10 key takeaways from the MU Digital Media Summit
1. Conferences = networking opportunity
Hundreds of students and professionals rubbed elbows at the Digital Summit, including participants from Laughlin Constable, Spotify, Google, Microsoft and more. Some Marquette students had the opportunity to get up close with speakers as student ambassadors by greeting them and introducing them. But anyone has the opportunity to network at a conference like the Digital Summit by sitting at a lunch table where you don’t know anyone, exchanging business cards and then following up with a LinkedIn connection or an email. You never know where it might lead.
2. Keep personality and character in brands
Laughlin Constable practices what they preach by keeping personality in brands. For example, they personalized the face of cancer in a campaign for Aurora, they’re proud of their local roots by transforming a concession stand into a mock super club, they’re unafraid to tell it like it is when it comes to beer, socializing and college student.
3. Get your consumers when they need it
In this photo, Spotfiy exemplifies when their users listen to them most and when. By using content targeting, Spotify is able to know what their users should be listening to depending on where they are. With demographic targeting, they are able to reach each user at any platform.
4. Think like a person, not like a marketer
The Roberts group focus on the importance of relating to customers to make them the happiest they can be. Not only do they focus on helping their own customers, but they want to make others not involved aware as well. In one of their campaigns they talk about stroke awareness, a topic not as commonly talked about.
5. Consumers want brand royalty
In this tweet, Gartner Incorporation understands and wants their own brandy loyalty from consumers. At Gartner, in addition to connecting with each member of their team to fit your needs, you are able to connect with other clients of Gartner to see how the company worked for them.
6. Dictation is taking over the digital world
In the Microsoft presentation, they talked about how many searches are starting to be done by voice. It’s a steadily rising number. In an effort to compete and surpass Apple, Microsoft’s Cortana is on the rise.
6. Emotion Leads to Action
In the Laughlin Constable presentation, this was the ending note. When taking a look at their brand, they show the true power of emotion in one of their projects, a partnership with the Lung Cancer Alliance. The campaign is titled “How It Feels” describing the first feelings when someone finds out they have cancer.
7. Mobile is here to stay
In the Google presentation, they talked about how important change is in mobile because now it’s part of our society. Google is coming out with new and innovative ways to keep everyone up to date. With one of their tests they are forcing companies to stay up-to-date online.
8. Experience your own economy
The company Tahzoo focuses on making their clients prepare for change, in any form. By engaging on multiple platforms they are able to relate more to their clients. Recently, in an effort to expand services for their clients they have partnered with HintTech.
9. Passion is key
In the Laughlin presentation, the presenter noted the importance of passion in a business. In their own business, Laughlin shows passion in one of their campaigns with the Skin Cancer Foundation.
10. Anything that isn’t connected is obsolete
Although this tweet is from the last year’s digital summit I found it incredibly relevant to conclude for the key notes.
One year later, the online world and technology continues to grow incredibly, and it’s not stopping anytime soon.
We are the digital world now.