencies over the past 20 years.
Prior to Leadferno he was CEO of GatherUp growing it to serving over 25,000 businesses and appearing in the INC 5000. Aaron lead GatherUp to an acquisition in 2019. Aaron speaks internationally on digital marketing, customer experience, conversion and messaging.
Brooke currently serves as the Leader of Digital Marketing at Smith Micro Software, with over 10 years of experience. She helps the business grow their digital strategies using tactics from paid search, social media, and programmatic marketing. With her experience and passion in analytics, strategic planning and everything digital, she helps create relevant customer experience strategies at every stage of the user funnel.
Brooke has been featured in the Journal of Digital & Social Media Marketing, spoken at several industry conferences and events including SMX, PubCon Pro and MnSearch, contributed to NordicClick’s 2018 US Search Award for “Best Use of Video in a Search Campaign”, shortlisted for her client strategy shortlisted for two 2019 US Search Awards, and most recently won the “Best Use Of Search – B2B” award in 2021 for her client strategy at a previous agency.
When not working, you can find her enjoying a round of golf, catching up on the latest episodes of Law & Order SVU or completing never-ending house renovations.
Maria Haun, DBA, CRP, is an award-winning marketing strategist, leadership development coach, and keynote speaker who delivers high-energy presentations that challenge audience perspectives and inspire ideas for personal and professional growth. With a background in corporate marketing, leadership, and education, her “career path has been marked by bringing fresh ideas that challenge traditional marketing. She brings high energy, high intellect, a passion, and drive”. With experience and knowledge that expands several different industries including agriculture, banking, education, construction, entertainment, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, retail, and travel and tourism, among others, she understands the importance of creating a comprehensive strategy that increases business efficiency and creates customer awareness, brand loyalty, and the ability to win in the marketplace.
As the digital marketing director at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), Jane describes her job simply as, “getting people here so they can have fun” — and she views this as a distinct privilege.
Specializing in digital channels, Jane thrives in the social media universe. Social channels can engage audiences at a very personal level while offering the marketing professional in her a real-time view into what makes people respond or not.
She spends time carefully curating messages, images, and content to connect with people locally in Duluth, as well as those across the region and nationally. Jane leads a team of canny social media associates to continually dial in the DECC brand on their social channels, align marketing strategies, and help the organization reach its broader objectives.
Motoko started online work targeting the Japanese market in the mid 90’s and established AJPR in 1998. Since then, she has been providing SEO and PPC as well as other search marketing services to well known global big brands who are targeting the Japan and Asian market. She is a frequent speaker at search marketing conferences globally, and writes about SEO and digital marketing on industry websites and printed media.
Joe Shelerud is Co-Founder and CEO of Ad Advance, a digital advertising agency specializing in Amazon Sponsored Ads and Display advertising. Joe’s career in business and engineering quickly pivoted into the Amazon space after he started selling on Amazon back in 2014. Together with his team, he’s helped brands all over the globe grow and sell their brands. Joe is also the host of The Ad Project podcast, a show that helps eCommerce brands scale and push their advertising to the next level.
Kevin Mullett is the Director of Visibility and Social Media at MarketSnare, a SAAS solution that helps multi-location brands capture local opportunity via Search, Social, and Business Listings at scale. He has been discovering, testing, utilizing, and sharing trends in digital marketing and tools for developers, clients and popular conference audiences for over 20 years. His passion is photography.
Duane Forrester is a distinguished figure in the search industry, with a 25-year career that spans digital marketing, authorship, and leadership roles at prominent companies such as Microsoft Bing, Bruce Clay Inc. and Yext. His expertise in digital marketing is complemented by a strong understanding of AI and customer experience, making him a well-rounded and sought-after professional in the field.
During his tenure at Microsoft, Duane was instrumental in the development of Bing Webmaster Tools, focusing on the needs of webmasters and digital marketers. His profound knowledge of search engines and user behavior contributed to Bing’s growth and success. Duane also utilizes AI to enhance search results and improve customer experiences, solidifying his reputation as an industry leader.
Beyond his work at Microsoft and Bing, Duane has showcased his prowess as a prolific author in the digital marketing sphere. He has written for most industry publications and his two books, “How to Make Money with Your Blog” and “Turn Clicks into Customers,” have provided invaluable insights and guidance to numerous businesses navigating the competitive online landscape.
Today, as VP, Industry Insights at Yext, continues to share his extensive knowledge of digital marketing, AI, and customer experience, shaping the future of the search industry and empowering businesses to thrive in the digital era.
Marty is an entrepreneur, marketer, photographer, and speaker. He founded Aimclear®, a driven, integrated marketing agency dominant in customer acquisition, winner of 27 US Search Awards including 7X most recent Best Integrated Agency. Aimclear’s differentiator is the balance of integrated performance marketing, holistic brand-builds, PR, and data.
2023 Speaking appearances will include: SMX Paris, SMX Munich, Re:Signal Ecom/SEO, All Social Munich, Pubcon Austin, Engage PDX, Zenith Conference, SEOktoberfest, Barbados SEO, and others.
Entrepreneur Magazine wrote the reason for Marty’s success is a “Unique persona that is instantly recognizable.” He has been described as “not your typical agency type,” a “social media maverick,” “Foodie-review addict” and “more innovator than follower.”
Having helped Aimclear to Inc. 500/5000 status 6X (Fastest growing privately held US Firms), Marty supports Aimclear vision & creative-hands-on. Aimclear is a 4X top 100 workplace by Minnesota Business Magazine. Marty won 5 “Top 25 Most Influential PPC Experts” awards, Top 100 Twin Cities People To Know & claimed the coveted “US Search Personality Of The Year” tiara. He is a perennial judge and presenter at The EU & UK Search Awards.
Marty’s Wiley/Sybex books, “Killer Facebook Ads” and “The Complete Social Media Community Manager’s Guide: Essential Tools and Tactics for Business Success” are critically respected. He was cited & quoted in flagship publications including WSJ, NPR, Inc., Forbes, MediaPost & Adage.
Cindy Krum is the Founder & CEO of MobileMoxie. She has been bringing fresh and creative ideas about SEO & ASO to consulting clients and digital marketing stages around the world since 2005. She regularly speaks at national and international trade events and launched MobileMoxie in 2008 to address mobile-specific marketing needs within the traditional digital marketing specialty. Cindy’s leadership helped MobileMoxie launch the first mobile-focused SEO toolset, to help SEOs see what actual mobile search results & pages look like from anywhere and preview and analyze mobile landing pages from the perspective of a user and a bot; Now, free versions of both the Page-oscope and the SERPerator are also available to all digital marketers as two easy to use Chrome Extensions.
In 2022, Cindy was named one of the top 10 most influential SEOs by USA Today. She is an active member of the digital marketing & growth communities and has been quoted by many respected publications including PC World, Internet Retailer, TechWorld, Direct Magazine, and Search Marketing Standard. Cindy is also the author of Mobile Marketing: Finding Your Customers No Matter Where They Are, published by Que Publishing and also available in German, Italian, Korean, and Chinese.
Tim is an integrated digital marketer, key account lead, speaker, and marketing clinician.
He works at Aimclear®, an integrated marketing agency dominant in customer acquisition. In 2021, Tim was the principal architect behind three US Search Award wins, including “Best Use of Social in a Search Campaign”. His differentiator is a balance of paid social performance marketing, search integration, and creative expertise.
Tim’s client credits include PayPal, Venmo, Lands’ End, BBVA, Invitae, eBay & Sideshow to name a few. His decade-plus of experience spans portfolios of household brands, subscription models, travel, national retail chains, & his personal favorite – disruptive SaaS products.
An emergent leader on the digital marketing scene, Tim has delighted audiences, from London to LA, with appearances at Pubcon, Ungagged, Digital Summit, MnSearch, Zenith, Internet Summit, Hero Conference, The PPC Podcast, Optmyzr’s PPC Townhall, and Microsoft’s AI Creativity Series.
Away from the office, you’ll find Tim performing on Minneapolis improv comedy stages, participating in Toastmasters, traveling the globe seeking the perfect cup of coffee, or…more than likely re-watching any Michael Schur comedy. Tweet him @timmhalloran!
Search, ranking, and web accessibility are essentially baked into Lea Scudamore’s DNA. As the SEO Lead at Aimclear, Lea applies industry-leading knowledge and skills to drive extraordinary results for the clients she supports.
Intensive focus on search engine optimization (SEO), user experience (UX), web accessibility, and organic content strategies have placed Lea among the most sought-after experts on the international marketing conference circuit. Lea continually challenges SEOs to reimagine SEO holistically as an essential profit center for businesses.
Lea’s primary responsibilities at Aimclear include forming deep strategies for accounts, technical website optimization, reporting, and troubleshooting. Additionally, Lea is leading the charge in web accessibility, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and ADA website compliance for Aimclear’s clients.
Her work has been a cornerstone of multiple national and global award-winning case studies. With more than two decades of hands-on management experience in SEO, web design, and content development. Lea’s client credits span a range of business types from startups to iconic global brands.
Cari O’Brien is Founder & Chief Word Nerd at Custom Content Solutions (customcontentllc.com), a copywriting agency that helps businesses find their voices, connect with their ideal audiences and get hotter leads through their marketing efforts. She’s the creator of the Connection Copywriting Method and the online writing course, Write That SiteⓇ (writethatsite.com).
Cari’s also the President of MnSearch (mnsearch.org) and a frequent speaker on brand messaging and audience-driven content marketing. When she’s not working, Cari’s spending quality time with her son, reading yet another book, or traveling to Disney World and other enticing destinations.
Will Scott is a recognized leader in digital marketing, credited for coining the phrase “barnacle SEO” in 2008 and the original New Orleans SEO. A faculty member emeritus of Local U, Will is a contributor to some of the most popular online journals and is frequently invited to present at conferences hosted by marketing associations as well as those in other industries. His speaking engagements have included the Certified Contractors Network, Louisiana Dental Association, National Association of Senior Move Managers, PubCon, SMX, and others.
With a degree in Architecture from Tulane University, Will is a professionally trained problem solver whose eye is always on the bigger picture. Naturally curious, Will has yet to meet a business or a person whom he’s not interested in learning more about.
Since putting his first website online in 1994, Will has led teams responsible for creating thousands of websites for business, building hundreds of thousands of pages in online directories, and delivering millions of visits from searches. At Search Influence, Will directs the teams of dedicated professionals who optimize your potential!
Adam is a Partner & Co-Founder at NordicClick Interactive, a Digital Marketing agency in Minneapolis. He’s a 24 year digital marketing veteran who cut his teeth working for Digital River (a global e-commerce provider) in the late 90’s. He spent almost nine years there working on such clients as Symantec, Autodesk, Motorola, and most of the early big Apple utility software publishers like Connectix & Aladdin Systems.
Adam has spoken at numerous industry events including SMX, Pubcon, eMetrics, MN Search, Zenith Marketing Conference, Digital Summit, SES, OMS, and MDMA. He serves on the advisory board for the
Paid Search Association. He is also a past Advisory Board Member for University of South Florida Digital Marketing Certificate, a former Instructor at the Online Marketing Institute, Instant E-Learning, and the University of San Francisco.
When he’s not working, Adam loves spending quality time outdoors with his family (especially on the water), driving (and fixing) his ‘67 Mustang convertible, doing house projects, and reading.
Taming the Tornado: Digital Marketing in 2020 & Beyond
Digital marketing used to seem much simpler: X tactic produced Y result. There were no device concerns and little social media. It was much easier to leapfrog competitors. Back in the day there were two advertising camps: the pricey traditional media that couldn’t be measured, and emergent digital that kind of could.
Fast forward to 2020, and we are now in a world of increasingly complicated and expensive digital tactics that still can’t always be directly measured. People consume brands and information across different devices, buy often without ever talking to an actual person, and constantly move budgets around for the best immediate return. At breakneck speed, digital marketing is often a tornado of movement and tactics, with management standing in the middle, wondering if it’s working.
This keynote will empower both one-man bands and large organizations to learn how to refit and rethink their disparate marketing pieces into a formidable machine.
- A checklist to help you merge your marketing tactics so they’re working together
- Why your goal is no longer to sell, but to create ponds for remarketing
- How traditional marketing tactics are still alive, well, and necessary
- Why a rising marketing tide will lift all boats, from email marketing to paid acquisition
Mobile-First Indexing & What the Documentation Doesn’t Tell You
In this session, attendees will learn how the Knowledge Graph and all the Hosted Inclusions that are derived from it will end-up impacting SEO. Knowledge Graph and Hosted Inclusions are way more interesting that regular Organic Results, and they tend to rank really well. People are staying in the Google SERP much longer, and clicking around there instead of clicking through to a web result AND these are pushing regular Organic Results way down, so your website could maintain position 1 of Organic, but have massive fluctuations of Traffic, Impressions and Clicks. Learn more, and what to do about it in this session!
Preparing for Your Marketing Future Today
We live in a world of answers - we expect them. Not a list of links to click, but actual answers. From conversational search to voice assistants and from visual search to augmented reality, the world of search is expanding into discovery. We'll look at these trends, as well as general consumer trends driving change at the search engines and across the business landscape. The world is having a conversation, and you need to be in it.
Good Content STILL Isn't Good Enough for Free or Cheap Visibility
Do you suffer from content consternation, idea inadequacy, or perhaps post procrastination? Side effects often include reach rejection and price per paid post pummeling. You don’t have to accept it! Join us for this updated and improved, informative and actionable session that covers tips, techniques, and tools for WINNING with content. But wait, there’s more. Act now and we will include free prescription strength downloads to help you create and achieve your goals - when used as directed.
It's a Review Obsessed World! Reputation Management to Survive and Thrive
In an era where brands are no longer in charge of defining themselves, news consumption is at an all time high, and customer trust is at an all time low, public relations has never been more important. In this session learn the “new normal” of brands, how to audit your current situation, a checklist of signs you are suffering or ready for high fives, and tips to revive, rewind and repair. Also find out the secrets, hacks, tools, apps and platforms to make your life easier - brand or agency.
Marketing in the Moment: Executing Along the Buyer Journey
In today's digital economy, if you're not being helpful to your buyers at the right moments along their (not your) journey, you’ll be eaten by more savvy and sensitive competitors happy to fill that void. The good news is, it's easy once you attain the right marketing mindset. Join two seasoned marketing leaders who'll share their agencies’ systems, which yield sustainable, quantifiable results for their clients.
Influencer Marketing: What the %$#% is It & How Does It Work in the Real World?
Trying to figure out how to join the “Influencer Marketing” bandwagon and can’t even find the starting gate? Fear not! You’re in great company. From journalists to mom-bloggers and local photographers to community advocates, influencers exist for virtually EVERY organization. Marketing & PR pros Michelle Stinson-Ross of Apogee Results and Joe Thornton of Aimclear will help you tap influencers who can sway your audiences.
Social PPC in the Marketing Mix #REALISTIC
Looking for new ways to boost reach, visibility, traffic, and ultimately, your bottom line? Learn how to effectively and affordably reach target audiences to accomplish goals using robust channels including Facebook and Instagram, as well as underutilized opportunities including LinkedIn and Pinterest. Whether you work in B2B or B2C, key takeaways include an understanding of which channels best suit your goals, future-forward audience targeting, best practices, and more.
Focus on Search Marketing: Intelligently Layer Targeting & the Latest Ad Features
Discover the latest and greatest in ad types, extensions and targeting features from Google Ads and Bing Ads. Just when you thought you knew paid search, another feature drops… and blows up your strategy. Learn how to deliver the right message at the right time across the spectrum of ad units and targeting types.
Marketing in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism
People no longer trust what they read online. People no longer trust what they see in pictures and videos online. People no longer trust the platforms with whom they share their data. How do these changes in public sentiment toward the new digital reality impact brand marketing? To what extent can marketers change or influence this ever evolving landscape? We’ll take a look at current data surrounding consumer sentiment and the impact the weaponization of data and exploitation of marketing platforms by bad actors has the side effect of maligning the hard won results of seasoned marketers. We’ll dive into the related proliferation of bad data, bad metrics, and address whether or not “ground truth” can be known in digital marketing performance. We’ll review the ongoing developments related to government intervention and the impact further regulation could have for marketers. You’ll leave with a comprehensive understanding of how to steer your and your clients’ brands clear of the fallout from disintegrating trust by consumers, how to raise the signal out of the noise in traffic and campaign data, and how brands can effectively counteract increasing negative sentiment toward these highly valuable marketing channels.
Implementing Machine Learning via Python: Build Impactful Data Clusters & Rethink Account Structure
We'll review a case study where this methodology informs a new paid search campaign structure holding thousands of keywords. All skill levels welcome! Advanced attendees will learn actionable ideas while beginner attendees gain conceptual understanding. All attendees will leave with inspiration to increase their technical skillset!
Content Marketing All the Things! Developing a Content Mindset
Forget about whether content is king, president, or benevolent dictator. The fact is that content is the essential heart of all your marketing efforts. The right content in the right place at the right time can do a lot of heavy lifting: attracting, reaching, securing, assuring, targeting, directing…and on and on. So a content mindset needs to be at the center of all of your marketing. In this session you’ll learn: What a content mindset is; how to form a content mindset; the role of content in every aspect and channel of your marketing; how to create content that drives all your channels and each stage of your funnel.
The Essential SMB Growth Marketing Checklist
If you're responsible for marketing a business, everybody wants to sell you something. And you know what? Most of it is CRAP! Join Will Scott and he'll help you identify what you need to do, what is a good idea and what you should avoid at all costs. Will has been working online for 25 years, mostly marketing small and local businesses and if he hasn't seen it all, he certainly knows the smell of BS and can help you avoid stepping in it.
Non-Profit Marketing Lessons: Passion, Creativity, Head Turns, & Results
You know the drill, your nonprofit has: blood money, maxed out staff, and demanding stakeholders. That said, produce or be eaten alive. The good news is that success is only as far away as aligning brand, marketing, and authenticity. Join our panel of non-profit veterans and they’ll share how results were achieved and why the concepts are universal to most every case study.
What’s Trending in the World of Advertising Law?
Join attorney Courtney Thompson to look at trends in today’s news that affect advertisers and impact business practices and customer engagement. She will provide guidance and practical solutions, so you understand the legal issues and can reduce risk. Topics will include: Social Media Advertising Tips & Rules for Sponsored Filters; Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and CAN-SPAM; False Advertising and Claim Substantiation Best Practices.
Podcasting 'cause I HATE Writing?! A Step By Step Guide 🎤
This session will focus on helping anyone interested in Podcasting understand everything there is to know about starting a podcast, before actually starting a podcast. Matt will dive deep into answering the questions that everyone is asking about podcasting: What tools do you use to podcast? How do you host podcast episodes? Do you have to have a website? How do you get on Spotify, iTunes and Google? Can you make money podcasting? How do you make money podcasting? How do you attract guests to your podcast? How do you build up listeners to your podcast? What kind of equipment should I have? Is it really expensive to podcast? How long should my episodes be? Can I gain leads from podcasting? Can I make sales from podcasting? Why podcast at all? Is podcasting considered content marketing?
Give It Up! Must-Have Marketing Tools For Little or No $$$
Marketers LOVE powerful tools, especially when they're inexpensive or free. Join a gaggle of Zenith speakers who will share their go-to tools for powerlifting search, social, influencers, PR, and more-- all on a budget.
Greysolon Ballroom
Tweet #Zenith2023 Follow @ZenithDuluthCon for updates!
