Dave Neelsen

About Dave Neelsen

After years as a business strategist and relationship-driven person in a world hell-bent on selling features and benefits, I saw the rise of a social media-driven world and an economic downturn that brought on a fast-changing picture to the marketing and business worlds. It was 2007. YouTube was just two years old, and Apple was about to introduce the first iPhone. The paradigm shift coming to the world of marketing and business was like a meteor on a path toward Earth.At that moment in history, most video production companies’ value proposition was still rooted in their access to professional equipment. Likewise, traditional ad agencies emphasized a “features and benefits” approach to selling. Both approaches were rendered obsolete.Control over traditional marketing channels (TV and print) was ripped from ad agencies and production companies and placed literally into consumers\' hands.Our history was working in film production and traditional agencies at the time but we saw the meteor coming.Businesses needed a different marketing approach; an approach focused on finding differentiators that consumers would notice in an attention economy. Audiences wanted what they always wanted: respect. YouTube and Apple gave them the power to demand it.In 2009, we launched StoryFirst Media.I\'m Wisconsin born-and-bred. Having lived in Illinois and spent a lot of time in Texas, I\'m equally at home sharing a fine craft beer with you in a Milwaukee tavern, a Chicago Blues joint, or an Austin ice house. However, while we\'re having that beer together, be careful questioning the excellence of the Green Bay Packers. Did I mention that I\'m Wisconsin born-and-bred? I bleed green and gold.

Experience

1. Principal and Co-founder

   Storyfirst Media Group Inc

   Aug 2009 — Present

   Your Difference in Action. We\'re a collective of marketers, digital storytellers and filmmakers based in Madison and Milwaukee, and working wherever the story takes us. As a brand story consultancy and video and film production company we use the tools and science of storytelling to differentiate and connect with their audiences. Our clients stories and content are seen on social platforms, mobile devices, the web, TV/OTT, and the big screen. We work with small and large companies, as well as creative agencies to tell engaging and authentic stories that connect with audiences - and serve the goals of those we tell stories of. When not telling brand stories for our clients, our storytelling passion turns to feature film projects -\"Last Day At Lambeau\" in 2012,\"Beyond Human Nature\" which premiered and on streaming service in 2023, and STRING THEORY: The Richard Davis Method premiering at film festivals in 2024.Story. Brand. Film. “Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.” - Robert McKee

Education

• Milwaukee Area Technical College

  Graphic Communications

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

  Business and Marketing

Skills

• Storytelling
• Web Video
• Video
• Video Production
• Documentaries
• Online Video
• Business Strategy
• New Business Development
• Sales Management
• Sales
• Marketing Strategy
• Marketing Communications
• Website Development
• Online Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• Content Development
• Content
• Content Creation
• Web Content
• Content Marketing
• Visual Storytelling
• Digital Storytelling
• Web Project Management
• Advertising
• Food Marketing
• Print Management
• Digital Printing
• Variable Data Printing
• Social Media
• Small Business
• Email Marketing
• Brand Development
• Digital Marketing
• SEO
• Facebook
• New Media
• Digital Media
• Social Networking
• Digital Strategy
• B2b Marketing