73: Austin Hay - BS Marketing, Dogfooding and the future of CRMs
Sep 3, 2024
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Austin Hay, Co-Founder of Clarify, dives into the pitfalls of superficial marketing and the limitations of traditional CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce. He emphasizes the importance of authentic branding in a saturated market, warning against cringe-worthy tactics. The conversation explores 'dogfooding' and the necessity of truly understanding your product for future markets. Hay discusses how the marketing landscape is shifting towards less control, echoing strategies from decades past, and advocates for user-friendly CRM solutions that empower small businesses.
The shift to a probabilistic marketing landscape reflects a loss of control in audience targeting, reminiscent of marketing practices from the 1960s to 1990s.
Superficial marketing tactics, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn, arise from competition, hindering meaningful engagement and risking customer alienation.
Traditional CRMs are challenged by limitations in speed and automation, prompting a demand for more user-friendly solutions that enhance efficiency and insights.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Marketing in a Probabilistic Landscape
Recent changes in technology and privacy regulations are driving a shift back to a probabilistic marketing landscape, reminiscent of the marketing methods used between the 1960s and 1990s. This evolution signifies that marketers may no longer have the same level of control and precision in targeting audiences as they had in the past decade. The emergence of new channels and divergent strategies will be essential for businesses to adapt to these changes and successfully reach their target customers. As a result, marketers are encouraged to embrace creativity and explore new methods instead of relying solely on historical marketing practices.
The Importance of Direct Communication in Professional Relationships
Direct communication can often lead to misunderstandings, but it is crucial for efficiency and clarity in professional interactions. Many individuals may initially perceive a direct style of feedback as abrasive, but over time, they often appreciate the honesty and transparency that it fosters. Many face the challenge of balancing directness with sensitivity in their communications, particularly with new colleagues or clients. Effective communication can expedite problem-solving and maintain relationships, underlining the importance of understanding and adapting to others' preferences.
Challenges of Superficiality in Modern Marketing
The saturation of marketing channels, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, has created an environment where many marketing efforts lack depth and originality. The prevalence of content that aims for quick engagement can often overshadow meaningful insights or genuine interactions. Many marketers feel pressured to conform to trends and oversaturated tactics, leading to a homogenization of messaging that risks alienating potential customers. As businesses navigate this landscape, it's essential to identify fresh, authentic approaches to engage audiences effectively.
The Future of CRM Technologies
The contemporary landscape emphasizes the necessity for CRMs to become more user-friendly and accessible for smaller teams while scaling effectively with growth. Current major CRM platforms often struggle with speed and efficiency, creating substantial manual data entry and user frustration. In contrast, there's a growing demand for innovatively designed solutions that leverage AI and automation to assist users by extracting valuable insights and simplifying processes. The next generation of CRM systems will likely need to prioritize effortless user experiences over traditional hierarchical structures to remain competitive.
The Role of Branding in Product Development
Branding is increasingly seen as a vital component of product development, with successful brands relying on authenticity and clear messaging to connect with customers. The interaction between product quality, brand identity, and customer trust has become more pronounced, especially in industries reliant on customer engagement and loyalty. Organizations are encouraged to view their brand concurrently with their product offerings, recognizing that effective marketing strategies must evolve alongside product capabilities. A strong brand serves as a defensible advantage, facilitating growth and customer retention in a competitive marketplace.
Cringe Marketing, Dogfooding, and the limitations of Hubspot and Salesforce with Austin Hay, the Co-Founder of Clarify (CRM).
I talked with Austin on the rise of superficial marketing tactics and what they do to the importance of building a strong brand.
We discuss why Product Managers cannot ignore Marketing anymore and the value of good dogfooding in product development when everyone tells you to “listen to your customer”.
How to transition from being your own ideal customer to targeting a different market segment.
Takeaways
Marketing is moving from a deterministic approach to a more probabilistic approach, where marketers have less control and understanding of who and how to reach people.
The rise of superficial and cringe-worthy marketing tactics on platforms like LinkedIn is a result of increased competition and the need to stand out.
Traditional CRMs have limitations in terms of speed, data entry, and automation.
Sound Bites
"Marketing is moving back to the ways things were done in the 1960s to the 1990s, where you're not going to have as much control and understanding about who and how to reach people."
"We're just shifting market shares around without deriving value to the customer."
"You can be a really good dog fooder of your product, but you may not be the ideal ICP for your product in the future."
"The core product is never done. Whenever you add something else, it becomes a little bit worse, and then you need to repatch it up."
Chapters
08:12 The Rise of Superficial and Cringe-Worthy Marketing Tactics
13:55 The Importance of Building a Strong Brand
23:40 The Role of Marketing in Product Development
29:03 The Value of Dogfooding in Product Development
31:25 The Value and Challenges of Dogfooding
38:12 The Never-Ending Process of Product Development
39:07 Balancing Customer Feedback and Vision
53:46 The Limitations of Traditional CRMs
01:00:15 Introducing Clarify: Disrupting the CRM Market