SmartSites

Michael Melen, co-founder of SmartSites, will speak at State of Search 2024, one of the most prestigious digital marketing conferences in the United States. The event will take place on October 28-29 at the Grapevine Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.

State of Search is renowned for gathering some of the brightest minds in digital marketing. This year’s conference will feature an impressive lineup of speakers covering a wide range of topics such as SEO, PPC, local search, content marketing, and more. With over 12 featured speakers, including Michael Melen, attendees can expect actionable insights and cutting-edge strategies for enhancing their digital marketing efforts. Key speakers include experts like Jeremy Vest, Carolyn Shelby, and Kavi Kardos, who will provide deep dives into AI, SEO, Paid Search, and innovative marketing strategies​.

Melen’s presentation, “10x Your Digital Marketing With Generative AI,” will explore how businesses can harness the power of AI to drive exceptional results in their digital campaigns. From automating tasks to unlocking new growth opportunities, Melen will offer practical advice on integrating AI into marketing strategies.

Melen said:

AI is revolutionizing digital marketing. I’m excited to share real-world examples and strategies that businesses can use today to scale their efforts and achieve more.

Attendees will leave the session with actionable steps to supercharge their marketing with AI.

State of Search 2024 promises a robust agenda filled with keynotes and networking opportunities. Sessions will cover everything from mastering local SEO to optimizing content for conversions. This conference is ideal for professionals at any stage of their digital marketing journey, from beginners to veterans​.

Registration is now open for both in-person and virtual attendance. Use the code ‘smartsites’ for 30% off when registering through the official website: State of Search 2024.

State of Search is a nonprofit organization managed by a board of unpaid volunteers.

Board members include:

• Casey Watkins – President
• Tim Shane – Vice President
• Kevin Adams – VP of Marketing & Communications
• Kris O’Connor – VP, State of Search
• Mike Stewart – Treasurer
• Casey Markee – VP of Sponsorship
• Brandy Eddings – Secretary
• Danielle Dahl – At-Large
• Steve Winter – At-Large
• Michael Melen – At-Large

Full Conference Agenda:

Monday, October 28th

• 8:00-8:50 am: Registration
• 9:00-9:50 am: Carolyn Shelby – AI Isn’t Killing SEO – It’s Amplifying It: Ensuring Your Brand’s Voice Is Heard in the Age of AI Driven Search
• 10:00-10:40 am: Danny Gavin – Ecommerce SEO Mastery: Assigning Sales to Keywords and the Long-Term Triumph Over PPC
• 10:50-11:30 am: Izabela Wisniewska – Beyond Rankings: Making CRO the Heartbeat of Your SEO Strategy
• 11:40-12:30 pm: Women in Digital Marketing Panel – Lissa Duty, Kavi Kardos, Carolyn Selby, Fanny Dunagan
• 12:30-1:30 pm: Lunch
• 1:30-2:20 pm: Dale Bertrand – SEO for Revenue: Grow Your Business, Not Just Your Rankings
• 2:30-3:10 pm: Dan Sturdivant – Humor and Storytelling for Increased Engagement and Branding
• 3:20-4:00 pm: Erin Gregor – Effortless Content Creation: Building a Podcast Strategy That Saves Time and Grows Your Business
• 4:10-4:50 pm: Hank Hoffmeier – Secrets to Email Marketing That No One Is Talking About

Tuesday, October 29th

• 8:00-8:20 am: Registration
• 8:30-9:10 am: Kavi Kardos – Why Your Customer Team Is Your Greatest Ally
• 9:20-10:00 am: Scotty Smith – Building a Robust Marketing Foundation: Authority, Credibility, and Consistency
• 10:10-10:50 am: Cari O’Brien – Generative AI Governance: Policies & Processes for Marketing Teams
• 11:40-11:40 am: Jared Pulse – How to Outperform Performance Max and Outsmart Smart Bidding
• 11:50-12:50 pm: Lunch
• 1:00-1:40 pm: Filip Janczak – 360° E-Commerce Growth: Leveraging Holistic Marketing Strategies
• 1:50-2:40 pm: Mike Melen – 10x Your Digital Marketing with Generative AI
• 2:50-3:30 pm: Ryan Jones – Evolving SEO for Evolving Search Engines
• 3:40-4:20 pm: David Ogletree
• 4:30-5:30 pm: Jeremy Vest – Unlock YouTube with AI

About State of Search

State of Search began as a small event in 2010, created by the DFWSEM Association to foster knowledge sharing in the digital marketing community. Over the years, it evolved into a major annual conference, drawing in top talent and experts from across the industry. The event now focuses on educating marketers on SEO, PPC, and other digital strategies. Run by a dedicated group of volunteers, it has grown to become one of the most important events for digital marketing professionals in the U.S.