INBOUND 2023 was one for the books! HubSpot’s annual event welcomed 11,000 business leaders and industry movers and shakers from all over the world for 3 days of collaborative learning, networking, and growth.
From insightful expert-led sessions and inspiring speakers to thriving communities and unique activations, INBOUND 2023 had it all and more. Read on for some top highlights of the week.
SPOTLIGHT SESSIONS
Oscar winners, sales pros, neuroscientists, marketing leaders, award-winning athletes, and more industry trailblazers took to the Main Stage to share inspiring and thought-provoking ideas. Key themes included customer-centric strategies, AI and digital transformation, leadership excellence, and the power of storytelling.
To kick things off, HubSpot execs Yamini Rangan (CEO), Andy Pitre (EVP, Product), and Dharmesh Shah (co-founder & CTO) shared their thoughts on generative AI as well as the latest and greatest product developments at HubSpot. They unveiled HubSpot AI — a collection of powerful and easy-to-use AI features across the HubSpot platform, and shared a first look at the new Sales Hub. Read more from the HubSpot Spotlight here.
AI has the potential to transform knowledge and creative work, and that is a profound change. And that means generative AI is moving us from the age of information to the age of intelligence. - Yamani Rangan
In an intimate chat, Morgan DeBaun, (Founder and Chief Executive Officer; Blavity, Inc) shared how she approaches content, growth, and community as a craft —leaning into her journey with Blavity Inc. and Afrotech’s commitment to share insights on how to build diverse community spaces.
My hope and my journey is to build out loud. - Morgan DeBaun
Derek Jeter, Baseball Hall of Famer and business leader, discussed what his leadership experience on and off the field has taught him about calculating risk and fueling motivation.
You need people to feel a part of a team and that they are valuable. And making sure everyone feels part of the success and the failures. - Derek Jeter
Bestselling author, Kim Scott, explored the role of radical candor and feedback, and how leaders can gain insights on how to maintain a healthy high-performance workplace culture.
Radical candor should always start with soliciting feedback. Offering praise, which is a better tool than criticism. You want to make sure you are focusing on the good stuff in a way that is sincere and genuine. - Kim Scott
Neurobiology professor and host, Andrew Huberman, did a deep dive on dopamine and how the power of intense focus, mindfulness, and rest can fuel creativity and strengthen the culture of a team.
Think about: How do I take care of myself, create social structures, and a relationship with myself that will allow me to be productive in the long term? - Andrew Huberman
When it comes to crafting a flawless brand narrative, master storyteller (and Beyoncé’s’s powerhouse publicist) Dr. Yvette Noel-Schure (Executive VP, Co-founder; Schure Media Group), shared insights from her 20+ years of experience helping shape the brands of some of the music industry’s biggest stars.
Every single person has a story. If you tell an authentic story it forces everybody else to tell their own in the most honest way. - Dr. Yvette Noel-Schure
Dubbed by the New York Times as "one of the most popular podcasters in history," Guy Raz interviewed HubSpot co-founders Dharmesh Shah and Brian Halligan on their nonlinear journey building and scaling HubSpot. A big focus for them? Building company culture as a product.
I treated creating our culture like an engineering project, and we still treat culture like a product. - Dharmesh Shah
If you can build a terrific culture that is unique from your competitors, it is like a magnet to your employees. - Brian Halligan
Producer, actor, and Hello Sunshine founder Reese Witherspoon made her return to Boston to close out INBOUND. Her revealing conversation (including what her beige flags are) encompassed her practical strategies for driving growth and creating a culture of excellence.
No one believes in your dream more than you do. Every day, wake up and do something to move your dream forward. - Reese Witherspoon
EXPERT-LED SESSIONS + ACTIONABLE TACTICS
This year’s breakout sessions featured a wide range of topics covering email marketing best practices, data-driven decision making, social media advertising, and effective video marketing strategies. These breakouts provided attendees with an opportunity to dive deeper into practice areas, learn actionable takeaways to implement immediately, and offered new skills and tactics to help with personal growth and development. Some major takeaways:
Email Marketing:
- Despite what you might think, you’re not emailing enough. According to Jay Schwedelson, (CEO and founder of Outcome Media/SubjectLine.com/GURU Events), “your email performance will not get better by you sending less, it will get better by sending more, relevant stuff.”
- Call-to-action buttons written in the 1st person increase click-through-rates by 28%.
- Instead of using “Register” try “Save my Spot!”
- Instead of "Download Now" swap in "Unlock My Access"
- Instead of "Save Now" opt for "Send Me the Discount"
Video:
- Viewers want authenticity, not perfection. According to Vimeo:
- 86% of viewers prioritize authenticity.
- 66% want to see “regular people”.
- 61% find TikTok ads unique contrasted to polished advertising of other social platforms.
- How can you tap into authentic video creation?
- Embrace native creation tools
- Share behind the scenes content
- Create a human connection with your brand
Content:
- How do you incorporate AI into your writing and content? Use these quick tips to help optimize your prompt strategy:
- Be specific: identify the type of content, include a character count, brand/business name, product details, etc.
- Layer your prompt: outline the role, task, style guide, and any examples that provide context.
- Check the model: ask if the model understands the directions and task assigned.
- If you want to drive more conversions on social media, share content that attracts a wide audience and content that adds value — focus on building a customer base, not a follower base.
After leaving these sessions, attendees were armed with new tactics and techniques to help enhance their personal development and drive greater success in their roles. Whether it's optimizing SEO strategies, fine-tuning content creation in the age of AI, or scaling solution selling processes, the event equipped attendees to become more effective marketers and sales professionals.
COMMUNITY & CONNECTION
INBOUND brings together a diverse and inclusive group of attendees to build new relationships with. This year, attendees had the chance to connect with like-minded professionals in their industries through niche meetups and interactive networking events. Community groups like Black@INBOUND, The Marketing Millennials, GURU Events, and more provided collaborative spaces for attendees to create lasting connections.
EXPERIENCES & LAWN ON D
To get the week started, VIP pass holders were invited to a special party at Lawn on D featuring a live performance from vocal powerhouse, Teddy Swims. It was a unique opportunity to mix, mingle, and meet with other VIPs in a relaxed setting before INBOUND officially got under way.
The Lawn on D provided a bright and airy lunch spot, lined with some of Boston's most popular food trucks. Programming at the Lawn on D stage included a range of open mic performances from a Disney classics sing-a-long to a set from the one-and-only "B2B Weird Al," Rob Jones.
After Thursday's full slate of programming, attendees wound down with INBOUND After Hours.
Ty Pow and The Holy North kicked things off at Lawn on D with Americana, Blues, and Alt-Country music. To continue the After Hours festivities, award-winning comedian, writer, and actor, John Mulaney brought the house down at Main Stage with an epic comedy set — with some well-timed roasts.
These were just a few of the amazing surprise and delight moments our attendees experienced at INBOUND 2023!
THANK YOU
INBOUND 2023 was a game-changing event. We're so appreciative of all our attendees, speakers, sponsors, and partners who traveled near and far to experience the energy of our one-of-a-kind conference.
The spotlight sessions, notable announcements, impressive breakout sessions, innovative tools, and energizing community blended seamlessly to create an event like no other. By applying the learnings shared at INBOUND 2023, attendees can fortify their personal development, gain a competitive edge, and drive growth in their roles and businesses.
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