Over the last 30 days or so I’ve been busy traveling to talk about marketing technology, learning about new trends in business, and exploring ways to help our clients and our business grow. In September and beginning of October, I attended six events either as an attendee or a speaker/presenter.
What is always amazing to me when attending such events, is how getting outside your comfort zone and then being exposed to other peoples ideas, challenges, or victories can inspire you to consider possibilities in your life and work which — while always being right there at your finger tips — were hidden until the change in your scenery made them become visible. This was no different during my recent travels. Here is some takeaways on the places I have been as of late:
- At Content Marketing World in Cleveland, Ohio, the big takeaway for me was how the term content marketing has grown to mean simply communicating well. During one of the keynotes, the speaker made clear that the future winners in the marketing space will be those who develop useful content for which indviduals, like the thousands sitting the in audience, will be willing to consume and lightly be marketed to in the process. Rather than the term “marketed to” maybe even better said, they are willing to be “influenced by”. And how are they best influenced? By being well communicated to. Marketing continues to evolve in not only technology, which was also on display in the expo hall at the event, but perhaps as profoundly in how customers are willing to access sales & marketing messages in the future.
- At the EDC’s Innovation Expo in Coralville, Iowa, I reengaged with a number of businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs whom I was curious about. Plus I met some new faces of those looking to push forward their business dreams. As a local event in Iowa, what was clear to me was the evolving nature of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our region. Nearing 4 years old ourselves at McNary Marketing & Design, we’d grown up with the expanding system of business connections, mentorship, and moral support which has led to so many companies being launched during this time. What’s next as we continue to push forward in this region?
- The Cedar Rapids’ Gazette’s new Iowa Ideas conference took place the same week as Innovation Expo with the goal of not only having the longtime newspaper/media outlet speak to its readers but allow them to speak back. Hundreds of speakers and panelists joined me and hundreds of attendees during the 3 day event. The attendance and engagement could have been greater, but the topics were wide and varying. The opinions presented were as well — the attempt at including crossing ideas was appreciated. Further, while there were various ideas presented which were conflicting, overall the decorum at this event was refreshingly civil in an age of too quick judgements on ideas opposing to your own. Funny how that works when we all get in a room together and talk — despite our differences.
- In Des Moines, Iowa the Technology Association (TAI) of Iowa held their first Tech Summit aimed at allowing those of who are members of TAI to include not only our leadership but staffs and up-and-comers to the Iowa tech landscape. The one-day event spoke to many “hot topics” in the technology space including security, the “cloud”, artificial intelligence (AI), and workforce goals. AI and workforce are an interesting dynamic: we need more technologists in Iowa to grow our tech scene just as we will automate many industrial age jobs or tasks.
- The business scene in many moderate size towns, including my businesses’ home of Cedar Rapids, are reinventing themselves as we move further into the digital age. This was seen in Davenport, Iowa (Quad Cities) when I presented in “Sales & Marketing: The Difference” to their QC Ignite morning coffee/networking group in late September. Around 30 attendees joined us, ranging from traditional industries of real estate, to forward thinking non-profits, to start-up companies utilizing technology to compete in professions which were inaccessible due to capital needs in the past. I then got to work at at coworkqc — the local co-working spot — for much of that day. What is awesome is that I know so many cities around the country are doing the same as Quad Cities or Cedar Rapids are. The future is bright for so many doers today who just need an internet connection in place and an idea to make a shot at it.
- Just last week, I presented to the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliances’ Next Gen Summit on the topic of productivity systems/tools. The event, targeted at young professionals, hopes to foster local employees to connect with their community and business networks through a day of professional development. Around 50 showed up at my talk about how to manage the deluge of tasks we are flooded with everyday — a problem for any information worker without a system in place.
Over the last month, I’ve had the blessing of engaging with hundreds of people in various walks of life and both around the country & in Iowa. What are the common threads?
- How do we push forward into a future unknown, but exciting?
- How do we improve on what we are doing in our work and lives?
- How can we help those around us, through real connectivity and commitment, to improve their, our communities, and our own lives?
These are questions I’m thinking today. Let’s find some answers as we end 2017 and head into 2018. Who is with me?!
–JM