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DataChicks & Friends: Episode 1 with Heather Guessford

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Episode 1: Heather Guessford

Welcome to the first episode of the new series: DataChicks & Friends. Our hosts, Blake & Taylor will be interviewing inspiring people in the community for their unique perspectives and stories. For the month of March, we are interviewing prominent women in our community to celebrate Women’s History Month. To kick-off the start of the series, we are interviewing Heather Guessford, the President & CEO of United Way Washington County. 

United way is a volunteer driven nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting quality health and human services. Heather is an amazing woman and offers her unique story and challenges she has faced. Watch the video below to learn more about her and her role!

Was it Blake Shupp?

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It was a dark and stormy night at the luxurious mansion of Mr. Boddy. The guests, including Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, and Professor Plum, were gathered in the drawing room, sipping their drinks and chatting away. Suddenly, a loud scream echoed through the halls, and they all rushed to the conservatory.

There lay the lifeless body of Mr. Boddy, with a tennis racket lying next to him. It was evident that he had been struck on the head with great force, and the guests realized that they were now in the midst of a murder investigation.

The detective on the case arrived on the scene and began his investigation. As he interviewed each of the suspects, he found that they all had alibis for the time of the murder, except for one person: Blake Shupp, the famous tennis player.

The detective immediately suspected Blake, but he needed proof. So he decided to set a trap to catch the real culprit. He spread a rumor that Blake had been seen in the conservatory around the time of the murder, hoping to trick the real killer into revealing themselves.

As expected, the killer took the bait. It was Braxton, the office dog who had accidentally hit Mr. Boddy with a tennis ball while playing fetch in the conservatory. He had been so scared of getting in trouble that he had run away and hid, leaving the tennis racket next to Mr. Boddy’s body to make it look like Blake was the killer.

The detective couldn’t help but laugh when he realized what had happened. He apprehended Braxton and gave him a stern talking-to, but he couldn’t stay mad at the adorable pup for long.

In the end, Blake was cleared of all suspicion, and the guests breathed a sigh of relief. They all agreed that this was the most entertaining game of Clue they had ever played, and they gave Braxton a pat on the head for being such a good sport.

Interview With Blake

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Interview with Blake

Can you tell us about your journey as a design intern here and the challenges you faced along the way?

I found out about the opportunity to be a design intern here at DatAchieve from my high school art teacher. Shout out to Mr. Edwards for being in a meeting he wasn’t really supposed to be in, and calling me right after to convince me to apply.

I wouldn’t have had this opportunity without him. Come October I started working and I was very nervous at first. It took me a little while to adjust to my new schedule and a new work environment, but I’m so happy that everything happened the way it did.

Months have passed and I have learned A LOT since then. I really feel like I was meant to be here, surrounded by the amazing people that work here at DatAchieve. I’m so grateful for everything they have taught me. This is truly the beginning of my future and Norma, David, Matt, Shannon, Taylor, Zander, and Braxton will always be a part of that for me.

Who is the most influential woman you know? How does she inspire you?

I would have to say that the most influential woman in my life is my grandmother, Shirley Mills. She has been through so much over the years, and is the strongest woman I know. No matter what life has thrown at her, she handles her challenges with grace and additionally provides so much love to the people around her. She has always worked for what she has, and values the importance of hard work. As I’ve grown up she’s taught me so many lessons. Her perseverance and love for others will forever inspire me.

Celebrating International Women’s Day & Women’s History Month

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International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8th, and it’s a day dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while also advocating for gender equality. The day represents an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges women face globally and to push for women’s rights and empowerment. Women’s History Month is the entire month of March. The National Women’s History Alliance has announced the 2023 theme for women’s history is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”

We want to take a moment to recognize the incredible women in our office. Norma, Taylor, and Blake are talented and dedicated professionals who make our workplace a better place. They are hardworking, creative, and inspiring individuals who bring unique perspectives and skills to the table.

Interview with Norma

Can you tell us about your journey as a female businesswoman and the challenges you faced along the way?

Like many women from my generation, I faced challenges advancing in what was then a male-dominated workplace. After receiving my degree from Salisbury State University, I entered the workforce. Soon after that, I started my own business, all while raising a family and taking care of a home.

It’s great to see the progress that has occurred since then, with men and women taking active and equal roles in family and work.

I learned a lot about overcoming challenges and valuable skills while working in the restaurant industry. Those skills included building solid relationships and learning to communicate effectively. Those skills and lessons I learned while working in the restaurant industry provided a strong foundation for my business, helped me overcome challenges and obstacles, and enabled me to balance my work and personal life. Happy International Women’s Day to all!

What is one thing you would have done differently when starting your own business if you had the opportunity?

Laugh more and stress less.

Running a business is 24, 7, 365 and can be incredibly stressful. It’s important to prioritize your mental health and well-being, as stress and burnout can have negative effects on both your personal and professional life.

Interview with Taylor

Can you tell us about your journey as a marketing manager here and the challenges you faced along the way?

I started working at DatAchieve in January of 2022. Funny enough, my dad (who was the mail carrier at the time) is the one who told me about DatAchieve. It’s crazy to believe it’s already been a year with them. I was really nervous starting out because I was fresh out of college with no experience yet. I was scared to let them down or feel like a fraud.

This was a new role at DatAchieve. I’m a perfectionist at stuff, so when I didn’t excel immediately at running the social media or understand why certain campaigns weren’t working that’d I come up with, I would feel doubtful of my skills. The team, especially Norma and David, would remind me constantly that I’m doing a great job.

Days would turn into weeks and weeks into months, and I made the decision to trust myself and feel confident in taking the lead in my work, gaining a better understanding of effective marketing strategies for our business.

Everyday you learn something new and I can’t be more thankful for DatAchieve to allow me the creative freedom and room for growth. I know I don’t have much experience, but they have allowed me to grow so much and truly remind me I do have a passion and understanding for marketing. 

What influenced you to take this career path?

Throughout my entire adolescent days I always had a passion for being creative. Senior year of high school, I accepted attending Salisbury University and originally had my career field as pursuing an Art major.

One day I was randomly looking at the business majors and Marketing peaked my interest. I quickly changed my career path to marketing on impulse and stuck with it. Little did I realize how much math was actually involved in marketing and the 3 accounting classes I was required to take beforehand lol.

I am glad I pushed through all my economic classes (and tears) to get the side of marketing that I truly love. Getting to be creative, while understanding the consumer’s needs was my calling.

Interview with Blake

Can you tell us about your journey as a design intern here and the challenges you faced along the way?

I found out about the opportunity to be a design intern here at DatAchieve from my high school art teacher. Shout out to Mr. Edwards for being in a meeting he wasn’t really supposed to be in, and calling me right after to convince me to apply.

I wouldn’t have had this opportunity without him. Come October I started working and I was very nervous at first. It took me a little while to adjust to my new schedule and a new work environment, but I’m so happy that everything happened the way it did.

Months have passed and I have learned A LOT since then. I really feel like I was meant to be here, surrounded by the amazing people that work here at DatAchieve. I’m so grateful for everything they have taught me. This is truly the beginning of my future and Norma, David, Matt, Shannon, Taylor, Zander, and Braxton will always be a part of that for me.

Who is the most influential woman you know? How does she inspire you?

I would have to say that the most influential woman in my life is my grandmother, Shirley Mills. She has been through so much over the years, and is the strongest woman I know. No matter what life has thrown at her, she handles her challenges with grace and additionally provides so much love to the people around her. She has always worked for what she has, and values the importance of hard work. As I’ve grown up she’s taught me so many lessons. Her perseverance and love for others will forever inspire me.

Meet Norma Kolson

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Norma Kolson is a Washington County native, the owner of DatAchieve Digital, a digital marketing and web design agency based in Hagerstown, and a new member of the Chamber of Commerce. She holds a Bachelors degree from Salisbury University, has over 20 years of marketing experience at major U.S. corporations, and is well-equipped to help businesses grow and succeed in today’s digital marketplace. Her company counts many of the area’s most well-known companies as clients and serves businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and other organizations across the U.S. and internationally.

“We’ve enjoyed being in Hagerstown for over fifteen years and are excited about the progress we’ve seen in the downtown. With the newly renovated Maryland Theater, the expanded Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, development of the new Cultural Trail connecting us to the City Park, and the many restaurants and entertainment destinations, we believe that it’s a great time to be a part of Hagerstown’s City Center and the Arts and Entertainment District.” 
~ Norma Kolson

Lunch is On Me!

I’d love to introduce myself and learn more about you and your business. In person or online—lunch is on me! Drop me an email or pick a convenient time to chat, below.

What Could a Twenty-Something-Year-Old Know About Marketing?

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TL;DR Backstory:

Starting with a quick backstory, I graduated from my university in 2021 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing. It was a weird final year of courses and exams. All of my classes were still being taught via zoom. At that time, I felt I knew everything about marketing, yet nothing at all.

I officially started my career in marketing in 2022 (precisely in January), and I felt like an imposter. For the first couple of months, I sat at my desk feeling like a fraud, and my 100k piece of paper was a lie. But hey, that feeling does go away. 

My Top 15:

Flash forward to one year later, and here is what a twenty-something-year-old knows about Marketing:

  1. You’ll never learn too much about marketing and never stop needing to.
  2. More businesses need to use marketing to its full potential.
  3. Things you thought would work will fail. And vice versa.
  4. Marketing isn’t just numbers. And it’s not just advertising. To be a successful marketer, you need to understand your audience. 
  5. Stop trying to use every social platform for marketing your business – pick a few and stick to them. 
  6. What works for other businesses doesn’t mean it will always work for yours. 
  7. No one wants salesly marketing anymore. Start being a human again.
  8. Duolingo has significantly impacted the marketing industry. 
  9. No strong brand = No strong online presence 
  10. A user could have 10k followers that convert to nothing. The number of followers isn’t everything. 
  11. Growth takes time. Success doesn’t happen overnight. 
  12. The best way to come up with new ideas is to be out in the world. New York City always is an excellent creative reset for me. 
  13. Audience first always. 
  14. Quality content > Quantity. Boring content doesn’t work. 
  15. Have a team that supports you – and you’ll always have room to grow. 

A year of experience may not seem like a lot, but you’ll be surprised at how much you learn and grow. It goes the same with your business. If you’re starting out, don’t let the fear of not knowing keep you from doing it. Just start today, and we are happy to help you begin.

~ From a twenty-something in Marketing

 

Top 5 Marketing Trends to Watch in 2023

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Marketing constantly evolves, and staying on top of the latest trends can be challenging. However, knowing what’s coming next can give you a competitive advantage. Here are five marketing trends to watch for in 2023 that are set to shake up the industry:

1.Personalization

Personalization is heading to the next level. With the proliferation of data and technology, companies can deliver truly personalized experiences to their customers with the help of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. It means that customers can now benefit from more extensive personalization around the products and services they interact with. This personalized experience could revolutionize the customer experience, allowing customers to feel met on a deeper level than ever before. In addition, companies that effectively leverage these technologies enable their customers to interact with each other in meaningful ways never thought possible back, ultimately creating a loyal customer base.

2. Video Marketing

Businesses must consider the power of video to tell a story and capture an audience’s attention. Video has emerged as an incredibly impactful marketing tool over recent years, and its possibilities are sure to grow. Now is the time for businesses of all sizes to consider how video can be utilized to achieve their business objectives.

3. Email Marketing

Email marketing may have taken the back seat in recent years because of an increase in other digital channels — mainly social media. However, times are changing, and modernized strategies mean emails will make a highly anticipated comeback by 2023. Don’t be surprised if you start to see targeted emails coming through to your inbox as consumer personalization becomes more critical, along with additional interactive content like videos or quizzes. This cutting-edge technology ensures that interactions between companies and their customers are adhered to in a proactive way, designed to drive sales directly.

4. Influencer & User Generated Content (UGC)

While influencer marketing isn’t new, it’s set to evolve in 2023 with more collaborations between brands and micro-influencers and the use of AI to identify the right influencers for a brand. Traditional influencer partnerships between brands and industry titans are set to change throughout the coming year, with micro-influencers stepping up to bridge the gap between businesses and engaged audiences. In addition, user-generated content (UGC) has rapidly become one of the most valuable tools for targeting niche demographics. It only makes sense that 2023 sees many collaborations leveraging UGC entrepreneurs and youthful micro-influencers.

5. Interactive Content

Plenty of businesses have caught wind of this new trend, and 2023 promises even more dynamic uses of interactive content. Companies can use it to drive engagement, allowing customers to feel part of the journey while simultaneously gathering priceless intel through various methods. Later down the track, these relationships developed between business and consumer can only be highly beneficial!

Staying on top of these trends will give your company the edge it needs to succeed in the constantly changing marketing world. Interested in reading more about predictions for 2023? Read our most recent blog post on whether inbound marketing is still relevant in 2023.

Is Inbound Marketing Still Relevant in 2023

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Photo of laptop, coffee cup, and blank note pad with heading Plan 2023.Inbound marketing is a marketing strategy that focuses on attracting and engaging customers through the use of content, social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and other online channels. The goal of inbound marketing is to draw customers to a company’s website or other online properties and then convert them into leads or customers. Inbound marketing differs from outbound marketing, which relies on interruptive techniques such as advertising and cold calling to reach potential customers. Inbound marketing is often seen as a more effective and customer-friendly approach, as it provides value to the customer rather than simply trying to sell to them.

With so much online clutter, is inbound marketing still worthwhile?

Inbound marketing can still be very effective in today’s crowded and noisy digital landscape. While it is true that consumers are bombarded with a large number of marketing messages on a daily basis, inbound marketing can help a company stand out by providing value to the customer rather than simply trying to sell to them. By creating high-quality, relevant, and informative content, a company can attract and engage potential customers in a way that feels natural and non-intrusive. Additionally, inbound marketing can be more cost-effective than outbound marketing, as it relies on earning the attention of customers rather than buying it through paid advertising. That being said, it is important for companies to carefully plan and execute their inbound marketing efforts in order to maximize their effectiveness.

Should I rely on internal staff to manage my inbound marketing or hire an experienced agency?

There are pros and cons to both approaches, and the best choice will depend on your company’s specific needs and resources. Some factors to consider include the level of expertise and resources that your internal staff has, the scope and complexity of your inbound marketing efforts, and your budget.

If you have a small team with limited experience in inbound marketing it may be more efficient and effective to hire an experienced agency. A good agency will have a team of experts with a range of skills and experience, and will be able to bring a fresh perspective and outside expertise to your marketing efforts.

On the other hand, if you have an inbound marketing team with strong skills and experience, and if your inbound marketing needs are relatively simple and straightforward, it may be more cost-effective to manage your inbound marketing in-house.

Ultimately, the decision will depend on your specific needs and circumstances. We would be happy to provide you with any information you need  to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to compare the costs and benefits of both approaches. Drop us a note.