Content Kings and Queens Spillin' the Tea: 13 Nuggets from Content Israel 2024

Is content still king? Oh, you bet your sweet keyboard it is! Not only is this old cliché still sizzling hot, but it’s been elevated to a whole new level.

That’s what I picked up yesterday from the dream team of 13 charismatic speakers who dropped some serious knowledge bombs at the PluggedIn BD Events event.

We’re talking about the hottest issues we content marketers wrestle with every day. And where did all this magic happen? Tel Aviv, baby!

Were You There? Missed It?

If you were there, you know those insights were pure gold. If you missed it, don’t worry—I’ve got your back. Here are my top takeaways, plus some of the coolest folks I snagged selfies with.

After almost eight years living in the Start-up Nation and working in the Israeli high-tech/cyber scene, this event easily lands in my Top 3 coolest meet-ups. Why?

Everything was perfectly sized: the venue, the agenda, the session lengths, and the speakers’ passion. Special shout out to the charming British charisma of the one and only Colin Day , who rocked as master of ceremonies and logistics wizard. Man, you’re a pro!

Quick Learnings from the Noble Marketers on Stage

1. Adam Davis | Head of Content, R2Net Inc - JamesAllen.com

Topic: Making Content Marketing Decisions Based on Data

Transform your approach with data-driven strategies. Geo-targeted campaigns go viral. Create content that resonates with your audience. Focus on popular topics to increase engagement. Use data and internal collaboration. If you can’t measure it, did it even happen?

2. Brian Spivak | Founder and CEO, Barzel Media

Topic: Influence and Integrity: How to Craft a Content Strategy Without Compromising Your Pro-Israel Values

Don’t hide your Israeli identity despite global anti-Israel sentiments. Showcase achievements and contributions while emphasizing the positive impacts of Israeli innovation. Stick with your convictions and values.

3. Brian Wallace | Founder, NowSourcing

Topic: Building Influence: Online and In Person Through Visual Storytelling

Step out of your comfort zone. Build influence by helping others. Create engaging content. Visual storytelling can make even mundane topics interesting. Generosity builds trust. Ask deep, engaging questions to foster genuine connections.

4. Dan Tyre | CEO and Founder, Tyre Angel

Topic: Content Saturation and Audience Attention: How to Create a Community to Listen to Your Every Word

Getting attention is harder than ever due to content overload. Use 7-minute meetings, 15-minute podcasts, and short-form videos. Get to the point quickly.

5. Eric Brand - Marketing and Events Professional | Director of Corporate Marketing, OurCrowd

Topic: Getting Your Marketing Message Across During a Crisis

Address issues but don’t focus on them. Tell the positive story well enough and long enough to replace the negative one. Don’t ignore the crisis. Emphasize the positive. Be human. Plan ahead.

6. Hila Shitrit Nissim | CMO, BLEND Localization & Eran Yaniv | CEO, Sidetalk

Topic: The CMO's Secret Weapon: Content-Powered Sales Funnels

Engage customers during webinars, set demo calls, and leverage AI to interact with attendees using the MEDDIC sales framework. Integrate AI into sales funnels.

7. Howard Schulman | VP Go to Market, Lightico

Topic: From Budget Constraints to Targeted Success: A Case Study on Narrow ABM

Focus on a narrow ABM approach. Use AI for content creation and target specific accounts with precise tactics. No function is an island. Marketing is not on its own.

8. Ilana Shabtay | VP of Marketing, Fullpath

Topic: Give the People What They Want: How Switching to Demand Generation Helped Increase Our MQLs

Lead gen vs. demand gen. Impactful content builds demand and shapes perception, leading to increased awareness and qualified leads.

9. Jennifer Gutman | Director of Product and Customer Marketing, Oktopost

Topic: Unlocking the Power of Content: Using Employee Advocacy for Engaging and Impactful Distribution

Empower employees to become influencers. Create shareable content, train employees on social media, and reward their advocacy efforts. People trust people more than brands.

10. Ramel Levin ?? | Chief Survey Master, Global Surveyz

Topic: 8 Survey Report Hacks to Rise Above Content Marketing Noise

It takes more effort to stand out. Stand out from the crowd, even when doing the same thing as everyone else.

11. Rebecca Steinberg Herson | CEO, The Lean Marketer

Topic: Blueprint for Brand Messaging: A Structured Approach

Use Google’s three-hour brand sprint and Miro’s free templates. Gather diverse perspectives, define the company’s “why,” and analyze competitors’ messaging for differentiation. Use AI at every stage of the process.

12. Varda Bachrach | Marketing Director, ChargeAfter

Topic: How to Adapt and Thrive in a Fast-Evolving Content Ecosystem

Align with company goals, prioritize essential tasks, leverage AI and team collaboration, and embrace innovation.

Important: What I wrote above is a mix of my personal notes and some insights from fellow participants at the event who posted amazingly professional summaries. Wow!

If you’re looking for more insights, check out what these guys wrote:

• Michael Yehoshua (the best summary I’ve ever seen!)
• Amy Rendel
• Ari Rosenstein
• Farrah Fidler

Networking, Networking, Networking

As if the amazing connections above weren’t enough, I met so many old and new friends, current and former workmates, industry references, and some of the most exciting new connections I’ve made.

Seriously, it was like a high school reunion mixed with a LinkedIn influencer meet-up. Check out some of them below.

Wrapping It Up

Alright, folks, let's wrap this party up. Content Israel 2024 was an absolute blast. The talks were jam-packed with educational content that hit home for us marketers, perfectly addressing our daily grind. Every speaker brought their A-game, and the vibes were electric.

By the way... Hillel Fuld , Yoel Israel , Jordan Snapper , Carol Hauser , and so many other content kings and queen: You guys were missed!

To wrap it up, I want to give a huge shoutout to the organizers for maintaining a strong sense of solidarity with all the victims of the current war and their families.

Colin Day nailed it when he loudly proclaimed from the stage: "I'm proud to be here. I'm proud to support Israel." King Colin, you're royalty!

So, here's to an epic Content Israel 2025. Can’t wait to see you all next year!

Those who I couldn't tag up there: Neill Murphy Yifat (Kafkafi) Mitrani Dana Shechter Simona Shemer Noam Witman Eliana Levavi Lisa Vestel Rachel Shaffer Richard Bromberg Marco Maddaloni, MBA Cognyte