What made you decide to attend brightonSEO & Hero Conf?

The speakers and trainers at brightonSEO & Hero Conf are engaging and deliver the kind of insight, expertise and practical knowledge every digital marketer needs to remain competitive in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Plus, an environment filled with the brightest minds in the industry always inspires me to challenge my assumptions and learn new things.

What was your biggest takeaway or favorite part of the event?

AI. That’s it. That’s the takeaway. It’s everywhere, and SEOs and marketers need to figure out what success looks like in the face of AI; we also need to have some level of understanding of how these things work (and don’t work) to be effective in our work.

How has attending benefited you or your work?

I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship to attend Dana DiTomaso’s training workshop the day before the conference. She helped attendees understand what works and is valuable in our reporting and analytics, and she guided us through telling our own marketing story with the data that counts. That workshop has helped me throw away the clutter in my data, and I think I’ll be leaning on the resources she shared for the foreseeable future.

Have you seen any specific results or wins since attending?

I would say my biggest win has been embracing a shift in my thinking and reporting. The gaps in our data are likely to grow, and marketers need to figure out how to identify what is working while avoiding acting as “data accountants” (as Dana would say).

What would you say to someone thinking about coming to brightonSEO or Hero Conf for the first time?

Do it! There’s something for everyone and a ton to learn. Plus, the “extracurricular” events like Netwalking, Dinner with Friends and the morning 5k runs offer a chance to see some of lovely San Diego and also make some new friends.