Jan. 2, 2025

This paid piece is sponsored by Click Rain Inc.

You’re invited to Trendigital 2025!

I’m Kate Kotzea, vice president of products and services at Click Rain Inc., and I’m thrilled to help spearhead our annual Trendigital Conference. This will mark my 10th year attending, speaking or helping to plan Trendigital, and I can confidently say this might just be one of my favorite ones yet! You won’t want to miss it.

The marketing industry is constantly evolving, and this year is no exception. From advancements in technology and the increasing integration of AI in our tools to shifts in consumer trust across media channels and the growing need for authenticity, there’s so much to explore. While we’re digital marketers, we know that no matter the channel or tool, it’s about connecting with people.

If you’ve never been to a Trendigital Conference, you’re in for a treat. It’s held the first week of February, and the venue is bright and cheerful — a welcome contrast to the usual gray winter days. You’ll find the room buzzing with energy as regional marketers from in-house departments, marketing agencies and small businesses come together. It’s the perfect mix of reconnecting with old friends and colleagues while forming new connections.

This year’s speaker lineup is packed with resources and insights designed to help attendees feel confident about navigating upcoming industry changes, fostering stronger team connections and elevating core marketing strategies. Here’s a quick overview of our schedule the afternoon of Feb. 6:

●  State of the Industry: I’ll kick off the afternoon with a concise update on emerging industry trends and key developments to watch in 2025. With the flood of “2025 predictions” emails and whitepapers this time of year, my goal is to simplify it all for you.

●  Keynote Speaker — Trevor Dunlap: This interactive session will focus on how marketers can continue to connect, collaborate and grow in today’s fast-moving world of business and technology. It’s a blend of hands-on activities and actionable tools you can take back to your team to foster innovation and strengthen connections.

●  Social Media Strategy: Amanda Potter’s session will help you navigate audience fragmentation and behavioral shifts on social platforms. Learn how to thrive in this era of constant innovation and unpredictability.

●  Lightning Talks: Two dynamic 15-minute talks on leveraging AI in your business:

• Joel Sylvester will present 5 Steps to Build an AI Roadmap, offering practical steps for better AI integration.
• Luke McElrath will present Beating the Blank Page: Utilizing AI to Jumpstart Your Creative Process, showing how to generate fresh ideas.

●  A/B Testing Strategies: A Trendigital fan favorite, Chris Prendergast will close out the afternoon with strategies ranging from basic to advanced A/B testing. Learn how to optimize your website, emails, media campaigns and more.

The day concludes with a social hour — a time to debrief, connect and engage with fellow attendees. It’s my favorite part of the day and a true testament to the vibrant marketing community in our region.

For those looking to dive deeper, we’re offering workshops from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at our downtown Sioux Falls headquarters. These smaller sessions provide a more tactical overview of specific topics:

• Modern Search Landscape: Optimize Online Visibility in 2025
• Media in 2025: What You Should Know

I hope to see you Feb. 6 for Trendigital! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. After all, it’s the human connections in our digital world that matter most.

Get your tickets today!