Meet Melissa Chowning
Melissa Chowning founded Twenty-First Digital in 2017 with a clear mission: to help media and publishing companies grow smarter, more sustainable audiences. With deep expertise in audience development, SEO, content strategy, and digital growth, Melissa has become a trusted partner for organizations navigating the evolving landscape of modern media.
A self-described SEO nerd and relentless optimist about the future of local journalism, Melissa brings both strategic rigor and a genuine passion for innovation to her work. She’s a frequent speaker at industry conferences, where she shares insights on topics like technical SEO, email marketing, and the power of thoughtful digital strategy.
When she’s not working with clients, you’ll find her deep in a political podcast, chasing the latest TikTok trend, or on the Peloton leaderboard. Melissa is a proud Swiftie, animal lover, and devoted mom who believes in the importance of balancing it all.
A Recognized Voice in Media Strategy
Melissa Chowning is not only a seasoned strategist but also a sought-after speaker known for her engaging, down-to-earth delivery and actionable insights. With a career rooted in media and publishing, Melissa has built a reputation for connecting with audiences at industry-leading conferences across the country—and increasingly, around the world.
From the stage at BrightonSEO to niche and regional gatherings like Niche Media Conference and the City and Regional Magazine Association (CRMA) Conference, Melissa consistently brings clarity, relevance, and a touch of wit to complex topics. Whether she’s breaking down the future of content discoverability, demystifying Google’s latest algorithm updates, or walking through high-converting newsletter strategies, Melissa has a knack for making marketing feel both practical and inspiring.
Over the years, she has delivered dozens of presentations, panels, and workshops on topics such as technical SEO for publishers, audience development in a shifting attention economy, newsletter monetization and email list growth, content organization and topical authority, AI’s impact on media discovery and building sustainable revenue models for local and regional publishers
What sets Melissa apart is her ability to turn complex ideas into real-world tactics, drawing on years of hands-on experience with media organizations of all sizes. Her sessions leave audiences with practical frameworks they can put to work right away—and her approachable, insightful style makes her a go-to voice both on stage and in hallway conversations.
Recently Featured in Digiday
Will news publishers see another ‘Trump bump’ in Trump’s second term?
“Ultimately, I think this is largely a result of the bifurcation of how users consume news content, with more users looking to audio and video formats rather than going to a news website,” said Melissa Chowning.
Publishers pull marketing budgets away from Twitter under Musk’s ownership
“Publishers are seeing the platform as toxic and unstable, and no one really wants to put their budget or energy into maximizing a platform that feels toxic and unstable,” said Melissa Chowning.
ChatGPT’s arrival accelerates publishers’ move from SEO-driven content
Lifestyle publishers’ “most valuable assets are their photography and visuals that they may bring to a piece of content” now that ChatGPT is in the picture, said Melissa Chowning.