Mitch Joel

When Google wanted to explain online marketing to the top brands in the world, they brought Mitch Joel to the Googleplex in Mountain View, California; Marketing Magazine dubbed him the "Rock Star of Digital Marketing" and called him "one of North America's leading digital visionaries;" In 2006, Mitch was named one of the most influential authorities on Blog Marketing in the world.

Mitch is president (although he prefers the title "Media Hacker") of Twist Image, an award-winning digital marketing and communications agency. Marketing Magazine named Twist Image one of the Top 10 agencies in Canada for two years running (and the only digital marketing pure-play to make the list).

Mitch has been called a marketing and communications visionary, interactive expert and community leader. He is also a blogger, podcaster, passionate entrepreneur and speaker who connects with people worldwide by sharing his marketing insights on digital marketing and new media. 

In 2008, Mitch was named "Canada's Most Influential Male in Social Media," one of the top 100 online marketers in the world, and was awarded the highly prestigious honour as one of Canada's "Top 40 Under 40." Most recently, Mitch was named one of iMedia’s 25 Internet Marketing Leaders and Innovators in the world. 

Mitch is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Marketing Association and a former Board Member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada. H has been involved with the content committee for both Shop.org and the Web Analytics Association, and is on the advisory council for many businesses and charitable organizations.

Mitch speaks frequently to diverse groups like Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Microsoft, Procter and Gamble, Hewlett Packard, Unilever and has shared the stage with former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, Sir Richard Branson, Malcolm Gladwell, Anthony Robbins, Tom Peters and Dr. Phil.

Prior to Twist Image, Mitch co-launched Distort Entertainment, the only hard music label in Canada to have major label distribution (Universal Music) and whose roster features the platinum-plus, Juno Award and MuchMusic Video Award-winning acts Alexisonfire and City And Colour.

Mitch is frequently called upon to be a subject matter expert for media such as Huffington Post, BusinessWeek, Fast Company, Marketing Magazine, Profit, Strategy, Money, The Globe & Mail and many other media outlets. His newspaper business column, New Business: Six Pixels of Separation, runs bi-monthly in both The Montreal Gazette and Vancouver Sun. His first book, Six Pixels of Separation (published by Grand Central Publishing - Hachette Book Group), named after his successful blog and podcast, is a business and marketing bestseller.

Mitch Joel's Blog Entries

How to Be a Social Media Jerk

Marketing - A New Dawn

Steve

The Deception of Malcolm Gladwell, Seth Godin and Gary Vaynerchuck

• A. SIX PIXELS OF SEPARATION: How Business Connects in a Connected World

  Companies still struggle to understand digital marketing as a new generation of opportunities unfolds. Consumers have never been so powerful. Consumers have never been so connected. Mitch Joel unravels the fascinating world of New Media and Social Media. Learn how these marketing touch points are creating points of engagement where the results are staggering and customer loyalty is off the charts. Words like Social Media, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter control every boardroom discussion in relation to growing market share and new marketing opportunities. Learn how to take part in these brave new communities and conversations.

• B. CTRL ALT DLT: How to Reboot Your Business in a Connected World

  In short: business has to reinvent not only itself, but the entire industry that it serves. Its very survival depends on it...and you need a roadmap. The business world isn't changing...the business world has already changed. Dramatically. It's an iterative process that is not taking place year by year, but moment by moment. Big, medium and small businesses are being beat-up by two people, a clever spin on a traditional industry, some Ikea desks, open source software and a couple of iPhones. What are you going to do about it? This is your reboot.

• C. TOGGLE: The Six Trends That Are Going to Change Your Business Forever

  The next six years of business will be about the convergence of six main areas that will require companies to adapt like never before. Adapt or die? Some will struggle with this shift while others will simply roll along as the adoption incurs. The trick is in capitalizing on this moment in time, understanding it and being ready for a future (a future that will move at a much quicker pace). We have the technology. We have the data. We have the new media channels and platforms. We have the opportunity to publish whatever we want - in text, images, audio and video - instantly (and for free) to the world. What we do with this moment will be telling. It will also set the pace for everything that flows out of our brands for the next decade. The opportunity is now. What are these six movements and trends? Attend this session and you will know.

• D. MEDIA HACKER: How Publishing Survives in a World Where Everyone is a Publisher

  Take a look around, newspapers, TV stations, radio and even magazines are seeing either stagnant numbers or their revenues disappearing. Beyond filing for Chapter 11 or switching to "Web-only" platforms, there is a bigger change taking place. Advertisers are interested in connecting with consumers where they are... and they are online - Web, mobile and touch. In Media Hacker, Mitch Joel explains the dramatic changes that have taken place in the media landscape. You will learn why platforms like Blogging, Podcasting, online social networks and apps are changing the way people connect with information, and what it's like to live in a world where everyone can (and is) a publisher of content. Get smarter at understanding media and the changes taking place. Let this session be your new media booster-pack.

• E. THE CONNECTED CONSUMER: How Business Connects the Always-Connected Consumer

  First, online social networks (like Facebook) were all the rage. Now, everybody is talking about Social Shopping. Places where consumers gather to mass purchase, get daily deals, read personal reviews, rate products and share. E-commerce sites still grapple with low conversion rates and online merchandising quirkiness. In this session, Mitch Joel helps define this new and highly connected consumer, how we got here, and why all businesses need to pay attention to this emerging channel and opportunity. With consumers self-mobilizing for group discounts and adding their own feedback through tools like reviews and comments, businesses need to do a better job at engagement. With so many technologies and applications popping up every day, how should businesses evaluate their participation? How can you harness the power of connected consumers to actually impact sales? Let Mitch Joel show you how.

• F. THE GREAT UNTETHERING: How Business Success is Driven in a World of Web, Mobile, and Touch

  Make no mistake about it, Mobile Marketing is not just about sending SMS offers to consumers. In the new world, everything from iPads and smartphones are changing the way we work, interact, communicate and connect. As each day passes we are untethering from desktops and physical locations more and more. In Marketing jargon, we've spent the last ten years saying, "this is the year of mobile." In this interactive presentation, Mitch Joel will unravel the truth behind the drive towards the mobile economy and what this means to your business, how you connect and yes, even your advertising. If you thought the Internet changed everything, just wait and see what this great untethering is going to unfold.

• G. Other Topics Include:

  Social Media Univeristy: Tools of the Trade Personal Branding and the New Workforce Blogs, Blogging, and the New Publishing Twitter for Business Podcasting for Business

• H. Celebrity Division

  Please click here for more information.

• Shop.org works with literally hundreds of speakers every year, and Mitch Joel ranks at the top. He brings timely information to our community and presents it in such a dynamic way that he keeps our audience at the edges of their seats. Plus, from our side, he is a pleasure to work with. Always bringing a can-do and positive attitude to any challenge. If there were more Mitch Joel's in the world, it would be a better place.
  Shop.org
• Starbucks Canada's marketing team often invites inspirational leaders and subject-matter experts to come in and share their thoughts, insights, and ideas on how we can continue to connect with our consumers in a meaningful way, and Mitch Joel is one of the best speakers we've seen. Mitch brings a terrific perspective on new marketing and branding channels that could help any organization engage their consumers, and our marketing team was extremely impressed by his extensive knowledge, entertaining delivery, and obvious passion for what he does. We would highly recommend Mitch as a speaker for any sized event, especially if you're interested in learning not only what works in marketing today, but also what's going to work tomorrow.
  Starbucks Canada
• Mitch Joel is one of CMA's highest rated speakers. A dynamic and inspiring speaker, Mitch consistently delivers high-energy presentations with cutting-edge information that his audience can use!
  Canadian Marketing Association
• Mitch's passion and energy leaps off the stage with every word. He delivers insight and experience in a fun, interactive way that really engages the audience and gets people thinking. Mitch received rave reviews from our audience and many requested we have him back to speak again at a future event.
  AIMS (Association of Internet Marketing & Sales)
• Mitch Joel has the ability to energize a room from the get-go. Substance and style mix in his approach and it all comes from the heart. Not many public speakers can match Mitch Joel's passion and knowledge. If you have the chance to see him and hear him, don't miss it.
  Scotiabank
• Fantastic! Simple and timely... Mitch Joel is an incredible speaker– his thoughts on digital media and where marketing is – or should be going – was bang on!... What wonderful energy and passion... As always, Mitch Joel was enlightening, educating and entertaining. He provokes great thinking and helps marketing traditionalists see the future. The light at the end of the tunnel... Mitch gets our world as Marketers and matches it up with the world, what's coming up in it and how we need to evolve to be effective within it... He gets better every time I hear him... One of the best presentations I have sat through... Unexpected. New language. Not cliché... Mitch is a visionary who gets it... Absolutely fabulous... The best I have seen in many years... Mitch rocks, as usual... WOW!
  CMA – Canadian Marketing Association - 2007 National Convention Keynote Address audience feedback from evaluation forms.
• Mitch Joel's presentation helped us to see that we needed to change the paradigm of how we interacted with our customers. His ideas and insights have led us to new concepts in the development of our brands.
  Pfizer
• Mitch was enthusiastic, passionate and inspirational! His presentation was engaging and productive: our all-staff audience was excited with the challenges ahead, and inspired to explore new opportunities to meet the needs and expectations of the 'new' consumer. The combination of strong, compelling messages, the quick-pace and interactive presentation was truly compelling. To have Mitch as our first keynote speaker opened people's minds and spirits to wanting to learn more.
  Teletoon
• Brutally honest...smart...visionary...inspirational...all words I would use to describe Mitch Joel, one of the most exciting, brilliant and motivational thought leaders I have been privileged to hear speak in a very long time...thank you Mitch for your insights, guidance and passion...you've certainly lit a fire under us!
  MECA Communications
• To be candid: I was beginning to despair just slightly – I'm afraid I found many of the earlier sessions really quite disappointing. I'd deliberately avoided getting too deep into the obvious topics in my opening remarks, thinking that the early speakers would cover all the basic ground for me. By the time we got to lunch, I was starting to think we had a complete flop on our hands.
  
  I don't think it's an overstatement to say that you pretty much saved the first day. In fact – the whole thing would have been a much different and much better event if we'd had you as keynote... If I have anything to do with it, they'll not only invite you back for the next event – they'll give you a much bigger role.
  Canadian Institute
• Mitch managed to make a room full of seasoned journalists and writers sit up at attention and think about what they do in an entirely new light. One of our members called him inspiring, while another said it was the best presentation she'd ever seen. High praise from a tough crowd.
  Professional Writers Association of Canada
• An engaging, dynamic speaker, knowledgeable and in tune with his audience's needs and comfort level with social media, Mitch Joel will open the eyes of the non-believers and everyone will leave the room feeling connected and having understood the power of the conversation online.
  NATIONAL Public Relations
• Mitch Joel is a very talented presenter; he's extremely quick in adopting new marketing sciences and receives the highest ratings from his speaking classes. As a conference producer it's an honor to recommend Mitch Joel as a speaker, he's one of the best in our industry.
  Internet Marketing Conference
• Mitch Joel is an extraordinary passionate individual who thrives on effective communication, clear messages, but always with content and value. He encourages the people he surrounds and manages to connect in a way where he immediately has the trust of the listener. In short, Mitch gets the attention of his audience, period!
  Danish Trade Commission
• Mitch's keynote session was a highlight of Melcrum's CommsCanada 2006. A dynamic speaker, he captured the audience's attention and got the room buzzing with new ideas. His session was a real wake-up call for the audience and made for great discussion for the remainder of the conference.
  Melcrum
• Mitch can transmit his passion and knowledge easily to an audience. The team learned a lot and was highly motivated after the session, but the most important is that we had a lot of fun learning with him. He is a great speaker.
  Yellow Pages Group
• Mitch skilfully delivered an innovative, relevant, and timely keynote on personal branding to an audience of entrepreneurial business and MBA students, university alumni, industry professionals, and university administration that all clung onto his every word. His presentation was highly interactive, full of energy, insightful and inspirational. His message carried on well after the keynote and resonated with the audience in a manner we hoped and knew it would!
  Connect IT Conference 2007

• 
  September 2009

  Six Pixels of Separation

  The world of how business communicates with their consumers has changed dramatically and forever. Is it important to be connected? Well, consider this: if Facebook were a country, it would have the sixth largest population in the world. The truth is, we no longer live in a world of six degrees of separation. In fact, we're now down to only six pixels of separation. It's not a question of whether or not you are connected: we're all connected, and this changes everything we know about business and how to increase our sales and visibility in the marketplace. SIX PIXELS OF SEPARATION is the first book that speaks to business executives on the powerful concepts of digital marketing, social media, personal branding, and entrepreneurship in a clear, real, and instructive manner that business people can understand and apply.