Becoming the second of what is being called “an unprecedented lineup of top-calibre Non Conference keynoters,” Dave Balter is the brains behind BzzAgent, a social marketing company that accelerates word of mouth to drive sales and the co-founder of the Word of Mouth Marketing Association. Dubbed by Harvard Business School as one of Boston’s “Hottest Technology CEOs,” Balter will present on the first day of the two-day event, on September 13, at a 4 pm keynote in the Hall of Mirrors at the Cincinnati Hilton Netherland Plaza Hotel. He lectures around the world on trends in social media.

When London-based dunnhumby, whose U.S. headquarters is in Cincinnati, acquired BzzAgent in May, it made Cincinnati an even bigger player in the digital arena. BzzAgent creates measurable business results for marketers through an influential advocate network, a powerful engagement platform, and a proven analytics approach. Since its launch in 2001, the company has been featured everywhere – from the CBS Evening News to the BBC to The New York Times Sunday Magazine.

At the Digital Non Conference, Dave will discuss the innovative work BzzAgent and dunnhumby are doing now to connect two of the most important trends in marketing today- social media and shopper marketing. He’ll demonstrate what brands need to do to build influential consumer advocacy in social media and how the impact on sales can be measured. After this session, social media marketing may never look the same.

The first-named keynoter, Cindy Gallop – who kicks off the Fourth Annual Non Conference as speaker at the Tuesday, September 13, luncheon – is founder of IfWeRanTheWorld.com and MakeLoveNotPorn.com, both newsmakers in the digital space. Cindy – who promises to be a “jolt” to the Cincinnati digital marketing scene, characterizes herself as a persons for whom “thinking outside the box” is, well, stale.

According to AdClub President Lori Krafte and AdClub Executive Director Judy Thompson, additional headliners – along with presenters and panelists featured in Digital Non Conference breakout sessions – will be announced within a week. Unique to the Non Conference – and the reasoning behind its name – breakout sessions are be held at fun and interesting nearby venues including The Penguin Piano Bar, the Lunar Lounge and other yet-to-be-named locations.

CINCINNATI- AdClub Cincinnati and its Ad2 young professionals will host, on September 13 and 14, 2011, the region’s fourth Annual Digital Non Conference. This year, it’s “Where Digital Meets Art Deco,” with home base at the historic Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza in the heart of downtown Cincinnati. Dubbed a “Non Conference” because the event is far different from a traditional conference, the event has featured totally transformed hotel ballrooms and breakout sessions in casual, nearby venues from local pubs to galleries.

A sellout at 300-plus in 2010, the event brings together digital-savvy participants ranging from industry enthusiasts, early adopters and young professionals to forward thinking mid-management and veteran professionals.  Generating a buzz far beyond its two days, the focus of the two-day meet-up is the cutting edge world of digital marketing.  Everything is up for discussion, debate, and digital discourse. In 2010, participants were 35% from ad agencies or branding firms, 25% from advertiser companies, 19% from the media with others from production and professional services companies, colleges and universities.

This year’s kickoff keynoter, Cindy Gallop – recognized in the digital space as a highly compelling and inspirational speaker at events around the world – is certain to get the Non Conference off to a lively start. Cindy is founder and CEO of www.IfWeRanTheWorld.com, a web meets world platform designed to turn good intentions into action one microaction at a time, which launched in beta with a demo at TED 2010, and of www.makelovenotporn.com, launched at TED 2009.

Sponsor recruitment for the Digital Non Conference, currently in high gear, has already landed Electronic Art; Wood, Herron & Evans; Profitability.net; and Institute for Social Media at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.  More targeted sponsorships are also available, one of which — from F&W Publishing – supported the News Media event held at Orchids at the Hilton on July 26.

With Cincinnati having been named the “most social city’ by Mashable this summer, a creative “hot spot” by the national organization ‘Creative Class’; and “Ohio’s Consumer Marketing Hub of Innovation” in 2010, it’s clear that Cincinnati has a strong reputation as being a leader in digital advertising, marketing and branding. And this event is a great way to strengthen that reputation and attract new talent to Cincinnati.

Individuals interested in attending, sponsoring or speaking at the Digital Non Conference may connect online at www.digitalcincinnati.org. For more information about the conference, contact Brooke Trusty at 859.907.3270 or email brooketherese@gmail.com.

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Media Contacts:

• Brooke Trusty  ●  brooketherese@gmail.com ●  859.907.3270
• Jaclyn Smith  ●  jacyn.smith@uc.edu ●  513.295.7399

The Digital Non Conference, now in its 4th year, is an initiative of AdClub Cincinnati that has been supported by a number of other professional marketing and communications associations in the Greater Cincinnati business community.  AdClub Cincinnati is a local nonprofit with about 400 members, one-quarter of those from its Ad2 young professionals division. A staple in the business community for 107 years, AdClub seeks to provide better understanding of the function and value of advertising while using industry talent and creativity to advance the current standards of advertising. Both AdClub and Ad2 are affiliated with the American Advertising Federation (AAF), www.aaf.org.