As I write this, I am on a full flight to Boston, MA. For three main reasons, I am excited to be attending the Inbound 2013 Conference this week. First, I cannot remember the last time I went to a conference where I was not working a show booth. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy working trade shows, but this will be a nice change of pace.  Second, I look forward to learning some new concepts and skills. During this conference I will hear from content marketing experts, learn more about efficient analysis of content and social marketing efforts, and explore more ways to bridge the gap between marketing and sales teams when it comes to generating demand and closing business through content (inbound) marketing. And I’m sure I will pick up some tips I can also apply to traditional outbound marketing tactics. However, I most eagerly anticipate this event for the chance to be inspired. I look forward to a healthy dose of inspiration which comes by being among hundreds (perhaps thousands) of fellow marketers. I expect to come home energized and fueled by new ideas that this total experience, not just the keynote lectures and breakout workshops, will provide.
I firmly believe as a marketer it is important to get away from the office and attend both industry specific events and broader marketing related conferences such as Inbound 2013. Such travel provides us with opportunities to break away from our day-to-day patterns, to talk with peers from different companies and industries, and sometimes to learn from customers and prospects. I look forward to breaking some patterns and learning from all this travel experience has to offer in Boston this week. And I hope to share some of what I learn with you in future articles on this site.