 DYS Media founder Dave Yonkman began journalism career at age 15. By Danielle Nelson
Grand Rapids Business Journal From an early age, Dave Yonkman was an ambitious entrepreneur, and he has continued to demonstrate success throughout his business endeavors.Yonkman is the founder of DYS Media, a public relations firm in Holland. His firm works with companies in investor relations, manufacturing, energy, health care, technology and construction industries. He started his firm in 2013. However, he started his first business at the age of 15 when he created his own magazine called Ill Times. It was focused on long-form music and entertainment stories. Yonkman has always had a knack for writing. So, when he decided to attend Grand Valley State University, he knew he would pursue a career in journalism. He was the editor of the school’s paper, the Grand Valley Lanthorn. “I always had a fascination with the written word,” he said. “I always learned by reading. (I liked) to read the words and internalize them. If you tell me something, I am not going to internalize it as much as I can with the written word. Just the stories that you can create with the written word is just always fascinating.
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 On Thursday, May 16 our CEO had the opportunity to speak on the WGVU Morning Show with local NPR affiliate Shelley Irwin. Hear Dave Yonkman's thoughts on PR, and why he decided to start his business.
 2017 Newsmaker of the year Cindy Larson talks to WJIM on her home turf's unexpected getaway. The people of Lansing, MI vacation in a lot of places. But have they ever considered Muskegon? Larson thinks they should.
 Companies cannot simply purchase a positive reputation and credible image — because they aren’t for sale. Building strong relationships with markets requires relentless honesty and compelling storytelling directed at the desired audience. Great publicity must be earned.
Businesses and individuals can certainly work on public relations campaigns themselves with existing resources, but they often need help from consultants or agencies. So how much should you pay them for establishing trust and enhancing the image of their products and services?  DYS Media, LLC seeks experienced, energetic and extroverted applicants for the position of Business Development Manager.
This full-time position is best suited for self-starters with a proclivity toward establishing business relationships and with 5+ years of experience. Applicants are expected to establish strategies for forging new connections while maintaining positive current client relationships. Job requires travel within West Michigan as well as some air/overnight. Job Type: Base salary + Progressive Commission. Does this sound like you? Apply now.  By Jen Wise
The following is an excerpt of Jen Wise's The Bright Life as published in Hope for Women Magazine. Here’s where I give you the advice you’ve been waiting for your whole life. Stop what you’re doing. Grab a wedge of fancy cheese. Go sit someplace beautiful and quiet. Eat the cheese. This is all you need to know for a happy and abundant life. Well, mostly. A few weeks ago angels sang and fireworks exploded as I realized that both of our kids were scheduled to be at birthday parties that Saturday--at the same time. I was beside myself. It had been ages since Jon and I had free time together. Sure, we’d sneak in a lunch during the week here or there, but when you have to part ways in thirty minutes to work, it’s not quite the same.  The medium might be perfect for your content marketing strategy, but it’s not as simple as just hitting “record.” Here are some best practices for sending your podcast to the top of the charts. By Dave Yonkman
Podcasts have come a long way since Adam Curry of MTV fame brought them mainstream more than a decade ago. Consider that 44 percent of Americans listen to podcasts, 26 percent listen to them monthly and 48 million tune in weekly. Furthermore, podcast listeners consume an average of seven different programs weekly. Some 80 percent of them consume “all” or “most” of each episode. “Since [2004], the audio platform has grown in popularity, both in terms of listeners and resulting advertising dollars,” says Kent Lewis, president of Anvil Media. Follow these five rules to influence your audiences with the hottest platform for content marketing right now.  By Dave Yonkman
Thousands of job applicants will begin angling for their first position in media relations. University taught them all of the textbook basics, but that only offers a very limited experience in a vacuum unaffected by daily changes in our world. The critical factor to success is lifelong learning, and now is as good of a time as any to start your informal professional studies. Industry veterans recommend the following 10 books to read before your first interview. Best wishes to your success!  By Dave Yonkman
Why does the FBI offer its Witness Protection Program to informants when the feds can post their contact information on Page 2 of Google search results? In fact, they could list it anywhere after the third result and need not worry all that much! Great news for snitches, but not so much for PR hacks since 51 percent of all website traffic starts from an organic search. So, public relations pros know their content needs to appear in search results. They also know the same content is worthless if it doesn’t appear prominently. How are they supposed to navigate such tension?  Holland, Mich. – DYS Media, LLC hired HarperCollins alumnus Jennifer VerHage to oversee its media and communications practice.
“Our partners will immediately gain from Jennifer’s decade of experience in placing bestselling authors in the nation’s largest media markets,” DYS Media President Dave Yonkman said. “Her solid media relations and business acumen strengthen the core values by which we operate day in and day out.” VerHage previously worked for HarperCollins Christian Publishing in Grand Rapids, Mich. She collaborated with The New York Times bestselling authors, business leaders, entrepreneurs, online influencers, celebrities, pastors and athletes. She secured media coverage in such major outlets as TIME, Fox News Channel, FIRST for Women Magazine, Fast Company, Christianity Today and Relevant Magazine. “My new position at DYS opens an entirely new range of opportunities for me to ensure that the brands I represent become industry leaders,” VerHage said. “I look forward to applying my national, regional and local experience to the exacting demands of DYS Media’s exclusive and diverse roster of clients.” VerHage, 31, lives in Holland with her husband, Mitch, and 2-year-old twins, Jack and Alice. She holds a bachelor’s of science degree in public relations with an emphasis on marketing from Ferris State University. ### Founded in 2013, DYS Media, LLC enables you to inspire and influence the world around you to expand your consumer base and break into new markets. We offer services in the fields of media relations, brand development, crisis communications, reputation management and social media engagement. |
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