Matt Gartland Editor, Content Strategist, Digital Publishing Pro

Starting a business? Growing your brand? Pursuing an author career? Creating for the web? In all cases, the entrepreneurs, authors, and web professionals that thrive in today's competitive economy do so because they implement a smart content strategy that grows their audience, expands their influence, and earns the trust of their customers, readers, and fans. I've helped folks like Todd Henry and Pat Flynn as well as startups like Snippet achieve those outcomes. This session is perfect for any entrepreneur, writer, author, or web professional who wants actionable insight from a professional content strategist for his or her current or next startup business, book, creative project, or career opportunity.

I've designed and led a variety of successful book marketing projects for popular business authors, a-list writers and bloggers, and successful entrepreneurs. From pre-launch teaser media, interview tours, crowdfunding campaigns, 'street team' missions, and exclusive book events, I know which strategy and tactic combinations work best and when during a book launch and/or growth campaign. This session is perfect for any author or other professional preparing to publish a book with the intent of using the book to expand his or her authority and influence within his or her industry. It's especially useful for authors who want to land a traditional book deal or already have one and recognize that their publishers aren't going to do much marketing for them.

Many self-publishing authors and content creators are seen as unprofessional amateurs simply because their work isn't stamped with the mark of a traditional publishing house. But more and more authors are figuring out how to maintain a top-notch reputation while self-publishing. I've worked with and interviewed many such authors in both non-fiction and fiction genres. From this experience, I can help you avoid the negative stigma of self-publishing so that your work can enjoy the recognition it deserves. This session is perfect for the writer or author who is on the fence about self-publishing because it feels like a risk to his or reputation and business. Together, we'll defuse self-publishing myths, identify which self-publishing platforms and techniques to avoid, discuss a self-publishing strategy that aligns to your business objectives and career interests, and more.

Have a great idea for a book but don't know how to structure your thoughts? You're not alone. Many writers and authors struggle not because their ideas aren't good but because they lack insight, skill, and experience with structuring ideas into complete creations. Think of a book as a house or any other standing structure: the ones that endure time and attract admiration are those with smart architecture. As an experienced editor working with authors and writers in a variety of genres, I know how to "architect" a book that you can be proud of. This session is perfect for the author or writer who is lost in his own thoughts, unsure of how to start, advance, or end his book concept. It's also perfect for the writer or author who is concerned he has gaping holes in his book's structure that he cannot see himself and that his friends and beta readers may be too unwilling to be honest about.

I've recruited, built, and led high performing teams within a Fortune 100 enterprise, an INC 5000 fastest growing company (digital agency), and my own successful small business. Building the best teams requires a careful balance of finding motivated and authentic talent and positioning that talent to bloom into its full potential. My track record of success at every level of business shows that I know how to do that. My approach to such effective team building in part draws from my education, experience, and passion for Agile methodologies / Lean Startup thinking, which instill nurturing values and healthy creative friction. This session is perfect for the small business owner, agency team leader, product manager, and campaign director who wants to avoid costly turnover and foster a thriving, creative culture. It's also perfect for the "solopreneur" who recognizes that he can no longer do everything himself and that to save his sanity and grow his business he needs to build and lead a capable virtual team.