The value of a positive first impression has never lost its importance. Before the worldwide Internet, first impressions were exclusively made by a firm handshake or witty pick-up line. Now, we see it more and more, the increased importance of making a good first impression online.

As a student trying to learn as much as I can about social media, PR and marketing, I embrace every opportunity possible to hear from experienced professionals. The most recent opportunity was at the 11th Annual YouToo Social Media Conference at Kent State University.

To begin, I must confess that this tagline was originally used to convince my college roommate to make irresponsible decisions. This mantra, however, to my amusement, is finding application in our industry today. With marketing constantly evolving, we must be willing to take thoughtful risks with our own brands while simultaneously encouraging our clients to “live on the edge” as well.

That’s definitely not how the saying goes, “in my own shoes,” what? Okay, give me a chance to explain. When it comes to formulating a strategy, we should always look for first-hand experiences to aid us in creating our plan.

Last week, team members from Sweeney’s Cleveland office attended a PRSA event at Cinecraft Productions. The event, The Art of Visual Storytelling, was sponsored by Cinecraft Productions and its owner, Neil McCormick, led the conversation about storytelling in today’s market.

To an outsider, marketing can seem like a straightforward task: bring your brand ethos to life and get the word out to relevant people. Of course, we know that this is far from simple in practice, with complex challenges at every stage and with every client.

Taking digital to the next level is a key priority for Digital Marketing Manager Rachel Dill and Digital Marketing Specialist Meg Kruger. “For us, helping Sweeney clients to deliver an exceptional customer experience through digital marketing strategies at exceptional value is the biggest opportunity and challenge in 2018,” says Dill.

Team Sweeney is gearing up for a year packed full of trade shows, with the first-ever combination Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show kicking it off next week. We’ll be hitting the road to Denver, unveiling the latest advancements and collaborations our clients have in store for the outdoor industry.

Engagement on social media has always been important to digital marketers, but this year the bar will continue to rise as companies compete for love and attention from consumers. Forbes cited that Facebook is now being used by nearly one-third of the planet and that companies today are spending more ad dollars on social media than TV.