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Baldwin vs. Buckley

We attended the Chicago premiere of a play that recreates the 1965 debate at Cambridge Union and broadcast by the BBC.
Presented by Timeline Theatre through March 1st: 
https://timelinetheatre.com/2024-2025-season/
Collin Canright

The Canright Calendar is a weekly email of networking events in Chicago. View all of our events here. Sign up for the list here. If you have any other suggestions you’d like us to consider, send them to Alexandra at alexandra@canrightcommunications.com.

WEEK OF 02-12-2025

Explore the intersection of film, technology, and entrepreneurship at these upcoming Chicago events. Chicago at a Crossroads will examine the economic impact of Illinois’ thriving film industry, while AI + IQ brings together experts to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. Plus, Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges will focus on advancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs by fostering collaboration and investment. Don’t miss these insightful discussions with industry leaders.

Chicago at a Crossroads: Lights, Camera, Economic Impact – The Role of Illinois’ Film Industry
Chicago Chamber of Commerce
February 19, 2025
CineCity
2429 W 14th St, Chicago, IL
Join us for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s Chicago at a Crossroads executive forum on February 19th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at Cinecity. This engaging program will spotlight Illinois’ film industry as a cornerstone of the state’s economic development and success.

The discussion will focus on how the Illinois Film Production Tax Credit program and other industry advancements have positioned Illinois as a premier destination for film and television production. With esteemed panelists from government, industry leadership, and the creative community, the conversation will explore how the film industry fosters economic growth, creates jobs, and strengthens the state’s cultural and economic fabric.

These distinguished speakers will offer insights into Illinois’ competitive edge, explore ongoing opportunities for industry support, and provide actionable recommendations for sustaining the film industry’s momentum.
Be part of this important conversation as we celebrate Illinois’ film industry and its pivotal role in shaping a diverse, resilient, and opportunity-rich economy.
Register

AI + IQ
Chicago Innovation
February 26, 2025
School of the Art Institute
Chicago Ballroom
112 South Michigan Ave.
Kick-off 2025 with us on February 26th as we convene top experts at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence. Listen, learn and network to discover the latest in AI:

– Top AI trends for 2025
– How this evolving technology can advance you today
– What’s next: How AI will shape our lives in ways once unimaginable
Register

Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Investing in Women Entrepreneurs
Executives’ Club of Chicago
March 5, 2025
Ivy Room
12 E Ohio St # 100, Chicago, IL
Our “Investing in Women Entrepreneurs” program will unite industry leaders, investors, and changemakers to address one of the most critical challenges in entrepreneurship today: supporting and funding women founders. This event aims to foster collaboration and drive impactful change by focusing on creating opportunities and removing barriers for women entrepreneurs.
Register

Black History Month
National Black History Month, celebrated every February in the United States, is a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history, highlighting their central role in shaping the nation, and to reflect on the struggles and triumphs of Black people in America; it serves as an opportunity to educate about often neglected aspects of Black history and culture, promoting positive examples of leaders and societal change.

Arts Corner
Canright account manager Alexandra Sulack is an opera singer and voice teacher. She curates arts recommendations for you.

Fool for Love
Jan 30 – Mar 16, 2025
Steppenwolf Theater
In a sweltering motel room in the Mojave Desert, May and Eddie lick their wounds and get ready for another relentless round. This brawl is eternal and infernal. And the Old Man is always watching. Perhaps the sexiest, most haunting play of the 20th century, Fool for Love is a twisted, tequila-soaked love letter from one of the greatest American playwrights, indulging the need to get inside someone just to tear them apart. 

Tickets & More Info

If you have any other suggestions you’d like us to consider, send them to Alexandra at alexandra@canrightcommunications.com.

Toward Connected Finance

This post grew out of watching demos at Finovate Fall 2023, in New York. Given that 2023 is the year of AI, it was no surprise that AI played some role in most of the demos and many of the panels. 

The main essence I noticed in the demos was their focus on applications that connect to banks to supplement their clients’ financial needs. Many of the FinTech firms seek to provide their systems on a white-label or affiliate means to gain access to bank customers. 

My initial assumption is that I was seeing embedded finance, and some of the firms characterized themselves as such. Embedded finance is generally defined as the integration of financial services into systems from nonfinancial businesses. 

One of the best examples is the insurance offers that pop up after booking a flight. I first came across the term some years ago in relation to payments, where the payment itself is not really noticeable to the consumer. Uber became the embodiment of that idea, where the payment is part and parcel of the app that booked a ride.

The demos as a whole seemed to be much more than that to me. And anyway, a long-time Finovate attendee told me that while this year’s theme was clearly AI, last year it was embedded finance, preceded by crypto, and by buy now pay later (BNPL) before that.

So what to call this? My staff and I put a lot of emphasis on finding the right term to convey the purpose, uses, and benefits of technology. Labels may be restrictive but they also help people build a mental framework to provide context and meaning that leads to easier-to-understand utility and ultimately better marketing and sales.

I settled on Connected Banking. “Connected” is more understandable and useful than “embedded.” FinTech applications are connected to banking and other platforms and organizations through APIs to provide broader service offerings to customers that would be difficult or impossible for banks to build themselves. 

Read more…

To learn more about how Canright can help you maximize your CRM systems to improve your marketing and communications strategy, contact us at collin@canrightcommunications.com
www.canrightcommunications.com

Tools of the Trade: Technical Writing Systems

Technical communication has evolved over the years, and today, several systems cater to diverse needs in this domain.

Professional Technical Communications

First up, we have tools that are the darlings of the technical communication world. Adobe and MadCap are at the forefront with offerings like FrameMaker and RoboHelp. While they’re known for their depth and precision, they do require a bit of elbow grease to master.

Next in line is Help+Manual. It’s versatile, handling both manuals and online guides. However, its interface feels like a throwback, which some might find nostalgic, while others might think of it as simply old-fashioned. Still, many businesses have it as their mainstay.

Software Development Documentation

For those deep in the world of code, documenting APIs, and processes, there are tools tailored just for you.

Confluence, part of the Atlassian suite, is a common pick among developers. It integrates seamlessly with other Atlassian tools, but it could use some sprucing up when showcasing documentation to external audiences.

Then there are platforms like Docusaurus and Hugo. They’re dynamic and customizable, but be ready to roll up your sleeves – they demand a fair bit of technical know-how for setup and tweaking.

And for API Documentation? Redoc stands out. It lays out API specs in a neat, organized manner, simplifying the entire documentation chore.

SaaS Tech Comms Platforms

The SaaS scene also has some contenders. Paligo, though a newer kid on the block, packs a punch by blending the best of tools like FrameMaker with software development documentation systems. It’s feature-rich, but brace yourself for some setup time and a learning curve.

On the other hand, GatherContent is all about structure and scalability. It keeps content neatly organized in shared projects, offering a centralized hub for all your documentation.

WordPress as a Documentation Tool

WordPress isn’t just for bloggers. With the right plugins, it morphs into a robust documentation platform. It’s intuitive for users, but if you’re aiming for a unique look, you’ll need a decent grasp of design and HTML.

Things to Keep in Mind

When you’re on the hunt for a documentation system, there are some important pointers to keep in mind:

  • Ease of Writing and Maintenance: Aim for something that various team members can use, not just the tech-savvy ones.
  • Secure Access: Layered security is a must to keep your content safe.
  • Brand Alignment: Your content should feel like an extension of your brand.
  • Smooth Content Distribution: Your audience should have a hassle-free experience accessing your content.
  • Organized File Management: Keeping content versions and updates streamlined is key.

Knowing the strengths and quirks of each system will steer you toward the right choice for your technical communication journey.

To learn more about our services, contact us at collin@canrightcommunications.com.

Enhancing Our Marketing and Communications Strategy: How Canright Harnesses Salesforce CRM

At Canright Communications, we’ve recognized the power of integrating technology into our marketing and communication strategies, and CRM tools like Salesforce are essential to our approach. In this week’s newsletter, we’ll take you through how we use Salesforce to streamline our communications and marketing efforts, including maintaining multiple lists and integrating with Mailchimp for effective segmentation.

Embracing Salesforce CRM

As a technical communications agency, we understand the significance of staying connected with our clients, prospects, and partners. Our journey with Salesforce began with the realization that manual processes were hindering our ability to provide personalized and timely communication. Salesforce offered us a solution to manage our relationships and data in a way that aligned perfectly with our goals.

Centralizing Data

One of the most significant advantages of Salesforce for us has been the ability to centralize our sales and marketing data. We maintain detailed profiles of our contacts, clients, and leads, allowing us to understand their preferences, interactions, and engagement history, as well as our sales-oriented contacts and pipeline.

Maintaining Multiple Lists

Segmentation is key to delivering targeted messages that resonate with our audience. Within Salesforce, we’ve set up multiple lists that categorize our contacts based on their industry, geography, engagement level, and more. This segmentation allows us to tailor our communications and marketing efforts, such as newsletters and email campaigns, more effectively.

Integration with Mailchimp

To take our segmentation strategy to the next level, we’ve integrated Salesforce with Mailchimp. This integration enables us to sync our segmented lists seamlessly. When someone subscribes to our newsletter or interacts with our content, Salesforce can sync their information with the appropriate list in Mailchimp. This ensures that our subscribers receive content that aligns with their interests.

Marketing Analytics and Insights

The powerful reporting and analytics tools within Salesforce and Mailchimp allow us to measure the success of our campaigns. We can track open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates for each segment, enabling us to fine-tune our strategies for maximum impact.

At Canright Communications, Salesforce CRM has become an invaluable tool in our communications and marketing arsenal. By centralizing our data, maintaining multiple lists, and integrating with Mailchimp, we’ve transformed our approach to communication.

The ability to deliver personalized and timely messages to our clients, prospects, and partners has not only improved engagement but has also strengthened our relationships. As technology continues to evolve, we’re excited to continue leveraging the power of Salesforce to stay at the forefront of effective marketing and communications strategies. 

To learn more about how Canright can help you maximize your CRM systems to improve your marketing and communications strategy, contact us at collin@canrightcommunications.com
www.canrightcommunications.com

Thought Leadership in the Digital Age: Leveraging Online Platforms to Make an Impact

Online platforms provide an accessible and scalable way to disseminate ideas, build communities, and engage in meaningful conversations. Through various channels such as blogs, podcasts, videos, and social media, thought leaders can connect with audiences across geographical boundaries, cultural differences, and time zones.

What is Thought Leadership?

Thought leadership is the art of influencing and inspiring others through innovative ideas, valuable insights, and unique perspectives. It goes beyond traditional expertise by offering forward-thinking solutions and pushing boundaries in a given field. Thought leaders are individuals who possess deep knowledge, experience, and credibility within their industry, and they actively contribute to shaping the future by sharing their expertise.

Building an Authentic Online Presence

To establish thought leadership in the digital age, it is crucial to cultivate an authentic online presence. This begins by clearly defining your niche and the unique value you bring to the table. By identifying your area of expertise and focusing your efforts, you can position yourself as an authority in that particular field. Consistency is key in maintaining an authentic presence. Regularly sharing high-quality content that reflects your insights, experiences, and vision will help you gain credibility and build a loyal following.

Engaging with Your Audience

One of the fundamental aspects of thought leadership is engaging with your audience. Online platforms offer a range of tools and features that facilitate interaction and dialogue. Responding to comments, answering questions, and participating in discussions demonstrate your willingness to connect with your audience and add value to their lives. Actively listening to feedback and incorporating it into your work further enhances your credibility and fosters a sense of community.

Collaboration and Partnerships

In the digital age, thought leadership is not confined to individual efforts. Collaborating with other thought leaders and organizations can amplify your impact and create a stronger collective voice. Online platforms provide opportunities for partnerships, joint ventures, and co-creation of content. By working together, thought leaders can tackle complex issues, leverage each other’s networks, and foster a more comprehensive understanding of the topics at hand.

Staying Agile and Adaptable

The digital landscape is ever-changing, and to remain at the forefront of thought leadership, it is essential to stay agile and adaptable. Embrace emerging technologies, experiment with new formats, and constantly evaluate the effectiveness of your online presence. Pay attention to trends, evolving audience preferences, and the overall digital ecosystem. By adapting to the evolving digital landscape, you can continue to innovate and maintain your relevance as a thought leader.

To learn more about our services, contact us at collin@canrightcommunications.com.