Kyle Dillingham

Background

About Kyle Dillingham

For as long as I can remember, I have loved telling stories. To the joy of my parents, my idea of fun was sitting quietly, with pencil in hand, writing and sketching my imagination onto as many pieces of paper as would be afforded to me. And though storytelling is one of humanity’s oldest professions, it wouldn’t be until much later in life that I understood its modern day transformations. Thinking the only way I could tell stories professionally was through film, tv, or games, that’s what I pursued. The gaming industry is, by and large, not the vibe. A tumultuous, secretive, and uncertain path that didn’t seem like the solid foundation on which I wanted to build my professional (and financial) career. Luckily, during my time in college, I was introduced to the world of marketing by a friend and life-long mentor. This was the beginning of my decade+ career in marketing that brought me from copywriting powerhouse to marketing director and beyond. While my Bachelors in Multimedia Arts has certainly been a boon when it comes to adopting new technologies and allowing me to act as the bridge between art, tech, and exec, what I was surprised to discover was how much of “game design” could be applied directly to successful marketing strategies. How do we lead the player so they don’t get lost and frustrated? How do we make a simple button press fun and rewarding? How do we encourage them to explore and engage with the content we’ve created? How do we empower the player and enrich their life? How do we provide satisfying feedback loops to give them the context to know they’re on the right path? How do we create a cohesive experience throughout their time with the game? Now just replace “player” with “client” or “customer”, and “game” with “website”, “product”, etc. The tools by which we answer those questions vary by company and industry, but the methodology remains. My Marketing Philosophy- Effective marketing strategy needs to have killer: context, content, creativity, congruency, and collaboration- Successful Marketing tactics need to be: fun, measurable, data-driven, and have the correct message to market match- Prosperous marketing leadership needs to comprise: a strong creative vision matched only by an exuberant desire for collaboration, badass communication skills, an intimate understanding of psychology and social dynamics, a genuine love for watching your team level up whether at work or in life, and a high emotional IQ. If any of the above resonates, let’s chat all things marketing, gaming, or the best way to lock-in a kimura.