As a marketing communications and web development project manager, I have to keep up with current events and industry trends in order to strategize with and counsel clients in a rapidly changing world.
Unfortunately, with the proliferation of social media, it doesn’t take thousands of years to become an extinct media dinosaur—it takes about 45 minutes!
While all the platforms available on the web allow us to stay hyper-connected and follow the entire world in real-time, there is a tremendous amount of noise to sift through to find the golden nuggets that apply to our lives and our work.
It’s best to find three to five trusted sources for industry news and current happenings that provide reliable information and valuable insights in a format that makes it easy for you to consume. These sources can come in a number of formats, from an industry leader’s Twitter feed to a business news website to a blog or podcast.
I’ve talked to the A-LINE team to compile a list of our favorite industry and business news sources. We tend to focus more on web development, design, branding and marketing. Hopefully you can find some gems among these to help you stay on top of your game.
The Skimm
A great news source is The Skimm, which sends a very readable, entertaining, yet smart update every morning. Topics include world events, health, economy and lifestyle updates. While most of their content is in short tidbits, they have a “No Excuses” feature that takes a deeper dive into major issues such as immigration and health care. They offer a daily email newsletter, blog and mobile app – all of which we recommend skimming along with your morning coffee.
PR Daily
This website covers a wide range of topics around public relations. Of most interest to me are the sections for Social Media and Marketing. PR Daily also covers writing and editing, media relations and crisis communications.
Buffer
Buffer’s social media blog contains practical tips and suggestions that you can quickly put into practice. You can also subscribe to their daily email newsletter.
MarketingProfs
This is a massive archive of articles and podcasts on just about any marketing-related topic, including branding, design, sales, and web. It has all the stats and research you’ll ever need. Thanks, MarketingProfs!
Hubspot
As a robust CRM and marketing automation software company, Hubspot offers email newsletters and blogs, one dedicated specifically to marketing and one to sales.
Brand New
A sub-blog from Under Consideration, a graphic design firm based in Austin, Texas, Brand New focuses on reviewing logo and branding concepts and updates.
A Book Apart
For those who love tangibles and are looking for something a little more evergreen, A Book Apart publishes brief, detailed books on specific topics that are related to web development, user experience, and design.
What are some of your go-to educational resources for business and digital marketing news and trends? Is there something you want to know more about? Reach out. We’d love to hear from you!
