Erika Heald Marketing Consulting

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May 8, 2023 Content Chat Recap: 2023 Creator Economy Expo (CEX) Wrap-Up

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A Content Chat header image that says today’s topic is a 2023 Creator Economy Expo (CEX) wrap-up with guest Pamela Muldoon, who is @PamelaMuldoon on Twitter.

Of all the marketing and related industry events we look forward to each year, Creator Economy Expo (CEX) has quickly earned itself “must-attend” status given its value-packed sessions and electrifying atmosphere. It makes sense, considering The Tilt and the ‘Godfather of Content Marketing’ Joe Pulizzi host the event (and have they ever done us wrong?).

If you’re looking to see what content creators learned at the event—you’re in the right place. In this #ContentChat recap, Erika joins Pamela Muldoon (@PamelaMuldoon), content marketing strategist at Muldoon Media and voiceover actor, to share their takeaways from the event that any creator can use to reinvigorate their content strategy.

Read through a few highlights from the conversation below, and listen to the full recording here.

Q1: If you attended #CreatorExpo, what did you think of the event experience? Would you recommend it to a fellow content creator?

Erika and Pamela are both never-ending ticket owners for CEX, which is a huge vote of confidence for the event. Below are some reasons why they love the event:

  • “As I was looking at the agenda for the conference this year, I was like ‘this is exactly what I need to give me the kickstart to actually get things going [with my gluten-free and low-FODMAP food blog]’. It’s my passion. I love that stuff.” – Erika Heald
  • “I’ve been using my expertise and skills around content development and strategy, but it’s been a while since I’ve had to wear the hat of content entrepreneur. The idea that there is a conference not only dedicated to that, but we’d be learning from people doing it—people making their dollars now using these ideas—was a huge reason why I needed to engage with this community.” – Pamela Muldoon
  • “There’s something about being surrounded by people who are trying to make the same kind of work that you are working on happen. It’s super motivating to have those conversations and be surrounded by that energy. I love my furry coworkers, but they don’t give me the motivation to work and write.” – Erika Heald
  • “I really feel like the attendee audience and people… getting together a diverse group of people who are singularly focused on having content be their business and improving that business of creation is very unique.” – Erika Heald
  • “Most of the conference presenters are those that are building their business in some way. It’s amazing, really, and one of the things that stuck out to me is the concept of ‘failing forward’ constantly. It’s refreshing to be back at something where creativity was front-and-center.” – Pamela Muldoon
  • “I’m not surprised by this, but there was a much stronger global presence at the conference. And in only year two, which is really awesome.” – Pamela Muldoon

Q2: What are some of the key themes or points you heard that spanned sessions across the event?

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November 8, 2021 Content Chat Recap: How to Plan and Promote an Engaging Virtual or Hybrid Event

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Research from LinkedIn found that 85% of marketers have held a virtual event in the past year. For nearly a quarter of these marketers, at least 90% of their events are now entirely virtual. Does this mean marketing teams should plan exclusively for virtual events in 2022? Not exactly.

As more communities lift their social distancing protocols, we should see an increasing number of live and hybrid event experiences next year. The research suggests we can anticipate a breakdown of 30% virtual events, 36% in-person events, and 24% hybrid events.

To help marketers start their 2022 event planning, in this #ContentChat we explain how to plan and promote an engaging virtual or hybrid event. Read the full recap to learn how to start planning a virtual or hybrid event, the challenges you will likely face (and solutions), how to navigate a call-for-speakers process, and more.

Q1: What is the current state of B2B industry events? Can we expect in-person experiences to come back in 2022?

There will be more in-person conferences in 2022.

However, we expect many of these in-person experiences to include a virtual component, meaning that many events will be hybrid.

This is an understandable evolution of the events industry. Marketers spent 2020 and 2021 learning how to host a successful virtual conference, and teams now understand that the best event experiences make full use of the features and functions available based on the attendees’ preferred way to attend.

Networking remains a challenge for virtual and hybrid events.

Q2: If you planned a virtual or hybrid event in 2021, what challenges did you face?

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April 6, 2020 Content Chat Recap: How Innovative Companies Are Reinventing Virtual Events

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As businesses and society continue to grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that the world will never operate the way it once did. The events industry, in particular, is in turmoil, with decades-old institutions like the Churchill Club ending their events series, and companies are facing tough decisions on how to navigate events in a socially distanced world.

This week, the #ContentChat community was joined by Brian Fanzo (@iSocialFanz), a digital futurist keynote speaker, to explore the shifting events landscape. Read the full recap below, which includes advice on how to decide if your event should go virtual, the tools you need to successfully run an online event, and the trends that will define this new era of events.

Q1: Many conference and event organizers are having to decide if they should cancel, reschedule, or take their upcoming events virtual. What criteria can they use to evaluate if a virtual event would be a good fit?

In-person events will almost certainly be nonexistent through 2020, likely stretching well into 2021. You should not plan to host an in-person event for at least another 9 months, pending ongoing guidance from public health officials.

This is an opportunity to reassess the value of your event and see how you can reinvent that experience virtually. This pressure to innovate and redesign event experiences will shape the next era of events.

For any event to be successful, it has to provide value to its audience. As such, one way to assess whether your event should go virtual is by surveying your prospective attendees to assess their needs and interests.

Events with a heavy networking focus will be trickier (but not impossible) to replicate digitally, but more traditional event components like keynotes, panel discussions, and even brainstorming can be handled online.

And there are plenty of content types to explore that can create an engaging and interactive online event experience.

When planning your event, ask yourself these questions: What are the goal(s) of the event?

How much interaction do we want during the event, and can we manage this online?

How will we keep an online audience focused? This could involve exploring different session lengths and the way you deliver the content.

How important is the timing of this event? If the topic can wait until after the virus is contained and there is significant value in holding the event in person, consider postponing.

Do we have the capability to record and post sessions afterward? This can greatly extend the value of your event because you can couple those recordings with blog posts and social media content following the event.

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