My Top Articles, LinkedIn & Blog Posts from 2017

I write every day. 

In 2017, I published 50 newsletters, 15 blog posts, 12 articles on www.WashingotnTechnology.com , and 8 posts on LinkedIn. And as many of you know, I also host a weekly show on www.FederalNewsradio.com  

In 2015 I started listing my top LinkedIn posts for the previous year. I did this based on views. As I am writing less frequently on LinkedIn (see the reason below), I am including my WashTech articles and my blog posts in my list for 2017.

I have selected the top five from my blog and WashTech, and four from LinkedIn, each source listed separately and by date published.

I have included a short recap for each. When you have time, I hope you will take a look at a few.

Top five 2017 posts from my blog- http://blog.federaldirect.net/

http://blog.federaldirect.net/2017/02/why-era-of-big-govcon-shows-is-past.html   (3/7/17; 1.058 views). Small, focused events have replaced the larger, expensive conferences in the government community.

http://blog.federaldirect.net/2017/03/some-thoughts-on-gwacs-amtower-off.html (the return of my Off-White papers. 2nd of 2 posts on GWACs; 3/4/71; 2,121 views). Why GWACs and other IDIQs have become more important and hotly contested.

http://blog.federaldirect.net/2017/05/var-wars-continues-art-richer-moves-to.html (the GovCon VAD wars just got more interesting; 5/3/17; 820 views). Why Art richer moving to DLT is important event for channel players in GovCon. An under-reported event.

http://blog.federaldirect.net/2017/06/social-selling-as-end-of-fy-and-year.html  (6/4/17, 2,680 views). LinkedIn and social selling have become part of the GovCon ecosystem, and why those not utilizing social selling are missing out.

http://blog.federaldirect.net/2017/08/are-you-small-contractor-in-need-of.html  (8/27/17; 2,991 views). Oddly enough, my most viewed post from 2017 was an advertisement for my small biz marketing program.

My Top Five 2017 Articles from WashTech

https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2017/01/31/insights-amtower-goals-strategies.aspx  (1/31/17). The difference between goals and strategy in GovCon, and the importance of setting attainable goals.

https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2017/05/02/insights-amtower-mythbusting.aspx (5/2/17). Sever myths that persist in the GovCon arena for those new to the market and a warning to be aware!

https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2017/09/21/insights-amtower-fiscal-2018-strategy-tips.aspx (9/21/17). Five tactics to help any company grow marktshare.

https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2017/11/02/insights-amtower-account-based-marketing.aspx (11/2/17). Five steps to launching an agency/account-based program.

https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2017/12/19/insights-amtower-lessons-learned.aspx (12/19/17). A look back over my 33 years in the GovCon market with a few observations.

My top 2017 LinkedIn posts

I write less frequently on LinkedIn for a couple reasons, the main one being LinkedIn’s algorithms favor selected types of content.  Here’s the post that explains it: (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-new-linkedin-algorithm-determines-what-content-goes-ed-escoto/?published=t

BUT, I still post on LinkedIn, occasionally recapping what I have written on my blog or at WashTech.

Here are my top 4 posts from 2017, in chronological order.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-do-you-want-people-after-read-your-profile-mark-amtower/ (4/20/17). What do you want people to do after they look at your LinkedIn profile? If you don’t indicate an action, they will move on.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/simple-act-being-linkedin-marketing-take-2-mark-amtower/  (7/11/17). My second version of this topic drives a simple message: being on LinkedIn in any capacity is marketing for yourself and your company. Your choice is do you look good, bad or just plain ugly…

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/building-subject-matter-expert-platform-mark-amtower/ (9/14/17). This has a link to a video interview on thought leadership. I recorded this as part of Mitchell Levy’s Thought Leader Life series.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/real-value-gain-mark-amtower/  (10/18/17). After the second annual Government Marketing University GAIN conference, I reflected on the overall value of this event. It offers both great information and networking for GovCon marketing professionals, and I hope to return as a presenter for year 3.


I write both to share and to better understand my own thoughts on a particular topic.

And I love feedback!