The Exit Five CMO Podcast (Hosted by Dave Gerhardt)

#208: Drive | How To Build A B2B Community with Dan Cmejla, B2B Community Expert

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Jan 6, 2025

In this discussion, Dan Cmejla, a B2B community expert and former VP of Community at Apollo and Chili Piper, shares his insights on building impactful B2B communities. He emphasizes how community marketing can transform brands by turning customers into advocates. Dan outlines three crucial phases for community development, from establishing a presence in key influence spaces to creating amazing community environments. He also touches on leveraging customer relationships to enhance engagement and drive measurable business outcomes.

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INSIGHT

Community Marketing Transformation

Community marketing transforms brands by turning customers into primary distribution points.
It shifts marketing from a 'through' instead of 'to' approach, leveraging customer relationships.

ADVICE

Building an Influence Map

Build an influence map by surveying customers about their media consumption and influential figures.
Ask customers which blogs, podcasts, social media platforms, and events they engage with.

ANECDOTE

Chili Piper's Pavilion Strategy

At Chili Piper, Dan sponsored individual memberships in Pavilion instead of a general sponsorship.
This strategy encouraged authentic advocacy from members who already loved the brand.

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This episode is from Drive 2024, our first-ever in-person event for B2B marketers in Burlington, Vermont. Dan Cmejla, B2B Community Expert and former VP of Community at Apollo and Chili Piper, shared actionable frameworks and three phases for building impactful B2B communities that drive brand growth and customer engagement.

Dan covers:

How community marketing transforms brands by turning customers into primary distribution points for your story.
Why it’s important to map influence spaces and leverage customer relationships.
Strategies to build a scalable advocacy journey that turns customer love into measurable business outcomes.

Timestamps

(00:00) - - Intro to Dan
(07:00) - - Community Marketing Transforms Brands
(10:08) - - Defining “Community” and “Community Marketing”
(11:48) - - Community Phase 1: Build Baseline Presence Across Spaces that Hold Relevant Influence
(22:48) - - Community Phase 2: Differentiate Presence Everywhere by Building more Brand Distribution Points
(35:53) - - Community Phase 3: Build Amazing Spaces That Hold Influence
(36:53) - - How to Determine your Community Strategy?
(37:23) - - How to Evangelize Across Communities?
(38:23) - - Q&A

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***

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