For many CMOs, October is the most important month of the year. Not because of Halloween (although who doesn’t like a costumed block party with candy?). Not because pumpkins become prominent or the leaves start to change. October is the month most CMOs prepare, present, and seek approval for their 2025 budget.

Not surprisingly, our October Huddles on budgeting are typically the best attended. We cover lots ...

Last month, while we dove deep into customer retention strategies, one strategic asset rose to the top: the Customer Advisory Board (CAB). Done right, a CAB can be a powerful vehicle to drive your business forward, delivering valuable product feedback, strengthening relationships, and turning customers into advocates. But to get the most out of your CAB, you need a clear plan.

Here are 7 ways to ensure your ...

As I get ready for an upcoming trip to Africa, I’m reminded that just like planning a memorable vacation, customer retention requires thoughtful preparation, regular check-ins, and the flexbility to navigate bumps along the way.

This month in Peer Huddles, our CMO community explored how to keep customers engaged and loyal over the long term. Whether you’re mapping out a new customer journey or refining ...

When Jon Miller joins a Bonus Huddle, you know it’s going to be exciting. After founding Marketo and Engagio, then 3 years at Demandbase, he’s moving on to something new: A new MarTech company to challenge the status quo.

Here are his 6 top insights from the discussion:

“The minute the prospect pushes back, our SDRs revert to price,” lamented a 3x CMO. “This is a big problem for us right now, so I’m spending a lot of time with our CRO to fix it,” the CMO added. When I asked why this was so problematic, a chorus of Huddlers chimed in: “We must have consistent messaging throughout the customer journey otherwise we’ll lose most ...

Feeling the pressure to justify every marketing dollar? You’re not alone. It’s getting hot in the proverbial marketing kitchen, and the expectation for CMOs to deliver more with less is more intense than ever.
A significant part of the challenge is the gap in understanding how marketing works among directors and executive teams. PE-backed and non-PE CMOs alike are finding themselves spending unprecedented amounts of time ...

It’s a good thing marketers are typically optimists. Because right now, the headwinds in B2B are brutal. Many CMOs have experienced budget cuts across people, programs, and tech. At the same time, digital channels have become less effective. Email open rates are down. Google ad costs are rising. SEO is less reliable as Google tweaks its algorithm and integrates LLM answers, pushing your hard-earned links below the ...

The transformation felt sudden, almost shocking. After months of barren fields, Central Park is now ablaze with daffodils and lenten roses. While our dog Louie feigned indifference given the scarcity of squirrels, my wife and I reveled. Spring is just about here, ready to perk up our purviews and provide a fertile metaphor for this month’s newsletter.

Just as Spring puts a pep in our step, ...