In this episode of the B2B Marketing Methods podcast, host Terri Hoffman, CEO of Marketing Refresh, interviews Fedor Simic, the partnership manager at Databox. They discuss the challenges and benefits of digital marketing, focusing on the importance of analyzing marketing metrics. Fedor explains Databox's innovative Benchmark Groups tool, which allows companies to compare their performance against industry benchmarks.

They also delve into Fedor's personal background, sharing his journey from working in customer support to becoming a partnership manager. The episode provides valuable insights into how businesses can leverage data to improve their marketing strategies and achieve better performance.

Topics Discussed:

• Who is Databox
• Using marketing metrics
• The value of analyzing your marketing program metrics
• What are Benchmark Groups

To learn more about Fedor, connect with him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fedor-simic/

To connect with Marketing Refresh, visit: MarketingRefresh.com

Terri Hoffman welcomes Nikkie Freeman, Fractional CMO and Founder of Flywheel CMO. Nikkie shares her expert insights on her varied career paths within marketing, discussing the dynamic nature and suitability for project-oriented, adaptable individuals. They talk about the first steps a manufacturing business should take to justify marketing investments, where Nikkie stresses the importance of consulting with an experienced professional familiar with the industry. They also discuss the critical role of foundational web presence and content in B2B marketing, highlighting the evolving buyer behaviors that necessitate online resources to generate inbound leads effectively.

Terri and Nikkie also discuss advanced strategies for aligning sales and marketing teams, the significance of understanding key performance indicators, and the benefits of working with a fractional CMO to drive business growth. They also share some of their favorite tools like HubSpot for fostering efficient marketing operations.

To connect with Nikkie, visit: https://flywheelcmo.com/

To learn more about Marketing Refresh, visit: https://MarketingRefresh.com

Key Topics Discussed:

• Diverse career paths within marketing
• Initial steps for manufacturing businesses in marketing investment
• Importance of consulting experienced marketing professionals
• The foundational role of online presence and content in B2B
• The dynamic nature of buyer behavior and marketing metrics
• The symbiotic relationship between sales and marketing teams
• Insights on fractional CMOs and their strategic advantages
• Advanced tools and platforms for efficient marketing operations

Terri is joined by James Reid, Director of Commercial Sales at The M.K. Morse Companies. Together, they talk about the intersection of sales and marketing, focusing on effective communication, digital marketing, and building customer relationships online. James discusses his reliance on his marketing team for product development, treating them as a crucial part of the product team. They also discuss the significant change in buying behavior, particularly with younger buyers favoring web-based interactions and quick access to information.

The episode also touches on the collaborative efforts between sales and marketing to leverage social media to engage with younger buyers. James shares insights on using Salesforce as a CRM tool and the challenges of inputting information while balancing active sales calls. The conversation concludes on a lighter note with personal stories, favorite trips, music preferences, and book recommendations.

To connect with James, you can find him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-reid-356891175/

To learn more about Marketing Refresh, visit: https://MarketingRefresh.com

Key Topics Discussed:

• Challenges in sales and marketing
• The evolving role of digital marketing Importance of a company’s website
• Changing dynamics in decision-making and buying behavior
• Use of Salesforce as a CRM tool Collaboration between sales
• Marketing Social media engagement with younger buyers