Top 5 Buzzwords You Need to Know

During my time here at HighRoad, I have attended a lot of association events here in the Washington, D.C. area. At those events, I have been fortunate to meet many smart people in the technology arena. These people are looking to change up the technology game and use terms that encourage a new way of thinking. Here are some buzzwords I hear floating around when I am out and think are worth a deeper look.

1. Disruption - This is a term being thrown around a lot in the association world, but what does it actually mean when applied to the workforce? I see this as a way of describing new ways of thinking and disruption of the status quo. Whether it is streamlining the way a Board of Directors make a decision, or changing the dynamic and look of a workforce with an influx of young talent. It has become very apparent to make it big, you need to be thinking outside of the box and come up with new concepts on how to do things. Here at HighRoad we have really embraced this way of thinking. We have watched the market shift and adapted to these new challenges. By adding new staff members who supply fresh opinions and an updated way of thinking, you may have heard we are really shaking things up.

2. Automation - Whether it is scheduling the delivery of emails or newsletters, or your entire marketing efforts, people have been looking towards technology to make this easier. Here at HighRoad, we have believed in automation for the past 11 years. Just like there are many options for banking or coffee, there are just as many choices for automation. Why work harder and try to do "old school" marketing tasks on your own? Spend the time and effort working on a marketing strategy and let technology do the work for you. I truly believe this is the future of marketing. If you want to know more about this hot topic, HighRoad Solution will be holding a Marketing Automation workshop at the ASAE office in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, September 22nd 2016. If you can't make it in person, HighRoad will also be live streaming the presentation as well. Visit the link here to learn more about the workshop and register.

3. Responsive - In 2016 mobile web is the Holy Grail. If your website or communication platform isn’t responsive, people will pass them by. When is the last time you opened a poorly formatted email or website on your phone and took time to look around? The answer is never, people simply do not have the patience or time to look through a complicated and non-user friendly interface. Designing for mobile web is the new standard and will be for the foreseeable future. Here is a link to a blog that we did back in August that sheds more light on the hot topic of Responsive Versus Adaptive Web Design. It's a great read!

4. Strategy First - The days of mass emailing are gone. Why send out the same emails to the same people who are not engaging in your content? Why don’t you take some time to take a step back and look at the message that you are sending out to your audience. By looking at how they engage with your content, you are able to tailor content that best suits your client’s needs. This information is easily obtained by providing a survey to your members then evaluating how they view your organization. At HighRoad Solution we believe in taking a strategic approach to digital marketing. We take into account the goals you are trying to achieve and use technology to help you achieve them. We are true pioneers in approaching the market with this methodology and are one of our core principals. Here is a blog that features a great infographic about "Building Your 2016 Content Marketing Strategy". Be sure to check it out.

5. Innovation – People want to be the tip of the spear with the newest and hottest thing on the market. Right now, the development of the digital landscape is moving towards simple efficiency. You want ot put your trust in a digital agency who develops a tools that help accelerates business growth with a low cost platform. I truly love being at the forefront of this revolution, and I look forward to seeing how HighRoad will innovate the Association marketplace in the coming years.

These are more than just “buzzwords”; they are the future of the digital marketing landscape. I have listened to them used time and time again, ever evolving and providing glimpses into the future of our industry. I am excited to be a part of this forward leaning direction we are headed.  If these words are buzzing around your organization and you need help, consider reaching out to us. We have a great free audit that we can run for you and discuss how you can improve your digital marketing.