2021 ... Do We Need a Reboot This Soon?
Martin Waxman, MCM, APR
Digital and Social Media Strategist, LinkedIn Learning Instructor, Digital Marketing Professor, AI Research
I don't know about you, but after the holidays, I always find it hard to gear up. To refocus.
I'm feeling that way right now as I try to get started on issue #22, the first of 2021.
Maybe it's the natural procrastinator in me, or the fact that I'm not ready for things to get back to ... normal. Or, that I just long for some semblance of normalcy (whatever that is) to return.
These days, I wonder if we even have a thing called normal. The pandemic rages on. People want to get on with the thing they previously called life, but can't. And earlier this week, the world watched the storming of the U.S. Capitol with shock and horror.
So to answer my own question: Yep, maybe we do need a do-over.
2021—Take 2
Of course, that's not possible. And we all have to press on.
So instead of starting again maybe this is a good time to pause and reflect on your goals—what you want to accomplish—both personally and in your business.
And then think about your strategy or the roadmap you'll use to get there. If you were my marketing or communications students, I'd suggest you approach it by looking in three directions:
- Forward - to determine where you may want to go.
- Backward - to consider where you've been and what you can learn from the past.
- Around - to assess where you are today.
The process involves listening to yourself and others, being curious and open, and a willingness to step back and view your world from a different point of view.
That's not always easy.
It's Still Only January
Fortunately, the year is just unfolding and there will be lighter days ahead (and yes, I'm speaking metaphorically and referring to the longer days of spring).
Which brings me to this week's Digital Marketing Trends video, where I talk about three signposts you may want to pay attention to in the coming months, including natural language generation and synthetic media, changes to the social media platforms and how you might adapt, and making nimble your new normal.
Check it out and let me know what you think.
Connect with Martin
And that's the beginning of the end of issue #22.
As always, thank you for reading and subscribing! I appreciate you being here and sharing your comments and thoughts.
Be sure to reach out if you have questions about any of the videos in Digital Marketing Trends, or my other LinkedIn Learning courses.
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Glad to be back!
CEO/Founder of Pirate Jack’s Philly Cheesesteaks Inc.
4 年Thank you ??
Head of Product
4 年Very relevant article Martin. 2021 is going to be a pivotal year in digital marketing you nailed it! We have the Digital Marketing in Life Science virtual event approaching Feb 8-9 which wlll further cover what 2021 digital marketing will look like. https://dgevents.com/event/2nd-digital-marketing-in-life-sciences/
Marketing & Content Development Coordinator at ARIDO
4 年Subscribed! Found this little video really useful and interesting, considering my interest in digital media has been growing in the past months. Thanks for this info, looking forward to more articles!
HR Officer at Power Electronics
4 年digital marketing trends
I help small and mid-sized companies connect with their customers.
4 年I came out of the holidays really focused and ready to go and then January 6th happened. Back to your article, I really like the assessment using the three directions. I spent the last 2-3 years trying to figure out the future but I didn't assess where I was and considering my past. It turns out the not doing the other two steps had a big impact on helping me get to where I wanted to go. However, one of the biggest issues was I underestimated my own abilities and judgment. The outcome being that I relied too heavily on the judgment of others and walked down some paths that I wasn't ready to go down or even worse, I went down some paths that I didn't really want to go down. It wasn't that anything I was told was wrong or bad. It was more that I didn't properly assess it to make sure it was right for me.