I, like so many others, emerged from a sea of content and orange Friday, as another year of Content Marketing World came to a close. I find myself gasping for air as I try to wrap my arms around all of the knowledge and amazing people I met over the course of the conference.

So many times throughout the week I heard people say how this conference is unlike any other.

“People actually look forward to it, not just to get out of the office, but to experience everything that it has to offer.”

“It is like a content marketing family.”

Speakers and attendees came from all over the world to experience Cleveland “CMWorld style,” and a lot of tweets, instas, blog posts, and ideas spouted forth.

I’ve compiled some of the best tidbits about content, marketing, and the tools we use every day.

Best Marketing Quotes

“Quit blaming the goldfish. Our audience will make time to consume content that maintains their interest.” – Andrew Davis

This quote came as a lead-in to his amazing opening keynote about the importance of keeping your audience. He argues that people will read long-form content if they are interested in it. Our job as content marketers is to keep them interested.

Angela Hursh detailed Davis’ message, specifically as it applies to creating suspense in videos. Her blog is geared toward library marketing but Andrew’s lesson applies to us all.

“The most important part of a newsletter is not the news, but the letter.” – Ann Handley, Marketing Profs

What is there further to say about Ann Handley? Right before her quote-worthy keynote, she was awarded the first-ever Hero Award, putting her in the Content Marketing Institute Hall of Fame.

She spoke about the most important aspects of a newsletter and what inspired her to reignite her own email newsletter. In true Handley form, it was entertaining as well as informative.

Not sending an email newsletter yet? What gives?

“Companies that are seen regularly on social media are seen as being more competitive.” – Megan Golden, LinkedIn

“Content is not an asset, it’s a relationship.”– Charity Stebbins, Conductor

Stebbins iterated that content doesn’t mean to make someone buy right now. What it does is build their trust and it builds a relationship with the brand, and it does its job well.

Statistics That You Won’t Believe (but They’re True!)

“Content strategist salary +40% from June 2016 to Nov 2017” – Andy Crestodina, Orbit Media Studios

Want proof on this one? Andy Crestondina created a marketing salary guide that lays out some of the most common salaries in both June 2016 and November 2017, as well as the changes for each. That largest increase? You guessed it: content strategist.

“75% of content gets no links. Original research crushes this.” – Andy Crestodina, Orbit Media Studios

Crestodina has a lot of research to back up his claim that original research wins, complete, of course, with a number of shareable graphs to prove his point.

“Google knows up to 18in where you are standing at all times.” – Veronica Romney, LoSoMo

“There are 5.5 billion searches per day on Google.” – Seth Besmertnik, Conductor

“Educational content makes consumers 131% more likely to buy.” – Charity Stebbins, Conductor

Want to know more? Conductor provides the full research on why educational content makes consumers more likely to buy in the early stage of the marketing funnel.

“The avg person watches 3 hours of TV per day. If you live for 80 years that is an entire lost decade.” – Joe Pulizzi, Content Marketing Institute

Inspiration You Can’t Get Anywhere Else

There was some awesome inspiration, given this week, from the writers and creators that dazzled us.

“Player 2 has entered the game and it is us.” – Robert Rose, Content Marketing Institute

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Have you made a positive impact on the world?” – Joe Pulizzi, Content Marketing Institute

“So many things begin to change in life when you don’t stop at one right answer.” – Dewitt Jones

For more from this inspirational National Geographic photographer, here is his Ted Talk and a peek at his beautiful photography.

I’m still reeling in the goodness from this week, but until next year #CMWorld family, I’ll see you online.

Last year’s Content Marketing World had its own share of quotable speakers as well. I recommend reliving the best content marketing quotes from last year too.