[ Heart + Smart ] Blog by Authentic Brand - Marketing content for B2B growth organizations

07 Aug 2018

We fed 47 kids for a year!

We have been dreaming about this "next generation" event for months. It was so fun to bring a community of volunteers together that included so many kiddos. The Two Or More community of volunteers gathered at Feed My Starving Children in Eagan to pack food for kids in Haiti. With all hands on deck, we packed enough food for 47 children to eat for a full year! (more…)

30 Jul 2018

Rethinking the CMO Role for Growing Businesses

What’s the difference between a sinking building and a stable building? It comes down to the foundation. How a foundation is laid, and the materials used to do so will have a considerable impact on the durability of a building. In the same way, your marketing foundation will affect your business’s growth, sustainability, and lifespan. The most crucial part of this foundation is having a strong marketing leader in-house. But, when is the best time to bring in a marketing leader? (more…)

09 Jul 2018

Messaging Matters: Meet the leaders who are revitalizing their brands through buyer-centric messaging

There are any number of reasons that a company may revisit its brand and messaging approach, including: Changes to the business strategy, market focus, product or services mix, buyer demographics, leadership, and merger / acquisition activity. Whatever the motivation, the process of reshaping the brand narrative and supporting messaging can be a hefty undertaking. (more…)

01 Jun 2018

DenamiCON: The Future of AI and Marketing

Authentic Brand was recently back at DenamiCON - this time playing the role of sponsor, with Jennifer Zick - Authentic Brand CEO as emcee! What a treat to host a room full of insight-seekers for an afternoon of learning and conversation about Artificial Intelligence. (more…)

25 May 2018

We just invested 60 hours to help sustain our local parks

When we planned this "spring" event there was snow on the ground and we were only dreaming of flowers and sunshine. Little did we know it would be so warm and beautiful on May 24th. The Two Or More community of volunteers gathered at Lyndale Gardens in south Minneapolis to pull weeds, plant perennials, move rock (yeah, muscles!), and fill up on some much needed vitamin D. (more…)

16 May 2018

Marketing For Good: A Conversation with Amanda Brinkman

If you've been a member of the marketing community for any amount of time, you likely know the name Amanda Brinkman: Chief Brand and Communications Officer for Deluxe Corporation, and creator of The Small Business Revolution - Main Street. What a surprise and honor to be asked by Amanda - who I have admired for years - to be the inaugural subject of her series featuring interviews with strong female leaders. (more…)

07 May 2018

AI & The Future of Marketing: Four experts share their insight on artificial intelligence and its potential impact

In the marketing world Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a popular "buzz word". If you haven't spent much time researching AI, consider this blog your introduction to a topic you'll be hearing more about in the future. If you are like us, you don't want to be left behind when it comes to new technology and innovation. (more…)

01 May 2018

#EOSCONF18: A First-Timer’s Recap of A Conference For Companies Running on EOS

Many of you know that I am a long-time fan and user of EOS® - The Entrepreneurial Operating System. Last week, I had first-time encounter with the broader EOS community at #EOSCONF18, and it was fantastic! (more…)

20 Apr 2018

Huge DEBUT for Marketer’s Community: Martech & Lessons Learned From the Trenches

Well, that was fun! Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to participate as a panelist in the debut event for Marketers' Community - a new educational event series and networking group spearheaded by Laura King, the Twin Cities' most dynamic modern marketing recruiter. (more…)

22 Mar 2018

Jennifer Zick featured on Fjorge Podcast: Mind Your Own Marketing Business

I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on Fjorge's podcast series, where I chatted with Tim Barsness about Authentic Brand's origins, our Fractional Marketing Leadership offering, our approach to creating "So What" Messaging, and why Authentic Brand is uniquely well-equipped to partner with organizations who are powered by EOS® / Traction® to help build strong marketing muscle. Take a listen! (more…)