Riding the Digital Rollercoaster: Conversations & Community at Google's Publisher Meetup by Elisa Schmitz

If you’re in the business of digital publishing, or if your business has any kind of a digital presence, then you may know how tough things have been in our industry over the last few years. With so many changes at the major search engines, the ever-increasing competitive online landscape and, of course, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), growing a successful online publishing business is more challenging than ever.

As an entrepreneur who has been in digital publishing since the early days of the internet, I have seen my fair share of innovation, disruption and change. I often refer to being in the business of building websites and online communities as “riding the digital roller coaster,” as that is very much what it feels like. Having successfully navigated the dotcom boom and bust with my first online business – iParenting.com, a "Best of the Web" parenting site that was acquired by Disney – there’s one thing I know for sure: the only thing for sure in this industry is what you make of it.

The passion I feel for my second online business – 30Seconds.com, a popular site focused on food, fun, health and happiness – drives me to keep doing my best every day. And I am not alone. Many of my fellow entrepreneurs feel the same way. They’re driven by the love they have for the subject matter they devote their websites to, and that passion drives them to keep trying and to never give up.

So, when our friends at Google again invited us to their Chicago offices, we were excited to be reunited. The first Google Publisher Meetup I attended was a couple of years ago, after 30Seconds was selected to represent the State of Illinois in Google's 13th annual Economic Impact Report. It was a proud achievement for our company, so getting to know a few folks at Google – along with some of my fellow publishers – was an amazing experience.

The most recent meetup included just 15 publishers, many of whom I had met previously, so it felt like a reunion. We’re lucky to have a tight-knit community where we can connect with other creators and commiserate over challenges while sharing insights to help each other grow and thrive. You might think a gathering like this would be more competitive than collaborative, but it’s actually the opposite. We’ve learned that by banding together and sharing knowledge, we have greater opportunities and potential for growth than we do on our own.

Helping to ensure the continued growth and success of my industry is a priority for me, which is why I’m grateful to Google for shining a light on digital publishers and investing in our future. Part of that effort was hosting our group of online entrepreneurs in a fun and inspiring environment. With sessions on user experience and engagement, along with how to handle all the changes related to search and AI, we faced the challenges head on while sharing feedback and suggestions (and even a few tears).

Other memorable moments included enjoying meals at Google's cafeteria; taking in the Chicago skyline from the rooftop deck; enjoying a break in an actual “el” train car Google repurposed into an employee lounge; and getting to know the inspiring team of Googlers and publishers that make up our corner of the digital ecosystem.

Oh, and Google always gives some cool swag! Each publisher received a Google backpack and a personalized journal, for notetaking during the summit. We’re honored that 30Seconds was included in this motivating experience, and we’re grateful to be part of this important publisher community. I'm inspired to keep building and growing, no matter how fierce the headwinds may be.

Thank you, Google, for bringing us together to support our continued growth. When riding the digital rollercoaster, there’s nothing like knowing you’re not on it alone!

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You can visit my author website at ElisaSchmitz.com, and learn more about my book on achieving career and life success at BecomeTheFire.com. Inspire and be inspired at 30Seconds.com.

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