AI integration, mountain climbing, and music-making: Our personal and professional goals for 2024
We don’t know about you, but we’ve got big plans for 2024. It’s a brand new year, full of brand new opportunities, and we intend to seize the day here at 21Digital.
Now, when it comes to professional goals, normally we’d all be concentrating on different goals according to our different areas of expertise, but this year, we realised that almost all of our professional aims had one thing in common. That’s right, it’s artificial intelligence. It’s not been without controversy since Chat-GPT saw its first public release in November of 2022, but like it or not, AI is here to stay – and we’re already buckling down to exploring how we can use it to your benefit.
Our search team, for example, are currently experimenting with Google’s Search Generative Experience – essentially, an experience that uses generative artificial intelligence to help users get what they want from Google’s search engine results (SERPs). The idea is that the AI can help to better interpret a user’s intent in their search query, thereby helping to provide them with the information they want quickly and easily.
Our web designers are increasingly turning their attention to how AI can help them improve their designs too, especially since Adobe continues active development of the AI tools it launched late last year. Our PPC experts have been utilising AI techniques to help them target audiences with even greater precision, while optimising spending on Google Ad campaigns (helping your budgets to go even further).
21Digital’s web developers, on the other hand, are experimenting with ways that artificial intelligence can help save them time and effort on some of the more mundane, time-consuming elements of development – giving them more time and freedom to focus on areas that require a skilled human touch.
So, those are some of our key professional goals covered – here’s where things get a little more personal!
21Digital’s Search team
Mark, SEO Executive
Anyone who knows me knows I’m fairly outdoorsy, and I’ve climbed some cracking peaks already – I’ve done 60 Wainwrights so far, and I want to break 110 before the end of the year. Only 50 more to go!
Mindy, Head of Digital
Like Mark, my resolution this year is also outdoorsy, but with a bit more of an everyday focus: my plan is just to make sure I’m in touch with more nature in general. Thankfully there are lots of places in Lancashire I can do that. There’s the beautiful Ribble Valley right near us, for example.
Dolcie, Search Marketing Apprentice
I want to drink more water. It might sound simple, but water’s good for you! It’s good for the skin, it’s good for the body, good for the mind. So I’m going to drink more of it. Glass of water on the desk every day, and I just have to make sure it’s finished before the end of the day. Achievable, easy, and positive health benefits to boot.
Jack, Senior Copywriter
My new years resolution is to fight someone. I’m talking in a controlled environment in a martial arts context though, rather than say, spilling someone’s pint in a city centre bar. I started kickboxing late last year, and so this year I want to level up from “barely noticeable” to “mildly intimidating” – and I think the best way to do that is probably to fight someone. Hopefully the ref steps in before I get properly battered.
Keely, Junior Copywriter
I would like to eat more cheese, read more books and take more time to write my own music. That’s pretty much it, from me. In that order, too.
Tamzin, Search Marketing Apprentice
Mine is twofold. First off, I’ve had a decent amount of experience behind the wheel now, so the big thing for me this year is to pass my driving test! Secondly though, I really want to get better at guitar this year, and there’s no better way to do that but to practice, practice, practice.
21Digital’s PPC team
Jody, Junior PPC Executive
Since I passed my test last year, my resolution is to hit the open road! No driving instructors, no dual controls, no examinations. Just me, my car, and the open road (in and around the general area of Blackburn and Darwen). Total freedom. Bliss.
Sam, Managing Director
This year, I want to practice my snowboarding. There’s not many opportunities to do so here in Blackburn, but I plan to catch some serious air next time I’m on any snowy peaks. In the meantime, I’m staying active with rock climbing – I’ve even managed to get some of the family involved!
Bilal, PPC Executive
I was really proud recently to have completed a 10k run in good time, so I’m aiming to improve further on that this year and finish even faster. Alongside that, I want to get through a few more books this year!
21Digital’s Design team
Steven, Creative Director
I’ve got plenty this year! I am doing 3 marathons this year in the lead up to doing London, Chicago & New York marathons in 2025. (I’m going for the six star challenge and want to complete it by 2027.) I also want to get more involved with my local stammering group and inspire young stammerers to be more confident with their speech. I’m also pressing on with plans to set up my own website, podcast and social(s) around stammering and wellbeing, including daily quotes, experience, tips and positive thinking.
Anna, Graphic/Digital Designer
A bit off-kilter, but I want to take a pottery class. It seems like a chill way to spend time, and you get something out of it at the end. And I want some handmade mugs for my new house.
Abi, Junior Graphic Designer
I have been weight training 5+ years and this year I want to push myself both physically and mentally with a new challenge of completing HYROX, a CrossFit competition. Almost 100,000 people are taking part over the course of the year, and I can’t wait to be one of them.
21Digital’s Web Development team
Michael, Technical Director
I’ve got various fitness goals I’m looking at achieving in the New Year, and I’m already well on the way to getting a couple of them sorted. In work time though, I’m putting more time aside each week to exploring new technologies, and how we can use them to get even better results for our clients at 21Digital.
Tony, Senior Developer
I’ve had a thriller in the works for a while now, and it’s finally almost ready for publication. I’m still keeping my cards close to my chest for the time being, but watch this space!
Zoheb, Apprentice Web Developer
Like a lot of other people on the team, health and fitness is already a big part of my life. I want to hone in even further on it in the New Year though, and find ways to become even healthier in both my mindset and my overall lifestyle. I’ve got a couple of good ideas already…
Lee, Frontend Developer
In 2024, I’ve decided to dive into the world of music production. I’m excited to learn more about creating drum beats and melodies and the technical aspects of building a mini home studio! From sound mixing to digital interfaces, I’m excited to build on my skills and create my own music.
Of course, most of our goals are in the relatively early stages at the moment – but then again, so is 2024. And if you’ve got big plans for your web presence this year, then you can always count on our team to help you achieve them!
With more than 20 years of experience behind us, we have a long history of helping our clients get to the top of Google, and stay there. You can find out more about our technical SEO services here, or take a look at our case studies to find just a sample of what we’ve achieved for our happy clients. Feel free to contact us on 01254 660 560, and let’s talk!
