#205: Career | Do you really want to be CMO? Returning from Parental Leave, What's working in B2B marketing today with Amanda Natividad, VP of Marketing at SparkToro
Dec 26, 2024
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Amanda Natividad, VP of Marketing at SparkToro and a former journalist, shares her insights on balancing work and family after returning from parental leave. She discusses the evolving landscape of B2B marketing, emphasizing effective email strategies and optimizing LinkedIn for engagement. Natividad also reflects on career aspirations, the path to a CMO role, and the newfound joy of working as a team of one. Lastly, she highlights the importance of prioritizing happiness over financial gains in today's marketing environment.
Returning from parental leave can create feelings of insecurity and concern about one's relevance and impact within the workplace.
Career aspirations can shift dramatically after parenthood, leading professionals to value hands-on roles over traditional CMO positions.
Effective email marketing hinges on balancing consistency with content value, prioritizing quality engagements over frequency to maintain audience interest.
Deep dives
Lead Response Times
There is a significant delay in lead response times for B2B sales teams, with recent data indicating an average wait of one day, five hours, and 17 minutes for a response. This long delay risks losing potential customers, as buyers often move on to competitors shortly after submitting inquiries. The importance of timely follow-up cannot be overstated in the competitive landscape of 2024, where instant communication is expected. Automation of lead scheduling is necessary for companies to connect with potential customers quickly and efficiently.
The Challenges of Returning to Work
The transition back to work after parental leave can be fraught with challenges, particularly for marketing professionals who juggle multiple roles. One professional expressed concerns about leaving an extra burden on colleagues upon departure, highlighting the stress of ensuring their responsibilities were covered during their absence. Additionally, many returning to work experience apprehension about their relevance and impact within the company. This sentiment of being 'replaced' can linger, leading to insecurity in one’s role after a significant leave.
Rethinking Career Ambitions
Personal experiences can reshape career aspirations, particularly after becoming a parent. One individual reflected on their initial ambition to become a CMO at a large company but found greater satisfaction in hands-on marketing tasks instead of management. This shift in mindset encouraged them to prioritize roles that allow for creativity and direct contribution over traditional leadership positions. Ultimately, this reevaluation leads professionals to seek fulfillment in roles that align better with their values and working preferences.
Effective Email Marketing Strategy
An effective email marketing strategy balances consistency and value, with well-timed newsletters that provide insightful content to maintain engagement. Some companies limit the frequency of emails to reduce the risk of fatigue among recipients, opting for targeted messages that offer genuine value instead. They also emphasize the importance of cleaning subscriber lists regularly to ensure communication remains relevant and effective. Ultimately, quality over quantity governs successful email strategies, focusing on substantial content rather than merely filling quotas.
Leveraging LinkedIn for Engagement
A strategic approach to LinkedIn involves using company pages to share updates while personal pages amplify individual connections to the content. Effective engagement on LinkedIn is cultivated through zero-click content, which offers immediate value without requiring users to leave the platform. This method not only increases visibility but also enhances the likelihood of driving traffic to events such as webinars by embedding relevant links within valuable content. Ultimately, positioning engaging content alongside promotional materials can lead to significant growth in audience interaction.
Amanda Natividad is VP of Marketing at SparkToro. She's also a contributor for Adweek, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, and a former journalist. Dave and Amanda catch up after Amanda's return to work after having her second child, talk about trends they are seeing in B2B marketing today and what Amanda's seen work at SparkToro (including email strategy and LinkedIn). Plus they talk about the path to CMO - and why Amanda enjoys being a team of one.
Timestamps
(00:00) - - Webinar Promotion Without Links and Returning to Work After Maternity Leave.
(07:55) - - The Emotional Impact of Parental Leave.
(10:31) - - Navigating Career Paths in Marketing.
(14:01) - - SparkToro's Audience Research Tool and Growth Strategy.
(16:22) - - VP of Marketing at SparkToro: Managing Top-of-Funnel, Organics, and Events.
(21:02) - - Rethinking the pursuit of status in business.
(24:01) - - Contemplating financial gains and their true value.
(26:52) - - Prioritizing time over extra income for happiness.
(33:08) - -Transitioning from Consulting to Content Business: The Evolution of Exit Five.
(35:43) - - The challenges and potential rewards of solopreneurship.
(37:58) - - Navigating Hiring and Trust in a Small Team
(41:47) - - Strategic Email Marketing at Sparktoro: Balancing Frequency and Impact.
(44:48) - - Sparktoro's Email Strategy: Quality over Quantity and List Management Tactics.
(46:50) - - The challenge of balancing marketing strategies.
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