digital summit dallas: insights, inspiration, and a texican staycation

Wendi and I made our way to Dallas for the Digital Summit this week, ready to soak up all the marketing knowledge and possibly a good cocktail. The conference delivered on one of those things (we'll let you guess which). Between thought-provoking sessions, networking with old friends and new, and late-night TikTok dances, we walked away energized and armed with actionable insights.

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finding our north star 🌟

One of the standout takeaways was the concept of a “North Star” for your business. It’s not about lofty mission statements or Pinterest-worthy quotes, but a clear, guiding definition of what success means. For us, it’s about balancing growth with authenticity—keeping The Swell Studio’s personality at the forefront while expanding our impact. Think compass, not magic wand.

systems: the secret to creativity (who knew?)

As it turns out, creativity thrives with a little structure. One session challenged the idea that “creative chaos” is productive (ouch) and instead made a solid case for using tools like Asana to manage projects and free up mental bandwidth. It’s not exactly sexy, but we’re here for anything that keeps us from searching through endless Slack messages to find that “one great idea.”

feedback: it’s not just for yelp reviews

We also got a wake-up call about how critical clarity and feedback are for team success. The idea is simple: when your communication game is strong, you get better results. When it’s weak? You get “creative differences.” We’re now working on being more intentional with how we share ideas (and fewer vague comments like “Can it just feel more... fun?”).

strategy first, tools later

Another gem: build the strategy, then pick the tools. It’s tempting to chase the latest social media trends or email hacks, but it’s all pointless without a bigger plan. We’re taking this as a sign to step back, map out the big picture, and let the tools do what they’re supposed to—support the strategy, not define it.

a market map for the road ahead

Understanding where the market is going isn’t just good advice—it’s essential for handling growth. We were reminded that being proactive is a choice and being reactive is a problem. The plan? Less scrambling, more strategic planning.

the texican court: part hotel, part vibe

When we weren’t jotting down notes or geeking out over marketing strategies, we were soaking up the charm of the Texican Court. Boutique hotel? Check. Adorable retro vibe? Double-check. We even managed to squeeze in a little happy hour networking, complete with margaritas. Turns out, inspiration hits differently when you’re sitting in a cool courtyard with a coffee in hand.

All in all, the Digital Summit was an incredible experience—packed with insights, laughs, and just enough overthinking to remind us why we love what we do. We left Dallas with clear goals, new strategies, and excitement for what’s next at The Swell Studio.

Here’s to putting it all into action (and maybe booking the Texican Court for our next strategy retreat).

SEE THE FULL RECAP VIDEO HERE