Blame it on Marketing ™ – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Emma and Ruta are joined by the brilliant Shana Pearlman, a seasoned content and brand leader with a journalism background. Shana spills her marketing confession about an expensive mishap with a video vendor (oops!) and then dives into why interviewing is a skill every marketer needs in their toolkit. Whether it’s talking to customers or getting the scoop from subject matter experts, the art of interviewing is all about breaking through the fear and tapping into stories that matter. Expect real talk on how to actually listen, ask the right questions, and use interviewing to strengthen every part of your marketing strategy—from content creation to relationship building.

Takeaways:

• Interviewing = Marketing Superpower: Learn to connect with customers, experts, and stakeholders to unlock valuable insights.
• Fear Not! Interviewing isn’t about pressure—it’s about uncovering great stories that serve your audience.
• Ask Like a Pro: Master open-ended questions, active listening, and the power of awkward silences.
• Beyond Content Creation: These skills can help marketers navigate everything from customer discovery to internal politics.
• The Human Touch Matters: AI is great, but it can’t replace genuine curiosity and the ability to connect with people.
• Strategic Insight: Use your interviewing skills to understand your audience and drive smarter marketing decisions.

We’re Ruta and Emma, the marketing consultants behind Blame it on Marketing. 

If you’re in B2B SaaS or professional services and looking to do marketing that actually drives revenue and profit, we’re here for it.

Visit blameitonmarketing.com and let’s get this show on the road.

In this episode, Emma and Ruta team up with the marketing team from the Technology for Marketing and eCommerce Expo London, to spill all the dirty secrets of conference and event marketing. They’re calling out the most common mistakes vendors make—like thinking it’s enough to just show up and pitch products. Spoiler: It’s not.

This episode is packed with tips on how to actually engage with your audience, work hand-in-hand with the event’s marketing team, and turn your boring booth into the talk of the expo. Personalization, interactive experiences, and valuable content are the name of the game. Oh, and let’s not forget—using the resources the event organizers offer isn’t just smart, it’s essential.

From pre-event planning to post-event follow-ups, they cover everything you need to know to make your next conference not just another line item on the budget, but a major win for your brand. They even sprinkle in a few hilarious stories from the trenches because, hey, we’ve all been there.

Takeaways:

• Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Engage with the event’s marketing team to create unforgettable experiences.
• Don’t Just Pitch—Provide Value: Ditch the hard sell and focus on delivering content that matters.
• Make it Personal: Stand out by creating personalized, interactive experiences that draw attendees in.
• Use What You’re Given: Maximize your exposure by taking advantage of the resources and tools provided by event organizers.
• Plan Ahead: Set clear goals, communicate with your main contact, and don’t forget the post-event follow-up.
• Learn and Adapt: Keep an eye on competitors, but remember to stay true to your brand and voice.
• Take Care of You: Conferences are marathons, not sprints—eat, drink, and take those much-needed breaks.
• Leadership Matters: Senior leaders should be hands-on and have clear goals for event sponsorships.
• Have Fun with It: A little humor and creativity go a long way, but always align it with your brand values.

We’re Ruta and Emma, the marketing consultants behind Blame it on Marketing. 

If you’re in B2B SaaS or professional services and looking to do marketing that actually drives revenue and profit, we’re here for it.

Visit blameitonmarketing.com and let’s get this show on the road.

Ruta and Emma, alongside the Advocitude team discuss the importance of campaigns in marketing and the challenges that come with them. The conversation highlights the key elements of a successful campaign, including a clear message, targeted audience, and measurement metrics. Creating great campaigns comes with the benefits of consistent messaging, brand awareness, and providing valuable information to potential customers. The conversation explores the value of consistency and credibility in marketing campaigns. There's also a little Harry Potter thrown in for good measure.

Takeaways

- Campaigns are essential in marketing as they allow for a consistent message to be delivered to the target audience.
- Proper planning and execution are crucial for the success of a campaign, including defining the key idea, understanding the target audience, and setting clear measurement metrics.
- Campaigns provide numerous benefits, such as consistent messaging, brand awareness, and the opportunity to provide valuable information to potential customers.
- Stakeholder management and alignment are important to ensure the campaign's success and avoid potential roadblocks.

Join the Blame it on Marketing community for free!

Emma and Ruta are joined by Liam Currie, Content Creator, Actor and Writer to discuss the importance of injecting personality into company social media pages. They explore why many companies are hesitant to push the boundaries and showcase their true voice. The fear of getting canceled, jeopardising reputation, and dividing the audience are some of the concerns that hold companies back. The conversation highlights the benefits of building trust, engaging with the audience, and creating a unique brand identity through social media.

Takeaways

- Injecting personality into company social media pages can help differentiate the brand and build trust with the audience.
- Finding the right tone of voice starts with understanding the values and vision of the founders and senior leadership team.
- Encouraging founders to be more personable and authentic can help them connect with the audience and build trust.
- Social media is a valuable channel for showcasing the company's personality, engaging with the audience, and establishing a unique brand identity. Storytelling is an important aspect of content creation and marketing.
- Authenticity and being true to oneself are crucial in business.
- Video content is highly effective in engaging audiences.
- Podcasts offer numerous benefits, including showcasing industry expertise and facilitating conversations with experts.
- Editing is a key part of content creation, allowing for the selection of the best moments and the creation of engaging narratives.

Join the community for free! 
Find Liam here

We’re Ruta and Emma, the marketing consultants behind Blame it on Marketing. 

If you’re in B2B SaaS or professional services and looking to do marketing that actually drives revenue and profit, we’re here for it.

Visit blameitonmarketing.com and let’s get this show on the road.

Emma, Ruta, and guest Jade Faulconbridge (Founder of Attributed Marketing) discuss the importance of marketing tech stack and marketing operations. They highlight the need for a holistic approach to marketing technology, including data, technology, processes, and people. They also discuss the challenges of disconnected tech solutions and the importance of marketing and sales alignment. Jade shares her insights on how to prioritise and improve marketing operations within a business.

Takeaways

- Marketing tech stack and marketing operations are crucial for effective and efficient marketing.
- A holistic approach is needed, including data, technology, processes, and people.
Integrating all systems and data provides a single customer view and valuable insights.
- Disconnected tech solutions and lack of marketing and sales alignment can hinder success.
- Prioritising and improving marketing operations requires understanding the current state, identifying gaps, and creating a roadmap for improvement.

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Ruta and Emma discuss the challenges of doing more marketing with less resources with Sam, CMO of Dealfront and Stephen, Partnerships Manager at Dealfront. Whilst marketing budgets are shrinking expectations of growth are not. We also highlight the dangers of cutting back on marketing and the importance of balancing long-term and short-term marketing strategies. As well as the value of partnerships in tough times and provide insights on how marketers can maintain calm and set realistic expectations.

Takeaways

- Regular meetings with different teams help align partnerships with business goals.
- There is a shift in metrics towards customer retention.
- Open communication and cross-team alignment are crucial for success.
- Founders need to share the burden and involve marketing in target setting.
- Realistic targets and budget allocation are essential for achieving goals.

Join the Blame it on Marketing Community! Register here.

Emma and Ruta are joined by Matthew Wahlrab, CEO of RapidAlpha, to discuss intellectual property for marketers and the trademark 'drama' that went down over the last 12 months in regards to Blame it on Marketing itself.  They discuss what marketers should know when it comes to IP and use the BIOM trademark experience to give specific pointers and actions.

Takeaways:

- Intellectual property is crucial for marketers and should be given more attention.
- Freelancers should clarify ownership of content through contracts.
- Evidence is essential in IP disputes to establish credibility and protect one's brand.
- Taking proactive steps, such as interference proceedings and freedom to operate analysis, can help protect trademarks and resolve IP disputes.
- Marketers should be aware of the legal and IP implications of their work, including copyright, trademark, and patent considerations.
- Collaborating with IP professionals and having a basic understanding of IP can help marketers navigate legal challenges and protect their organisations.

Find Matthew in the Blame it on Marketing Community! Register here.

We’re Ruta and Emma, the marketing consultants behind Blame it on Marketing. 

If you’re in B2B SaaS or professional services and looking to do marketing that actually drives revenue and profit, we’re here for it.

Visit blameitonmarketing.com and let’s get this show on the road.

In this episode, Jessica and Gina from MEDDICC Media discuss their roles as Chief Media Officer and Head of Media, respectively, and how they have built a media empire within their startup. They explain that media is a core part of their strategy and that they see media as an umbrella term that encompasses all aspects of their business. They emphasise the importance of providing value first and focusing on revenue as the main metric. They also discuss the balance between marketing and media, the role of freelancers, and the importance of data and metrics in their work.

Takeaways

- Media is a core part of the strategy at MEDDICC Media, and they see it as an umbrella term that encompasses all aspects of their business.

- Providing value first is a key focus for MEDDICC Media, and they believe in giving away value to build trust and establish themselves as an authority in their industry.

- Revenue is the main metric they track, and they prioritize driving revenue as a business.

- Balancing marketing and media requires collaboration and a focus on the strengths of each team member.

- Building a freelancer shortlist can be helpful for accessing production resources when you don't have them in-house.

- Data and metrics play a crucial role in tracking performance and ensuring that content is delivered on time and of high quality.

Link to part one of this collaboration with MEDDICC: 
https://youtu.be/QNNWD__r0Hw?si=b6cFEVc8LXW0JE0d

Join the Blame it on Marketing community: https://blameitonmarketing.com 

Emma and Ruta are joined by Tyler Lessard, ex-VP of Marketing at Vidyard, and Will Aitken, ex-Vidyard & ex-Lavender B2B Sales Influencer, to talk about brands building themselves on the backs of B2B influencers.

They talk about the change of influencers from thought leaders and the risks and rewards of hiring in-house influencers and the delicate balance between personal and corporate brand as well as the challenges influencers staying relevant.

Tyler and Will will share their views on compensating influencers and internal creators and how to ensure you set up right from the get go (rather than expecting your current sales people to become internet sensations).

Takeaways

- B2B influencer marketing has experienced significant growth due to changes in buyer behavior and the rise of social media networks.
- The shift from thought leaders to personal brands has allowed for greater audience engagement and the leveraging of trust and authenticity.
- Hiring in-house influencers carries the risk of public departures and the challenge of aligning personal and corporate brands.
- Influencers must be cautious about maintaining authenticity and avoiding the perception of being a sellout.
- Compensation of influencers vs content creators.

Join the community Blame it on Marketing

Connect with our speakers:

Tylers LinkedIn
Wills LinkedIn

We’re Ruta and Emma, the marketing consultants behind Blame it on Marketing. 

If you’re in B2B SaaS or professional services and looking to do marketing that actually drives revenue and profit, we’re here for it.

Visit blameitonmarketing.com and let’s get this show on the road.

Timi Olotu, the Chief Revenue Officer at Charlie HR, joins Emma and Ruta to discuss the role of a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). They explore the common misconception that CROs are solely focused on sales and neglect other functions. Timi emphasises the importance of collaboration between sales, marketing, customer success, and product teams to drive revenue growth. He also highlights the need for CROs to focus on creating value for customers and understanding market dynamics. The conversation concludes with insights on metrics and accountability for CROs and the potential for CEOs to excel in the CRO role.

Takeaways

- The role of a CRO is not solely focused on sales but requires collaboration with other functions such as marketing, customer success, and product teams.
- CROs should prioritise creating value for customers and understanding market dynamics to drive revenue growth.
- Metrics should go beyond traditional sales targets and include indicators of value across functions.
- Implementing change and overcoming challenges in the CRO role requires strong leadership, communication, and a focus on long-term success.
- CEOs with a strategic mindset and experience leading multiple functions can make effective CROs.

Join the community Blame it on Marketing

We’re Ruta and Emma, the marketing consultants behind Blame it on Marketing. 

If you’re in B2B SaaS or professional services and looking to do marketing that actually drives revenue and profit, we’re here for it.

Visit blameitonmarketing.com and let’s get this show on the road.