What does it really take to build a startup marketing engine from scratch—without a playbook, a team, or even a working product?
In this episode of MarketingTips, we sit down with Nicole Schafer, Head of Marketing at M^0, a VC-funded crypto startup. As the first and only marketer at the company, Nicole had to build everything from the ground up: positioning, brand narrative, content strategy, campaign execution, analytics—you name it.
This conversation is a masterclass in early-stage marketing, perfect for marketers at seed to Series B startups, especially in fast-moving, technical industries like crypto, fintech, or Web3.
You’ll learn:
The first three moves Nicole made when joining M^0
How to create a brand narrative that sticks (and earns mindshare)
Why "people buy feelings, not features" should drive your messaging
How to balance rapid testing with consistent storytelling
What metrics to track when your #1 goal is brand awareness
How to manage campaigns, content, and positioning as a one-person team
The battle-tested framework she uses to define messaging: origin, challenge, resolution
Plus: Nicole shares how startup marketing forced her to grow faster than ever before—from mastering analytics to running company-wide strategy solo.
If you’re building a marketing function from the ground up or want a peek inside the reality of being a solo marketer at a high-growth startup, this one’s for you.
In this episode of Marketing Tips, we’re joined by Nicole Milstead, CMO of Agiloft, whose path to the CMO seat was anything but traditional. From earning a master’s in social work to running analyst relations at SAP by age 28, Nicole’s journey proves that curiosity, empathy, and data obsession can outperform any straight-line career.
She shares how marketing ops became her secret weapon, why emotional branding builds trust, and what ex = cx actually looks like in practice. You’ll also hear her blueprint for building high-performing teams, transforming outdated systems, and why being a good human might be the most underrated leadership skill of all.
Time stamps:
00:00 Introduction to Nicole Milad's Journey
00:55 Nicole's Non-Traditional Career Path
02:51 Current Role and Responsibilities at Agile Loft
03:38 The Importance of Marketing Operations
09:40 Driving Top of the Funnel Awareness
17:50 Leadership and Accountability
27:11 Final Takeaways and Advice for Marketers
In this episode of Marketing Tips, we sit down with 5X SaaS CMO Steve Keifer to unpack the uncomfortable truth about modern marketing: everyone is doing the exact same thing. So how do you actually stand out?
Steve takes us inside his 25+ year playbook for scaling SaaS companies from <$1M to $1B+, building $100M business units, and developing go-to-market strategies that actually work. From quadrupling outbound results to building communities that drive pipeline, he shares actionable, no-BS advice you won’t want to miss.
What you'll learn:
Why copy-paste go-to-market plans don’t work — and what to do instead
How Steve beat SAP and Oracle with thought leadership and a folding chair
The ROI of community in B2B SaaS (hint: it’s not just “brand”)
3 outbound plays that are crushing it right now (and why AI SDRs aren’t there yet)
How to qualify leads with BANT to improve your close rate
What to audit first when a CEO says “we need to grow faster”
Actionable takeaways:
1. Stand out by doing 10-20% of your marketing differently — Don't just optimize what everyone else is doing.
2. Use semi-automated tools with a human loop to supercharge outbound without burning your brand.
3. Pay for people’s time — whether it's a G2 review or a discovery call, the right offer breaks through the noise.
4. Track BANT at the demo stage to diagnose issues beyond just lead quality.
5. Don't write off Q3 — counterintuitive campaigns during quiet seasons can be a secret weapon.
What if your go-to-market strategy is the reason your pipeline is stuck? In this episode, we sit down with Scott Vaughn, seasoned B2B CMO and go-to-market leader with over 113,000 LinkedIn followers, to unpack what’s broken in modern B2B GTM—and how to fix it.
Scott shares insights from decades of experience leading marketing and sales teams, building integrated go-to-market systems, and helping companies align around the buyer—not just the lead. Whether you’re a startup founder or enterprise marketer, this episode will shift how you think about demand, enablement, and GTM success.
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Why most GTM strategies fail today01:05 – Scott’s background: from marketing to sales to GTM leadership03:10 – Key B2B trends in 2025: AI, efficiency, and automation04:55 – How Scott uses AI to build messaging strategies faster06:40 – The hidden danger of sales and marketing "alignment"08:00 – Why integration beats alignment (and what it looks like)10:10 – How marketing can lead GTM by getting 9-12 months ahead12:00 – Sales enablement vs. buyer enablement: why mindset matters14:00 – Simplifying the buying process: training and signals that matter16:25 – Where early-stage companies should focus their GTM strategy18:00 – Why trying to sell to everyone is a massive mistake19:00 – Partner marketing: how startups can go to market through others21:10 – Tapping into industry influencers and non-traditional analysts22:20 – Metrics that matter: from attention to closed-won25:00 – Why most marketers obsess over the wrong part of the funnel27:15 – Building awareness without a brand28:15 – How to create early traction in a crowded space29:10 – Building thought leadership around change, not just product30:00 – One GTM action every marketer should take today
Join us for an insightful discussion with Dan Stradtman, the Chief Marketing Officer of Bloomfire. Dan shares his remarkable journey from clinical psychology to leading marketing teams at some of the world's largest companies: Walmart, Amazon, and GE. We'll explore how he implements effective data-driven strategies, fosters people-first leadership, and almost doubled his pipeline while reducing customer acquisition costs. Dan also provides expert advice on leveraging data for strategic decision-making, the balance between storytelling and data integrity, and the impact of AI in content marketing. Don't miss this compelling episode packed with actionable marketing insights!
Time stamps:
00:00 Introduction: High Stakes Marketing
00:30 Meet Dan Stradtman: CMO of Bloomfire
00:57 Dan's Career Journey02:30 Leadership Lessons from Top Companies
04:34 People-First Leadership Style
05:26 Importance of Customer Insights
07:01 Leveraging Data for Strategic Decisions
08:09 Data-Driven Marketing for Startups
12:29 Balancing Storytelling with Data Integrity
15:10 Demand Generation Success
17:49 Organic Content vs. Paid Media
20:47 AI in Content Marketing
23:06 Final Marketing Tips and Farewell
This episode features Lindsey McFadden, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Stretch Zone, a rapidly expanding stretch studio franchise that grew from one location to 380 nationwide without any closures. Lindsey shares her extensive experience in multi-unit marketing and franchising, detailing the innovative strategies and grassroots marketing techniques that facilitated Stretch Zone's impressive growth. She discusses the importance of not being a 'box checker', segmenting marketing lists effectively, and balancing local-level marketing with a unified national brand strategy. Additionally, Lindsey highlights the value of community partnerships, personalized content creation, and a strong support system for franchisees. Key topics include the power of grassroots marketing, practical tips for maintaining engagement post-launch, and leveraging video content to build brand awareness.
Time stamps:00:00 The Rise of Stretch Zone
00:19 Meet Lindsey McFadden: From Ad Agencies to CMO
01:38 Key Marketing Lessons and Strategies04:01 Balancing National and Local Marketing
06:07 Franchise Growth and Support
12:30 Targeting and Segmenting Audiences
17:15 Empowering Local Content Creation
18:31 Sustaining Long-Term Engagement
20:52 Grassroots Marketing Tips
21:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In this episode, Ryan interviews Kari Hanson, the current CMO at Robin. Carrie has an impressive background, including taking part in a company's $1.2 billion IPO and successfully launching campaigns against industry giants like Salesforce. Carrie shares her journey from her early career at marketing agencies to her current role, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the core essentials that drive remarkable results. She dives deep into her strategies for building effective marketing pipelines, reconciling tensions between marketing and sales, and creating impactful campaigns. Moreover, her discussion includes insights on the misuse of AI in marketing, the importance of saying no, and how to craft personalized and compelling emails that get responses. Tune in to learn the best practices that every CMO should adopt.
Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage00:31 Meet Carrie Hanson: A Marketing Powerhouse01:06 Carrie's Career Journey02:12 Stepping into the CMO Role at Robin03:26 Building and Solidifying the Team04:17 Owning the Pipeline08:31 Effective Campaigns and Measuring Success11:26 The Role of AI in Marketing14:32 Crafting the Perfect Email18:47 Standing Out in a Crowded Market24:56 The Power of Saying No in Marketing27:03 Key Lessons from a $1.2 Billion IPO27:51 Conclusion and Farewell
In this episode of Marketing Tips, host Ryan Atkinson sits down with Gregory Kennedy, a B2B marketing expert with over 20 years of experience scaling startups and leading global teams at InMobi, AdRoll, and Sorgin. Now serving as the VP of Marketing at Alembic Technology, Gregory helps Fortune 500 CMOs measure marketing’s real impact. He’s also the creator of Brand Zen, a go-to newsletter on marketing and tech, and the author of the new ebook Content is Fire.
What You’ll Learn:
Time stamps:00:00 Introduction to Gregory Kennedy00:42 Gregory's Early Career and Internet Revolution02:47 Transition to San Francisco and Digital Advertising04:14 The Importance of Great Content in Marketing06:01 Effective Content Strategies and Channels08:44 The Power of Newsletters and Email Marketing11:50 Building an Email Strategy from Scratch14:15 Branding and Newsletter Best Practices15:59 Driving Results in B2B Marketing16:47 Sustaining and Growing Success in Marketing16:58 Turnarounds and New Management Strategies17:28 Understanding Your Target Audience18:48 Segmenting Your Market with AI20:00 Effective B2B Marketing Strategies22:29 Marketing on a Limited Budget23:25 The Importance of Social Media for Startups25:49 Insights from Marketing Leaders28:38 Biggest Lessons for Today's Marketers
📢 Gregory’s Must-Read Ebook:
Download Content is Fire for free: WeAreBrandZen.com
#emailmarketing #b2b
In this episode of MarketingTips, Ryan sits down with Matt Wurst, CMO of Genuine, to explore the power of community building in 2025. From his iconic role in the Oreo 'Dunk in the Dark' campaign to leading AI-driven platforms, Matt shares invaluable insights on balancing brand and performance marketing, leveraging PR, and why building community is the future of marketing.
Key Takeaways:
How to balance brand and performance marketing
The PR strategy behind Oreo's 'Dunk in the Dark'
The future of AI in marketing and the rise of AI agents
Building communities for long-term brand success
Tips for effective B2B influencer marketing on a budget
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction to Matt Wurst and his marketing background
[02:00] Balancing brand and performance marketing: Outcomes over objectives
[04:30] Building customer loyalty post-sale: The power of connections
[06:45] How AI is transforming marketing and the rise of AI agents
[10:00] The real story behind Oreo's 'Dunk in the Dark' tweet and PR playbook
[13:00] How PR and influencer marketing intersect in modern campaigns
[15:00] Leveraging influencer marketing on a small budget
[19:00] The value of personal brands vs. company brands on LinkedIn
[20:00] Community building playbook: Content, conversations, and control
[22:30] The shift from social platforms to owned communities
[24:00] Video content’s role in community building and brand growth
[27:00] Matt’s top tip for marketers in 2025: Lead with positivity and creativity
In this episode ofMarketing Tips, Ryan Atkinson sits down with Deb Szajngarten, VP of Marketing at Digitech, to dive deep into the strategies that drive brand awareness and demand generation for B2B SaaS companies. Deb shares her experience scaling brands at companies like Vimeo, Samsung, and Carbine, and provides actionable insights into how marketing leaders can align with sales teams, execute impactful webinars, and make strategic investments in events and brand-building activities.
Whether you’re a CMO, VP of Marketing, or an early-stage startup founder, this episode will give you a playbook to structure your marketing efforts for long-term success.
Key Takeaways:
🔹Marketing at Different Stages – Large companies focus on brand; startups require persuasion, prioritization, and flexibility.
🔹Sales & Marketing Alignment – Sync with sales to generate quality leads and build a long-term pipeline.
🔹Winning Webinars & Events – Webinars should provide real value, not be sales pitches. High-funnel topics drive attendance, low-funnel topics drive conversions.
🔹Building Demand & Awareness – Partnerships, surveys, and media exposure can position a brand as an industry leader.
🔹Choosing the Right Topics & Speakers – Research customer pain points and align with industry experts who reinforce your message.
🔹Evaluating ROI – Measure success by lead quality, sales pipeline impact, and brand visibility. Not all events need direct revenue attribution.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:21 Deb’s Marketing Philosophy
03:25 Marketing at Different Stages
05:49 Setting Marketing Goals
10:05 Building Demand & Awareness in B2B SaaS
13:10 The Power of Webinars for Demand Gen
15:37 Identifying Your ICP (Ideal Customer Profile)
18:03 Choosing the Right Webinar Topics
20:19 Finding the Best Speakers
23:00 Measuring Webinar & Event Success
24:38 Evaluating ROI on Live Events
26:39 Final Advice for CMOs
27:04 Where to Connect
What happens when a college baseball player takes a swing at marketing? In the case of James Santore, it leads to saving a college baseball program, launching a sports tech powerhouse, and becoming the CMO of Rithmm—one of the fastest-growing apps in sports betting analytics.
In this episode of Marketing Tips, Ryan Atkinson sits down with James to talk about creative marketing strategies, scaling startups, and the power of thinking differently. From hitting #51 on the U.S. App Store to raising $3M in funding, James shares his playbook on how marketing can drive real business impact.
🔥 What You’ll Discover:
🛠 Resources & Links:
💥 Actionable Takeaways:
Ever wondered how some companies go from a blip on the radar to industry giants seemingly overnight? In this episode of Marketing Tips, Ryan Atkinson dives into the genius behind such success stories with Chuck Moxley, a marketing powerhouse who's been a six-time SaaS CMO and worked with brands like Chick-fil-A and Pepsi.
Chuck shares his no-BS strategies for scaling SaaS companies, creating marketing that stands out, and leveraging content (hello, podcasts!) to establish long-term dominance. If you’re ready to revolutionize your marketing game, this episode is your blueprint.
🔥 What You’ll Discover:
Fake It Till You Make It (The Right Way): Learn how to “punch above your weight” and make your company look like a million bucks—even when it’s not. Why Different Beats Bigger: How embracing bold, irreverent marketing can help you compete with giants like Google and Apple. Podcast Goldmine: Why podcasts aren’t just content—they’re the ultimate long-term marketing play. Plus, Chuck’s formula for turning a podcast into a content-generating machine. Ungating Done Right: The surprising way ungating your content can lead to better leads and lower costs. Future-Proof Marketing: Chuck’s take on the next big B2B marketing trend (hint: it’s all about relevance).Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction to Marketing Tips Podcast
00:49 Meet Chuck Moxley: Marketing Veteran
01:28 Strategies for Scaling SaaS Companies
03:45 Punching Above Your Weight in Marketing
06:44 The Power of Podcasting in Marketing
15:27 Ungating Content: A New Approach
20:48 Future Trends in B2B Marketing
23:21 Conclusion and Contact Information
🛠 Resources You Can’t Miss:
Chuck’s Website: ChuckMoxley.com Chuck’s Book: An Audience of One – Free Chapter or grab it on Amazon. The Frictionless Experience Podcast: Learn more about how Chuck uses podcasts to build brand authority.💥 Actionable Takeaways:
Start Your Podcast: Use it to amplify your expertise, build credibility, and create endless content. Ungate Your Content: Build trust by giving value first—your audience will thank you. Think Long-Term: Stop chasing quick wins; focus on creating meaningful connections with your audience.In this episode of Marketing Tips, Ryan Atkinson sits down with Sjoerd Handgraaf from Sharetribe to discuss the importance of context in positioning, especially for marketers in the marketplace and SaaS space. Sjoerd shares insights on how companies, particularly those in B2B SaaS, need to tailor strategies based on their unique context and challenges.
Key Takeaways:
- The Importance of Context in Marketing Strategy
- Adapting Strategies from B2C to B2B
- Understanding Your Unique Positioning
- The Three Attempts at Solving the Same Problem
- Positioning as a Long-Term Effort
Time stamps:
00:00 Introduction to Marketplace Challenges
03:13 Leveraging Podcasts for Brand Building
05:54 Content Marketing Strategies from Podcasts
08:58 Understanding Marketplace Dynamics
12:03 The Importance of Positioning in Marketing
14:59 Effective Marketing Strategies for Startups
17:57 Building a High-Performance Team
20:54 Navigating Client Relationships
24:00 Key Takeaways for New Marketing Leaders
26:54 Conclusion and Resources
Subscribe to MarketingTips for more expert advice on crafting effective marketing strategies and positioning.
Ever wonder how to create marketing campaigns that truly resonate with your audience? In this episode of Marketing Tips, host Ryan Atkinson welcomes Rutger Verhoeven, CMO at smartocto, to discuss the power of user needs in marketing. smartocto is revolutionizing editorial analytics, helping content creators craft smarter, more engaging stories. Rutger shares insights into webinars, AI-powered tools, and how to market with precision to drive engagement and sales.
Learn how to structure marketing for 2025, leverage influencer partnerships, and implement webinars that deliver high ROI. This episode is packed with actionable tips to help CMOs and marketers stay ahead of the curve.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
How smartocto leverages user needs for content strategies that drive engagement
The secret to creating high-performing webinars and converting attendees into leads
Why video and visual content are essential for boosting ROI in 2025
How influencer marketing can play a role in the B2B software industry
Key metrics that CMOs should track to ensure marketing success
Key Highlights:
[00:01:00] Rutger's background and the story behind smartocto
[00:03:22] Marketing planning for 2025: Setting priorities for success
[00:05:24] Webinar strategies: How to market and structure successful webinars
[00:08:56] User needs methodology: A deeper dive into smartocto's approach
[00:14:24] Leveraging influencer marketing and partnerships to boost product awareness
[00:19:10] Key metrics smartocto tracks for marketing success
[00:23:20] The importance of video investment and visual branding
Resources Mentioned:
smartocto Website: smartocto.com
Connect with Rutger Vehoeven:
Email: rutger@smartocto.com
Website: smartocto.com
What if you could elevate your marketing game without spending a fortune? In this episode of Marketing Tips, host Ryan Atkinson sits down with Nina Stolpestad, the CMO at Domos, to uncover the secrets behind driving impactful campaigns with minimal budgets. Nina shares her journey from agency life to leading marketing at a fast-scaling SaaS company, and how she’s leveraging creative strategies like webinars and LinkedIn content to build thought leadership and drive sales.
Nina breaks down her approach to 2025 marketing planning, how to involve cross-functional teams, and why focusing on trust-building over hard sales is the key to sustainable growth. Plus, she reveals Domos' unique strategy of running webinars on independent domains to boost credibility and engagement.
If you're a startup CMO or marketer looking to generate big results on a scrappy budget, this episode is packed with insights and actionable tips you won't want to miss.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
How to plan for 2025 marketing campaigns on a limited budget
The power of webinars as a lead generation and thought leadership tool
Why Domos runs webinars on separate domains to foster trust
LinkedIn strategies to reach the 95% of your audience that’s not in buying mode
How to encourage your team to become active on LinkedIn without being overly salesy
Key Highlights:
[00:01:00] Nina’s career journey from agencies to Domos
[00:03:00] The importance of cross-team collaboration in marketing planning
[00:05:00] How to allocate marketing budget when resources are limited
[00:07:00] Why Domos focused on expertise and thought leadership before revamping their website
[00:08:00] The webinar strategy that generated thousands of registrants and industry praise
[00:11:00] LinkedIn content strategies to build relationships and drive organic reach
[00:15:00] The power of personal LinkedIn accounts over company posts
[00:19:00] Why networking and speaking engagements are invaluable for brand growth
[00:20:00] Nina’s top metric: Sales, not social engagement
Resources Mentioned:
Richard van der Bloom (LinkedIn algorithm expert)
Domos.ai
Connect with Nina Stolpestad:
LinkedIn: Nina Stolpestad
Learn more about Domos: domos.ai
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