CMWorld 2018 was all about creating moments that matter: to live in the moment, to share beautiful stories that are relevant and full of meaning and to enjoy the experiences we have been given. I trekked to Cleveland, Ohio once again to learn first hand from my Content Marketing heroes—the author’s who inspire me as I listen on my drive into work each day and those I read in my spare time.
Once again Ann Handley, Jay Acunzo, Joe Pulizzi, Robert Rose, Andy Crestodina and Jay Baer did not disappoint. This year, however, a few others had my attention tightly. DeWitt Jones specifically. His message on how to find beauty in our surroundings and how to give life a second look gave me peace and hope for a better tomorrow.
Here are a few highlights of my key takeaways in a collection of tweets.
<style type="text/css">.twitter-tweet {width:75%!important;margin:24px auto!important;}</style><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Marketers confuse complexity and authority ... In anything we do, we need to think about creating a story in a simpler way.” <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeLazauskas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeLazauskas</a> (Hemingway wrote at a 4th grade level. 8th or higher becomes tedious. Most educated adults don’t read beyond 7th grade—or want to) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Jay Acunzo (@jayacunzo) <a href="https://twitter.com/jayacunzo/status/1037760234310316033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><a href="https://t.co/Z5wF0hwAn6"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmcIYBvW0AA1FW-?format=jpg&name=medium"></a><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Regarding creativity and writing: "Trust your gut," says <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TinaFey?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TinaFey</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a>. With <a href="https://twitter.com/CMIContent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMIContent</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/contentmarketing?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#contentmarketing</a></p>— Buddy Scalera (@BuddyScalera) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuddyScalera/status/1037807457710612480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Long form content mitigates the risk of customers buying your product because they’ve got a chance to test drive who you are through your writings. <a href="https://twitter.com/dorieclark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dorieclark</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Lisa Wester (@WesterLisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesterLisa/status/1037705124343361537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I can't wait to share this statement with my daughters. <a href="https://twitter.com/dewittjones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dewittjones</a> thank you for a beautiful talk and your inspiration. <a href="https://t.co/B3poIRGrFJ">https://t.co/B3poIRGrFJ</a></p>— Lisa Wester (@WesterLisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesterLisa/status/1037463213003157504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><a href="https://t.co/FMwSbNBtgb"><img src="https://i.giphy.com/IvXQEKf3hAyli.gif"></a><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“By celebrating what’s right we have the energy to fix what’s wrong” <a href="https://twitter.com/dewittjones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dewittjones</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Taylor Goldsmith (@taygoldsmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/taygoldsmith/status/1037456761752641536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><a href="https://t.co/NWtcv1p9ue"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmXIlIgWwAEvXWX?format=jpg&name=medium"></a><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/dewittjones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dewittjones</a> The best photographers don't ask, 'What will I take?', they ask, 'what will I be given?'</p>— Christopher S. Penn (@cspenn) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspenn/status/1037456068073451520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <a href="https://t.co/5zxuSc4aJM"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmVSMDjX0AAHy2E?format=jpg&name=medium"></a><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fantastic list from <a href="https://twitter.com/JoePulizzi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoePulizzi</a> of areas to focus in life:<br>•Career/Wealth<br>•Family<br>•Spiritual<br>•Mental<br>•Physical<br>•Giving<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Ben Gibbons (@bendgibbons) <a href="https://twitter.com/bendgibbons/status/1037325661768241152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><a href="https://t.co/ngrwEUU1PV"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmVMWU6WsAAyjXG?format=jpg&name=medium"></a><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"On average, it takes 66 days for a person to make a new task a habit." You have to plan and repeat! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Mike Allton (@mike_allton) <a href="https://twitter.com/mike_allton/status/1037319241320595457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<h3>Ann Handley</h3><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Do you have a tell in your content? Make sure it shows up in your email newsletters. <a href="https://twitter.com/annhandley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@annhandley</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a> <a href="https://t.co/o9XL0WpTlA"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmXB7-zXcAMPA_S?format=jpg&name=medium"/></a></p>— Berrak Sarikaya | Content Strategist | Speaker (@BerrakBiz) <a href="https://twitter.com/BerrakBiz/status/1037448530728808464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If some guy named Warren Buffett can write to a single person to make things more well, personal, so can you. <a href="https://twitter.com/annhandley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@annhandley</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Mike Myers 🤠 (@mikemyers614) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikemyers614/status/1037446089568382977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Marketing and sincerity are where we need to be as people, as marketers as brands. Ultimately it’s the quality of the content that matters. <a href="https://twitter.com/annhandley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@annhandley</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Lisa Wester (@WesterLisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesterLisa/status/1037704357075136512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><a href="https://t.co/tiKnaYYUyv"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmXJc04X4AEdrG9?format=jpg&name=medium"></a><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/annhandley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@annhandley</a> Newsletter is two words. NEWS, but don't forget the LETTER. Marketers overfocus on news and not enough on the story in the letter.</p>— Christopher S. Penn (@cspenn) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspenn/status/1037442725795295236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Email is the place where people (not algorithms) are in control" <a href="https://twitter.com/annhandley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@annhandley</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Lisa Wester (@WesterLisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesterLisa/status/1037442285611479040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->
<h3>Jay Acunzo</h3><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When we pay more attention to the customer than to the industry the customer pays more attention to us <a href="https://twitter.com/jayacunzo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jayacunzo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a>.</p>— Lisa Wester (@WesterLisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesterLisa/status/1037401518222266368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Finding the best practices isn’t the goal. Finding the best practice for you is... <a href="https://twitter.com/jayacunzo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jayacunzo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Lisa Wester (@WesterLisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesterLisa/status/1037399350178140160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stop acting like experts and start acting like investors. ASK BETTER QUESTIONS. <a href="https://twitter.com/jayacunzo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jayacunzo</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Lisa Wester (@WesterLisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesterLisa/status/1037403815799123969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<h3>Jay Baer</h3><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">91% of B2B purchases are primarily caused by word of mounth. No one actually has a word of mouth strategy but it's responsible for more dollars than anything else we do. We just assume our customers will talk about us. <a href="https://twitter.com/jaybaer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jaybaer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Lisa Wester (@WesterLisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesterLisa/status/1037363407354257409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Word of mouth + content = Your customers grow your business for you. People have the power. People look for recommendations. <a href="https://twitter.com/jaybaer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jaybaer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Lisa Wester (@WesterLisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesterLisa/status/1037362313995710465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The very best stories are about what your company does not just what it says. <a href="https://twitter.com/jaybaer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jaybaer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a></p>— Lisa Wester (@WesterLisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesterLisa/status/1037361563202711552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<h3>Books to Read</h3><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><a href="https://t.co/OvEi54Jwxc"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmW0pBMXgAAAZiO?format=jpg&name=medium"></a><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’ve read 75% of the books on this table and would recommend all of them. Finishing Buyer Personas now. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CMWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CMWorld</a>.</p>— Lisa Wester (@WesterLisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesterLisa/status/1037433909074702337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><p>Being the Content Marketing book nerd I am, yes I've read the majority of the books you see in this photo. I think I sold at least five copies of Andy Crestodina's book. Seriously folks, you need to purchase his book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Content-Chemistry-Illustrated-Handbook-Marketing/dp/0988336499/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1536581313&sr=8-1&keywords=content+chemistry"><em>Content Chemistry</em></a>! Other books on my soon to read list include <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-Edge-Transform-Business-Screaming/dp/1119483352/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536283432&sr=1-6&keywords=storytelling+content+marketing"><em>The Storytelling Edge</em></a> by Shane Snow and Joe Lazauskas; and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Guide-Strategic-Content-Marketing/dp/0749482222/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536283554&sr=1-4&keywords=storytelling+content+marketing"><em>The Definitive Guide to Strategic Content Marketing</em></a> by Lazar Dzamic and Justin Kirby.</p>