Now in its third year, Digital Atlanta is a week-long series of workshops, lectures, networking, and social events that brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, business leaders, solution providers, executives, and aspiring marketers like myself to discuss digital innovations, explore opportunities in the digital space and highlight how Atlanta is leading the charge in the digital marketing era.
What’s the vision for Atlanta in the digital marketing era for the future?
ANSWER: DIGITAL MEDIA HUB
That’s right–Atlanta has become a Digital media hub for exciting topics spanning everything from social media, entertainment, small business, nonprofits, sustainability, education, and real estate to technology and startups. I was privileged to hear Scott Shamp, Director of New Media Institute at the University of Georgia, speak on his visionary outlook for ATLiens in his Keynote address on behalf of Digital Atlanta.
Atlanta was established in 1837 at the intersection of two railroad lines, and the city rose from the ashes of the Civil War to become a national center of commerce. This history foreshadows Atlanta as the future Hub for digital traffic with the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, transportation infrastructure, and distribution channels.
“A Hub is the center of activity.”
Picture of Atlanta image here
So why is Atlanta a center of activity? Good jobs, right industries, mobility without going mobile, leveraging investments, and social media. Let’s break it down further into pieces for those of you taking score at home. Atlanta is the:
- #9 largest metro city
- #2 wired (#of people online) city
- #15 fastest growing city
- #12 largest city for social media
We have strong reputable media companies like Cox Media, Turner, and The Weather Channel. We have the telecommunications industries like AT&T and Verizon Wireless. We have big corporations like Delta, Coca-Cola, Home Depot, UPS, and Newell Rubbermaid. We have the world-recognized universities like the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Emory. But most importantly we need more agency infrastructures like Engauge putting on events like this for the community.
What is the vision of Atlanta as a Digital Hub? What makes us so special from everyone else? Following the Civil Rights Movement, during which the city earned a reputation as “too busy to hate” for the progressive views of its citizens and leaders, Atlanta attained international prominence as the primary transportation hub of the Southeastern United States via highway, railroad, and air, with the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the worlds busiest airport since 1998. Hence, we are dubbed an “alpha world city.”
“Meet, share, network, explore, and leadership.”
We need more government and business participation. There is a vision, dedication, and leadership to reach this. Take a look at Henry Grady, the architect of the New South, who created the roots of Atlanta.
“We are the New Media South.”-Scott Shamp
Visibility and a supervening social need tell Atlanta to focus on the needs of the community. Telecommuting and things like Google Hangouts are connecting us in ways we need to utilize. We have the headquarters of some of the best companies and universities that can’t seem to stop popping out the future leaders of tomorrow. The writing is on the wall for Atlanta to set the stage. Atlanta, Rise Up!
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