I’m wrapping up a hectic Day Two at INBOUND in Boston, MA and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the key takeaways.
One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned today is the importance of embedding yourself into your business community.
The more you connect, learn, and engage, the more you’ll discover additional ways to market and grow your business.
As a small business owner, you’re likely overwhelmed by the never-ending tasks and the pressure to get everything done.
The good news is you don’t need to accomplish everything all at once. Break it down into manageable pieces, build a plan, and take action.
The bad news? You can’t do it all, and you certainly can’t keep up without constantly adapting to the rapid pace of technology.
Today’s session on artificial intelligence and its role in creating content like subject lines and blog posts was eye-opening. While the technology is still developing, it's clear that it’s going to revolutionize the way we connect with customers.
But let’s step back to something more immediate: the question that’s been asked for years—What’s next after email?
At INBOUND, HubSpot made it clear: Email is not going away, but the future is in messengers, chatbots, and instant messaging.
Think about it, how often do you use Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or other instant messaging tools?
They’re always open, right?
That’s where your customers are.
Customers no longer want to wait until business hours to connect with you.
They want to talk when it’s convenient for them. So, if you haven’t already, start thinking about integrating live chat, messenger bots, and AI into your business.
A key insight I picked up from Dharmesh Shah, the Co-founder of HubSpot, is the importance of making your business available through chat. Customers expect fast, real-time communication, and tools like automated bots can make that happen.
If chatbots and AI aren’t on your radar yet, they should be. These tools allow you to provide quick, efficient service to customers no matter where they are in the world. It’s not just about saving time, it’s about meeting customers where they want to be.
For further exploration, I recommend checking out agent.ai, a site Dharmesh Shah created to help businesses leverage agents for digital marketing. This is something you’ll want to incorporate into your strategy, and if you’re not familiar with it yet, now’s the time to dive in.
Another significant takeaway from the sessions today is the importance of closed-loop reporting.
By tying together sales and marketing, we can track exactly what’s working and what’s not.
This can help businesses fine-tune their efforts and track how much they’re spending on marketing versus how much they’re earning from it. The data can guide your strategy and help you optimize your ROI.
For businesses looking to streamline their marketing efforts, utilizing analytics tools can ensure that you’re on the right track. Whether you’re using HubSpot, Databox, or another platform, tracking results in real time can make all the difference.
The main takeaway here is simple: to succeed in today’s fast-moving digital world, you need to embed yourself in your business community.
Be curious, keep learning, and adapt your strategy to meet the ever-evolving needs of your customers.
As I wrap up, I’m also excited for tomorrow’s keynote speaker: Michelle Obama.
I’m looking forward to hearing her share her life experiences and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
Always here to help you start, grow, and thrive. Let me know how I can support your next big move.