Every marketer measures their successes in different ways because we all have different duties and represent our own unique cog in the marketing machine. Whether it be involving websites, videos, content, or sales, each of us brings a different angle and view to the table.
So, find out how your favorite marketing experts at Nextiny define marketing success in each of our respective roles within the team.
Why staying connected with other agencies and partners helps a marketing agency CEO stay up-to-date
Resources:
1. Twitter
2. Other Marketing Agency owners
3. Partners
I love to stay connected to other agencies, industry leaders, and partners through Twitter. Not only do I get information from articles they write and share, but we also engage in conversations, surveys, ask each other questions, and just generally learn from each other's experiences.
Every week I connect with other agency owners through groups and monthly one-on-one meetings to stay in touch. We share what we are doing, how things are working for us or not working anymore, new technologies, new software, new methodologies, success stories, and more. We are also able to share challenges and what we are doing to overcome them as well as celebrating wins together.
This connection with my peers allows us all to learn from each other and to discuss challenges. CEOs and Agency owners experience the loneliness of leadership quite often so connecting with people who understand your challenges is invaluable for growth and development.
Over the years we have developed many robust partnerships with software companies. These partnerships are a great resource to learn more about the industry, how they do business, how they help businesses, and the innovations they need to go through to stay up to date and relevant.
How industry resources can keep marketers thinking about innovation and growth
Resources:
1. The Daily Carnage Newsletter + Facebook Group
2. HubSpot Events (HUGs, Agency Partner Day, INBOUND)
3. LinkedIn
What I like about all three of these resources is that they get me out of my marketing "bubble.”
As most marketers can probably relate to, there are a lot of things that you end up sticking with it, once you figure them out and find a system that works for you. This is great for efficiency but not always as optimal for growth. These three resources keep me constantly exposed to other marketers so that I can be continuously learning about new trends in the industry, have some awesome one-on-one conversations, and step outside of my daily tasks to think about what we could be doing better as an agency for ourselves and for our clients' growth strategies.
How creative communities drive and inspire creativity in marketing
Resources:
2. Collect UI
3. Pages
In the ever-changing world of website design and user experience there are always new case studies, best practices, coding hacks, and so much more to learn. Being a part of an online creative community and hearing their experiences and expertise is often what takes my designs to the next level. These resources give me a fresh perspective from designers and creatives who solve problems differently than I do and it's where I learn about new trends and updates in the industry.
When looking for creative inspiration, I like to check out work from incredible designers throughout the world and study how they treat fonts, layouts, color palette, etc. This inspires new creativity that impacts my future designs.
How communicating with other marketers helps solve problems and promote growth
Resources:
1. Reddit (r/marketing and r/seo)
2. Databox Blog
3. Moz
When it comes to digital marketing, there are a number of ways that marketers can find a solution for a single problem. That’s why I rely on resources that support an active dialogue between industry experts. I can go to Reddit with a specific challenge and get feedback from a variety of people who are ready and willing to offer their insights.
It's an excellent way to test strategies, as well. I feel comfortable going to the r/marketing reddit community with an idea and getting feedback from members about how they have dealt with similar challenges or opportunities. I learn a lot from the conflicting opinions that this forum provides and it challenges my way of thinking which ultimately sharpens my craft.
I also really enjoy resources that rely on industry feedback. Databox has done an amazing job building an audience of marketers and tech experts, and they have been able to leverage that feedback into amazing content. I can't ignore what's being said in their content because I know that it's coming from experts in this space.
How entertainment can provide learning opportunities in marketing
By Isabella — Video Marketing Manager
Resources:
1. Instagram
2. Podcasts
3. YouTube
I use these three resources interchangeably to stay up-to-date on the latest improvements and trends in video production and marketing.
All three have huge banks of content where I can follow users or hosts that I believe provide valuable information. I follow several video production accounts on Instagram and I'll see something new and interesting that others are doing which may spark an idea in my mind to then apply to what we do here at Nextiny.
Being a lifelong commuter, I highly appreciate a good podcast and although this platform is still considerably new, there's a lot of great information on video marketing and even video production out there.
If you're a videographer, then you can't deny that YouTube was (or is) a resource in your technical journey. I'm constantly looking at videos that review new camera equipment, shooting methods, and walkthroughs to achieve certain shots or special edits.
These three platforms are growing exponentially every day which is why I mainly go back to them. I never have a day where I tune into one of these and don't come across something insightful or, at the very least, entertaining.
How inspiration drives creativity in marketing
Resources:
1. Reddit (r/videography)
3. bhphoto.com
The subreddit r/videography is a community of videographers that offer real life questions, reviews, tips, and feedback. It can be as general or personal as you’d like it. With the opportunity to have like-minded video people review your work and give constructive criticism, r/videography is an invaluable source.
Peter McKinnon is a photographer & filmmaker that creates several weekly videos on his YouTube channel. When it comes to new trends in the video world, Peter seems to be one of the first to tackle new challenges, test new gear, and experiment with new styles. You can gain a wealth of video knowledge just watching his tutorial videos and the fact that he produces fresh content each week gives viewers something more to learn all of the time.
At face value, B&H is a photo and video tech retailer but if you dig deeper, the tech giants are so much more than that. First off, they have an excellent customer service line that you can call and talk to professionals who will offer their advice and information without purchasing anything.
They also have the ‘explora’ department which posts articles relating to in-depth reviews on new products and tech events that are happening around the world. Their production team also produces video reviews and provides updates on anything tech related in the industry.
Why reading daily improves writing and promotes learning in marketing
Resources:
1. Databox Blog
2. Moz Blog
I'm a strong believer that the best way you can improve your writing is by reading.
So, I try to read a lot every day and I try to read things that pertain to my duties at Nextiny like social media, blogging, SEO, etc. Reading sharpens the mind, as they say, and I think it not only helps me expand my vocabulary and study new styles of writing, but it also inspires the writing that I do at Nextiny.
These particular resources are great for learning more about marketing, more about SEO, and more about correct grammar and writing.
How creative marketers find inspiration online
Resources:
1. Instagram
2. Google
3. YouTube
When trying to better my work and improve my skills, I use Instagram, YouTube, and Google all in conjunction with each other. I use both Instagram and YouTube to see what others in my field are doing since the majority of videographers and designers are on these platforms showing their work. When I see a certain technique or content that I like, then I would research it on YouTube or Google.
An example of this would be that I saw a beautiful time lapse scrolling through my feed on Instagram. Wanting to learn how to create one myself I Googled how to make a time lapse. I found a great tutorial on how to make one on YouTube through my Google search result. After watching this video, I created one and posted it on our instagram account. From there the cycle continues.
What resources do you use do you use everyday? Let us know in the comments or shout at us via social media!
