The #ContentChat Bulletin: Join the Summer Reading Challenge!


For the past month, it's felt like Summer here in Sacramento, California. I've been walking to my local library branch and spending afternoons reading on the patio while the bulldogs soak up the sunshine. It's nice to change things up and enjoy the slower pace Summer brings.

Last night, after seeing the wonderfully funny and smile-inducing film, The Phoenician Scheme, I had a brain wave. Why not put our weekly #ContentChat livestream into Summer Camp mode for the next couple months?

I've always wanted to host an IRL #ContentChat Summer Camp where I act as the camp counselor for a focused group of content marketers who want to fine-tune their content strategies. But this Summer is not the time for that.

BUT.

It IS the perfect time to change up our Summer Mondays. So, from now until it starts feeling like Fall — or my return from CEX in August — instead of our usual lunchtime chat with a content marketer, I'll be serving up some smaller bites of inspiration — some content strategy tapas if you will.

Each week, I’ll share:

  • A quick, actionable content marketing tip
  • A favorite moment or insight from a past #ContentChat episode

Think of it as your content strategy spark for the week. It’s all about making space for reflection, reinforcing what works, and gathering sparks for what’s next.

This week, I'll kick things off with this year's edition of the #ContentChat Summer Reading Challenge, sharing a few recent reads I think you'll love. I hope to see you there!

Cheers,

Erika

P.S. Hit reply and let me know something you're excited to read/listen to that I should check out!

2025 #ContentChat Summer Reading Challenge

It's simple to take part in the challenge. Just follow these steps:

1.) Print out this graphic.

2.) Add your want-to-read and play items to the wish list.

3.) Promise yourself a reward for finishing the items on your wish list.

4.) Note the number of hours you spend participating in the challenge each day in the boxes.

5.) At the end of the Summer, give yourself your reward and share your recommendations!

Coming Up on #ContentChat

Content Chat is my weekly LinkedIn Live video chat focused on sharing expertise and ideas amongst the content marketing community. Join the conversation on Mondays at noon Pacific / 3 p.m. Eastern. RSVP for our upcoming conversations by clicking the chat date below to get a reminder and to access the chat.

  • Today on #ContentChat we're kicking off the Summer Reading Challenge.
  • Next week, we'll be starting the new Summer Shorts format I shared above:
    • A quick, actionable content marketing tip
    • A favorite moment or insight from a past #ContentChat episode

Get Involved with #ContentChat

  • Do you have questions you’d like us to answer during #ContentChat?
    Reply to this email or join us on Mondays to ask them live!
  • #ContentChat is now on Meetup!
    Join our community Meetup page to connect, learn, and share best practices in content strategy, management, and marketing with fellow #ContentChat members.
  • ​Want #ContentChat on your calendar?
    Use this link to follow our calendar so you never miss a chat.
  • We're booking guests for Q1 2025—send us your pitch!
    Are you a content marketing practitioner, author, or consultant interested in being a guest for an upcoming edition of #ContentChat? We’d love to hear your topic pitch via our Content Chat guest submission form

Take my content scalability assessment!

As debuted at last week's AMA content governance workshop, there's a whole new edition of my content scalability assessment available. While the version that's going into my book has closed, I'm making a new version available as an ongoing tool to help content marketers benchmark and fine tune how they scale their content strategy and its execution. Take the assessment and let me know what you scored.

Content Marketing + Related Jobs

Send Us Your Content Jobs!

If you have a content marketing contract position, full-time job, or freelancer opportunity, reply to this email and let us know. We are always happy to share jobs with the community at no cost.

ICYMI

In the spirit of the Summer, and making things easy-peasy, I invite you to follow my #ContentChat Flipboard to get real-time heads-up about what I'm reading, watching, and listening to that I think you'll want to check out.



Erika Heald, Founder & Chief Content Officer
Erika Heald Marketing Consulting
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LinkedIn: @erikaheald
Instagram: @MissErikaSF
Threads: @MisserikaSF
Bluesky: @erikaheald.bsky.social
YouTube: @ErikaHeald

The #ContentChat Bulletin

Erika Heald is the host of the weekly #ContentChat LinkedIn Live video podcast for content marketers, held Mondays at noon Pacific. As a B2B marketing consultant, she helps organizations define and execute content marketing strategies that drive business and professional growth. As a creator, and gluten-free blogger helping people discover gut-friendly farm-to-table food. She frequently speaks at B2B marketing industry events on employee brand advocacy, content strategy, customer experience, AI readiness, and social media topics. You can find her on her blogs erikaheald.com and erikasglutenfreekitchen.com.

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