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Last week, Be Found Online® (BFO) proudly sponsored our fourth Digital Summit Chicago. As a digital marketing agency rooted in the Windy City, we love a good excuse to get out and be with the community. We were eager to show up, share what we’ve been building, and see how the Midwest marketing scene keeps evolving.
This year, BFO was in the thick of it: our CEO, Steve Krull, took the stage as emcee; our team hosted a booth focused on improving brand AI visibility; and I had the pleasure of leading a deep-dive roundtable discussion.
The Energy of Chicago's Digital Marketing Scene
There’s a specific kind of electricity that fills the room when hundreds of marketers gather to compare notes and test-drive new tools. It’s not that hollow, "tie-tied-too-tight" corporate energy. It’s more like a beehive soaked in espresso… stuffed into a pressure cooker of anticipation. It’s intense, it’s fast-paced, and for a team dedicated to staying ahead of the curve, it’s exactly where we want to be.
Digital Summit Chicago 2026: Key Takeaways & Highlights
Though I was splitting my time between the booth, sessions, and preparing for my roundtable discussion, I still managed to soak in so much from the summit.
A few highlights for me:
- Our CEO, Steve Krull, brought his signature energy to the main stage, setting the tone for two days of high-impact learning.
- Jenny Haggard from Spotify broke down why sound is an essential (and often underutilized) brand asset. (As a musician, this one hit home for me!)
- Purna Virji from LinkedIn offered masterclass-level insights into leveraging video for thought leadership.
- Michael Hoffman from Gather Voices explored the convergence of AI, SEO, and YouTube video strategy.
- Stephanie Ristow from Ristow Marketing shared her "Conversion Blueprint" framework for identifying pipeline segments and optimizing conversion rates.
- I had the opportunity to lead a roundtable focused on Brand Trust in the Age of AI. We discussed how to maintain authenticity amidst a sea of misinformation—a topic that resonated deeply.
- All the great conversations I had at the booth about what people are doing to improve their AI visibility as the search landscape evolves.
Why In-Person Connection Matters in the Midwest
The two days flew by. My feet are still achy, and I may have dinged up my car in a tight Chicago parking garage, but I’m still smiling.
While BFO lives and breathes the digital space, there is no substitute for the community built when we gather in person. Fostering these relationships here in the Midwest is how we collectively raise the bar for digital marketing excellence. There really is nothing like that feeling of community that comes from getting together in person around a shared interest.
More of that in 2026, please.
Interested in how your brand shows up in AI search results? Let's get your brand's AIQ Score™ and work on your AI Visibility!
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