Peter Evans
Co-Founder & CEO
- Toronto ON CANADA
Recognized speaker on expertise marketing, technology and innovation
Contact More Open optionsBiography
Peter’s work has been featured in publications such as Inc. Magazine and PRWeek and has won industry awards including a 2021 IABC Award and 2 CODiE Awards for "Best Content Marketing Solution" (2021 & 2018). With over 20 years of technology experience in corporate roles and venture backed startups, he has been at active as an operator, consultant and angel investor in markets such as media, telecom, healthcare, Internet services and SaaS software. He has spoken as a keynote/panelist at global conferences hosted by organizations including PRSA, Conference Board of Canada, Business Marketing Association and IABC. He holds an MBA from Queen’s University.
Professional Experience
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SaaS Software, Information Services, Market/Product Research, Corporate Strategy, Channels/Alliances, Product Management, Brand Strategy/Architecture
Speaking Experience
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US, Canada, Europe, Asia
Citizenship
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European Community (United Kingdom) + Canadian Citizen (Received in 2000)
Areas of Expertise
Spotlight
Media
Social
Sample Talks
Conversations are the New Content: How to Position your Experts as Trusted Advisors to Build Reputation & Revenue
Research shows experts are a top source of trusted information for buyers. Strong evidence is now emerging that proves the value of making experts more approachable at the front end of the sales process. For example, IBM’s new “Expert Advice” program is generating thousands of leads by making key employees available for one on one phone calls with prospects for an informed, no pressure conversation. IBM also reports that conversion rates (from consultation to pipeline) are 400% higher than conventional marketing programs. What We'll Cover In This Session ---------------------------------------------- • Why expert conversations can work better than traditional content for high value sales prospects • How to identify, recruit and reward your experts to maximize your success • How to design and calculate the ROI for an Expert Advisory Program • Why a focus on experts can help you boost employee culture and drive corporate visibility and reputation
Why Experts Are Shaping the Future of Marketing (Keynote, Workshop or Webinar)
Research shows “experts” help you tell more compelling stories that build reputation and market visibility. That’s why organizations are turning to “Expertise Marketing” as a way to position their people as brand ambassadors. It’s a proven way to boost search rank, news coverage, speaking opportunities and customer leads. Join us to learn how leading organizations are showcasing their expertise to tell more compelling stories that engage audiences. Drawing from a rich variety of case studies, attendees will also be provided with a toolkit they can take back to the office to help them with a range of activities including expert assessment; content planning; storytelling; business case development and measurement. What you will Learn in this Session: • The best ways to better position your people as go-to “experts” to enrich your content and media pitches. • How to engage your experts and get them to help you develop better stories • How simple changes to your website can boost to massively boost visitor engagement and valuable market connections. • The 5 most important things that journalists are looking for when they seek out expert sources • How to better leverage breaking news and identify key topics that are more likely to engage users online and generate media coverage. • Ways to quickly measure ROI for your expertise marketing programs
"More Brains, Less Bots: Driving Reputation & Revenue with Expertise Marketing"
Trends such as the erosion of consumer trust and increasingly complex buyer journey are driving enterprises and institutions to rethink how they make their experts more approachable to key audiences as media sources, speakers and customer advisors. This session will outline how organizations can better engage their internal experts to competitively differentiate their brand and drive new revenues. We will also share key insights and data learned from working with top organizations in sectors such as corporate, healthcare, higher education and industry associations.
More Results...Less Drama: What Big Companies Can Learn from Startups
What can established companies learn from smaller, innovative firms about making innovation happen - faster, cheaper, better? In this workshop we look at how small startups take an idea, develop it, and ultimately create viable products and services that drive growth. The workshop provides examples of how startups use emerging systems such as lean startup, blue ocean strategy and customer value management and also includes case studies.
Marketing that Matters for Technology Entrepreneurs
Your big idea in a crowded market is worth nothing... until you figure out how to competitively differentiate your product and connect with a market that cares. This session will first focus on the unique marketing challenges faced by early stage technology companies. It will also provide attendees with proven and practical principles for visioning new products, breaking into a market and building a sustainable business venture.
Accomplishments
2021 CODiE Award - Best Content Marketing Solution (Software Information Industry Association)
2021-06-01
Since 1986, the SIIA CODiE Awards have recognized the best platforms in software, information and education technology. The CODiE Awards are the only peer-recognized program in the industry based on votes tabulated following a careful platform review/ . The CODiE Award win serves as strong market validation for a product’s innovation, vision, and overall industry impact. www.siia.net/codie/
IABC Silver Quill Award
2022-12-22
The IABC Heritage Region Silver Quill award is an exceptional distinction within the communication profession. Entries are evaluated on their own merit, not against each other. Each entry is evaluated by two communication professionals who follow IABC's seven-point global scale of excellence.
2018 CODiE Award - Best Content Marketing Solution (Software Information Industry Association)
2018-06-01
Since 1986, the SIIA CODiE Awards have recognized the best platforms in software, information and education technology. The CODiE Awards are the only peer-recognized program in the industry based on votes tabulated following a careful platform review/ . The CODiE Award win serves as strong market validation for a product’s innovation, vision, and overall industry impact. www.siia.net/codie/
2012 Industry Award Recipient - InfoCommerce Group & SIIA (Award of Excellence)
2012-10-10
Winner of the Model of Excellence award by the InfoCommerce Group and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA). InfoCommerce Group regularly scans the information services landscape to identify products that are pioneering or perfecting new business models, exhibit best practices or offer technological innovation. Those that are re-setting the standards for data excellence are named each year as Models of Excellence, based on content, innovation, utility, functionality, revenue.
Workshop Leader - Hacking Health
2012-10-19
Hacking Health is a national organization dedicated to fostering collaboration between health and IT experts. Over 100 doctors and healthcare practitioners (VIP/administrators) as well as over 220 hackers gathered to develop solutions and show off their prototypes. With a focus on frontline clinicians who have identified opportunities for technology to improve the way we practice and deliver healthcare.
Big Brothers of Metropolitan Toronto
Volunteer Big Brother
Junior Achievement - Economics of Staying in School
Program Instructor
Education
Queen's University
Masters, Business Administration
Business
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Certificate (In Progress)
Strategy & Innovation
Ryerson University
Telecommunications Management
University of Toronto
Psychology
Testimonials
Marilee Yorchak ,Executive Director,
Business Marketing Association (BMA - Colorado)
Peter came highly recommended to us by one of our sponsors in the Denver area. He spoke to our members at our monthly breakfast on the topic of "Making your Experts Visible as Thought Leaders to Drive Sales." The session was extremely well received. His talk was very informative and he held everyone's attention with a very engaging speaking style. I would highly recommend Peter as a speaker for your event.
Jo Ann Dizy ,Executive Director
"Peter’s presentation on thought leadership was engaging and thought-provoking. He challenged all of us to re-evaluate our role as CEOs within our companies and to strongly consider the impact that this type of marketing can have on our businesses.”
Dr. Tony Redpath ,Director, Entrepreneurship 101 Program
Peter presented to the MaRS Entrepreneurship program for 8 years on topics ranging from strategy and marketing to building an investor pitch. He was hands down one of our best rated and viewed speakers online. Peter was there at the very start, helping us build one of the leading programs of its kind in the world with an international audience. Highly recommended !
Lucia Gavin ,Events Producer
Collision Conference Web Summit Events
"Fantastic keynote presentation in Toronto. Peter was a pleasure to work with."
Media Appearances
Collision Global Tech Conference
Collision & Web Summit Conferences 2019 online
2019-05-22
Keynote Session - "More Brains, Less Bots: Driving Reputation & Revenue with Expertise Marketing"
10 Minutes with ExpertFile: An Interview with Peter Evans of ExpertFile
Education Investor Magazine print
2019-02-04
Featured interview for magazine read by global investors focused on emerging technologies.
Connecting Journalists with Knowledgeable, Responsive Sources
Associated Press online
2018-05-29
Interview with Jake Kreinberg from the Associated Press focusing on the partnership ExpertFile has with the AP to help newsrooms in the print, broadcast and digital media find credible sources.
Dejero and ExpertFile Announce Partnership at NAB Show to Add Expert Directory Feature for Newsrooms
TV Technology print
2018-02-23
Dejero and ExpertFile formed a partnership to provide its global network of television broadcast clients using the Dejero Live+ Control platform with faster access to credible experts on over 30,000 topics. The initial launch was announced at the National Association of Broadcasters Conference in Las Vegas.
Associated Press Integrates ExpertFile Planner Platform
PR Week print
2017-05-15
Feature article on Associated Press partnership with ExpertFile to help journalists in over 15,000+ newsrooms get faster access to credible experts on over 30,000 topics.
Event Appearances
Flipping the Funnel: How to Build a Trusted Advisor Program that Generates Expert Qualified Leads
Webinar Series Webinar
2019-06-19
"More Brains, Less Bots: Driving Reputation & Revenue with Expertise Marketing"
Collision 2019 Global Tech Conference - Keynote Toronto, Ontario
2019-05-22
Inside the Next Generation Newsroom - Joint Presentation & Case Study with the Associated Press
PRSA Health Academy Washington, DC
2018-04-26
Storytelling in the Age of Disinformation
Associated Press Customer Workshop AP Bureau, Washington DC
2019-04-10
Expertise Marketing for Institutions
University College London, Marketing Event London, United Kingdom
2019-09-30
Inside the Next Generation Newsroom - Joint Session with Associated Press
PRSA Corporate Communications Conference New York City
2018-06-27
Inside the Next Generation Newsroom - The New Rules for Communications
IABC Global Conference Austin, Texas
2019-10-09
Promoting Your Faculty to Newsrooms: Best Practices
SUNYCUAD (Annual SUNY Marketing Conference) Tarrytown, New York
2017-06-27
Thought Leadership to Drive Sales
BMA Colorado Chapter (Business Marketing Association) - Keynote Denver, Colorado
2015-10-13
"From Fail to Scale: Customer Value Design for Startups"
Action Startup Conference McMaster University, DeGroote School of Business
2017-11-17
CIO Innovation Workshop
Conference Board of Canada: CIO Council Toronto
2013-02-28
Innovation in Publishing Panel
Digital Book World 2013 New York, NY
2013-01-16
Moving Ideas to Income in a Not So Flat World
Siftung Charite Conference (Sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation) Berlin, Germany
2011-04-11
Blue Ocean Strategy: Case Study Presentation
Blue Ocean Strategy Institute National Conference (Case Study & Panelist Discussion) Toronto, Canada
2009-02-26
From Thought Leader to Market Leader: Rising Above the Market Noise
Acetech CEO Quarterly Dinner (Keynote) Toronto
2012-03-06
Marketing for Researchers
Sick Children's Hospital Managers Workshop Toronto, Canada
2010-01-14
Business Plan Workshop
Hacking Health Conference 2012 Toronto
2012-10-19
Introduction to Marketing & Strategy
MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 Series (Sponsored by CIBC) Toronto, Canada
2010-01-13
Investor Pitch Preparation - Workshop
Jolt Accelerator Toronto
2012-07-10
Essentials of a Killer Investor Pitch
AccelerateTO C100 Event Toronto
2011-11-09
Answers
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Why should experts drive your content marketing strategy?
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For marketers today the purchase process has increased in complexity. Today, audiences advance through a process known as the buyer’s journey” – the research and decision-making process that customers go through which progresses from awareness to evaluation and ultimately purchase. Audiences have become far more sophisticated. Research clearly shows that expert content is setting the bar for relevance, credibility and attractiveness for every stage of the buyer journey. To address this, expert content is more important than ever. The following 5 areas are influencing this shift.
- Buyers Have Shifted into Self-Serve Mode When Researching Purchases. Approximately 67% of the buyer’s journey is complete prior to contacting a vendor (Source: Sirius Decisions). The research continues to show that many buyers would sooner help themselves to content rather than speak to a salesperson, especially in the early stage of the buyer journey. Audiences are increasingly venturing online to do more of their own research to validate the buying decision. And they are digging deeper into content and are looking to see the people you have onboard to support their decision-making.
- The Buyer Journey is More Collaborative & Non-Linear Than Ever. It is clear that the traditional linear sales funnel has disappeared. In B2B markets, buyers now engage with an average of 11.4 pieces of content prior to making a purchase (Source: Forrester Research). They are now more likely to bounce around on a variety of sites.
- Experts are a Top Source of Influence in Purchase Behavior. Research by the Information Technology Sales and Marketing Association (ITSMA) has consistently ranked subject-matter experts as a top source of information influencing purchase behavior in B2B, higher consideration purchases. In this new model, buyers validate the purchase decision by seeking out reliable information from trusted sources. Decisions such as what lawyer to choose; what IT platform to invest in or where to study for graduate school can be very positively influenced by expert content.
- The Buying Process is More Inclusive than Ever with Multiple Personas Playing a Part. In addition to consulting industry peers on social media channels, buyers work with colleagues inside their organizations when making purchase decisions. Marketers and salespeople cannot be content with focusing on key decision-makers. If you aren’t known company-wide this will present challenges.
- Feeding the Search Engines The Right Content Matters More Than Ever. According to a Google/Millward Brown study, 71% of business purchases begin with a non-branded search. These generic queries, are from people looking for product first, not for a specific brand or organization name. Huge improvements in organic search rank are possible once when your content is optimized to support the customer at all phases of the buyer journey. Expert content, in the form of articles, infographics, or videos, not only strengthens the trust relationship with your buyer, but also reinforces your value and expertise with search engines. you pay a little more attention to the information structure on your website and add assets such as multimedia content to expert profiles. Search engines continue to reward well developed expert content that has personal attribution with higher trust and authority rankings as it views this content as more relevant.
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Who qualifies as an expert?
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By definition, an expert is someone with comprehensive or authoritative knowledge in a particular area of study. While formal education and certifications are a starting point for expertise, many disciplines don’t have a set list of criteria to measure expertise against. There are many dimensions of expertise that relate not just to the working proficiency of an expert in their field but also to the degree of influence and authority they have earned within their profession or community of practice. Because of this, expertise is often looked at as a person’s cumulative training, skills, research, and experience.
What’s important to consider is all of the roles that the people in your organization can play. While many of these people have put in their 10,000 hours, not everyone is wired to speak on podiums or to the media. But they still hold incredible value – from the perspectives they can help you research and develop to the content they can help produce. Here are some of the key attributes to look for in assessing the various roles for your people as you formulate an expertise marketing plan:
- Authority: Has a reputation with an audience as a go-to source for perspectives
- Advocate: Demonstrates a commitment to a community of practice to help advance their field
- Educator: Teaches and inspires on the podium or in the classroom
- Author: Develops content to establish their reputation and reach a broader audience
- Researcher: Generates unique insights through their research or fieldwork
- Practitioner: Actively builds knowledge in a specific discipline or practice area by providing services
- Graduate: Has formal education or gained experience to achieve proficiency in a subject
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What is the difference between Thought Leadership and Expertise Marketing?
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Expertise marketing takes the best parts of thought leadership and makes it more inclusive, sustainable and agile. On top of this, expertise marketing incorporates human connections as a fundamental component of both the strategy and execution. It surfaces diverse expert perspectives, delivers authenticity and creates two-way conversations between you and your audiences. Most of all, it can easily be adapted as our environments change and new audience needs emerge.
The following chart highlights the main key differences:
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
- Corporate Training
Fees
Affiliations
Media Distribution Partner
The Associated Press
2018-03-01
ExpertFile and the AP signed a partnership agreement to enable journalists in over 15,000 newsrooms to find experts on over 30,000 topics. ExpertFile is the exclusive provider powering the Find Experts Feature in 3 global platforms provided by the Associated Press.
Newsroom Distribution Partner (Broadcast Television)
Dejero
2017-04-24
Dejero and ExpertFile announced a new partnership at the NAB Show in Las Vegas to enhance broadcast newsroom access to expert sources. Expert contacts are accessible through Dejero’s Control management system from a web browser within the newsroom or in the field. Those experts who already use Dejero equipment or software can be connected directly to the news organization, making it simple to bring together reporter and expert, wherever they are in the world.
Courses
MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Guest Lecturer (Marketing, Strategy & Investment Presentation)
Top rated lecturer for 8 straight years in Ent101 - one of the leading entrepreneurship programs provided to researchers and grad students who are looking to work in or found a science/tech venture . Hosted by the MaRS Discovery District., the program was started in 2005 and delivered weekly as a live session to 300+ students at the MaRS Center auditorium. The program also attracted a global following of thousands through its livestream webcast and MOOC. Also participated in the "Upstart Competition" which featured Ent101 program participants presenting their pitches to win $10,000 in prize money to help start their venture.
