Dan Fricker

Senior Operations Lead, Creative, Shopify

Dan Fricker’s work focuses on the continual evolution of media and its power to shape opinions and ideas. He has experience across broadcast, tech, and telco with some of Canada’s most influential companies. Dan has acted as Head of Social Media for both Shopify and CBC, and developed early digital marketing strategies with TELUS and CTV News. In 2017, Dan was a founding member of the leadership team for Shopify Studios, an in-house brand entertainment arm that creates feature-length films, episodic television shows, social video content, and other formats.

Dan has received awards for his work in helping companies connect with audiences online. He has been profiled in Canadian Business, Marketing Mag, and others for his innovative approach to storytelling. He studied Film, Television & Media at Queen’s University, has taught Marketing Strategy at the University of Toronto, and is currently earning his Master’s degree with the Johnson School of Business at Cornell.

AVAILABILITY + RATES

“Understand who you’re trying to reach, and what you’re trying to get them to do. Then from there, tell really great stories.”

TOPICS

BRANDS MAKING MOVIES:

How Traditional Storytelling Formats Are Helping Marketers Reach Their Customers

Whether banner ads, pre-roll, or classic 30-second TV spots, interruptive advertising no longer works. Instead, CMOs are waking up to the notion of creating content that consumers inherently don’t want to skip. Dan discusses the evolution of brand entertainment, and how companies are now capturing the attention of audiences with stories across podcasts, social video, and even feature length-films and episodic television.

EMOTIONAL MARKETING:

The Psychology of How Stories Impact Emotions & Memory, and Why People Share

From news feeds to Netflix, we’re in peak content saturation, and reaching your audience is what matters most. In this talk, Dan explores how storytelling has a psychological impact on how we remember and feel, and also looks at the key ingredients behind why people share certain types of media, ultimately to optimize shareability.

DEMYSTIFYING SOCIAL:

How to Leverage Online Channels to Build Your Brand

The social landscape is in constant flux, with new platforms, functionalities, and competition surfacing regularly. Dan simplifies the fundamentals of social marketing strategy and its distinctions from traditional channels. We’ll look at where and why people connect online, and how to develop a social voice and archetype for your brand.

MOVING FROM STRATEGY TO ACTION:

How Small Businesses Can Win with Social Media

There are many tactics you could employ in social, from making videos to influencer marketing, running ads, and offering customer support. Although as an SMB, your time is valuable and your efforts should be optimized for impact. In this talk, Dan looks at priority investments and what to focus on in the short, medium, and long-term.

THE BEST OF TECH:

How to Leverage Agile Software Design Best Practices for Operational Efficiency

Businesses today must remain nimble and adaptable to change in an increasingly complex marketplace. Dan leverages his experience working in tech, Master’s in Business, and learnings from MIT’s Business Process Design program, to share how you can apply agile workflow principles to increase the speed and productivity of your companies and teams.