You Need a Digital Ecosystem, Not a Digital Siloed-System
Silos do serve a function. In an organization, they create fully dedicated teams working on a particular client or function. Silos can create efficiencies, focus and new skills. However, silos do not work in your digital environment. You need to borrow an idea from nature and employ a digital ecosystem.
For years, the website has been the purview of the IT department, but the new-age website, driven mostly by Google and social media, now require a wide array of communication skills and expertise not usually found in technical departments.
The ecosystem approach recognizes how content, search engine optimization, digital media, user experience and content creation all coexist to reach your goals. These areas are interconnected and enhance the entire website, from function to user experience. This allows for better storytelling, cross promotion, conversions and linking.
This modern approach, when fully engaged, brings a holistic representation of your brand. It optimizes your entire digital effort, and it brings balance to your marketing.
Mark Mathis
Mark wrote his first direct-mail fundraising letter in 1981 for the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. The effort raised a few million dollars in undiscovered wills and legacy gifts. From that day forward Mark discovered a love of the big idea that moves the needle. After 12 years at KWWL, Mark became a business owner as a co-founder of ME&V — rebranded as AMPERAGE in 2015. After 25 years of leading creative teams in video production, graphic design, PR, writing and web development, Mark transitioned out of ownership in 2021. Today he serves in an employee role as special projects consultant. He is creatively ambidextrous — son of an artist and engineer — and famous for distilling complex ideas down to a few words and a few visuals. Mark is a writer. When he found that many nonprofits struggled with complex branding puzzles, he wrote the book, “NonProfit-NonMarketing .” He also wrote a novel called “Reenactment.” Mark is an active blogger OneMinuteMarketer® with nearly 1,000 readers each week on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter. One of his most popular YouTube videos is on “How to Look Good on Zoom.” One of Mark’s fondest business memories was being named to INC 500 two times and attending the INC 500 conference with other winners. Mark is considered by some a Civil War expert (and that explains his novel). Mark also served as an adjunct professor in the business and in the communications departments at Wartburg College. Mark is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is currently vice president of the University of Iowa Journalism and Mass Communications Advisory Board. Mark is married to state Sen. Liz Mathis, and the two love to travel, even when it means being trapped by a volcano in the Czech Republic for three weeks.
