OnBase: Smashing Sales and Marketing Misalignments

In this episode of Sunny Side Up, host Robert Hall interviews Chris Shakarian, a startup marketing leader, about the world of strategic data assets and their impact on modern-day marketing. Shak believes that companies can gain an advantage in the market by leveraging the strategic data assets generated by customers using their products. Rather than just talking about the value delivered, showing it through data is more effective in a world oversaturated with content and advertising. Chris emphasizes the value of software as a means to gather data and provide actionable insights. One example he highlights is Gong, a call recording tool that collects voice data and performs meta-analysis to provide insights on talk ratios and business outcomes. He also acknowledges the threat of ChatGPT, a generative tool for marketers, but argues that critical thinking and the use of strategic data assets are still crucial for differentiation from competitors. Chris stresses the importance of embracing the concept of a strategic data asset and using it for an unfair advantage in the market. By finding unique data within the product, picking insights that align with buyers’ needs, and exposing it through static forms or real-time dashboards, companies can create a unique marketing strategy that draws people in rather than just “shouting from rooftops.” ⁠⁠Connect with Chris Shakarian⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn        

In this episode of Sunny Side Up, host Isaac Atashkar interviews Ryan Almond on the evolution of Account-Based Marketing and how ABM has changed over the past two decades. From a salesperson’s one-on-one customer relationship to leveraging technology for personalization and a better customer experience, Ryan explains how to scale an ABM strategy enterprise-wide. He suggests piloting it first, setting shared goals between sales and marketing teams, leveraging technology, and building the right strategy. Also discussed is the importance of starting small, scaling deliberately and incrementally, and having a strategy in place before implementing technology. They also introduce the concept of an “account-based enterprise,” which speaks to aligning all functions within an organization to provide customers with a first-class experience throughout their lifetime relationship with the company. Additionally, they discuss Artificial Intelligence, automation, and deflationary technologies that are aiding in this trend, as well as how companies such as Henkel have achieved success due to their long-term vision and focus on delivering value.  ⁠⁠Connect with Ryan Almond⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn

In this episode of Sunny Side Up, host Joe Delamere interviews David Levy, Vice President of America’s Marketing at Foundever, about the power of growth marketing and the importance of taking a data-driven approach to the customer life cycle, from acquisition to engagement and retention to revenue generation. David discusses how personalization is key and why companies must focus on understanding customer pain points to tailor campaigns that will reach customers with the right offers in the right channels at the right moments. He talks about strategies for account-based marketing and what it takes to create an effective narrative. He also discusses generative AI, marketing strategy, customer experience, and other topics related to understanding consumer psychology. Finally, he addresses why marketers should keep the macro-context in mind while creating messaging that resonates with buyers.  ⁠Connect with David Levy | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn

In this episode of Sunny Side Up, host Lisa Josephson interviews Marcus Lancaster, VP of Strategic Sales for Quad, who shares Quad’s journey from a family-owned printing business to a leading marketing solutions provider. They’ve expanded through organic growth and acquisitions, adding services like photography and content creation workflow solutions to stay relevant. Quad offers consulting and creation services throughout the marketing journey, and its 2023 brand campaign aims to raise awareness and highlight its unique approach. Marcus discusses Quad’s agile approach, focusing on analytics and audience curation to serve customers effectively. He stresses the importance of adapting to stay ahead, providing tailored solutions for success in the direct-to-consumer space. Marcus also advises career starters: to listen more, seek feedback, and embrace continuous learning. ⁠⁠Connect with Marcus Lancaster | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn

In this episode of Sunny Side Up, host Michael Malone interviews Clayton Ruebensaal on the topic of the obsession advantage and its importance in unleashing competitive edge and inspiration. Clayton, an experienced leader in marketing and analytics, shares insights on how obsession fuels the pursuit of extraordinary accomplishments, citing NASA’s success in getting a man to the moon. The conversation explores the challenge of getting different stakeholders on board with a singular mission, emphasizing the power of creating a unified focus on improving customer experience. Clayton shares how a focus on safety at Alcoa Aluminum Company led to better communication and accountability. The conversation also examines successful companies like Apple and Google that have chosen a central thought or identity as their key to success, emphasizing the advantages of a singular focus. Clayton also shares personal experiences at American Express during the pandemic, where focusing on helping businesses led to high ROI. ⁠Connect with Clayton Ruebensaal | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn

On this episode of Sunny Side Up, host Rory Costello talks with Benjamin White, VP of Business Development at Ironscales, about his successful career building a sales team in cybersecurity. Ben emphasizes the importance of creating a familial culture, personalization in outbound sales communication, and hiring and training efficient business development representatives (BDRs). He also discusses the challenges of working remotely and provides tips on overcoming isolation through daily standup meetings, continuous learning, and supportive team culture. Ben stresses the significance of asking questions as a leader and embracing continuous learning for personal and professional growth.         ⁠Connect with Benjamin White⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn

In this episode of Sunny Side Up, host Devan Cohen interviews Amy Vosko, VP of Revenue Marketing at PathFactory, about sales and marketing success in today’s market. She emphasizes the importance of technology to bridge gaps between teams and align resources. Amy also highlights the need for both sales and marketing to target audiences and prove their methods through a methodical BO process. She advocates for a holistic approach to account-based marketing (ABM) and emphasizes the importance of using smart signals for effective decision-making. ABM can be used to retain and expand existing customers by creating bespoke conversations and addressing their needs effectively. Amy encourages having a supportive professional community and giving back by mentoring others. Connect with Amy Vosko⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn

On this episode of Sunny Side Up, host Rory Costello speaks with marketing expert Sherry Grote about supercharging your marketing organization. Sherry shares her experience building high-performing teams and emphasizes the importance of collaboration between sales and marketing teams. They discuss tactics for facilitating this collaboration and highlight the need for nimble, results-driven approaches. Sherry also shares her playbook for achieving growth through effective marketing strategies, including building a demand gen engine, partnering with the right companies, and creating hyper-personalized account-based approaches. Connect with Sherry Grote⁠ | ⁠⁠Follow us on LinkedIn

In this episode of Sunny Side Up, host Katherine Noonan interviews VP of Product Jeff Freeman on hybrid engagement models. Jeff shares his career journey from small tech companies to Fortune 100 firms and startups, and his current role at Postal, where he focuses on offline engagement through corporate gifting and B2B connections. They discuss Postal's latest offering - Postal ABM - for account-based marketing (ABM), and the importance of offline engagement in today's saturated digital channels. Jeff emphasizes the need for a combination of B2B ads, email outreach, and offline engagement, and mentions that the new investment in Postal's product will lead to deeper ROI reporting. The conversation also covers virtual events and activities, the use of Postal's ABM product for marketing and sales alignment, and the importance of measuring engagement and ROI. Connect with Jeff Freeman | ⁠Follow us on LinkedIn

In this episode of Sunny Side Up, host Rory Costello interviews Mishaal Murawala, VP of Marketing at MacroFab. Mishaal discusses how marketing can enhance business growth and customer relationships in the manufacturing industry. He highlights the importance of quality products and manufacturing, and how marketing starts before clicking on an ad. B2B manufacturing marketers face unique challenges due to a lack of marketing and measurement products. Mishaal stresses the need for agile marketers who can handle chaos and have expertise across different marketing functions. They also discuss how technology has changed manufacturing processes, providing valuable insights into marketing challenges and opportunities in the manufacturing industry. Connect with Mishaal Murawala | ⁠Follow us on LinkedIn