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MICHAEL DAVID THOMAS
With a finger on the pulse of technology trends and people skills to match his technological savvy, Michael devises: incisive website design recommendations, engaging communications strategies and successful online marketing campaigns designed to grow your organization.
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ABOUT
- WHO IS THIS GUY?For over ten years Michael has assisted businesses and non-profits and Federal agencies in optimizing their use of the web to engage new customers, clients and constituents.Enthusiastic and idea-driven, Michael is deeply passionate about helping his clientsleverage the web to connect, empower and inform. Michael's experience includes:• Ten years in online communications
• Six years of daily writing for the web
• Five years in new media strategy and online marketing• Five years in nonprofit management
• Five years of event management experience
• Three years in issue advocacy and media managementMichael is also determined advocate of Macintosh computers, Danelectro guitars, cast ironcook wear, science in the public interest and single origin coffees.Wrecking Ball Roasters recently released an “MDT” espresso blend of Guatemalan and EastAfrican coffees, described as “Pleasant, bright and clean cut, just like its namesake."A Louisianan by birth, Michael has resided in the Washington, DC area since 1994.Keep up with Michael on:• Twitter• Google+• LinkedIn• Tumblr
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AFFILIATIONS
- MICHAEL IS ACTIVE WITH:THE SMALL PRESS EXPO
As a Board Member Michael is active in development planning, with a special emphasis on SPX’s website, online promotions and social media engagement strategy. SPX credits social media promotion across Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr as instrumental in the organization's recent year-over-year growth trend.
NEIGHBORHOODR
As an Editor for for Neighborhoodr’s Washington, DC blog, Michael aggregates, edits and composes public affairs content focused on his local community. Michael also manages social media engagement and coordination with local organizations for Neighborhoodr in the Washington, DC area.
THE DAILY CAVEAT
Michael established The Daily Caveat in 2005, in the early days of the blogosphere, as a promotional vehicle for his research firm, Caveat Research. Michael acts as editor and primary author for The Daily Caveat which draws an audience of key influencers in the legal, investment and journalistic communities.
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AWARDS
- HOW HAS MICHAEL'S WORK BEEN RECEIVED?Michael directed development for Capterra’s User Reviews product, which received a Model of Excellence award from the InfoCommerce Group as one of 2009’s best new data products. Michael’s contributions to Capterra also led to multiple company-wide awards for business performance, industry leadership and design excellence.
- Model of Excellence, InfoCommerce Group, 2009
- Outstanding Achievement - Interactive Marketing Assoc. - 2008, 2010
- Fantastic 50 - Virginia Chamber of Commerce - 2008, 2009, 2010
- Inc. 5000 - Inc Magazine - 2008, 2009, 2010
- Inc. 500 - Inc. Magazine - 2007
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TESTIMONIALS
- WHAT DO MICHAEL'S COLLEAGUES AND CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY?“Michael is one of those rare individuals that you hope contact you. I have always learned so much that helps my business, and in just a few minutes, from Michael. When he calls it’s obvious he has done his homework and has found effective ways to help you.”
-- Neil Murphy, President - Fieldpower, Inc.
“Michael and I worked together during his time at Capterra, where he was instrumental in helping me optimize my company's website and develop more and better leads. He has a great sense for online marketing strategy and he was always a pleasure to work with.”
-- Allen Williams, Sales & Marketing Associate - Slingshot Software
“Michael is undoubtedly one of the most talented, bright and fun managers I have worked with. Michael is a very enthusiastic, go-go person who takes outstanding care of his clients... He is well-read, knowledgeable about current events, and has expertise in a wide range of subjects. Michael's business conduct is highly professional and deeply ethical. He is a great source for professional advice.”
-- Olia Zakhvatkina, Financial Manager - Capterra, Inc.
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RECENT PROJECTS
- EXAMPLES OF MICHAEL'S RECENT WORK INCLUDE:WEBSITE REDEVELOPMENT, PROJECT MANAGEMENTDr. Ben Peal has provided pediatric care to the Washington, DC are for more than ten years. Michael the redevelopment of Dr. Pearl's website with an eye towards more professional presentation and a focus on generating appointments from new patients.WEBSITE OPTIMIZATION, CONSULTINGHolland Cox is a northern Virginia-based couture handbag maker. Michael audited the firm's existing web presence and assisted in revamping the company's website with an eye towards better product presentation, expanded social media interaction with potential customers and increased sales.
CAPTERRA'S USER REVIEWS INITIATIVE
Michael directed development for Capterra’s product reviews initiative, from conception to production. Implementation required skillful, diplomatic design, balancing the concerns of Capterra’s software vendor customers with the desire of Capterra’s site users for access to peer-to-peer product review information.Read about it here.
CAPTERRA'S SOFTWARE FILTERING TOOL
Michael directed development for Capterra’s product-filtering tool from conception to production. This market-leading resource captures hundreds of criteria about 30,000+ software products, enabling fast, relevant matching between buyers and sellers.CAPTERRA NEWS RELEASE PARTNERSHIPMichael developed the product requirements and managed project planning for Capterra’s news release content partnership with PRWeb.com. PRWeb provides real-time access to their press release content, which is delivered via RSS and sorted by Capterra for presentation on the relevant software category pages.
CAPTERRA'S CAPCON SCOLARSHIPS
Michael conceived the application process and curriculum for a scholarship program to the annual CapCon educational conference. The program includes an in-person and web-based peer-to-peer educational component along with continuing marketing coaching provided by Capterra’s customer service staff.CAPTERRA'S REVISED INTERNAL REPORTING
Michael developed requirements and managed development for revisions to Capterra’s key business reporting tool. The revamped internal report provides more granular, actionable detail on the health of key revenue-generating business segments and success metrics.
CAPTERRA'S EMAIL MARKETING INTEGRATIONMichael conducted the search and selection for Capterra’s first email marketing tool. He collaborated with the technology team in planning email registration points and pioneered the firm’s content and delivery strategies for email outreach campaigns.CAPTERRA'S WEBSITE REDEVELOPMENTMichael helped transform Capterra’s dated software directories - the company’s main revenue driver - into a sharp, modern web-based data product. He ontributed to many aspects of strategic planning, providing a business-development perspective on user behavior, frequent design input and assistance with content creation.CAVEAT'S WEBSITE DEVELOPMENTAs a co-founder of Caveat Research, Michael led the development of the firm’s website. Worked closely with website designer, organizing pages, contributing copy, taking original photographs, developing branding elements and downloadable documents for inclusion.CAVEAT'S PRINTED COLLATERALMichael co-developed the firm’s primary marketing collateral, an elegant bi-fold brochure designed to engage an audience of key decision-makers from law firms, investment banks and corporate boards. Provided text, edited copy and contributed original photographs that were incorporate into the design.SAFETYFORUM'S PRINTED COLLATERALMichael revised Safetyforum.com’s brochure, expanding it from four to six pages. Provided detailed descriptions of the firm’s research services as well as the online “Attorney of Record” program. Assisted in the incorporation of new design elements and provided copy for new sections of the brochure.TRACY & CARBOY's AGGRESSIVITY & INCOMPATIBILITY REPORTMichael's research product was utilized in the creation of a 15 page full-color investigative report entitled “Aggressivity & Incompatibility - Dangers Associated with Sports Utility Vehicles, Light Trucks and Vans.” The document was produced and distributed in 2003 by the Tracy & Carboy law firm of Dallas, Texas.
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CONTENT
- MICHAEL'S WRITING AND EDITING CREDITS INCLUDE:Michael created, contributes and edits the Small Press Expo's Tumblr blog, which provides year-round promotion for the annual SPX festival and highlights the work of show guests along with up and coming artists. Under Michael's direction, the SPX Tumblr has grown to over 30,000 active followers, earning SPX industry accolades for "the best social media in comics."Established March 2010March 2010 to the PresentMichael has published several articles in Intelligence Online, which has reported on intelligence activities worldwide for more than 30 years. Examples of Michael's work for Intelligence Online include:• Cooley's Lawyers Specialize in IntelligenceMichael recently joined hyper-local news site, Neighborhoodr as a writer, aggregator and content editor for its Washington, DC-focused public affairs blog. Examples of Michael's work for Neighborhoodr include:Published April 11, 2011Published March 30, 2011Published March 23, 2011The Daily Caveat provides commentary on white collar crime and investigative research for an audience of lawyers, investment professionals, journalists and investigators. Examples of Michael's posts for The Daily Caveat include:Published April 11, 2011Published March 3, 2011Published April 20, 2005Istanbulletins is a travelogue Michael created for a recent trip to Turkey. Written almost exclusively via mobile device, the site features Michael's photography as well as short commentaries on the city and local sights:Published October 7, 2009Published October 6, 2009Published October 6, 2009Michael co-founded the music-centric blog, Real True Sound that has grown to include eleven contributors over the last two years, based all over the country. Samples of Michael's contributions to Real True Sound include:Published August 15, 2009Published April 20, 2009Published April 28, 2009Michael collaborated with NARA research staff to locate these previously unseen documents for the academic paper, An Old Man and a Black Boy: Reimagining Two Richards, which provides an answer to a historical mystery and represents the first time Wright's grandfather's pension documents had been evaluated in an exploration of the author's family history.Published in the Fall/Winter 2004 edition of the Richard Wright Newsletter, vol 12, no 1 & 2.
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TOOLS
- CAN MICHAEL HELP US ADOPT ANY SPECIALIZED TOOLS?Michael has mastered a variety of software tools that automate business processes and project management tasks. He has developed needs analyses for new purchases, conducted research on available features, evaluated vendors and provided detailed recommendations on asset selection. Michael is conversant with:
SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING:
Adwords • MSN • Yahoo • Business.com
SURVEYS & EMAIL MARKETING:
iContact • Mailchimp • MyEmma • Survey Monkey
WEB ANALYTICS:
Google Analytics • Hitwise • Sitemeter • PostRank
VISITOR PROFILING:
Clicktale • Userfly • Clixpy • CrazyEgg
PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
Basecamp • MS Project • Behance Action Method
SCREEN SHARING AND WEB CONFERENCING: WebEx • Go to Meeting • Jing • Notable
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:
Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn • Jigsaw
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT:
TweetDeck • HootSuite • Twollo • CoTweet • Ping
BLOGGING:
Blogger • Wordpress • Tumblr
CONTENT MANAGEMENT:
LiveBall • Drupal • Joomla • Hubspot
PRODUCTIVITY:
Microsoft Office Suite • Apple iWork Suite
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