Hi-5 with Eddy Meola

Hi-5: 5 Q’s on work, life & inspiration

Say hello to Eddy Meola, our Digital Marketing Manager.

He is well-versed in the full gamut of digital marketing campaigns, and his skill set ranges from the creative to the analytical. When he is not working, you’ll find him reading, planting fruit trees, or playing with his kids.

We now interrupt his busy day for a quick Hi-5…

What brings you the most joy in the workplace?

Seeing the joy in our clients after a successful project, such as a website build, marketing campaign, or social media endeavor. Looking back at previous projects, many of the details become difficult to remember–such as the time spent brainstorming and planning, the hours of research and analysis, the tweaks and adjustments to campaigns. However, the people and their reactions stick with you. Since business owners put so much of themselves into their work, it is a privilege when they trust us to be their partner. Then, when a project comes together, it is a thrill for our team and theirs. This is what I enjoy the most.

What changes have you seen in the marketing world over the last 15 years?

I think one of the biggest shifts has been the move to mobile devices. This was something I saw coming ahead of time and was preparing clients for the change. Everything went from focusing on how websites displayed on desktops to being mobile ready. It really shifted fast and caught many companies off-guard. I recall speaking with a client about this who was insistent that his customers weren’t on mobile devices much. I showed him the website analytics, and half his visits were from mobile devices! It increased rapidly from there. Nowadays, pretty much everyone understands the importance of thinking mobile first, but there was a time not that long ago when all of it was brand new. It is a powerful lesson to business owners today to keep on top of trends and not get left behind. Things that people questioned if it was really necessary 15 years ago are a necessity today. We saw the same thing if you go back another 15 years. During the 90s, many businesses questioned if they even needed an online presence. Those that saw the need captured the market while the rest played catch up.

What changes in the marketing world do you anticipate during the next 15 years?

It’s said that when it comes to marketing, the only constant is change. Technology is moving rapidly, increasing at an exponential rate. Even looking five years ahead almost feels like 50 years with all the changes on the horizon. I see two major areas that are going to determine the future of marketing.

The first is data. Data is huge. Personalized marketing is dependent upon data, which is why big data is big business. There  is a lot of legislation involved, with protection to consumer privacy a very important topic. At the same time, culturally, people are more willing to share information online with the world than ever before. When you look at the opinions of previous generations, this oversharing of personal information is taboo. However, the younger generation is largely growing up in an online world, where they value privacy less. As a result, it is easy for companies to gather insights that were simply unavailable in the past. Likewise, consumers are becoming more accustomed to highly targeted messaging that would’ve been considered “creepy” not so long ago. For better or worse, this is the direction the wind is blowing.

The second item ties into the first. Artificial Intelligence is going to be–and already is–a major disrupter to every industry. It is going to affect us in our everyday life. I say it ties into data, because it’s the tool that finally allows the insights provided by big data to be put into action. Through AI programs, massive amounts of data can be analyzed and programmatically reacted to in real time. AI tools are going to revolutionize so many processes that were too expensive, too time consuming, and too fluid to capitalize on in the past. The concern is that as things become more personalized they will also become less personalized. What I mean is that machine logic, with all of its advanced knowledge base of individual data points, is going to take the place of human interaction in many scenarios. Advanced and highly detailed automated “intelligent” systems are going to play a huge role in marketing and beyond.

What advice would you give to your teenage self?

There is so much I would like to say! Could I have a whole day to help myself avoid the pitfalls that are to come?

Assuming I only had, say, 15 seconds, here is the advice I’d give:

Don’t waste time worrying about trivial matters in your personal life. Don’t rely on anyone to educate you; rather, research and analyze everything yourself, thoroughly and exhaustively. Most importantly, above all, always be a lover and seeker of the Truth.

What is your all-time favorite place to eat and what would you order?

Definitely El Güero Canelo in Tucson, Arizona. I would order a caramelo and load it up at the toppings bar with pico de gallo, cucumbers, pickled onions and a squeeze of lime. Since they are relatively small, I would also order a Sonoran dog. This is a hot dog wrapped in bacon and served on the fluffiest, most delicious homemade bun you’ve ever had. They are eaten with pico de gallo, pinto beans, mustard, mayonnaise, and sometimes a little salsa verde (or salsa roja, if you like your food picante).

The hardest part is choosing what to wash it all down with–an horchata or jamaica or tamarindo? If I could take my family, we would all order different drinks and share! I ate this food all the time as a teenager, so the only thing that could possibly surpass the taste is the nostalgia.

photo Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurants/az/tucson/el-guero-canelo-

photo source: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4578887702159910

Eddy sees the big picture while remaining focused on the details. He views projects from multiple angles to ensure your needs–and the needs of your customer’s–are addressed and your brand’s desired image shines through. Reach out if you have a project you’d like to discuss with us, and we’d be happy to dig into it with you!