Underdog B2B Marketers of the World Unite and Takeover

I just returned from speaking at the MarketingSherpa B2B Demand Generation Summit in Boston. What an experience! The Sherpa folks are ultra-passionate about getting best practices and research out to the people that most need and want it..people in charge of their company’s B2B marketing!

There was so much great content ranging from landing page design and testing, integrating with salesforce, blogging, podcasting, viral video, online surveys, reaching C-levels….and that was just the first day.

I learned three important lessons from this conference. Firstly, how much more there is for me to learn about B2B marketing! Secondly, how so much of this stuff is easily within the grasp of even the smallest company. Finally, a lot of the big big companies aren’t doing hardly any of this stuff. Underdog companies who are more visionary and nimble can run circles around the larger competition. Little of these new B2B internet marketing tactics cost a whole lot, it’s all about good strategy, content, diligence, and execution.

A common theme among the speakers, both client and agency side, was “we didn’t actually know if, or how well this was going to work.” They came up with an idea for a campaign, a technology, or a process, and made it happen. Were there some things that didn’t work as well as others? Of course. But the lessons learned make the next campaign or tactic that much more likely to succeed.

Anne Holland, founder of Sherpa (and a most excellent host) insisted after the conference that I start blogging right away (and who am I to say no?).  Also Brian Carroll, the ‘king’ of B2B Blogging offered very encouraging words to everyone in attendance about the importance of just writing what you are passionate about. So thanks to Brian for leading by example and being gracious with his expertise and experience.

If you are looking for the next best thing in B2B marketing, or insight as to how it’s been successfully done for years and years, don’t just visit….but dive in the deep end of the MarketingSherpa world. You’ll be glad you did. I want to keep writing, but I better pace myself…besides I have to prepare to speak at Sherpa’s next Summit in San Fran in 10 days!