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Thousands of content marketers don’t care even a bit there’s a three-day holiday weekend quickly approaching. Ok, maybe a little…but once they grill out, attend a county fair and enjoy the last hurrah of summer, their excitement will turn to Content Marketing World (#CMWorld), which kicks off next week in my backyard, Cleveland, Ohio.

This will be my third year attending (note to Joe Pulizzi, I would definitely outlay some cash for a #CMWorld Alumni t-shirt). I consider CMWorld my own personal back-to-school phenomenon. I always come away with pages and pages and more pages of notes and ideas and actionable initiatives.

The conference combines content marketing’s leading minds and practitioners with hours of learning, idea exchange, insights, best practices and inside secrets.

It’s a refresher and a reminder of why I do what I do professionally…and why I love it. It helps me make new connections…between audiences, channels, strategies, disciplines…as well as people. The conference experience is greatly enhanced when you chat up the person sitting next to you or you run into at the book table (where I’m guaranteed to walk away with at least 2-3 new reads).

I always go into the conference open-minded, ready to learn and excited to share what I’ve been working on. This year isn’t any different.

Though, since I jumped off the traditional agency track and joined publishing side of the business, the following are all that more top of mind for me:

  • Audience mapping and engagement
  • Advanced digital strategies
  • Marketing automation integration
  • Data

This year, I will be most focused on data. Being a master of data…and being able to discern what data really matters…is at the center of a modern marketer’s value to their clients and employer.

Data has introduced science where previously (at least most commonly) only art existed. And there is a danger of the industry swinging too far to the data side (a poor attempt at a Star Wars reference there).

I think we’re still in the early stages, but the tipping point is quickly approaching. It will be interesting to hear a myriad of opinions, real-life examples and best practices at Content Marketing World.

All I can say is bring on the head spinning! My laptop, handshake, freshly printed business cards and I are ready. I hope to see you next week in Cleveland.

If you’re not able to join in person, or you’ll be in NYC for INBOUND, you can follow all the content marketing action at #CMWorld. I’ll in turn be following #INBOUND.

Kate heads up content marketing. Connect with her @kateeidam, or if you’d like to chat about content marketing, drop her a note at keidam@breakingmedia.com.