Does keeping up with marketing, social media and search engine optimization for your business make your head spin? Then it’s time for you to Swivel. Swivel is a two-day boutique marketing experience held at the Oxford Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton and the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend on Monday, October 10 and Tuesday, October 11.
Swivel brings together the best names in the business from around the nation – and the world – to share the latest trends in digital marketing, search, social media, and creativity. The conference, presented by Smart Solutions, kicks off with keynote speakers at the Tower on Monday, then continues with workshops and sessions at the Oxford and Double Tree on Tuesday.
“The Swivel Conference is a combination between business, science, and creativity,” said Dr. Carmen Simon, co-founder of Rexi Media and a former keynote speaker at the conference. “Whenever businesses dare to merge these elements, you will have something solid that works.”
Whether you’re just delving into the world of social media or a master, a marketing beginner or pro, a small business owner or entrepreneur, a designer, a developer, a writer, or a strategist, this year’s Swivel Digital and Creative Marketing Conference will offer what your business needs to move forward.
“The Swivel team has identified four themes that are critical to every business and business person to be competitive in any industry,” said Cam Davis, co-founder of Swivel. “All of the keynotes, workshops, and breakout sessions address at least one of these themes.”
GET Found – Make sure the search engines and your potential customers have an easy time finding you and what you’re offering.
GET Fresh – Discover the inspiration and creative tools you need to share your story and stand out from the herd.
GET Fluent – Learn how to talk the talk and walk the walk in the ever-changing world of digital marketing.
GET Focused – While markets and media options keep on growing, it’s more important than ever to keep your eyes on the prize and be productive.
“As business owners and creatives, we’re always working at such a rapid pace that it’s harder to keep up with the constant changes in digital marketing,” says Lynnette Braillard, co-chair of Swivel and owner of LuLish Design. “The Swivel Marketing Conference lets you to connect with people who can tell you what’s new right now. You’ll come away with nuggets of information and be able to apply it to your next project.”
Keynote and session speakers include a host of new presenters and a few familiar faces from previous conferences. Monday’s keynote speakers include:
Ric Dragon, author of Social Marketology and a social media guru all the way from Bogota, Colombia will talk about Wicked Problems and Magic Solutions, sponsored by SEMpdx.
Kindra Hall, professional speaker and consultant with Telsall, LLC, will give a presentation on the Irresistible Power of Strategic Storytelling.
Mel Carson, founder and chief strategist of Delightful Communications, will help the audience understand why personal branding has become so crucial today with Personal Branding: Who? What? Why? & How?
Aaron Draplin, former Bendite and Head Honcho for Draplin Design Co. in Portland, will engage everyone with his presentation Pretty Much Everything: the Harrowing Account of Making our Very First Book, sponsored by Distilled.
Dave Gray, founder of XPlane will help you learn the secret of turning your ideas into reality by linking visuals and ideas with Visual Thinking. If your ideas can’t be drawn, they can’t be done.
Scott Hanselman, programmer, teacher, blogger, speaker, engineer and web developer will help you find the correct tools and filters to Manage Information Overload.
Session speakers, which run concurrently on either SEO/Web or Creative/Marketing on Tuesday include:
Tuesday Morning 3-hour sessions:
From Search to Sale and Beyond: Managing the Customer Journey with Search expert and veteran Swivel speaker, David Mihm; and Mike Blumenthal, partner at Get Five Stars. Attendees can also sign up for an online marketing review for $50 ($1,000 value).
Visual Thinking Workshop, with Nina Narelle, consultant for XPlane. This hands-on session will help you communicate complex ideas, concepts or problems with visual design. This workshop typically costs $800 with XPlane, but as a sponsor, it’s free with your Swivel pass.
Tuesday Afternoon 1.5-hour sessions:
Forensic SEO — learning the basics of technical audit SEO and tips to make your site search engine friendly presented by Alan Bleiweiss of Bleiweiss Consulting and Max Prin, technical SEO Manager at Merkle, and sponsored by the Bend Chamber.
A Search for Joy by Cal McAllister, CEO of Seattle-based agency Wexley School for Girls, will help Swivel attendees capture that vital, but elusive sense of joy, which is several notches higher than happiness.
Bridging Customer Experience and SEO with Kristy Bolsinger, senior manager of Customer Experience and Optimization for F5 Networks and Laura Lippay, Head of Technical Optimization and Organic Service at Netflix will who you maximize a customer’s experience with SEO.
The SEM Agency is Dying and How to Effectively Grow your Digital Market Share, a pair of talks presented by Stephani Kyle, founder of Skylark Agency and David Rodnitzky, founder and CEO of 3Q Digital.
When your brain can’t absorb one more byte of information on Monday, grab a bite and a beer at the Shake Up party, sponsored by 10 Barrel Brewing Co., at Smart Solutions’ headquarters in the Old Mill District. Enjoy four different beers brewed especially for the occasion, while exchanging ideas with speakers and other attendees. To add even more spice to the evening, Bend’s favorite flamenco-style guitarist Todd Haaby will provide some energetic background tunes. Then, at the end of the conference on Tuesday, get more one-on-one time with conference speakers at the Wind Down at the DoubleTree.
Swivel is proud to be a partner of Tenth Month – a wall-to-wall series of independently organized events exploring art, culture, film, technology and business in October. Additional events include BendFilm, Bend Venture Conference, Bend Design Conference and many more.
Ticket sales for the conference are available until October 7 at 5pm and at the door. Register with the code “SWIVEL” and you’ll receive $150 off a two-day pass. For complete information about the speakers, schedule and registration, head to Swivelnow.com.
About Swivel Digital + Creative Marketing Conference
Now in its eighth year, Swivel was the first conference in the country to appeal to weave together a program that covers the full 360-degree marketing spectrum from technology to creativity. Much more than a conference, it’s a movement fueled by the desire to be enlightened, inspired and connected; to explore things from all possible angles; to engage more with customers, clients and colleagues; and to be part of a community that embraces change.
Anyone who has a website, uses social media or believes in the power of digital marketing flat out needs to attend.
About Smart Solutions
Since 1996, our Bend-based web marketing and design firm has published and marketed thousands of websites for businesses in a variety of industries. While each website is built to fit each customer’s need, collectively they share a common strength: serve as a magnet for qualified web traffic and as their catalyst for marketing and brand extension.
