Little Talks

As Roop would say, "It's the most wonderful time of the year" (and no, he's not talking about Christmas)! It's time for HubSpot's annual marketing conference, INBOUND. This year marks Roop's third time attending, but he’s not going alone. Sam and Senior Client Engagement Manager, Joy Hulver, will be joining him in Boston for a jam-packed agenda covering B2B marketing trends, harnessing AI in the workplace, content strategies, email marketing, and more.

With an impressive line-up of speakers, including podcast favorite Jay Schwedelson and none other than Deadpool himself, Ryan Reynolds, this year's INBOUND promises to be one of HubSpot's biggest yet.

Tune in as Roop and Sam share a quick preview of the sessions they're excited about, along with their best attempts at some questionable Boston accents. And be sure to check back in two weeks for a full recap of INBOUND 2024!

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As we gear up for Labor Day weekend, Sam welcomes a special guest to Little Talks this week: John Amatucci, a seasoned B2B photographer who’s been capturing amazing shots with us for 20 years! 

In this episode, John shares his creative process and how he tackles the challenge of making B2B photography stand out, even when working with large industrial equipment. He also dives into how AI is shaking up the photography game—not as a competitor, but as a powerful tool that boosts creativity and efficiency.

Curious to see more of John’s work? Make sure to check out his website for a peek into his world behind the lens. Trust us, you don’t want to miss it!

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It’s been a while since we chatted about artificial intelligence. For well over a year now, we’ve seen both the positives and negatives of this rapidly growing technology. But where do we stand in mid-2024? This week, Roop and Sam talk about where we’ve been, where we’re going, and how we use AI ourselves—and possibly how you might use it for your B2B brand.

We also cover new players in the game, from Apple to Google. AI is more than just ChatGPT, and it’s more than just a tool to do your homework, write your emails, or give you ideas for Christmas presents.

Artificial intelligence continues to be a game-changer when used correctly, saving valuable time and resources in nearly every corner of the working world.

So join us as we jump back into the world of AI!

— Brandon, Brenda, Claudia, Roop and Sam

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As we are getting closer and closer to the upcoming election, we thought we would discuss perceived marketing challenges we often hear. With some handy charts and graphs, Sam explains how brands need to be more strategic with their timing and placement during election seasons, making sure that their messaging remains relevant.

Since the 2016 presidential election, digital ads have become a staple in political campaigns, leading to significant increases in competition and costs. This trend continued in 2020, with political ad spending reaching a staggering $8.5 billion. The steady flow of political dollars into the market often starts bidding wars for prime advertising slots, driving up costs and making it difficult for small-to-medium-sized brands to maintain visibility.

How do you deal with election season as a marketer? We have some thoughts.

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This week, we cover a question we hear from time to time from our B2B prospects: Does content marketing work?

Our short answer: Yes!

Today’s B2B customers are more empowered than ever before. They conduct their own research, seek out info online, and are hesitant to engage with sales reps until they’re well-informed about a product or service. B2B sales cycles can also be long and complex, with multiple decision-makers involved. Content marketing can help you stay top-of-mind with your prospects throughout their buying journey, providing them with valuable information and influence at each stage, nurturing them towards a purchase—and just as important—a repurchase.

So listen in as Roop and Sam discuss content marketing's place in your B2B marketing strategy, and offer some opportunities you might not have considered.

And come back next week when we tackle marketing challenges in an election year!

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Question we get ALL THE TIME: How can I close the loop on a lead sent to our dealer network? In this week's episode, Sam and Roop discuss some solutions to this problem we've seen WORK. Proper attribution is key to creating better, more targeted and cost-effective marketing campaigns, so if squeezing more value out of your marketing budget is on your To Do List, this podcast is for you.

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In this week's episode, Sam and Roop dive into everything from the bittersweet farewell to our summer interns to the surprising news from Google. Our interns—Tatum, Careena, and Lauren—have been a whirlwind of creativity, even making a TikTok that went viral with over 92,000 views! As they head off to new adventures, we can't help but feel a mix of pride and a touch of sadness. It’s been a fantastic summer with these bright minds adding a fresh perspective to our work. 

But, let's get real, Google did WHAT?? The unexpected decision to keep third-party cookies around a bit longer has sent everyone into a spiral. This pivot is a game-changer for marketers everywhere, and we break down what it means for you and your digital strategies. It's not just about the technical jargon; it's about understanding how these shifts impact our everyday work and the ads we see, especially since many had been preparing for a world without these tracking tools. 

Roop and Sam do their best to explain what this news means for your B2B brand. If you have more detailed questions or need specific advice, feel free to reach out to Chris Kizer, our in-house expert at the agency.

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We are over the Moon to have Ditch Witch's Sean Hubbard on the show this week for his first-ever Little Talk's appearance. From content strategies to digital media, Sean's journey from PR writer to marketing communications manager shows how embracing change can keep you and your B2B brand fresh and relevant.

Since this was Sean's first time on the podcast, it was only fitting to share some big news. Ditch Witch will soon be releasing the first episodes of their own new podcast, "Beyond The Moon" hosted by none other than Sean! He'll be sharing stories around Ditch Witch culture and industry insights you won't want to miss. Think you know everything about the Super Witch? You haven't heard anything yet!

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Sam and Roop are back for another episode after an eventful Fourth of July weekend! In the midst of summer, it's wonderful to take a break and spend time with friends and family. Here at Littlefield, the busy summer makes those moments of relaxation even more cherished.

This week, we’re diving into the world of podcasting and its critical role in bettering your B2B content marketing. Podcasts are incredibly versatile, serving as a foundation for video, text, and social media content, ultimately maximizing your content reach and engagement (just like this blog post!). Sam and Roop discuss the importance of building credibility and trust through consistent, engaging content, sharing success stories and client testimonials that highlight how podcasting has boosted our agency's visibility and strengthened client relationships.

If you’re thinking about starting your own podcast, we encourage you to take the dive, even if the initial episodes aren’t perfect. Trust us, we’ve come a long way!

Join us next week for an exciting episode featuring B2B photographer John Amatucci—you won’t want to miss it!

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Happy (early) Independence Day! The agency is looking forward to a long holiday weekend with friends and family, and hope you have a good one, too. So on a short week, we have a quick topic we've been wanting cover for awhile: Apple Mail vs. Everybody's Analytics.

Apple Mail has been the scourge of the email marketing world for quite a while now, and with their recent announcement regarding Mail updates, it doesn’t look like that’s going to improve. So this week we thought we would jump in and outline what Apple has done already, what it will be rolling out with future updates, and how it effects email marketing analytics.

As users’ privacy concerns continue to become a big deal, obstacles like Apple has put in place will likely continue and even spread to other services like Gmail and Outlook. Still, email is still one of the most affordable and effective marketing tools available, even with reporting hassles like this.

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