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

24May 2017 by Jennifer Zick

Let’s be friends: How sales and marketing can help each other

What can salespeople do to help marketers? And conversely, what can marketers do to support sales? I love this question because I've been on both sides. I cut my professional teeth in B2B sales before shifting my focus to marketing, and then marketing team leadership. I've experienced the tension between these departments, and the reality is that it doesn't have to be that way. So, here's a little bit of advice for both sides, from someone who gets it. (more…)

18May 2017 by Jennifer Zick

How Do We Get More Customers?

Marketing

“How do I get more customers or clients?” It sounds like a smart question, right? Because it's not asking "How do we get more leads?" but rather "How do we get more sales?", which should be the core metric of a growing business. But be careful here. We're living in an era of MORE. (more…)

18May 2017 by Jennifer Zick

Event Recap: DenamiCON17

Event

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of being included in the speaker lineup for DenamiCON17, an inbound growth-focused event, hosted by Denamico (Hubspot-certified partner) and MentorMate (software development firm). Missed the event? Watch the recorded live stream here, and follow along with my mini blog series below that provides my expanded perspective on the topics discussed. (more…)

15May 2017 by Jennifer Zick

Shocking But True: The Marketing Automation Disconnect

Brand & Messaging, Digital, Marketing

I'll never forget the day I realized just how huge the gap could be between expectation and reality, relative to marketing automation. I had recently taken a new job, after 13 years in sales and marketing for a fast-growth technology consulting start-up; a firm that specialized in CRM and marketing automation. My new organization was a contrast to my start-up experience in every way (more…)

05May 2017 by Jennifer Zick

The Hard Truth About Marketing Automation

Brand & Messaging, Digital, Marketing

It's one of the greatest misnomers of modern marketing: Marketing Automation. It's not a new term or technology. In fact, the pioneers in this space entered the market as early as 1999. And yet, despite its strong adoption and incredible growth (300 solutions added in just the past year - see graphic below), businesses large and small still struggle with what marketing automation actually means, and the level of commitment and resources required to manage an effective program. (more…)

26Apr 2017 by Jennifer Zick

Brace Yourself: It’s Marketing Conference Season

Brand & Messaging, Digital

It seems that every 18 months or so, the conversations around B2B marketing shift. The most obvious way to observe this evolution is through the themes and titles of marketing conference keynotes and breakout sessions. A few years ago, all the conferences were focused on social and mobile. More recently, inbound and content marketing have dominated the topic lists. Today, everyone's talking ABM, predictive analytics, and lifecycle marketing. And rumblings are picking up around artificial intelligence, machine learning, and virtual / augmented reality. (more…)

12Apr 2017 by Jennifer Zick

The Problem with Modern Marketing

Marketing

If you're in B2B marketing, you probably feel it. Something's not quite right. I felt it, too. In previous roles as a corporate B2B marketing leader, I spent nearly two decades building marketing programs and teams, sensing along the way that - though we were constantly innovating, producing great content, and growing our engagement numbers - we were missing the mark somewhere. (more…)

11Apr 2017 by Jennifer Zick

My Goal: Grace

Marketing

This post is not about B2B marketing, brand, content, data, or digital. This is just about me, being authentic with you. Because that's my brand, after all. And I'd like for you to know me. And my journey toward embracing grace. While I was still working as a corporate marketing leader, earlier this year, a younger female colleague approached me with a sincere question: "What are your big personal goals this year? What is driving you?" (more…)

06Apr 2017 by Jennifer Zick

B2B Marketing: The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Brand & Messaging, Digital, Marketing

Take it from someone who’s been there, done that in B2B marketing: The more things change, the more they stay the same. This idea is one of the reasons I’ve set out to build my business, Authentic Brand, to help B2B leaders and marketers guide their brands and teams - consistently, intelligently, and authentically - through whatever comes their way. Because, though change is fast and constant, one thing remains true: it’s always been about the customer relationship. (more…)