POPULARITY
Categories
When you're outgunned, under-resourced, and facing giants, success takes more than speed. It takes teamwork, message discipline, and relentless coordination.That's how the Rebel Alliance defeats the Galactic Empire, and it's how great B2B marketing teams win in the real world. In this episode, we unpack marketing lessons from the Star Wars saga with special guest Eric Herzog, CMO at Infinidat.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from thinking like a startup, aligning cross-functional teams, and building content strategies that deliver across every touchpoint.About our guest, Eric HerzogEric Herzog is the Chief Marketing Officer at Infinidat. Prior to joining Infinidat, Herzog was CMO and VP of Global Storage Channels at IBM Storage Solutions. His executive leadership experience also includes: CMO and Senior VP of Alliances for all-flash storage provider Violin Memory, and Senior Vice President of Product Management and Product Marketing for EMC's Enterprise & Mid-range Systems Division.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Star Wars:Business is a team sport. Great marketing doesn't happen in silos. Whether you're a startup or a global enterprise, success depends on alignment across every function. Eric says, “In marketing, having all kinds of people running around with different functions is wrong. They all need to work together in what I call a completely vertically integrated marketing.” Your message, your content, your sales strategy. it all has to move as one.Message discipline wins hearts and minds. When you can't outspend the competition, out-message them. A clear, consistent story can be your greatest weapon. “You need to win the hearts of the minds of your customers, and your prospects, and your channel, and your sales team,” Eric says. If your message isn't aligned, neither is your market.Think like a startup (no matter your size). Speed, focus, and adaptability aren't just startup traits; they're must-haves for any marketing team. Eric explains, “ The most successful big companies in overall functions, as well as in their marketing function, try to act like a startup.” Whether you're leading a lean team or navigating a Fortune 500 org, it's that startup mindset that helps you outmaneuver slower, more bureaucratic competitors.Quote“Business is a team sport, and a subteam of marketing as part of the business is a team sport too. If you don't work as a team, the empire will crush you. You need to be like the Rebel Alliance and all work together.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Eric Herzog, CMO at Infinidat[01:08] Why Star Wars?[01:54] Role of CMO at Infinidat[03:03] Origins of Star Wars[08:52] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Star Wars[30:04] Infinidat's Content Strategy[33:39] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Eric on LinkedInLearn more about InfinidatAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.
#265 Non-SaaS Marketing | In this episode, Matt sits down with Sandra Rand, a fractional head of marketing who works with early-stage, non-SaaS B2B companies. She's led marketing for PE-backed, self-funded, and services-based businesses, where big budgets and SaaS-style playbooks aren't the norm. She's also building the Non-SaaS Marketers subgroup inside Exit Five to support others facing the same challenges.Matt and Sandra cover:How non-SaaS teams drive growth without demos, PLG, or huge lead volumeWhy events, word of mouth, and referrals often outperform funnels in these orgsTactical ideas for gifting, partnerships, and pipeline-building on a lean budgetWhether you work in SaaS or not, you'll walk away with creative, scrappy strategies to build trust and drive results in B2B.Timestamps(00:00) - – Intro (03:04) - – Why Exit Five launched the Non-SaaS group (08:24) - – What makes non-SaaS marketing different (11:44) - – Budgets, sales cycles, and team structure (16:34) - – Why brand and trust matter more (18:44) - – Events > funnels in non-SaaS (28:40) - – How to build brand on a budget (34:10) - – Word-of-mouth and referral tactics (38:50) - – Gifting and relationship-driven growth (44:50) - – Scrappy, creative plays that actually work (50:20) - – What's next for the Non-SaaS community Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.comJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today's episode is brought to you by Zuddl.We're halfway through 2025, and one thing's clear: events continue to be one of the highest performing marketing channels. Niche meetups, conferences, curated dinners, networking - you name it. Everyone's leaning in.Events are a core part of our playbook this year at Exit Five. So far, we've hosted two virtual sessions each month, one large virtual event, one in-person meetup, and we're deep in the weeds planning our Drive conference coming back to Vermont this September.Zuddl helps us run a smarter event strategy - from driving registrations, managing invites, automating comms, reminders, analytics, tracking. Their Salesforce integration also makes it simple to report on pipeline and revenue from events without pulling in ops.On top of that, the differentiator with Zuddl is how their team is insanely good at supporting us. They always go above and beyond for us - and that's how we've been able to keep the momentum going with 12+ events already this year, with plenty more to come.If events are part of your marketing strategy, you need to look at Zuddl to see how companies like Zillow, CrowdStrike, and Iterable are using the top event platform for Business events in 2025. Head over to zuddl.com/exitfive to learn more.
Heute sprechen wir mit Marc Duijndam. Er ist Mitgründer von Swydo, einem smarten Reporting-Tool speziell für Agenturen. Zuvor war er maßgeblich am Aufbau von Google und LinkedIn in den Niederlanden beteiligt.
Great marketing doesn't start with a message; it starts with a mindset shift. If you want to make people feel something, you need more than a clever campaign. You need a story that invites them in and reflects something true.That's the magic of the “Assume That I Can” campaign, where simplicity meets significance, and storytelling sparks real cultural shift. In this episode, we unpack the power of that message with the help of our special guest, Mike Barton, VP of Corporate Communications and Content Marketing at AudioEye.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from building accessible experiences, confronting audience assumptions, and crafting stories that create real connection.About our guest, Mike BartonMike is a marketing and communications leader dedicated to making the internet more accessible for all. As Vice President of Corporate Communication & Content Marketing at AudioEye, Mike leads marketing strategy, driving awareness and demand through blogs, social media, PR, video, and digital storytelling. Previously, at Adobe, he shaped content and executive messaging across Experience Cloud, Creative Cloud enterprise, and Document Cloud. With deep expertise in customer engagement and industry-specific storytelling, Mike excels at aligning business objectives with audience needs—crafting compelling narratives that resonate with C-suite leaders, end users, and decision-makers across industries.What B2B Companies Can Learn From “Assume That I Can” campaign:Start with the barrier, not the message. Before you talk about your product, talk about what's standing in the way. The best campaigns don't lead with features; they lead with mindset shifts. “If your audience already believed what you want them to believe, they'd be acting on it,” Mike explains. “What's the belief barrier that we need to identify and then either bring it down or address it?” Identify the roadblock first. Then your message has somewhere to go.Simplicity scales. Forget the fluff. The most effective campaigns are clear, precise, and emotionally resonant. Mike says, “The best ideas don't need paragraphs, they just need precision.” That's what made the “Assume That I Can” campaign so powerful: four words packed with meaning. Make your message easy to share and impossible to forget.Build stories people can see themselves in. If your marketing is talking at people, you've already lost them. Great content invites the audience into the story. Mike explains, “Connection and empathy really manifest when the person you're talking to sees themself in the story.” Whether it's about accessibility or enterprise software, lead with humanity. That's what makes people care.Quote*“ Data informs, but emotion transforms. And it's not that these are two mutually exclusive delivery mechanisms…it's really bringing data and emotion together. And as we saw in the “Assume That I Can” campaign, it was through the voice of somebody who had Down Syndrome. So we're constantly bringing in blind people or deaf people, or people who have mobility issues and letting them tell their story.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Mike Barton, VP, Corporate Communication & Content Marketing at AudioEye[01:13] Why the 'Assume That I Can' Campaign?[03:04] Mike's Role at Audio Eye[07:23] Breaking Down the 'Assume That I Can' Campaign[11:33] How to Make Your Content Accessible[15:13] B2B Marketing Takeaways from the Campaign[29:44] Addressing Belief Barriers in Marketing[31:58] Connecting Through Empathy and Storytelling[33:09] Marketing Strategy at Audio Eye[35:09] The Importance of Accessibility in Digital Experiences[36:02] Combining Data and Emotion for Impact[46:00] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Mike on LinkedInLearn more about AudioEyeAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.
In the Pit with Cody Schneider | Marketing | Growth | Startups
Join me as I chat with Yoann Pavy, the growth mastermind behind AI Apply and ex-Deliveroo & Depop head of growth.Timeline 00:00 – AI tooling's golden age (and why it's overwhelming) 00:31 – Introducing Yo, the “most gangster” consumer marketer I know 00:45 – What you'll learn: short‑form content, paid ads, automations 01:23 – Sponsor: Talent Fiber makes offshore hiring effortless 02:12 – Yo's creative AI spotlight: VO3 videos & gorilla vlogs 04:46 – Humans vs. AI avatars in paid videos (spoiler: humans still shine) 07:20 – Building your creator pyramid with Sideshift & Shortimize 10:00 – Automating code changes via “Jarvis” in Slack 14:38 – Scaling organic content: thousands of posts, not dozens 18:00 – Product‑channel fit: build the media first, product second 20:30 – Automating international growth: 20+ languages in weeks 24:00 – Filtering AI noise: focus on what's already working 27:15 – The biggest gap: corporate brands vs. startup agilityKey Points • AI creatives are exploding—VO3 videos hit millions of likes fast. • Human spontaneity still outperforms AI‑only videos—for now. • Slack‑based AI agents (“Jarvis”) deploy code, update copy, spin up PRs. • Automate localization: add new languages weekly without human translators. • Scale organic distribution by multiplying creators and formats. • Product‑first mindset flips: media channel drives features. • Startups win by sprinting on AI while corporates stall in red tape.Deep‑Dive SectionsCreative AI in Paid Ads Verdict:
Chris Cunningham, founding member of ClickUp, reveals the social media strategy that drives a staggering 150M monthly impressions. This is *the* exact strategy that's also attracted major clients like VaynerMedia (yes, GaryVee literally found them through social media).Grab your notes.
YouTube & Video Ads Praxis-Vorlagen gratis? ➔ Hier laden: https://xhauer.com/downloads-podcastWEBINAR "Die 3 Schritte zur vollen Pipeline durch LinkedIn" ➔ Hier anmelden: https://xhauer.com/webinar-podLerne die verschiedenen Formate für YouTube und LinkedIn Video-Ads kennen, um maximal Nachfrage und Vertrauen in eurer Zielgruppe aufzubauen.Wenn du neu auf meinem Kanal bist:Mein Name ist Michael Asshauer. Ich bin Gründer und Geschäftsführer von XHAUER. Mein Team und ich helfen jeden Tag Anbietern im komplexen und technischen B2B, ihre Pipeline mit guten Verkaufsgelegenheiten zu füllen. Durch eine systematische Kombination aus Performance- und Content-Marketing. Ganz ohne Bunte-Bildchen-Marketing, sondern datengetrieben nach dem Grundsatz “Do more of what works”.Ein paar Fakten für dich, wie ich hierher gekommen bin und welche Reise ich auf diesem Kanal dokumentiere:25 Jahre: Gründung meines ersten Technologie-Unternehmens Familonet25 Jahre: Abschluss meiner Studiengänge Volkswirtschaftslehre, Betriebswirtschaftslehre und International Business (Hamburg & Melbourne)28 Jahre: Ausgründung unserer B2B-Software-Entwicklungsagentur onbyrd 30 Jahre: Übernahme unserer Unternehmen durch den Daimler-Konzern (heute Mercedes-Benz Group AG)31 Jahre: Gründung meiner Business-Content-Plattform “Machen!”32 Jahre: Gründung meines Performance-Recruiting-Unternehmens Talentmagnet (und anschließender Verkauf)34 Jahre: Gründung unserer B2B-Marketing-Agentur & Beratung XHAUER, gemeinsam mit Paula.Heute: Paula, unser Team und ich sind auf dem Weg, eine der besten B2B-Agenturen & Beratungen weltweit aufzubauen.Auf diesem Kanal teile ich alle Erkenntnisse, Learnings und Best Practices aus Tausenden Kampagnen offen mit dir, sodass du sie für euer Marketing anwenden kannst.Für B2B-Marketing, das die Pipeline füllt.Dein Michael Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#264 Async Work | In this episode, Dave is joined by Ashley Faus, Director of Lifecycle Marketing at Atlassian, and Dr. Molly Sands, Head of the Teamwork Lab at Atlassian. Ashley brings deep experience in cross-functional B2B marketing leadership, while Molly leads a team of behavioral scientists designing better ways for teams to collaborate. Together, they unpack how Atlassian has rethought marketing org structure, internal comms, and meetings to drive higher output with fewer syncs.Dave, Ashley, and Molly cover:The framework Atlassian uses to reduce meetings and communicate asynchronously (including how to structure updates that actually get read)How to balance transparency with clarity and avoid information overload across Slack, Loom, and ConfluenceTactical ways to structure team rituals, recurring meetings, and brainstorms to focus on output, not performative busyworkYou'll walk away knowing how to run a leaner, more effective marketing team (without drowning in Slack and Zoom).Timestamps(00:00) - – Intro (03:34) - – Why marketers showed up live: too many meetings, too little output (06:34) - – Meet the guests: Ashley Faus and Dr. Molly Sands from Atlassian (09:04) - – What “Team Anywhere” means at Atlassian (11:04) - – The difference between information sharing and real connection (13:34) - – Why marketing updates often fall flat internally (15:34) - – How to communicate clearly inside the org (and get your message read) (19:04) - – Structuring updates: topic, who it's for, action, context (22:04) - – When you need a meeting vs. when async works better (26:04) - – “Sparring” meetings: real-time collaboration between equals (28:34) - – What actually builds team connection (hint: not team happy hours) (32:50) - – Async tools Atlassian uses across marketing (35:20) - – Getting quiet team members to contribute in meetings (37:50) - – How Atlassian runs recurring team rituals without wasting time (41:50) - – Cross-functional alignment: structure, scorecards, and shared goals (44:50) - – Best practices for async tools like Loom and Confluence (47:50) - – Do brainstorming meetings even work? Here's when they do. (50:50) - – What to share with non-marketers (and what to skip) (53:50) - – Why creating focus is the most underrated leadership skill (55:50) - – Final takeaways from Ashley and Molly Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.comJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today's episode is brought to you by Zuddl.We're halfway through 2025, and one thing's clear: events continue to be one of the highest performing marketing channels. Niche meetups, conferences, curated dinners, networking - you name it. Everyone's leaning in.Events are a core part of our playbook this year at Exit Five. So far, we've hosted two virtual sessions each month, one large virtual event, one in-person meetup, and we're deep in the weeds planning our Drive conference coming back to Vermont this September.Zuddl helps us run a smarter event strategy - from driving registrations, managing invites, automating comms, reminders, analytics, tracking. Their Salesforce integration also makes it simple to report on pipeline and revenue from events without pulling in ops.On top of that, the differentiator with Zuddl is how their team is insanely good at supporting us. They always go above and beyond for us - and that's how we've been able to keep the momentum going with 12+ events already this year, with plenty more to come.If events are part of your marketing strategy, you need to look at Zuddl to see how companies like Zillow, CrowdStrike, and Iterable are using the top event platform for Business events in 2025. Head over to zuddl.com/exitfive to learn more.
Verkaufen an Geschäftskunden - Vertrieb & Verkauf - Mit Stephan Heinrich
Marketing und Vertrieb - zwei Abteilungen, die oft gegensätzlicher nicht sein könnten, aber doch Hand in Hand arbeiten sollten. Beide haben das gleiche Ziel: den Erfolg des Unternehmens zu steigern. Doch warum gibt es so häufig Reibungen zwischen diesen Bereichen? Und wie kann man dieses Zusammenspiel effizienter gestalten? Mit einer geschickten Verzahnung und der richtigen Strategie gelingt es, aus potenziellen Kunden treue Geschäftspartner zu machen und langfristig abzuschöpfen. Spannungsfeld zwischen Marketing und Vertrieb: Historisch bedingt blicken beide Bereiche auf eine lange Geschichte der Missverständnisse zurück. Gemeinsame Strategieentwicklung: Wohlüberlegte Pläne, die beide Abteilungen aktiv einbeziehen, schaffen Synergien und fördern das beiden so wichtige Wachstum. Datengetriebene Entscheidungen: Erfolge lassen sich messen und auf diese Weise verbessern. Aber wie setzt man diese Erkenntnisse klug um? Technologie als Brückenbauer: Moderne Tools verschmelzen die oft getrennten Welten von Marketing und Vertrieb zu einer harmonischen Einheit. Der Faktor Mensch: Zwischenmenschliche Beziehungen innerhalb des Teams und zu den Kunden sind häufig entscheidender als jede Strategie. Praxisbeispiele aus dem B2B-Bereich: Unternehmen, die den Einklang zwischen beiden Abteilungen perfekt beherrschen, als Vorbild. Persönliche Erfahrungen und Beobachtungen: Aus der Vielzahl an Projekten kann man lernen, worauf es wirklich ankommt. Am Ende bleibt die Frage: Sind sie bereit, effektives Marketing umzusetzen? Für tiefere Einblicke und praktische Tipps besuchen Sie unseren Blog und werden Sie Teil einer neuen Ära im B2B-Marketing: https://stephanheinrich.com/digitale-neukundengewinnung/vertriebsmarketing/
Webinar Praxis-Vorlagen gratis? ➔ Hier laden: https://xhauer.com/downloads-podcastWEBINAR "Die 3 Schritte zur vollen Pipeline durch LinkedIn" ➔ Hier anmelden: https://xhauer.com/webinar-podLerne alle Bausteine kennen, die zum Erstellen eines Webinars nötig sind, um nahezu sicher Kundenanfragen daraus zu erhalten.Wenn du neu auf meinem Kanal bist:Mein Name ist Michael Asshauer. Ich bin Gründer und Geschäftsführer von XHAUER. Mein Team und ich helfen jeden Tag Anbietern im komplexen und technischen B2B, ihre Pipeline mit guten Verkaufsgelegenheiten zu füllen. Durch eine systematische Kombination aus Performance- und Content-Marketing. Ganz ohne Bunte-Bildchen-Marketing, sondern datengetrieben nach dem Grundsatz “Do more of what works”.Ein paar Fakten für dich, wie ich hierher gekommen bin und welche Reise ich auf diesem Kanal dokumentiere:25 Jahre: Gründung meines ersten Technologie-Unternehmens Familonet25 Jahre: Abschluss meiner Studiengänge Volkswirtschaftslehre, Betriebswirtschaftslehre und International Business (Hamburg & Melbourne)28 Jahre: Ausgründung unserer B2B-Software-Entwicklungsagentur onbyrd 30 Jahre: Übernahme unserer Unternehmen durch den Daimler-Konzern (heute Mercedes-Benz Group AG)31 Jahre: Gründung meiner Business-Content-Plattform “Machen!”32 Jahre: Gründung meines Performance-Recruiting-Unternehmens Talentmagnet (und anschließender Verkauf)34 Jahre: Gründung unserer B2B-Marketing-Agentur & Beratung XHAUER, gemeinsam mit Paula.Heute: Paula, unser Team und ich sind auf dem Weg, eine der besten B2B-Agenturen & Beratungen weltweit aufzubauen.Auf diesem Kanal teile ich alle Erkenntnisse, Learnings und Best Practices aus Tausenden Kampagnen offen mit dir, sodass du sie für euer Marketing anwenden kannst.Für B2B-Marketing, das die Pipeline füllt.Dein Michael Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Marketing isn't just about pushing a product anymore. If you want to resonate, you need to think creatively, act authentically, and know when to take the spotlight off the brand and onto the people behind it.That's the magic of Jim Henson, where artistry meets innovation, and characters become cultural icons. In this episode, we tap into that enduring creative power with the help of our special guest, Adam Kranitz, Chief Marketing Officer at Resilio.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from narrative consistency, egoless collaboration, and why it's time to stop making “content” and start telling stories that actually matter.About our guest, Adam KranitzAdam leads the marketing organization at Resilio, responsible for demand marketing, brand, and corporate communications. He is an experienced technology marketing leader with expertise in building and leading global marketing teams and strategies that grow revenue, increase product adoption, and build mindshare with competitive differentiation.Adam has led vision, strategy, and execution for all facets of B2B technology marketing, aligned with sales teams, for publicly traded technology firms, including Avid (NASDAQ: AVID) and Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX), and SaaS start-ups, including CloudCheckr (acquired by NetApp) and LucidLink.Adam's customer-centric marketing approach has recently produced industry leadership recognition for his companies with a G2 Leader Report for Cloud File Storage and category leader in Cloud Management Wave report by Forrester Research.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Jim Henson Idea Man:Entertainment first, selling second. Jim Henson's early commercials didn't start with a coffee can—they started with chaos, characters, and charm. Adam puts it plainly: “Do we wanna beat people over the head with the technical benefits of the product, or do we wanna entertain and educate our prospects?” The goal isn't to pitch—it's to engage. Use storytelling to earn attention before you explain the value.Narrative consistency pays off. Kermit hasn't changed. Neither should your core brand story. “If we haven't landed our message and are consistently delivering it over time, through multiple channels… what have you created?” Adam asks. Like the Muppets, your brand needs to adapt across formats but stay true to character. A consistent voice builds trust—and keeps you top of mind.Let your experts do the talking. Your audience doesn't want to hear from the brand. They want to hear from the people behind it. “Nobody wants to see an AI talking head avatar… You've got smart people in your organization, it's your job as marketers to coach them up.” For Resilio, spotlighting their CTO, CPO, and CEO on LinkedIn unlocked real results. Empower your experts. That's who your buyers want to meet.Quote*“The best part of my job is when I get to get on a platform like this and do a video interview with one of our customers… and then they kind of unprompted will talk about how much they love Resilio… That magic moment where it clicked for them—that is just magic.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Adam Kranitz, Chief Marketing Officer at Resilio[00:56] Why Jim Henson Idea Man?[04:01] The Role of CMO at Resilio[05:31] Origins of Jim Henson Idea Man Documentary[13:07] The Creative Genius of Jim Henson[25:14] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Jim Henson[38:37] The Power of Serialized Content[42:49] The Importance of Video in Modern Marketing[52:59] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Adam on LinkedInLearn more about ResilioAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.
In the Pit with Cody Schneider | Marketing | Growth | Startups
In this episode, Adam Silverman — co-founder & CEO of Agent Ops — dives deep into what “AI agents” actually are, why observability matters, and the very real marketing & growth automations companies are shipping today. From social-listening bots that draft Reddit replies to multi-agent pipelines that rebalance seven-figure ad budgets in real time, Adam lays out a practical playbook for founders, heads of growth, and non-technical operators who want to move from hype to hands-on results.Guest socials• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamsil•
#263 Marketing Strategy | Dave is joined by Jason Lyman, CMO at Customer.io, a customer engagement platform used by over 7,500 companies. Jason has led marketing at Dropbox, BetterCloud, and now heads a 30-person team driving growth across both PLG and sales-led motions.Dave and Jason cover:How to structure a B2B marketing org for scale, alignment, and channel ownershipWhy events are their #1 channel and how creative formats drive real pipelineThe KPI + OKR system they use to prioritize work and measure marketing's impactYou'll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to design your team, focus your strategy, and invest in channels that actually drive results.Timestamps(00:00) - – Intro (02:34) - – What Customer.io does and who they serve (03:34) - – Growth story: from bootstrapped to private equity-backed (05:34) - – Team size and breakdown of the 30-person marketing org (07:34) - – Balancing PLG and sales-led within one team (09:34) - – How the org is structured: focus teams vs. centers of excellence (11:34) - – Aligning team goals to sales motions and funnel stages (13:34) - – How Customer.io prioritizes internal marketing requests (15:34) - – Avoiding the “who bangs the table loudest” trap (16:34) - – Cross-functional alignment with sales and product (18:34) - – KPI vs. OKR: how Customer.io uses both (22:50) - – Examples of key KPIs for the business (24:50) - – How OKRs cascade across the org (26:50) - – Why structured goal setting leads to better marketing impact (28:50) - – What channels are working: events are back (29:50) - – Examples of creative event formats that build community (31:50) - – Building pipeline without pitching at events (33:50) - – How Customer.io defines and tracks long-term influence (36:50) - – The decline of SEO and rise of AI-influenced buying (38:50) - – Why positioning is more important than ever (40:50) - – Product and marketing alignment in a modern org (42:50) - – Selling both the product and the roadmap (43:50) - – Jason's one wish for marketers: better customer data (45:50) - – Personalization, adaptability, and breaking through the noise (46:50) - – Closing thoughts Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.comJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today's episode is brought to you by Zuddl.We're halfway through 2025, and one thing's clear: events continue to be one of the highest performing marketing channels. Niche meetups, conferences, curated dinners, networking - you name it. Everyone's leaning in.Events are a core part of our playbook this year at Exit Five. So far, we've hosted two virtual sessions each month, one large virtual event, one in-person meetup, and we're deep in the weeds planning our Drive conference coming back to Vermont this September.Zuddl helps us run a smarter event strategy - from driving registrations, managing invites, automating comms, reminders, analytics, tracking. Their Salesforce integration also makes it simple to report on pipeline and revenue from events without pulling in ops.On top of that, the differentiator with Zuddl is how their team is insanely good at supporting us. They always go above and beyond for us - and that's how we've been able to keep the momentum going with 12+ events already this year, with plenty more to come.If events are part of your marketing strategy, you need to look at Zuddl to see how companies like Zillow, CrowdStrike, and Iterable are using the top event platform for Business events in 2025. Head over to zuddl.com/exitfive to learn more.
What if you could scale meaningful relationships—without sacrificing authenticity? In this second part of my conversation with Patrick McCullough, President of Hallmark Business Connections, we talk about how B2B companies can use tools like AI and ChatGPT to enhance personalization without losing the heart of what matters: trust, care, and connection.Patrick shares how companies are balancing automation with empathy and gives practical advice for leaders who want to deepen relationships with customers, employees, and partners—even in fast-paced or high-volume environments.We also explore what makes Hallmark's approach so unique: they don't just help brands say the right things—they help them mean it. If you're wondering how to bring more purpose and humanity into your day-to-day business practices, this episode is for you.
Databox is an easy-to-use Analytics Platform for growing businesses. We make it easy to centralize and view your entire company's marketing, sales, revenue, and product data in one place, so you always know how you're performing. Learn More About DataboxSubscribe to our newsletter for episode summaries, benchmark data, and moreIf you've ever had to defend your brand marketing budget – or wondered if it's even worth the investment – this episode is a must-listen. Peep Laja, CEO of Wynter, breaks down the practical realities and long-term impact of brand marketing. Peep uses data and research to explore why so many companies are stuck in the “sea of sameness,” how to measure (and justify) brand marketing ROI, and why building memory structures – not capturing clicks – is the real goal of B2B marketing.Plus, Peep shares the one brand marketing move most B2B companies get totally wrong – and what to do instead.What you'll learn:How to invest in brand marketing that drives resultsHow to invest in brand marketing that drives resultsWhy creating a sub-category is a smarter play than category creationHow to actually measure the impact of brand awarenessHow to educate your CFO on brand marketing budgets and timelinesWhy distinctiveness, not uniqueness, is the goal
In this episode of Women in B2B Marketing, host Jane Serra sits down with Natalie Cunningham, a two-time SaaS CMO, former agency leader, and one of LinkedIn's most refreshingly honest voices in marketing.Natalie's journey from rural Tennessee to the C-suite is packed with lessons on resilience, leadership, and pushing past “professional” expectations. She opens up about what it really means to step into a CMO role, lead through rebrands, and advocate for yourself—without shrinking your voice.Jane and Natalie explore:The real difference between being a VP and a CMO (beyond the title)How to lead with honesty and impact, even when it comes with riskWhy rebrands fall apart after the “fun part”—and how to avoid itThe power of healthy conflict and treating peers as your first teamHow being vocal on LinkedIn can cost you... and why it's still worth itWhy “managing a team is like parenting” is a tired (and harmful) tropeThe importance of community when you're the only woman in the roomKey Links:Guest: Natalie Cunningham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliercunningham/Host: Jane Serra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeserra/ ––Like WIB2BM? Show us some love with a rating or review. It helps us reach more women marketers ready to take the mic.
Oftentimes, B2B buyers have a list of vendors in mind before they've even started the purchase process. So how can brands make sure they're on that list and increase their chances of winning the deal? In this week's episode of the B2B Marketing Podcast, Kavita Singh, Head of Growth Solutions Content, B2B Marketing spoke with Matt Hicks, the Strategy Director at Lesniak Swann to unpack this very topic. They dive into how brands can build early awareness through standout content and thought leadership, which channels are most effective, and what metrics actually matter. Plus, if you want to find out what NOT to do in order to get on the purchasing shortlist, stay tuned until the end where Matt explains a very common mistake.
Is your B2B marketing burning cash instead of building real growth? Get the no-fluff framework that turns scattershot tactics into revenue wins! Uncover the key shifts around strategy, value, and ROI that fuel consistent results.And don't forget! You can crush your marketing strategy with just a few minutes a week by signing up for the StrategyCast Newsletter. You'll receive weekly bursts of marketing tips, clips, resources, and a whole lot more. Visit https://strategycast.com/ for more details.==Let's Break It Down==05:32 "Marketing Pillars: ROI, KPIs, Strategy"09:40 "10x ROI Strategy Blueprint"10:56 "Factors Affecting ROI Measurement"17:13 Finding Value Propositions in Business21:07 The Challenge of Differentiation23:01 Strategies for Business Differentiation28:19 "Marketing Strategy Essentials Guide"30:29 "Strategic Marketing Pillars Importance"35:10 Optimizing Website for Lead Generation==Where You Can Find Us==Website: https://strategycast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategy_cast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strategycast==Leave a Review==Hey there, StrategyCast fans!If you've found our tips and tricks on marketing strategies helpful in growing your business, we'd be thrilled if you could take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover how they can elevate their business game!
EPISODE SUMMARY Join scientist and mindset & high-performance coach Claudia Garbutt and marketing expert Lori Turner-Wilson, as they discuss the B2B marketing revolution. In this episode, we talk about: - Guaranteeing marketing ROI - Finding the metrics that matter - Fighting learned helplessness EPISODE NOTES Lori Turner-Wilson is disrupting the marketing agency industry by delivering guaranteed ROI. An international best-selling author in the U.S. and U.K. with The B2B Marketing Revolution, she's the powerhouse behind RedRover, one of the only full-service B2B marketing agencies in the U.S. guaranteeing client ROI. Links: marketingresultsguaranteed.com/podcast https://www.linkedin.com/company/redrover-company/ https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fredrovercompany https://www.facebook.com/RedRoverCompany/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz2YGG4C6bcHZYzuk1kR5ng https://www.instagram.com/redrovercompany/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/redrover/ ------------ Click this link to listen on your favorite podcast player and if you enjoy the show, please leave a rating & review: https://linktr.ee/wiredforsuccess ------------------ Music credit: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue) ----------------- Disclaimer: Podcast Episodes might contain sponsored content.
Some of the best campaigns don't come from massive budgets or high-gloss production. They come from leaning into what feels real. Currys' Gen Z ads are a perfect example: low-fi, deadpan, and unexpectedly brilliant.In this episode, we're unpacking what made this retail campaign a breakout success with the help of our special guest David Hooker, Director of Brand at Printful and Printify.Together, they explore what B2B marketers can learn from embracing scrappy creativity, building brand affinity over awareness, and trusting that great content doesn't need to sell a product—it just needs to make people care.About our guest, David HookerDavid Hooker is the Director of Brand at Printify and Printful. He's an experienced Creative Director and Brand Manager. Built the Prezi Evangelism and Creative Services teams. Seasoned speaker, including TED-X Talk (see below). David built the Brand and PR function at TravelPerk, securing coverage in Wired, TechCrunch, Sky News, Al Jazeera, Financial Times, Business Insider, Handelsblatt, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and the BBC. He's currently helping empower entrepreneurs at Printify and Printful. What B2B Companies Can Learn From Currys' Gen Z ads:You don't need a big budget to make standout content. Some of the most impactful marketing doesn't come from a fancy studio—it comes from a phone camera, an employee, and a smart idea. David says, “You don't have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to make really good, great content that works.” Don't wait for budget approvals. Focus on originality and execution.B2B still means you're selling to people. Behind every buying committee is a group of humans—ones who laugh, scroll, and crave connection just like everyone else. David says, “You are B2B, but that B is a population of people… you can create great quality content that brightens up people's day, that generates awareness and an affinity for your brand.” Lead with humanity, not just logic.Ignore the naysayers—go make something people love. Not every campaign needs to hit every KPI to be worth doing. Sometimes the boldest ideas face the most resistance—and deliver the most impact. David says, “I'm sure there was someone in the meeting room… who went, ‘How are they gonna know where our stores are?' But the naysayer was wrong. If you make really great quality content that people connect with, enjoy—it's going to do good things for your marketing.” Make the thing. Publish the thing. Let the audience prove it out.Quote*“ You don't have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to make really great content that works. Investing in the content and the quality of the content always pays off… Your B2B, but that B is a population of people, right? You've got an ecosystem of decision makers, but they're all human beings at least for the moment…You can create great quality content that brightens up people's day, that generates awareness and an affinity for your brand, without spending a lot if you focus on the content itself.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet David Hooker, Director of Brand at Printify and Printful[01:08] Why Currys' Gen Z ads?[02:35] The Origin Story of Printful and Printify[09:32] The Power of Merch[13:38] The Demand for Personalization[24:11] Understanding the Currys' Gen Z Ad Campaign[33:11] B2B Marketing Lessons from the Gen Z Currys' Ads[40:41] Authenticity in Advertising[52:21] Advice for Brand Leaders[54:26] Importance of Visual LiteracyLinksConnect with David on LinkedInLearn more about PrintifyLearn more about PrintfulAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Kate Mackie, EY partner and the author of July's Bigeye Book Club selection "B2B Marketing Fundamentals," explores four pillars of success: brand, reputation, relationships, and revenue. Kate discusses why brand matters in B2B Marketing, managing complex buyer journeys, leveraging AI for connected data, and translating marketing impact into business language. Kate shares her proven strategies for building stronger B2B brands and driving measurable revenue outcomes.
Get an inside scoop into the marketing priorities of global enterprise, Cisco. Their fearless leader, Rebecca Stone, comes on the podcast to discuss her approach to data, and their ambitious project to integrate all internal data sources into a unified platform for every team. We also discuss Rebecca's unique approach to team structure, where a unique matrix ensures a high level of productivity all of the time. The FINITE Podcast is sponsored by Clarity, a full-service digital marketing and communications agency. Through ideas, influence and impact, Clarity empowers visionary technology companies to change the world for the better.
#262 Content Strategy | Dave sits down with Chelsea Castle, Head of Content and Brand at Close. Chelsea talks about her experience in B2B SaaS and shares how to build impactful content that resonates with your audience.Chelsea and Dave cover:How leveraging internal and cross-functional knowledge can create a content goldmineWhy it is important to repurpose podcast episodes, webinars, and other media into multiple forms of content to maximize their valueStrategies for integrating SEO with authentic, valuable content that resonates with your audience, beyond just ranking for keywordsTimestamps(00:00) - - Intro to Chelsea (01:34) - - Merging Brand and Keyword-Driven Content (01:35) - - Aligning Brand and Content Strategy with Your Goals (01:42) - - New Content Channels for B2B (01:46) - - How to Measure Content Engagement (02:08) - - LinkedIn for B2B (02:12) - - Chelsea's Experience at Chili Piper (02:17) - - Improving Content for Podcasts (02:22) - - Driving Website Traffic Through Brand Content Strategy (02:22) - - Skyscraper SEO Content Strategy (02:30) - - How to Craft a Brand Strategy (02:31) - - How to Grow Using Gated Content (02:33) - - How to Maximize Search Impact Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.comJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today's episode is brought to you by Zuddl.We're halfway through 2025, and one thing's clear: events continue to be one of the highest performing marketing channels. Niche meetups, conferences, curated dinners, networking - you name it. Everyone's leaning in.Events are a core part of our playbook this year at Exit Five. So far, we've hosted two virtual sessions each month, one large virtual event, one in-person meetup, and we're deep in the weeds planning our Drive conference coming back to Vermont this September.Zuddl helps us run a smarter event strategy - from driving registrations, managing invites, automating comms, reminders, analytics, tracking. Their Salesforce integration also makes it simple to report on pipeline and revenue from events without pulling in ops.On top of that, the differentiator with Zuddl is how their team is insanely good at supporting us. They always go above and beyond for us - and that's how we've been able to keep the momentum going with 12+ events already this year, with plenty more to come.If events are part of your marketing strategy, you need to look at Zuddl to see how companies like Zillow, CrowdStrike, and Iterable are using the top event platform for Business events in 2025. Head over to zuddl.com/exitfive to learn more.
In this episode Cam has more thoughts on AI and despite the title, it is moderately interesting. Dave has a rant about the way SaaS businesses lie about pricing and how B2B marketing can and perhaps should be edgy.
Drop us a message!In this week's podcast episode, we cover topics such as how AI is changing the B2B Marketing landscape and why human-first marketing matters just as much for consumers as it does for professionals. Special guests for this episode include; Eden Bitton, Chief Marketing Officer for a Fintech company, as well as Michelle, our Head of Social from the Giraffe team.Want to be featured on the pod? Drop us a voice note on Instagram at @GiraffeSM.
Joe Mindak is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of Noladex, a community-driven B2B marketing tech platform designed to turn networking and referrals into real, trackable income. With a background spanning marketing, media, and craft beer, Joe has built and sold businesses across multiple industries—and knows firsthand how relationships and word of mouth drive sustainable growth. His latest venture is all about helping people and communities get paid for the value they already create through their networks. On this episode we talk about: – Joe's first dollar as a paperboy and how early hustles shaped his entrepreneurial mindset – The origin story of Nolodex and how Joe turned casual referrals into $85,000 in side income—then built a platform to help others do the same – How Nolodex enables networking groups, alumni associations, and communities to track, manage, and monetize B2B referrals – Why high-ticket affiliate marketing and referral deals can be a game-changer for anyone with a strong network – The importance of double opt-in introductions and the rules of effective networking – The difference between being a visionary and an operator—and why Joe always partners with strong operators to scale his ideas – Lessons from building and selling businesses in wildly different industries, from local magazines to craft beer to SaaS – Why entrepreneurship is best learned in the trenches, and the value of apprenticeships over traditional education – How to leverage existing relationships to create new income streams, especially in today's economic climate Top 3 Takeaways 1. Monetize What You Already Do: If you're already making introductions and referrals, you can turn that value into real income with the right system. 2. Network Smarter, Not Harder: Focus on high-value B2B referrals, track your deals, and use double opt-in intros to ensure everyone wins. 3. Bring in the Right People: You don't need to be good at everything—partner with operators and experts so you can focus on your strengths. Notable Quotes – “I made $85,000 in referral fees in 40 hours of work—just by connecting people I already knew.” – “If you're a good referral giver, why not get paid for the value you create?” – “Every conversation is an opportunity—someone always needs something. Just ask.” Connect with Joe Mindak: – Platform: https://www.nolodex.com/
Show Resources Reach out to Ian Nelson on LinkedIn Ian's Website Join the LinkedIn Ads Fanatics community and get access to our 4 courses to take you from beginner to expert Rate/Review Contact us with any questions, suggestions, corrections! Summary Think lead magnets are outdated? Think again. In this episode of The LinkedIn Ads Show, AJ Wilcox is joined by lead magnet expert Ian Nelson to uncover the secret sauce behind the viral comment-to-get lead magnet trend taking over LinkedIn. You'll learn why it's exploding right now, how top creators are building them weekly using AI, and how to turn all that engagement into real sales opportunities. If you want to grow your LinkedIn presence and fill your calendar with qualified leads, this is one episode you can't afford to miss. Show Transcript For the full show transcript, see the show notes page here: Episode 162
What does it take to make a B2B show that lasts 150 episodes—and gets better with age?In this special milestone episode, co-hosts Ian Faison, CEO of Caspian Studios, and Meredith Gooderham, Head of Production at Caspian, reflect on the lessons, mistakes, surprises, and joys of building Remarkable over the last few years. From behind-the-scenes pivots to favorite creative risks, this candid conversation offers a meta-view into what makes B2B content stand out—and what happens when you treat your show like the most important product your marketing team will ever build.Whether you're a longtime listener or just tuning in, this episode is packed with real talk, marketing takeaways, and a few inside stories about what it takes to create content that connects.What We've Learned From Creating 149 Episodes: Original ideas are harder—but worth it. Great content almost always starts with one person pushing an idea through resistance. From Murder in HR to documentary-style storytelling, the best creative work came from taking risks and backing a vision—despite obstacles or skepticism.Passion beats polish. The most compelling episodes are when guests bring personal enthusiasm for a topic—whether it's fishing, Formula 1, or reality TV. That energy translates into richer insights, better marketing takeaways, and more authentic conversations.B2B content doesn't have to look like B2B. Audiences crave genres they already love—like comedy, true crime, or documentary. When B2B brands stop copying each other and start tapping into broader content formats, they unlock massive creative potential.Quotes“ I would do this show if nobody listened because it's so valuable for me to talk to other brilliant marketing people about what inspires them, because it inspires so much of my own creativity.”“ It takes conviction to be able to sell a big idea, and big swings make big hits. And that happens over and over and over again.”“ Playing it safe is not safe.”“ It's so cool to find out what people are excited about outside of work, but also to combine that with their expertise and see what lessons they can draw from it. And how they're using their personal life in their professional life and vice versa has been super cool.”Time Stamps[01:10] Reflecting on 149 Episodes[02:44] Lessons From Creating Great Content[08:29] Partnering for Success[10:55] Taking Risks in Marketing[14:53] Takeaways from 149 Episodes[35:57] Mistakes and Lessons Learned[46:30] Guest Booking Insights[48:24] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Ian on LinkedInConnect with Meredith on LinkedInAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.
In this episode of Confessions of a B2B Entrepreneur, Sam Dunning, host of Breaking B2B, interviews Tom Hunt, CEO and founder of Fame, to uncover the actionable steps for building a 7-figure B2B service business. Tom outlines a practical, six-step framework for growth, starting with gaining expertise by working in an existing B2B company and securing the first client. He stresses the critical role of sales, defining it as one-on-one influence, and provides a simple four-step sales conversation framework to fast-track learning. As the business scales, Tom highlights the importance of strategically delegating operations through effective hiring and system building, identifying the least liked or easiest tasks to outsource first. Finally, he discusses smart marketing investments, advocating for demand-driven channels like Google Ads and SEO to capture clients actively searching for services.
In this episode, Guy Bauer — founder and creative director of Umault — breaks down the three essential ingredients that make B2B video ads actually work. Guy kicks things off with an exciting personal update: he's making his first feature film, documenting the journey on YouTube under the playlist Guy Makes a Movie. Then, he dives into the core topic: #1 - Characters with a Point of View Guy explains how memorable B2B ads feature characters who stand for something - with a strong belief, purpose, or perspective that drives the story. Whether they're representing the old way or the new way, their convictions fuel engagement. #2 - One Message Forget packing in 42 “key” messages. The best ads have a single, clear takeaway - one idea, powerfully expressed. Guy uses the Palms Casino's “From Dust to Gold” campaign as a brilliant example of sticking to a singular message. #3 - Conflict Compelling stories need friction. Conflict - whether it's character versus character, versus nature, or even an outdated system - gives the audience a reason to keep watching. Without conflict, you're basically selling paper towels, and nobody cares.
#261 AI & Creativity | In this episode, Dave is joined by Mark Schaefer, marketing strategist, keynote speaker, and author of 11 books, including his latest, Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World. Mark has spent decades studying the intersection of marketing, tech, and human behavior, and his ideas have helped reshape how B2B brands think about relevance, creativity, and differentiation in a noisy digital world.Dave and Mark cover:Why playing it safe is the biggest threat to B2B marketers in the AI eraHow to create marketing that actually connects by disrupting the story, the channel, or the storytellerReal examples of B2B brands ditching “best practices” and standing out with emotional, human-first marketingYou'll come away with a fresh perspective on how to stay relevant, creative, and impactful, especially as AI becomes a bigger part of your marketing stack.Timestamps(00:00) - – Intro (03:34) - – Why most marketing is boring (08:04) - – The danger of “best practices” (12:04) - – Why AI is amplifying bad marketing (15:34) - – The rise of raw, lo-fi, human content (18:34) - – What AI can't replicate: shared experiences (22:04) - – Fear, risk, and the big brand trap (25:34) - – Using AI to enhance, not replace, creativity (31:50) - – The real framework behind Audacious (34:50) - – B2B examples that break the mold (40:20) - – Why now is the time to stand out (44:50) - – Making bold marketing happen inside your org (49:20) - – Liquid Death, Nutter Butter, and brand disruption (53:50) - – B2B doesn't mean boring (57:50) - – The one question every marketer should ask Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.comJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today's episode is brought to you by Zuddl.We're halfway through 2025, and one thing's clear: events continue to be one of the highest performing marketing channels. Niche meetups, conferences, curated dinners, networking - you name it. Everyone's leaning in.Events are a core part of our playbook this year at Exit Five. So far, we've hosted two virtual sessions each month, one large virtual event, one in-person meetup, and we're deep in the weeds planning our Drive conference coming back to Vermont this September.Zuddl helps us run a smarter event strategy - from driving registrations, managing invites, automating comms, reminders, analytics, tracking. Their Salesforce integration also makes it simple to report on pipeline and revenue from events without pulling in ops.On top of that, the differentiator with Zuddl is how their team is insanely good at supporting us. They always go above and beyond for us - and that's how we've been able to keep the momentum going with 12+ events already this year, with plenty more to come.If events are part of your marketing strategy, you need to look at Zuddl to see how companies like Zillow, CrowdStrike, and Iterable are using the top event platform for Business events in 2025. Head over to zuddl.com/exitfive to learn more.
Struggling with misalignment between your marketing and sales teams? You're not alone. Many organizations face friction when these critical teams operate in silos—leading to missed opportunities, wasted resources, and slower growth.In this webinar, we uncovered actionable strategies to bridge the gap between marketing and sales, ensuring seamless collaboration and revenue growth.
Real Beats Robotic: Why Your Voice and Face Matter More Than Ever-Are you tired of all the AI-generated content flooding your inbox and feed? You're not alone—and your prospects feel it too.In this episode of the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast, I share why showing your real face and voice in videos and podcasts is one of the most powerful ways to build trust today.If you're an industrial brand or a B2B company trying to stand out, it's not about saying more—it's about showing up more authentically.I break down:Why polished, perfect content doesn't build relationships anymoreHow to get started with videos or podcasts even if you feel uncomfortable on cameraTools (like Descript) that make editing easy without losing your natural toneAnd how to turn one simple video into weeks of quality contentWhether you're a marketing leader or a business owner, this episode will help you rethink content—and give you a simple plan to build real connections with your audience.Episode Breakdown:• 00:00 Introduction: The Shift from Content to Trust• 00:58 The Evolution of Marketing Strategies• 02:36 The Power of Podcasting and Videos• 03:25 Overcoming Barriers to Creating Content• 04:34 Building Authentic Relationships Through Video• 05:14 The Role of AI in Modern Marketing• 07:58 Getting Started with Podcasts and Videos• 14:21 Repurposing Content for Maximum Impact• 21:14 Conclusion: Embracing Realness in MarketingWhat You'll Walk Away With:• The #1 mindset shift industrial companies need to build trust today• A low-pressure way to get started with podcasts and videos• How to stop overthinking and start connecting• The secret to creating less content that delivers more value• A breakdown of how one video = 5+ valuable content piecesReady to grow with quality marketing?If this episode sparked an idea or helped you take that first step, I'd love your support:Subscribe to our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@WorldInnovators* Leave a quick review or comment* Share this with one colleague or client who needs to hear itLet's help more companies grow with honest, helpful, and human marketing.
Sponsorships aren't just about slapping your logo on something anymore. If you want to make an impact, you need to think bigger, bolder—and know when to step into the driver's seat.That's the appeal of F1 sponsorships, where precision meets pageantry, and brand integration is as strategic as the race itself. In this episode, we tap into that high-speed energy with the help of our special guest, Ondar Tarlow, marketing consultant for action sports. Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from global sponsorships, smart storytelling, and knowing when to go all in—and when to walk away.About our guest, Ondar TarlowOndar Tarlow has over 20 years of experience in marketing and branding. He's known for engaging audiences through data-driven insights and witty, creative storytelling to achieve results. He has been leveraging AI to boost campaign performance results by 5x with propensity models and cutting production time by 75% using Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Adobe Firefly, all while upholding IP standards.As Chief Marketing Officer at Kinecta Federal Credit Union and Pacific Premier Bank, he spearheaded award-winning campaigns that resulted in over $1.7 billion in product volume and tens of thousands of new customers. These successes earned him industry recognition, including Diamond Awards for brand awareness and a Top 100 Marketer award.Currently, Ondar serves as a marketing consultant for motorsports, financial, and lifestyle brands, partnering with organizations like Fast Lane Drive. His passion for motorsports, including attending 11 Formula 1 races worldwide, inspires his focus on high-performance teamwork and precision. Ondar's sponsorship expertise - demonstrated through collaborations with the LA Chargers, LA Galaxy, Anaheim Ducks, Luft 10 (Porsche), and BeachLife Music Festival - highlights his ability to connect brands with their ideal target audiences. Ondar holds a BA in Psychology from California State University, Northridge, and has earned digital marketing certifications from UCLA and trained with the American Red Cross in Crisis Communications and Media Relations. Ondar is also dedicated to community development, serving on the board of Junior Achievement, which provides youth with financial education and career readiness tools.What B2B Companies Can Learn From F1 Sponsorships:Don't just show up—integrate. It's not enough to slap your logo on something and call it a day. True brand partnerships go deeper. “Really any company that can afford it, can get a logo. But when you're doing a true brand integration like Oracle has done with Red Bull, that's really where things can pay off.” The ROI comes from relevance, not just visibility. Think about how your product can become part of the story.No plan, no payoff. As Ondar puts it: “Plan, plan. plan. And then data, data, and data.” B2B marketers must tie sponsorships to broader company strategy from the very beginning. That means aligning with your CEO and CFO, knowing what problem you're trying to solve, and figuring out how to measure impact—before you sign the dotted line.Go niche to go big. F1's PacSun collaboration proves you don't have to outspend Rolex to make an impact. You just need the right story. “They really thought about it... and what they've been able to create is an interest in F1 from this demographic.” By focusing on Gen Alpha and teenage girls, PacSun built a new fanbase and drove fashion sales—without buying trackside banners. In B2B, the same principle applies: niche audiences, well-served, can generate outsized returns.Quotes*“You have to test. There's going to be periods of time where you're gonna do something new, and you can't be afraid to fail…When you're finding out something that's working, then you need to double down and you need to take the risks. You need to take those risks and move forward with them. Things that aren't working, don't marry yourself to them. Figure out what you need to tweak and then continue to test. Marketing is not an exact science.”*“ Plan, plan, plan, and then data, data, and data. So first off, the plan is you have to make sure you're aware of what the strategy is of the company that you're with. And if you're a CMO, you're obviously responsible for the marketing strategy, and you should have a seat at the table as part of developing the strategy as far as the company, in a whole. So that's first off, and then understanding exactly what the challenge is, and then how are you going to be able to come up with a solution based on the decisions that you're making based on brand integration. And then from there is what data can you capture and how can you utilize that data so that you can drive metrics and those reporting metrics to show exactly what the benefit is of the partnership is that you're involved with.”*“ Brands can really leverage [figuring] out what the storyline is. To get the human aspect to it. And I think that that is a great opportunity for brands to look at is that if they're gonna invest in a driver or they're gonna invest in a team is what personalities are making up that team there.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Ondar Tarlow, marketing consultant for action sports. [01:07] Why F1 Sponsorships?[02:59] Ondar's Background[04:50] The Rise of F1 in the US[06:34] Understanding F1 Sponsorships[11:28] ROI on F1 Sponsorships[15:03] Drive to Survive: Impact on F1[18:08] Anatomy of an F1 Sponsorship Deal[24:47] The High Stakes of F1 Sponsorships[28:25] The Appeal of F1 Events[29:32] Strategic Brand Integration in F1 Sponsorships[36:34] The Importance of Planning and Data in Sponsorships[40:53] Leveraging F1 Storylines for Brand Success[45:06] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Ondar on LinkedInAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.
In the Pit with Cody Schneider | Marketing | Growth | Startups
In this episode, Sandra Dajic, Head of Marketing at Chatbase, dives deep into the world of "vibe marketing"—a movement at the intersection of growth, automation, and AI tooling. She shares how she's building AI-powered workflows to supercharge her marketing efforts, from automated ad competitor dashboards to visual content generation using GPT-4. With a background in both VC-backed and bootstrapped startups, Sandra outlines practical strategies for creating a marketing engine that feels like a team of 100—run by just one person.Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: The 100x marketer and automation trend 01:40 - Sandra's AI-powered marketing workflows 04:45 - Automating ad analysis with Lovable, Make.com, and GPT 09:12 - Why “vibe marketing” matters now 13:20 - How to scale marketing without engineering resources 16:45 - Building "AI Ninja": Sandra's personalized marketing agent 21:05 - Using AI to streamline press, partnerships, and outreach 27:50 - How Sandra accelerated visual design workflows using GPT-4 31:00 - The power of personal brand and founder-driven marketing 34:15 - Sandra's experiments with LinkedIn growth strategies 39:22 - Automating content and measuring marketing effectivenessKey Points:Vibe marketing = combining growth strategy with AI automationSandra built a custom dashboard to track and analyze ad creatives across platformsTools used: Lovable for browser agents, Make.com for workflows, GPT-4 for automationAI agents streamline repetitive marketing tasks: outreach, content, visuals, competitor trackingEmphasis on storytelling, personal brand, and focusing on one validated channel at a timeSandra shares tactical tips for LinkedIn growth and content structuringAI enables solo marketers to match output of large teams, affordably and fastNotable Quotes:“I want to automate everything that I don't love doing. My job is to tell the story of the product.” – Sandra Dajic “If you define your workflow, AI can scope the rest. That's the vibe marketing unlock.” – Host “Personal brand is your biggest asset as a founder—it's the one thing that sticks.” – Sandra DajicGuest Links: • X: @takotreba • LinkedIn: Sandra Dajic
Welcome to another episode of the Elite Expert Insider Podcast! In today's episode, host Jenn Foster sits down with seasoned entrepreneur Jared Rosenthal—a trailblazer in the healthcare industry and founder of Health Street, known for its iconic “Who's Your Daddy?” DNA testing truck and its influence on a VH1 reality show. Jared shares the story of his entrepreneurial journey, from managing 400 employees in the corporate world to launching a unique mobile DNA and drug testing service that grabbed headlines and changed the industry. You'll hear how Jared leveraged eye-catching branding and clever marketing strategies to build his company from the ground up, as well as his insights into the ongoing challenges and solutions for entrepreneurs—especially in the ever-evolving world of software, onboarding, and digital marketing. Jared and Jenn dive into the importance of SEO, adapting to new technologies like AI, and why understanding your audience is the key to business growth.
#260 Product Marketing | Dave is joined by Matt De Vincentis, VP of Product Marketing at Atlassian. With a background that spans engineering, product marketing, and leadership at companies like VMware and Palo Alto Networks, Matt shares how Atlassian structures its product marketing team, prioritizes work, and stays tied to business outcomes, even at massive scale.Dave and Matt cover:How Atlassian connects product marketing to revenue and pipeline (and why PMMs need to “own the outcome”)How to build high-trust, high-impact marketing teams, drawing on lessons from firefighting and enterprise leadershipThe async work philosophy Atlassian uses to eliminate unnecessary meetings and increase productivity across a global teamWhether you lead a team or want a seat at the table, this episode breaks down how to structure, scale, and lead product marketing the Atlassian way.Timestamps(00:00) - – Intro (03:04) - – Matt's path from engineer to Atlassian VP (06:19) - – Why technical backgrounds can be both a strength and a curse in PMM (10:04) - – What product marketing looks like at a $5B company (11:04) - – “Own the outcome, not the task”: tying PMM to revenue (13:24) - – Why product marketers should care about pipeline (even if they don't own it) (14:49) - – How brand and creative marketers can still align to business outcomes (17:19) - – Measuring inputs vs. outcomes (and how to stay focused on the right one) (18:04) - – How Matt applies firefighting lessons to leading marketing teams (19:44) - – Triaging “fire drills” and protecting your team's focus (21:34) - – How to prioritize ruthlessly (and what real prioritization means) (24:04) - – From IC to VP: how your mindset and responsibilities shift (28:35) - – Why leaders should double down on strengths—not fix weaknesses (30:50) - – How self-assurance became Matt's superpower as a leader (33:50) - – The StrengthsFinder approach Matt uses with his team (35:50) - – The value of executive coaching for marketing leaders (37:20) - – The goal: build the best marketing team anyone's worked on (38:50) - – Why trust and 10x thinking unlock great marketing work (41:20) - – Where product marketing sits inside Atlassian's org (42:50) - – How Atlassian uses Loom and async work to eliminate unnecessary meetings (45:20) - – What qualifies as a real meeting at Atlassian (46:50) - – Why async work helps global teams move faster (49:50) - – How Atlassian balances async with intentional in-person gatherings (51:50) - – Why trust changes how Slack and email are interpreted (52:35) - – How Atlassian thinks about AI's role in marketing (54:50) - – Why it's hard to stand out in an “AI-washed” market (56:05) - – Matt's mission: help make work suck less (57:20) - – Final thoughts and wrap-up Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.comJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today's episode is brought to you by Zuddl.We're halfway through 2025, and one thing's clear: events continue to be one of the highest performing marketing channels. Niche meetups, conferences, curated dinners, networking - you name it. Everyone's leaning in.Events are a core part of our playbook this year at Exit Five. So far, we've hosted two virtual sessions each month, one large virtual event, one in-person meetup, and we're deep in the weeds planning our Drive conference coming back to Vermont this September.Zuddl helps us run a smarter event strategy - from driving registrations, managing invites, automating comms, reminders, analytics, tracking. Their Salesforce integration also makes it simple to report on pipeline and revenue from events without pulling in ops.On top of that, the differentiator with Zuddl is how their team is insanely good at supporting us. They always go above and beyond for us - and that's how we've been able to keep the momentum going with 12+ events already this year, with plenty more to come.If events are part of your marketing strategy, you need to look at Zuddl to see how companies like Zillow, CrowdStrike, and Iterable are using the top event platform for Business events in 2025. Head over to zuddl.com/exitfive to learn more.
AI-native startups are outpacing legacy SaaS companies across every metric—growth, product velocity, and market attention. In this episode, Sam, Asad, and AJ unpack why the GTM landscape is shifting fast. They dive into the resurgence of IPOs, the rise of rollups, and the cultural edge AI-first teams have when it comes to speed, experimentation, and brand building. Thanks for tuning in! New episodes of Topline drop every Sunday and Thursday. Don't miss GTM2025 — the only B2B tech conference exclusively for GTM executives. Elevate your 2026 strategy and join us from September 23 to 25 in Washington, D.C. Use code TOPLINE for 10% off your GA ticket. Stay ahead with the latest industry developments and emerging go-to-market trends with Topline Newsletter by Asad Zaman. Subscribe today. Tune in to The Revenue Leadership Podcast every Wednesday, where host Kyle Norton talks with real revenue operators and dives deep into what it takes to succeed as a modern revenue leader. You're invited! Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders, share insights, and keep the conversation going beyond the podcast! Key chapters: (00:00) - Introduction (01:43) - Market Overview and Current Trends (05:52) - The Impact of AI on Business Dynamics (11:37) - Navigating the Challenges of SaaS vs AI Companies (17:25) - M&A Activity and IPO Market Insights (23:25) - Cultural Shifts in Tech Companies (29:23) - The Role of Social Media in Modern Marketing (35:33) - The Future of Go-to-Market Strategies (41:19) - Final Thoughts and Reflections
Some performances fade. Others stay with you for decades.Buena Vista Social Club is one of them. It isn't just a musical—it's a masterclass in resonance, memory, and experience.In this episode, we're pulling B2B marketing lessons from that spirit of storytelling with the help of Dan Lowden, Chief Marketing Officer at Blackbird.AI.Together, we explore why content should come first, how honesty builds brand resilience, and what it takes to create live experiences your audience will talk about for years.About our guest, Dan LowdenDan is the CMO at Blackbird.AI and leads the company's strategic marketing efforts, including demand generation and brand leadership. He has over 20 years of strategic experience at the executive level. He has served as CMO at cybersecurity firm HUMAN Security (acquired by Goldman Sachs), named one of the TIME100 Most Influential Companies of 2023. Lowden also served as the CMO at Digital Shadows (acquired by Reliaquest) and, before that, CMO at Invincea (acquired by Sophos) and VP of Marketing at vArmour (acquired by Night Dragon). He has held marketing leadership positions at Wayport (acquired by AT&T), IBM ThinkPad (acquired by Lenovo), NEC Technologies, and Sharp Electronics. Lowden holds an MBA in International Business from Rutgers Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science from Rider University.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Buena Vista Social Club:Content is the foundation—not an afterthought. Even in cybersecurity, content is king. Dan says, “My first hire was a content person. You can have the best ABM strategy or tools, but if you don't have really valuable content, you're not going to get anywhere.” His advice? Lead with education, not asks. Thoughtful reports, relevant use cases, and engaging narratives will earn your audience's attention—and their trust.Honesty builds brand resilience. When it comes to trust, marketing can't cut corners. Especially in high-stakes industries like cybersecurity. Dan says, “There's been a lot of overstatement of things by marketers and salespeople. That's when marketing takes a ding.” Instead, he urges CMOs to stay grounded: deliver real value, communicate with clarity, and show your audience you're in it for the long haul.Live experiences create a lasting impact. If you want your brand to be unforgettable, you need to create moments that move people. “People still come up to us today and say that band and that experience 10-plus years ago—they remember. There's not been anything like that,” Dan says, reflecting on a live concert his team produced. Whether it's a concert, a rooftop dinner, or a one-of-a-kind conference, remarkable experiences turn into word-of-mouth—and brand love that lingers.Quotes*“To me, in marketing—B2B or B2C—it's about creating a relationship, trust, even friendship, a community with your audience.”*"If you treat your customers well, if you serve them well, if you're honest with them… then you have a chance of being very successful as a company.”*“Music is really, really important, really powerful… as a marketer, especially in cybersecurity where there's 5,000 cybersecurity companies, you have to do something different. You have to stand out.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Dan Lowden, CMO at Blackbird.AI[03:42] The Magic of Live Theater[06:21] The Role of a CMO in Cybersecurity[10:23] Understanding Narrative Attacks[14:29] The Evolution of Narrative Intelligence[22:36] The Story Behind Buena Vista Social Club[28:31] The Power of Live Music in Marketing[30:33] Creating Remarkable Experiences[39:21] The Importance of Content in Marketing[45:05] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Dan on LinkedInLearn more about Blackbird.AIAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.
In this episode of the Confessions of a B2B Entrepreneur, host Tom Hunt chats with Mehdi Tehranchi from KnowledgeNet.ai, an AI expert and seasoned entrepreneur. They discuss how AI is transforming businesses by improving efficiency , turning knowledge into actionable insights , and optimising sales processes by combining internal and external data. Mehdi also highlights the crucial role of human critical thinking when utilising AI's power. The conversation delves into AI's ability to surface the right information at the right time and its use internally within businesses to get better results and improve business outcomes.
#259 Paid Ads | In this episode, Dave is joined by Pranav Piyush, founder and CEO of Paramark, a platform helping B2B marketers run real experiments to measure ad performance. Pranav brings a sharp point of view on attribution, channel performance, and how to actually prove what's working across your paid media mix.Dave and Pranav cover:Real-world results from 7 B2B ad campaigns, including branded search, YouTube, billboards, and Performance MaxWhy most marketers are misusing the word “test” and how to run true experiments with lift, control, and causalityHow even small teams can apply experiment design (on a $10K budget or less) to make smarter spend decisionsWhether you're managing a big budget or just getting started with paid campaigns, this episode will help you think more critically, and confidently, about where and how to invest in B2B marketing.Timestamps(00:00) - – Intro (03:08) - – Why Paramark pulled real data from 7 B2B ad campaigns (05:38) - – Attribution vs. experimentation: what most marketers get wrong (09:08) - – Correlation vs. causation explained (with a LinkedIn example) (11:53) - – How to run a real test (hint: you need a control) (13:08) - – Branded search test results: $1M+ saved, no performance loss (18:08) - – Why strong SEO makes or breaks branded search tests (19:08) - – Billboard test: how one brand proved real lift with out-of-home (22:38) - – What “digital out-of-home” looks like in B2B (24:08) - – YouTube ad tests: one big win, one big flop (28:19) - – How to run tests with small budgets ($500–$10K) (32:49) - – Connected TV (CTV) test results from a Series F SaaS brand (34:49) - – What happens when a multichannel test works—but isn't efficient (36:49) - – Paramark's Exit Five sponsorship test (real numbers shared) (40:19) - – Why content needs to drive short-term lift, not just long-term “brand” (43:19) - – How Pranav used LinkedIn to drive inbound from day one (45:19) - – Your attribution model is lying, give your audience more credit (46:49) - – When 7 ad tests fail in a row…and the 8th one works (48:19) - – Performance Max test: why it worked for one brand (50:19) - – How long to run a test? Use data, not gut (52:19) - – Bonus: Pranav's hiring playbook for his first marketing leader (56:19) - – Wrap up and final takeaways Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.comJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today's episode is brought to you by Knak. Email (in my humble opinion) is the still the greatest marketing channel of all-time.It's the only way you can truly “own” your audience.But when it comes to building the emails - if you've ever tried building an email in an enterprise marketing automation platform, you know how painful it can be. Templates are too rigid, editing code can break things and the whole process just takes forever. That's why we love Knak here at Exit Five. Knak a no-code email platform that makes it easy to create on-brand, high-performing emails - without the bottlenecks.Frustrated by clunky email builders? You need Knak.Tired of ‘hoping' the email you sent looks good across all devices? Just test in Knak first.Big team making it hard to collaborate and get approvals? Definitely Knak.And the best part? Everything takes a fraction of the time.See Knak in action at knak.com/exit-five. Or just let them know you heard about Knak on Exit Five.***Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.Visit hatch.fm to learn more
Trade shows are full of energy, great conversations, and promising connections — but too often, those leads go cold once the event ends. In this episode, I share a practical 3-step approach to help you turn those moments into momentum.Drawing on real-world experiences and conversations I've had with industrial teams, we'll walk through:How to pre-target the right audience so you're not just showing up — you're showing up prepared.Why onsite storytelling matters more than sales pitches.What it takes to do timely, personalized follow-up that actually moves the relationship forward.I'll also show you how tools like ChatGPT can help you and your team streamline these steps, making the post-show process faster, more consistent, and more human. Whether you're a solo marketer or part of a lean sales team, this episode will give you ideas you can use right away.Episode Breakdown:00:00 – The Trade Show Follow-Up Dilemma01:49 – Step 1: Audience Pre-Targeting05:06 – Step 2: Onsite Storytelling10:06 – Step 3: Post-Event Follow-Up11:03 – Leveraging AI for Effective Follow-Up15:51 – The Importance of Timely Follow-Up17:39 – Final Thoughts and Real-Life ExampleIf you'd like help setting up your own AI follow-up strategy, I offer 1:1 sessions and team training that's tailored to your goals. Let's make your next trade show your most productive one yet.* Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-peterson-world-innovators* Visit World Innovators: https://www.worldinnovators.com*** Watch on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldInnovatorsAnd don't forget to hit subscribe to stay inspired and make your marketing more meaningful.I'm thrilled to be speaking at FABTECH 2025, September 8–11 in Chicago!This is where the brightest minds in manufacturing come together. Join me for four days of learning, inspiration, and connection.Grab your 20% off conference pass now with code SPEAK20!https://i.snoball.it/p/ksiGQ/s/2
In the Pit with Cody Schneider | Marketing | Growth | Startups
In this episode, I chat with Niels Klement (Head of Growth, Perspective) about how “app-feel” mobile funnels—with quiz questions, instant personalization, and 1-second load times—are crushing the old landing-page model. We dig into paid-ads math, creative iteration, and why a single 90-second video can double your business. Perfect for agencies, SaaS founders, and anyone chasing dollar-in → five-dollars-out predictability.Timestamps00:00 – Intro & why most builders fail on mobile01:00 – Perspective's path to €10 M ARR / 6 000 customers02:30 – From web-design agency to quiz-funnel SaaS06:00 – Interactivity, sunk-cost bias & personalization09:30 – Page-speed math: 5 s vs 1 s loads12:30 – Designing funnels that feel like native apps17:30 – Best-fit customers: agencies & B2B teams22:00 – Paid ads vs organic: guaranteed distribution27:00 – Creative ops: turning 1 ad into 100 variants33:00 – Dog-fooding Perspective to grow Perspective38:00 – AI, “vibe-marketing,” and small-team scale42:00 – Free 14-day trial & closing remarksKey Points (to skim fast)Mobile-first, one-page apps load ~1 s and behave like IG Stories.Quiz/configurator flows lift conversions and qualify leads.1 s load time ≈ 2.5× conversion—that's a $1 M → $2.5 M funnel without extra spend.Paid ads = best first lever for predictable, measurable growth.Creative flywheel: launch 100 assets, kill 98, scale the 2 that print money.Dog-food advantage: marketing uses Perspective daily, feeding product loops.Notable Quotes“A 90-second ad can change the trajectory of your entire business.” – Niels Klement“Remove the right friction—interactive questions—and conversions jump.” – Niels Klement“Paid traffic is guaranteed distribution. If the math works, keep printing customers.” – Niels KlementQuick Funnel FrameworkCraft an irresistible offer (free trial, template, case study).Map the funnel steps backward from that goal.Add interactive questions to personalize and pre-qualify.Obsess over load speed and mobile UX.Measure, prune, scale—let data pick winners.Guest SocialsLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nielsklement/ Perspective – https://www.perspective.co/
In this episode of Women in B2B Marketing, host Jane Serra chats with Kim Tran, a full stack marketing leader who helped take Gimmal to a successful exit as Head of Marketing and Business Development.Kim's path into marketing was anything but linear. She started in First Amendment law before building a career focused on growth, brand transformation, and operational rigor across fintech, edtech, and data governance. With a background in psychology and a clear-eyed view of how teams and businesses scale, Kim shares the mindset shifts and tactical lessons that shaped her journey.Jane and Kim explore:Why marketers need to become financial and data stewards to earn trust and influenceHow to market marketing internally and build advocates across the orgWhat it really takes to modernize a legacy brand without losing its coreHow to approach marketing during an acquisition and speak to buyers, not just customersThe importance of protecting your team's emotional and mental bandwidthHow to pitch yourself and take up space, especially as a woman in leadershipWhy failing safely is more realistic than failing fastKey Links:Guest: Kim Tran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimtrandc/Host: Jane Serra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeserra/ ––Like WIB2BM? Show us some love with a rating or review. It helps us reach more women marketers ready to take the mic.
Some stories don't need to be loud to leave a mark. Ordinary People is one of those films—a quiet, deeply human story that lingers long after the credits roll. It's not flashy, but it's unforgettable.In this episode, we're pulling marketing lessons from Robert Redford's directorial debut with the help of our special guest Ruth Zive, CMO of Voices.Together, they explore what B2B marketers can learn from telling emotionally resonant stories, leading with creative conviction, and knowing when to step out of the spotlight to let the work speak for itself.About our guest, Ruth ZiveRuth Zive is the Chief Marketing Officer at Voices. Ruth is a skilled and metrics-driven marketing strategist who believes in evidence-based revenue growth through the coordination and alignment of marketing and sales processes. She has worked for two decades serving B2B clients in the technology, financial services, and nonprofit industries.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Ordinary People:Conviction is part of the job. Strong marketing doesn't come from consensus—it comes from clarity. Ruth says, “Marketing can sometimes devolve into a bit of a crowdsourced exercise. Everybody wants to edit your content or weigh in on the messaging… but we are the experts in marketing and we should make decisions accordingly.” Have conviction in your vision—and own the creative calls that matter.Tell the story of your customer's pain, not just the product. Emotional resonance starts with understanding your buyer's struggle. Ruth says, “The most resonant stories as a B2B marketer are the ones that start with the pain of the person that you're trying to touch. Ultimately, what you're doing is showcasing how you're going to get the prospect to the other side of that pain.” Lead with empathy, not just features.Stretch your team—and your story. Growth comes from pushing beyond the expected. Ruth says, “You never want your marketing to be a rinse and repeat proposition. You always want it to be a little bit provocative and unexpected.” Like casting Mary Tyler Moore in a dramatic role, bold choices unlock surprising results—creatively and commercially.Quotes*“Know your superpower. I talk about this a lot with my marketing colleagues. Robert Redford was the George Clooney of the day. He had very successful movies, he was a fantastic actor, but he was also a heartthrob. And that might have been a distraction in this story. I think that Robert Redford probably had some good self-awareness in that regard, and some of it might have been that he wanted to test his other skills and stretch into new domains for sure, but it might have been a distraction for him to have been the guy on the screen.”*“You don't need the biggest budget to have the biggest impact. [Robert Redford] didn't have to hire the biggest star, and yet, look at how the movie performed.”*“I think at the end of the day, the folks behind the brand, even in B2B marketing, creating the assets, writing the story, they are humans, and the folks that we are selling to are ultimately humans. And it is our job as the B2B marketers to make those people on the other side of the transaction feel something. That's what we are trying to do is get them to feel something. And there are a lot of different ways we can do that, but I believe wholeheartedly that it starts with the story. The story speaks to their pain. The story showcases how we are going to make that pain go away. It's a simple formula. But I think that if you lead with features and functions, then you've lost the plot.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Voices CMO Ruth Zive[01:30] About 'Ordinary People' the Movie[04:26] What We Learn From Robert Redford's Directorial Debut[08:21] Analyzing Characters and Themes[13:50] Marketing Lessons from the Movie[25:18] Casting Choices and Their Impact[26:51] Marketing Lessons from Unconventional Casting[29:15] Donald Sutherland's Unique Perspective[32:08] Authenticity in Marketing and Storytelling[38:43] The Future of Voice in Branding[44:30] Content Strategy and Vision Videos[47:40] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Ruth on LinkedInLearn more about VoicesAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.
In this special episode of Pipeline Visionaries, Ian Faison, CEO of Caspian Studios, breaks down the future of B2B content creation for 2025. He dives into frameworks and strategies, outlining the five methods of consumption and aiming for high quality that makes virality possible. He also dives into the difference between feeds, shows, and networks, giving case studies and examples and highlights the shift towards platform-specific content and the role of marketers as 'gardeners' in navigating walled gardens like YouTube and LinkedIn.Key Takeaways:There are five methods of consumption that marketers need to be thinking about: shorts, shows, medium form video, live entertainment and fiction. The format matches consumption. Shorts for scrollers, shows for subscribers, limited series for binges, live events for live learners, fiction for edutainment. A feed and a show and a network are three different things. Creating a network allows audiences to self-select into the content that they like. The optimal strategy for creating content to deliver it to your audiences, is for creators to create it and put it on the platform. Individuals, not brands.Quote: “ That's what we have to figure out - how do we maximize coverage for our target audience? And if you ignore methods of consumption or you ignore format, or you ignore hosts, you're inherently ignoring a subset of your population." Episode Timestamps: *(00:06) The future of B2B content in 2025*(01:42) Five methods of consumption*(07:52) Framework: feeds, shows, and networks*(16:38) We're all gardeners: accessing walled gardens*(17:38) The shift to creator-first content*(24:41) The importance of distribution and creativitySponsor:Pipeline Visionaries is brought to you by Qualified.com. Qualified helps you turn your website into a pipeline generation machine with PipelineAI. Engage and convert your most valuable website visitors with live chat, chatbots, meeting scheduling, intent data, and Piper, your AI SDR. Visit Qualified.com to learn more.Links:Connect with Ian on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios
Dave here. Interrupting the regular podcast feed for a 3 minute story and rant about why I love the job of marketing and what it might mean in a world where AI is advancing so rapidly and changing the role of marketing. Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.comJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today's episode is brought to you by Knak. Email (in my humble opinion) is the still the greatest marketing channel of all-time.It's the only way you can truly “own” your audience.But when it comes to building the emails - if you've ever tried building an email in an enterprise marketing automation platform, you know how painful it can be. Templates are too rigid, editing code can break things and the whole process just takes forever. That's why we love Knak here at Exit Five. Knak a no-code email platform that makes it easy to create on-brand, high-performing emails - without the bottlenecks.Frustrated by clunky email builders? You need Knak.Tired of ‘hoping' the email you sent looks good across all devices? Just test in Knak first.Big team making it hard to collaborate and get approvals? Definitely Knak.And the best part? Everything takes a fraction of the time.See Knak in action at knak.com/exit-five. Or just let them know you heard about Knak on Exit Five.***Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.Visit hatch.fm to learn more
Welcome to another episode of Elite Expert Insider! This week, Jenn Foster is joined by the insightful Luis Baez, a seasoned revenue strategist and sales coach whose impressive resume includes top names like LinkedIn, Google, Uber, and Tesla. In this episode, Luis dives deep into the world of personal branding, explaining why standing out as an individual is more important than ever amid the rise of AI and automation. He shares how he accidentally stumbled into the personal branding space—helping colleagues with their LinkedIn profiles—which eventually led to a thriving coaching business. Luis breaks down the essential mindset shifts necessary for building a brand that genuinely connects with others, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, human connection, and aligning your message with the value you deliver. He offers practical advice on blending automation with real human touchpoints, as well as tips on confidently pricing your services and creating repeatable revenue through signature frameworks.
#257 AI Strategy | Dave is joined by Kieran Flanagan, SVP of Marketing at HubSpot and former CMO at Zapier. Kieran is a rare blend of technical operator, creative strategist, and team builder. He's spent his career pushing the edges of B2B marketing, most recently through his work leading AI transformation initiatives at scale.Dave and Kieran cover:How AI is reshaping B2B marketing workflows, content creation, and team structureWhy the best marketers will specialize at the “outer edges” of creativity or technical execution (and what happens if you stay stuck in the middle)Kieran's leadership philosophy: how he manages 300+ people while staying deeply involved in creative executionWhether you're leading a marketing team or sharpening your own skills, this episode offers a clear look at how AI is changing the game and how B2B marketers can stay creative, strategic, and indispensable in the process.Timestamps(00:00) - – Intro (02:08) - – Kieran's marketing journey (04:08) - – His 2-year mission framework (06:08) - – Advice for early-career marketers (07:38) - – Why the grind still matters (09:08) - – Ireland's SaaS and startup scene (10:08) - – Balancing operator vs. manager (12:08) - – AI-generated “How to work with me” (14:38) - – Kieran's push-and-pull leadership style (16:08) - – Giving direct creative feedback (18:08) - – Why “collaborative brainstorms” fail (19:08) - – The value of strong opinions (20:08) - – Learning through tough feedback (21:08) - – ChatGPT as a creative partner (23:08) - – Claude vs. ChatGPT vs. Gemini (25:08) - – Prompting differences in GPT-3.5 vs. 4.0 (28:19) - – Decision fatigue and AI loyalty (29:19) - – Where AI is taking B2B marketing (30:19) - – From answers to actions (32:19) - – Micro-audiences and personalization (34:19) - – The return of branded traffic (35:19) - – Why AI reignited Kieran's spark (37:19) - – Avoiding AI-induced multitasking burnout (38:49) - – Deep work vs. whack-a-mole (39:49) - – Don Draper meets ChatGPT (40:49) - – Picking a lane: tech vs. creative (42:19) - – The value of podcasting practice (43:19) - – Building a prompt muscle (45:19) - – How Kieran trains GPTs (47:19) - – Prompting tips for marketers (48:19) - – The future CMO: part IC, part leader (49:19) - – How agencies will evolve with AI (50:19) - – In-person is back (51:19) - – Overrated AI use cases (52:19) - – Favorite tool: GenSpark (54:19) - – Mistakes marketers make with AI (55:19) - – Does anyone care if it's AI? (56:19) - – Lessons from fatherhood (57:19) - – Final thoughts and wrap-up Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.comJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today's episode is brought to you by Knak. Email (in my humble opinion) is the still the greatest marketing channel of all-time.It's the only way you can truly “own” your audience.But when it comes to building the emails - if you've ever tried building an email in an enterprise marketing automation platform, you know how painful it can be. Templates are too rigid, editing code can break things and the whole process just takes forever. That's why we love Knak here at Exit Five. Knak a no-code email platform that makes it easy to create on-brand, high-performing emails - without the bottlenecks.Frustrated by clunky email builders? You need Knak.Tired of ‘hoping' the email you sent looks good across all devices? Just test in Knak first.Big team making it hard to collaborate and get approvals? Definitely Knak.And the best part? Everything takes a fraction of the time.See Knak in action at knak.com/exit-five. Or just let them know you heard about Knak on Exit Five.***Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.Visit hatch.fm to learn more
Polish doesn't build trust—personality does. And no one understands that better than TikTok creators, who turn raw ideas into magnetic, shareable content every day.In this episode, we're pulling marketing lessons from TikTok's creative chaos with the help of Rhonda Hughes, award-winning B2B marketing leader.Together, they explore what B2B marketers can learn from leading with authenticity, embracing low-fi experimentation, and having the courage to make something truly original.About our guest, Rhonda HughesRhonda Hughes is a storyteller and connector of people and ideas with 18 years of experience helping brands engage their customers and audiences. She believes in creating value, not noise, and she has a knack for inspiring teams to push boundaries with fresh, fun, relevant content, campaigns, and programs. Rhonda's team's work has earned recognition from Mashable, Business Insider, Hubspot, Sprout Social, KISSmetrics, Content Marketing Institute, and snagged her a spot on North Bay's 40 under 40 “Ones to Watch” list, noted among the “Top 50 Women in Content”, and awarded for "Best B2B Campaign on TikTok."What B2B Companies Can Learn From TikTok Creators:Fun is a strategy—not a distraction. Brands win when they lean into playfulness—not just performance. “The brands that, to me, the companies that feel like they win are the ones that are really always putting their audience in the center and trying to figure out a way to be useful and be human and be playful,” Rhonda says. This kind of joyful creativity builds connection—and makes your brand memorable.Imperfect content is often the most relatable. Audiences don't crave polish—they crave authenticity. “The most engaging content isn't the most polished… you can tell that this was just a creative idea and somebody with their camera and they're rallying the folks internally around how they bring the story to life,” Rhonda says. “And that's part of what makes it so relatable and likable.” Let your audience in on the process, not just the finished product.Iterate like a creator. TikTok's best creators don't get stuck in strategy mode—they test, tweak, and try again. That mindset is essential for B2B marketers too. “TikTok creators are constantly iterating… they've gotta test formats and hooks and trends and sounds, and they have to move fast and be playful with this,” Rhonda says. The takeaway? Strategy doesn't mean overthinking. It means being in motion.Quotes*“You just never know what's gonna work. So you kind of have to be okay with trying and missing and trying again.”*“You want to build content that's gonna resonate with your audience and also be something they want to share.”*“If you're not enjoying what you're making, your audience probably isn't either.”*“It's not about going viral—it's about showing up over and over again.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Rhonda Hughes, Award-Winning Marketer[03:37] The Power of Authenticity on TikTok[06:00] Engaging Content Strategies[10:34] Spotlight on Successful TikTok Campaigns[16:16] Creative Marketing Examples[27:28] The Power of Authenticity in Social Media[29:37] The Bravery of Unique Marketing Strategies[30:33] TSA's Unexpected Social Media Success[32:39] The Importance of Fun and Experimentation in Marketing[42:03] Creating Value, Not Noise[43:37] The Utility of Content and Audience Engagement[50:03] Final Thoughts and Advice for Marketing LeadersLinksConnect with Rhonda on LinkedInAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.