February 2021: "Slowmadism," Investing in Middle America, and Moving (Back) to Miami
Cheers from Lakeville, where I've returned after two weeks in Montana with my family. We spent the last few weeks taking in the big sky, sneaking in some tractor rides, and enjoying our favorite watering holes near Choteau.
I also had a conversation over beers with a local rancher regarding his observations of the local community and COVID's impact, which I then summarized in a post on LinkedIn.
As of publication, the post has over 14k views, far more than my normal network usually generates. So it's safe to say that the topics of remote work, Zoom Towns, and the long-term impacts of COVID on talent attraction and migration are top of mind.
I can be reached at [email protected] for feedback, questions, or your favorite small town in the US.
LinkedIn-published resources on the state of the national and global economy:
January 2021 LinkedIn Workforce Report
New Resource: Getting Started Guide for Economic Development
Curious about marketing on LinkedIn and don't know where to start?
This guide will help you take ideas from some of the top-performing EDOs on LinkedIn (including Michigan Economic Development, Missouri Partnership, Fairfax County and many more) to reach your key audiences.
Access the guide here, reach out with questions!
Articles that Caught My Eye:
LinkedIn Features:
George Anders: These 15 Cities Make Jobs Happen in 2021
LinkedIn Editors: Spotify Gives Employees New Playlist ("Work from Anywhere" is the new "Free restaurant-quality lunch" in the modern talent grab. I expect more companies to adopt less and less stringent policies on remote work).
LinkedIn Editors: Remote Work Spurs Digital Nomadism: Great WAPO article which features a remote Portugese village which has embraced digital nomads, as well as a look at "Slowmad" communities in Estonia.
Talent Attraction:
What's it like to be paid to move? One Tulsa Remote applicant's story: (An insightful look at the effects of the Tulsa Remote program through the eyes of someone who lived it).
WSJ (Paywall): The Rise of Co-Living Among Millennials
Economic Development:
TechCrunch: The Rise of the Rest: (Quite the sub-headline. 2 ex-Sequoia VCs: "The most 'compelling emerging market' opportunity may be the US, outside of Silicon Valley)
Miami Herald: Big Tech and Finance are Coming to Miami. What does it mean for the rest of us?: (Particularly informative part of this article for me: the quotes from the young Miami resident who just moved back. Many regions face similar sentiments and could learn a lot from Miami's success).
LinkedIn Product Updates:
PDF Link: Everything you need to know about the rollout of Stories, Event Ads and Company Tab enhancements. NB: Event ads will allow you to drive Registrants as a KPI (rather than clicks, engagements or impressions). Reach out to me with any questions.
Thank you for reading. Stay safe and hang in there. Sign up for the monthly distro in your email here.