Q4 has begun, and the year is coming to a close. But you’re in overwhelm—from setting new goals for next year, setting the big vision for your strategy, and oh yeah—finishing out this year strong. But that overwhelm and busyness is not new to the B2B tech world.Some of the problems that rear their heads in times like these are just that: nothing new. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t any easier to handle. Where do you find the right marketers to take your team to the next level? Where do you find creative, strategic ideas when you’re overwhelmed with the day-to-day? How do I enable my teams to act on our bigger mission and vision?To help cut through the noise and overwhelm, Devin and Margaret asked their CEO & founder friends about what topics are keeping them up at night. Their answers will help bring you back to reality, center your actions around progress, and give you jumping-off points for solving these common problems. Devin and Margaret channel their full consultative skills and reference their experience in similar situations and roles to answer these three main questions:How do you build a marketing team that buys into your bigger mission and vision? Not spammy tactics.How do you combat analysis paralysis in a small marketing department?How can you embrace and maximize the messiness of the marketplace right now? Connect with Devin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbramhall/Connect with Margaret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontsaycontent.substack.com/Created in partnership with Share Your Genius: https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

😱WHAT. A GUEST?! 😱 We said we weren’t doing an interview show, but we did need a hand with this week’s topic: how do visual mediums help achieve business growth, and what role do executives and team members outside the marketing team play in modern marketing strategy?Rachel Downey, CEO and founder of Share Your Genius joins the show today to break down what companies actually want to do: create content that moves your company toward your growth goals and outcomes. Marketing is about influencing human behavior. Sharing stories from a business and human perspective helps brands connect with current and potential buyers through the experiences shared by folks across the team, including the executive suite. Visual media can increase the pace of connection by showing the humans behind it sharing their ideas, perspectives, answers, tips, or just joining a conversation. This should be music to the ears of executives and investors alike: media-led, community-focused approach to B2B sales and marketing removes the paradigm of “scale” and introduces a self-perpetuating cycle of high-converting, WOM-driven growth that costs less and sustains longer.Take your hand off the wheel: self-driving marketing is here, and it looks nothing like the programmatic, scheduled, templatized content marketing of the past. Jump into the conversation:(01:00) We’ve got a guest?!(03:50) What’s up with creating a media brand?(20:00) Nearbound 🤢Community 👍(24:00) Setting the foundation of your story for max connection + growthAnd we know you’re wondering—are we going to continue to have guests? Probably not. Are we going to have Rachel back on to talk about this topic some more? Probably. Stay tuned.  Connect with Devin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbramhall/Connect with Margaret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontsaycontent.substack.com/Created in partnership with Share Your Genius: https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

Newsflash: your lifeboat has a hole in it. Oh, and that life vest you’re wearing—lol. It doesn’t help when you’re sinking into an ocean of lava. No, we’re not talking about the apocalypse, we’re talking about what it takes to make your company survive in 2024 and beyond. If you’re reaching for familiar growth tactics, you’re putting your company at risk and missing the opportunities embedded in times of uncertainty and change. Here’s the deal: the only reason your playbooks worked before is because everything worked up until a year ago.Smart business leaders see business strategy in chaos. They experiment and take risks to uncover unique opportunities to get ahead and they need their marketing and growth teams to supportFrom tactics to team-building, Devin and Margaret share insights on real-life examples and strategies to leave you reevaluating how (and if) you’ll pick up a playbook again.Jump into the conversation:(01:00) Oi with the playbooks already(11:00) Should you future-proof?(18:00) Playbooks & Building Teams(30:30) Wrapped in a bow?Connect with Devin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbramhall/Connect with Margaret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontsaycontent.substack.com/Created in partnership with Share Your Genius: https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

Confusion. Miscommunication. Misunderstandings.  That’s what happens when marketers and business leaders use too many buzzwords. YET WE ALL KEEP USING THEM (us, too). Chaos agents disguised as trendy trifles that we claim to aid in communicating our marketing plans and getting buy-in from CEOs, clients, and teams. Poppycock! Don’t use buzzwords, say what you mean, otherwise, you’re just perpetuating a broken system where:The C-suite doesn’t trust marketersMarketers struggle to get buy-in from C-suiteLots of money is wasted on team overhauls, constant changes in strategyProgress stalls because you keep going in circlesJoin Devin and Margaret as they dissect the problems that buzzwords create and the threats they pose to businesses. how leadership latches on to trends, how to incorporate these “strategies” into business goals, lack of alignment and mutual understanding that founders, CEOs, and heads of marketing alike experience as a result of buzzword saladsPlus some bonus advice may or may not be helpful, but it came out in the convo, so we’re sharing it with you anyway. Connect with Devin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbramhall/Connect with Margaret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontsaycontent.substack.com/Created in partnership with Share Your Genius: https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

We’ve got a sweet treat for you this week: a deep dive into Halloween candy, horror movies, and a deep analysis into how much Margaret pumpkin spice lattes in the fall vs summer months. …And we continue our convo about the marketing gig economy and how fear-based decisions are causing marketers and leaders to miss the huge opportunity in front of them: Chaos.No more social “town square”; folks have scattered to small communities across platforms. For now, marketing budgets are anemic and it is taking longer to close deals. But, within these and other realities are opportunities for marketing freelancers AND companies. Freelancers are in demand because companies are afraid to commit due to lack of certainty in the marketCompanies can make the most of their budget by creating hyper-focused plans and hiring freelancers to serve only those immediate needs Forget the headline hype. Pull a Jennifer Connolly and flick away those inaccurate categorizations of the current moment, think for yourself, and tell that hairy fear monster: “You have no power over me.”When you’re done, have yourself some candy corns, watch The Monster Squad, drink a pumpkin spice latte, and you’ll see: when the playbook stops working and nothing is as it used to be, you’re in the best place possible to level up your career and company. Connect with Devin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbramhall/Connect with Margaret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontsaycontent.substack.com/Created in partnership with Share Your Genius: https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

Times of chaos can be huge opportunities for companies who are open to thinking outside the playbooks and frameworks they’re familiar with. Leaders who approach current industry and economic challenges with curiosity and bravery will find themselves uniquely positioned to win. It’s time to get scrappy!This includes how marketing leaders plan for growth on limited budgets and even more scrutiny from investors, CFOs, and CEOs. These days, a good marketing strategy looks a lot more like a business strategy, and that’s a good thing. How come? The same old tactics aren’t as effective based on a cultural shift in focus to individuals over brandsWe’re living in a decentralized online social era, which is ultimately a good thing for brands, but short-term means a more hands-on approach and recalibration of how companies measure ROIMarketing talent is mediocre and they likely won’t be competitive until after they go through operating in a tough economy  What companies need most right now is a strategic growth plan optimized for short-term impact, flexibility, and efficiency. That’s where outsourced marketing partners shine a much-needed bright light on dark times.  Join your hosts, Devin Bramhall and Margaret Kelsey, as they explore the untapped potential outside of the traditional in-house marketing setup. Jump into the conversation:(10:30) The Freelancer Takeover(15:30) Understanding Leaders’ Challenges(18:45) Burnt out? Move on.(25:00) Our Consultant RecipeConnect with Devin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbramhall/Connect with Margaret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontsaycontent.substack.com/Created in partnership with Share Your Genius: https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

Moments of chaos are moments of opportunity. That is your marketing mantra heading into 2024. In this conversation, Devin and Margaret cut through the chaos that is the present-day marketing landscape to offer marketing leaders a bit of clarity. The key to your company’s strategic growth may not be as complicated as you think. It isn’t another tool in your tech stack, there’s no AI hack, and it’s not something you can gather pixel data on.Are you ready for this? The answer is… your network. It’s your community and like-minded human beings who may be interested in your brand or product.Especially in the rat race atmosphere of the VC-backed B2B startup, pressure to achieve meteoric growth at all costs blinds marketers, founders, and the rest of the c-suite to sane, sustainable goals—solutions to growth that don’t require endless budget and a dizzying mix of marketing channels paving the halls of your sales funnel. Lazy girl marketing, if you will.Jump into the conversation:(03:00) Why We’re Talking About Community(13:00) Referral Partnerships for the Win(24:00) VC’s Missed Opportunity(36:00) Time to Experiment(42:00) Stop Measuring by ChannelIf you’re ready to take a breather, get back to basics, and create your own job security, tune in to this episode for some real talk and reassurance.Connect with Devin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbramhall/Connect with Margaret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontsaycontent.substack.com/Created in partnership with Share Your Genius: https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

Most of us used the wrong criteria when we evaluated job opportunities at some point in our careers. You know what they are: reactive, emotion-driven departures. Being lured by pay without evaluating the health of the company. Taking a lateral move at a company based on a promise that - if we were looking at the situation objectively we’d know—never results in the upward motion or promotion we were promised. The list is long. Then comes this point where you not only see the whole game board, but you stop judging it, which frees up your headspace for objective evaluation and strategic career planning. And that’s when things really take off. Today we’re tackling a listener question: how do you know when it’s time to leave your job?  Join Devin Bramhall and Margaret Kelsey as they examine their own career trajectories to extract the decisions that helped them move up to senior-level marketing roles, CEO and then to successful consulting careers.Short-term versus long-term—what choices will get you closer to your career objectives? Do you even know what you want? Strategic mindset: aligning your career objectives with the organization to accelerate your progress.The crucial role that discomfort plays in your career and how to make it your strategic advantage.Jump into the conversation:04:00 Title vs. salary: what matters more?13:00 Values Influence Leadership Decisions25:30 When Margaret Almost Missed an OpportunityThe TL;DR? Devin and Margaret want to urge you to analyze opportunities based on personal goals and values, advocating for a more logical and data-driven approach to job decisions rather than simply complaining about current situations. So join us for a discussion that will leave you encouraged to reflect on your career choices, embrace change, and pursue your goals with confidence and clarity.Connect with Devin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbramhall/Connect with Margaret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontsaycontent.substack.com/Created in partnership with Share Your Genius: https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

Did you attend this year’s HubSpot Inbound conference?Whether you did or not, Devin and Margaret are here to break down the highlights of everyone's favorite marketing conference. What did they take away? What was their favorite part? (And maybe even spill a little tea about where they leave room for improvement, too.)From juicy behind-the-scenes details of being a speaker at one of the top marketing conferences to tried-and-true conference strategies, this episode will have you both laughing and learning as Devin and Margaret reflect on their time at Inbound together.In this episode, we’ll explore:The power of thinking outside the booth: Devin and Margaret dish on why getting a booth might not be the best move for your event marketing strategy. Discover out-of-the-box ideas that will raise eyebrows and set you apart from the sea of sponsors.Throw your own party: Who needs a boring sponsored event when you can throw a bar takeover?! Learn how brands grabbed attention, engaged marketers, and made lasting connections (with free drinks—you love to see it). Secrets from the green room: Devin and Margaret talk VIP experience for speakers and conference attendees alike, while also discussing some of their favorite backstage marketing efforts they’ve seen and executed—including a backstage video series at Appcues, where they tapped into the adrenaline-fueled minds of speakers post-presentation.Jump into the conversation:03:10 VIP vs. Regular Ticket05:30 Community Over Everything10:45 Best & Worst Conference Event Marketing Strategies Connect with Devin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbramhall/Connect with Margaret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontsaycontent.substack.com/Created in partnership with Share Your Genius: https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

Is the marketing industry better or worse off in today’s day and age based on the fact that we have access to more data than we could ever possibly report on?They share stories of the good and bad ways they’ve seen data used to adjust marketing programs, the power of data in marketing experimentation, and share hot takes they gathered from their friends in the industry. Since we have so many data points across platforms and initiatives, there’s so much to interpret and use to make decisions. The themes of this podcast can also be summed up in a few questions to help you think about data in your marketing execution:Are you using reporting to tell an effective story?Can you categorize your marketing goals and results into vital and experimental categories?Are you using your data to inform what programs you’re keeping and cutting?So press play to hear Devin and Margaret dive into the relationship between data and marketing success.Connect with Devin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbramhall/Connect with Margaret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontsaycontent.substack.com/Created in partnership with Share Your Genius: https://www.shareyourgenius.com/