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 M0, 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 M0

• 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 You’ll also hear her blueprint for building high-performing teams, transforming outdated systems, and why being a good human might be the most underrated leadership skill of all.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”

  
  

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:

• The secret to creating great content that actually drives results
• Why video is essential for B2B marketing success
• How to effectively repurpose content across multiple platforms
• The power of email marketing and why owning your audience is crucial
• Gregory’s framework for identifying and segmenting your ideal customers
• Social media strategies for startups and why founders must post consistently
• Key lessons from Content is Fire and how to master marketing paradoxes

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 Marketing Tips, Ryan sits down with Matt Wurst, CMO of Genuin, 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