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Canright Calendar

Squirrel Getting Ready for Fall
Squirrel Getting Ready for Fall
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 9-09-2024

At our featured events, gain unparalleled insights from banking heavyweights, gather with powerhouse women of Chicago, innovate and collaborate within the AI community, and connect with other business professionals.

MoneyLIVE: North America
September 16 – 17
The Westin Chicago River North, 320 N Dearborn St, Chicago
Join over 500 industry leaders across the USA and Canada to forge the future of banking and payments. Take part in high-impact, high-value networking, gain unparalleled insights from banking heavyweights and uncover transformational strategies that leave the world behind. Speakers include C-suite leaders of Citizens, U.S. Bank, Meridian Credit Union, CIBC and many more. Use code canright15 to save 15% on registration.
Register

The Whole Story: CFW’s 39th Annual Luncheon
Chicago Foundation for Women
Monday, September 16, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm
The Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Everyone Has a Story. When we combine our individual experiences, we can tell The Whole Story. Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) shines a light on the obstacles and barriers women, girls, trans, and nonbinary individuals overcome daily in their pursuit of financial independence, freedom from violence, and reproductive justice. Join CFW’s new President and CEO, Keenya Lambert, and world-renowned journalist, Lisa Ling as they unpack THE WHOLE STORY and reimagine how CFW, in partnership with you, our donors, and grantees, can amplify the voices, the work, and triumphs of our community at this critical moment in history.
Register

InnovateAI: Transforming Ideas into Reality
Plug and Play
Wednesday, September 18, 12:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Aon Center, 200 E Randolph St., Chicago
The goal is simple – to enable both academic and industry exchange of ideas and learn from each other’s AI journey. Join as industry experts and thought leaders convene to foster knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaboration within the AI community. This event will feature a trends presentation by Amit Patel, Partner at Plug and Play Ventures, followed by discussions around enterprise applications of AI, research & development, and more. This event is open to the corporate ecosystem, public sector, and startups & scaleups building in the AI space, with networking to follow.
Register

Don’t Tell HR: Networking workshop for L&D and HR pros
Catalyst Ranch
Wednesday, September 18, 5:30 pm – 8pm
Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago
The professional development mavens of improve-it! invite Chicagoland HR and Leadership & Development professionals to the vibrant Catalyst Ranch for “Don’t Tell HR”: an evening not just for networking — but a 90-minute networking workshop to help you sharpen your skills, connect, and grow. Get ready for a fun evening filled with opportunities to meet new people, share some laughs, and unleash your creativity through improvisation.
Register

Looking Ahead…

Investing in Illinois Innovation
City Club of Chicago
Monday, September 30, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Maggiano’s Banquets, 111 W. Grand Ave., Chicago
Join Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and RockCreek Founder & CEO Afsaneh Mashayekhi Beschloss for a conversation, hosted by the City Club of Chicago, about the FIRST Fund, the Illinois Growth and Opportunity Fund (ILGIF), and the importance of investing in infrastructure and the tech ecosystem.
Register

The Story You Tell: Unlocking Creativity and Innovation in Leadership
Harry L Davis Center for Leadership at Chicago Booth
Friday, October 4, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Gleacher Center, 450 Cityfront Plaza Dr., Chicago
Travel to the intersection of innovation and storytelling to examine the universal features of narratives that compel us toward action, challenge our perspectives, and rearrange the world around us. Through a variety of engaging breakout activities and lively group discussions, participants will be called upon to re-examine commonly held assumptions on the topics of creativity and innovation and explore how each impacts the art of storytelling. Participants will better understand key differences between creative and innovative processes and their relationship to storytelling, begin designing key components of a business-related narrative, and create an “elevator pitch” version of their story. This workshop is facilitated by Rod C. Taylor, Ph.D., an award-winning educator, scholar, author, and the founder and CEO of Performance Learning Concepts.
Register

National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 – October 15
 Each year, National Hispanic Heritage Month offers the opportunity to celebrate the culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx people in the U.S. This year’s theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.”

The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.
 
Learn More:
Hispanic Heritage Month Resources
Hispanic Heritage Month Toolkit 2024
National Hispanic Heritage Month Q&A

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

Alice By Heart – Kokandy Productions
Thru September 29
Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago

From the Tony® and Grammy® award-winning creators of Spring Awakening, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, and co-written by Jessie Nelson (Waitress), Alice by Heart is a touching musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

In the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, Alice Spencer’s budding teen life is turned upside down, and she and her dear friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When the ailing Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.

As they travel through the tale, Alice by Heart explores the poignancy of first love, coming to terms with loss, and finding the courage to move forward. This world premiere musical encourages us all to celebrate the transformational power of the imagination, even in the harshest of times.

NOTE: Alice by Heart will be performed in the basement studio of the Chopin Theater, and requires the use of stairs for entering and exiting the space.

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.