DMA08 Connects Web 2.Next with Attendees; Puts Conference in Their Hands

September 29, 2008 — For the first time ever, the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) annual conference, DMA08 Conference & Exhibition, the Global Event for Integrated Marketing, will harness the power of Web 2.Next and mobile to give attendees all the latest information on keynotes, sessions, exhibit halls, and registration right at their fingertips.

At DMA08, October 11-16 in Las Vegas, attendees can stay connected through MyDMA08; have convenient, on-the-go access to all conference events with DMA08’s mobile website and mobile concierge; and receive highlights and high-level content in the DMA08 widget.

“For DMA08, we are employing various online and mobile technologies with one core mission in mind,” said Paul McDonnough, DMA vice president of conferences and events. “To enhance attendees’ DMA08 experience — before, during, and even after the conference, which is the largest gathering of multichannel direct marketers in the world. These revolutionary initiatives reflect how technologies are evolving and integrating in ways that are changing how we connect with and engage customers, donors, and prospects.”

DMA08 Widget

DMA is also launching its first ever DMA08 widget. Aside from reading event highlights and DMA08 content via the widget, attendees can also find keynote, special event, and mobile information, as well as link directly the DMA08 site. The DMA08 widget can also be easily shared with friends, put on Facebook, MySpace, and any other social platform. This fun, interactive tool will let users upload their headshot and paste it onto a dancing Elvis body. Another exciting bonus of the DMA08 widget is the exclusive $100 registration discount only accessible when downloaded.

“Our new widget marketing is another example of how DMA08 is taking attendees to the cutting edge,” said McDonnough. “In this digital age, marketers know the importance of maximizing their campaigns by using every channel — and DMA is having some fun doing just that.”

The DMA08 widget is being offered via the cooperative efforts of DMA and Media Fuse, Inc., a new type of agency with a core focus in Web 2.Next campaign strategy and management.

“Online advertising continues to explode — internet ad spending has now surpassed spending on other advertising channels,” said Michael Quintos, president and CEO of Media-Fuse. “We are very excited to work with DMA in bringing ‘Web 2.Next concepts and strategies’ to the thousands of DMA08 attendees.”

MyDMA08

To help make the most of all that will be at attendees’ disposal during the conference, DMA is presenting MyDMA08. This online, automated tool offers users an interactive event planner, an online introductions network, event search capabilities, and intelligence matching that will help craft the ultimate show experience based on personal interests, needs, and schedules. At this portal, registrants build their profiles and then MyDMA08 goes to work, finding attendees the best networking and information-gathering opportunities at DMA08.

Quite simply, MyDMA08 is an attendees’ personal assistant that intelligently mines through the DMA08 community finding the knowledge, people, and products of value. This free tool automatically activates when attendees register for the show. To learn more about MyDMA08, please click here or visit http://www.dma08.org/MyDMA08 .

MyDMA08 is being offered via the cooperative efforts of DMA and BDMetrics.

“MyDMA08 allows attendees to customize DMA08 around their specific needs and interests, making the show more relevant to them,” said Paul Navarro, General Manager, Communities for BDMetrics. “By using this powerful planning tool attendees can quickly and easily find the exhibitors, products, and conference sessions of most to them thereby maximizing their time at DMA08. And, with the MyDMA08 EventMaps every exhibitor the attendee adds to their event plan automatically is mapped to the online MyDMA08 EventMaps. Last year, 77 percent of attendees used the MyDMA07 portals. We hope even more attendees use MyDMA08 this year.”

Going Mobile @ DMA08

Additionally, DMA is offering attendees two mobile tools to navigate the Las Vegas conference.

The new DMA08 mobile website, www.dma08.mobi which is viewable on mobile phone browsers, will give conference goers the lay of the land, including keynote, event, and session highlights, the “schedule-at-a-glance,” and even pre-registration for exclusive show content via email.

The new DMA08 SMS mobile concierge will be available on site to all registrants and will completely revolutionize their overall conference experience. Attendees send a text message of the keyword INFO, a space, and their question to 47201, and within seconds they are connected. (Standard text message rates apply.)

These two DMA08 mobile initiatives are being offered via the cooperative efforts of DMA and mobile software platform provider, iLoop Mobile, Inc.

“Mobile is an immensely powerful medium for one-on-one customer engagement and it integrates perfectly with direct and related marketing practices,” said Michael Becker, Executive Vice President of Business Development, iLoop Mobile Inc. “We’re thrilled to see DMA take a leadership role in the growth and use of the mobile channel for marketing. DMA is not only embracing the mobile channel for its own use, but is helping its members and the market learn how to employ the mobile channel for marketing through its research, virtual seminars, publications, workshops, and related offerings and services. DMA is a powerful force in the marketing community and iLoop Mobile is very happy to be contributing to its success.”

About DMA08 Conference & Exhibition

The DMA08 Annual Conference & Exhibition, the Global Event for Integrated Marketing, is the world’s largest gathering of multichannel marketing professionals. DMA08, which will be held October 11-16 in Las Vegas, will feature keynote presentations, educational sessions, roundtables, case studies, white papers, and research reports. DMA08’s exhibit hall will feature more than 550 exhibiting companies. For additional information, or to register for the six-day multichannel marketing event of the year, please visit www.dma08.org.

For information about DMA08 exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Donna LoPorto at 212.790.1468 or dloporto@the-dma.org.

About Media Fuse, Inc.

Media-Fuse is a new type of agency with a focus in Web 2.0 Campaign Strategy and Management. As content publishers, media companies, and major brand advertisers grapple with this rapidly evolving landscape, Media-Fuse is here to assist; we understand the dynamic of the social graph, and how to bridge the emerging divide between brands and consumers. Media-Fuse has core competencies in Web 2.0 strategies, distributed media campaigns strategy, advertising integration into mobile content, and has recently closed on a Series A round of funding. Media-Fuse is headquartered in Chicago.

About iLoop Mobile, Inc.

iLoop Mobile is the leader in mobile technology and services for interactive mobile marketing, mobile advertising and mobile content distribution. Their award-winning mFinity software platform takes the complexity out of mobile, making it fast and easy for companies to independently create, connect, and manage mobile campaigns worldwide. iLoop Mobile also offers services for brands, marketing agencies, content owners and other companies who prefer to leverage iLoop Mobile¹s expertise in launching and managing mobile initiatives for them. For SMS based services, iLoop Mobile provides quick solutions for SMS mobile marketing, subscription and enterprise programs that are integrated with a carrier-grade messaging gateway. For mobile content distribution, iLoop Mobile has software applications for creating Web storefronts and mobile Internet sites featuring an easy drag and drop user interface advanced coding options and automated ad serving, all integrated with a content management system for total control of mobile content inventories.

About BDMetrics

BDMetrics is the online technology partner to many of the largest and most successful tradeshows in the US – empowering their events with its leading-edge "Event-Centric Media” platform. By combining the power of online with the face-to-face event experience, all tradeshow stakeholders significantly benefit. Tradeshow owners deliver a superior event experience, thereby attracting and retaining more participants by personalizing the show around their specific needs and interests. And exhibitors receive increased value by effectively targeting and engaging with their best customers and prospects -- all with the metrics that reveal their show ROI. BDMetrics, Inc., 5523 Research Park Drive, Suite 350, Baltimore, MD. 21228-4664.

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