Tech Qualified

In this episode of Tech Qualified, Justin Brown and Meredith Metsker host Nick Lafferty, a seasoned growth marketing consultant and founder of the Early Exit Club. Nick discusses the crucial role of paid marketing strategies for B2B organizations, emphasizing the rapid feedback and optimization opportunities it provides. He details how paid marketing efforts can be a valuable tool for small teams looking to test ideas quickly with minimal initial investment.

Nick explains how to align marketing strategies with business objectives and select the most effective channels, such as Google Ads and LinkedIn. He stresses the importance of matching these channels to the company's stage of development and budget, guiding businesses through the initial steps of creating a paid media program from scratch.

The conversation also covers common challenges and pitfalls in paid marketing, such as inadequate budget allocation and the complexities of channel prioritization. Nick shares insights on when companies should consider investing in paid channels and how to measure the success of these investments, providing practical advice for companies at various growth stages.

This episode is produced by New North. New North is a strategic B2B marketing agency specializing in working with tech companies. Going beyond conventional tactics, we craft a personalized marketing strategy, conduct research, lay a solid foundation, execute dynamic campaigns, and continuously refine our approach through analysis.

With New North, your small, scrappy marketing team transforms into a powerful growth engine, achieving your goals with less pressure and more precision.

In this episode of Tech Qualified, Justin Brown and Meredith Metsker dive into the world of social media's role in business growth with Kirsti Lang from Buffer. The conversation starts with the importance of having a strong digital presence, even for small teams, and quickly transitions to the power of authenticity in social media marketing. Kirsti emphasizes that people trust individuals over brands, making the personal stories and posts from company leaders crucial for engagement and trust-building.

Kirsti shares practical advice for executives hesitant to embrace social media, suggesting starting small with regular posts to showcase the human side of business. She explains that sharing the founder's journey and the company's story can significantly impact audience engagement, resonating more than traditional brand posts.

The discussion also highlights the need for consistency in social media efforts and the value of having a strategy that includes content pillars and audience understanding. Kirsti suggests that marketing teams can support their leaders by providing tools, content calendars, and encouraging a culture where posting on social media is seen as an opportunity rather than a chore. The episode wraps up with the insight that anyone within a company who aligns closely with the ideal customer profile can be a valuable voice on social media, not just the executives or marketing team.

This episode is produced by New North. New North is a strategic B2B marketing agency specializing in working with tech companies. Going beyond conventional tactics, we craft a personalized marketing strategy, conduct research, lay a solid foundation, execute dynamic campaigns, and continuously refine our approach through analysis.

With New North, your small, scrappy marketing team transforms into a powerful growth engine, achieving your goals with less pressure and more precision.

In this episode of Tech Qualified, host Meredith Metsker and guest Justin Brown of New North explore the transformative impact of episodic content for small marketing teams. Justin shares his journey from struggling to produce regular content as a small business owner to discovering the strategic advantages of podcasting. This transition not only facilitated consistent content production but also significantly boosted engagement with key audiences.

Justin emphasizes the flexibility and efficiency of episodic content, particularly podcasting, in enabling small teams to punch above their weight. By leveraging podcasts, companies can generate a continuous stream of content, enhance their brand’s visibility, and establish themselves as industry thought leaders without the resource drain typically associated with traditional content creation methods. This approach not only aids in content distribution but also fosters valuable connections within the industry, making it a potent tool for businesses aiming to expand their influence and reach.

The conversation dives into practical tips for developing a successful episodic content strategy, highlighting the importance of audience-centric content planning and execution. Justin’s insights underline episodic content's role in not just attracting but also retaining an engaged audience by consistently delivering valuable and relevant insights.

This episode is produced by New North. New North is a strategic B2B marketing agency specializing in working with tech companies. Going beyond conventional tactics, we craft a personalized marketing strategy, conduct research, lay a solid foundation, execute dynamic campaigns, and continuously refine our approach through analysis.

With New North, your small, scrappy marketing team transforms into a powerful growth engine, achieving your goals with less pressure and more precision.

In this episode of Tech Qualified, Justin Brown dives into the intricacies of content creation with limited resources. He discusses the unique challenges faced by small B2B tech marketing teams with Meredith Metsker , the Director of Content and Community at uConnect. The conversation explores strategies for building an efficient content machine, underscoring the importance of adaptability and resourcefulness in a constrained environment.

Meredith shares her journey from working in larger marketing teams to embracing the agility of smaller groups, highlighting the advantages of reduced bureaucratic hurdles. Her experience across various roles in the tech sector has shaped her preference for lean teams, where the rapid execution of ideas thrives. The discussion also touches on the common misconceptions about content creation capabilities of small teams, debunking the notion that quality content requires a large workforce.

The episode concludes with actionable insights into establishing a successful content strategy. Meredith emphasizes the value of consistency, strategic planning, and the power of outsourcing certain tasks to maintain a steady flow of engaging content. Her approach, focusing on leveraging podcasts and multimedia, showcases the potential for small teams to make a significant impact, driving increased web traffic and generating leads for uConnect.

This episode is produced by New North. New North is a strategic B2B marketing agency specializing in working with tech companies. Going beyond conventional tactics, we craft a personalized marketing strategy, conduct research, lay a solid foundation, execute dynamic campaigns, and continuously refine our approach through analysis.

With New North, your small, scrappy marketing team transforms into a powerful growth engine, achieving your goals with less pressure and more precision.

​​In this episode of Tech Qualified, hosts Justin Brown and Meredith Metsker welcome Joe Michalowski from New North. They dive into the evolving landscape of B2B marketing, discussing the critical shift from in-house roles to agency settings. Joe shares his unique perspective on adapting strategies for client success in a competitive digital environment.

Joe emphasizes the importance of leveraging content to address customer pain points. He outlines effective methods for creating content that resonates with target audiences, highlighting the need for authenticity and value-driven messaging. The discussion also explores how small marketing teams can punch above their weight through strategic planning and execution.

The conversation wraps up with insights on measuring marketing success. Joe stresses the significance of aligning marketing metrics with business goals to truly gauge the impact of campaigns. This episode offers valuable advice for marketers looking to refine their approach and drive growth in the B2B sector.

This episode is produced by New North. New North is a strategic B2B marketing agency specializing in working with tech companies. Going beyond conventional tactics, we craft a personalized marketing strategy, conduct research, lay a solid foundation, execute dynamic campaigns, and continuously refine our approach through analysis.

With New North, your small, scrappy marketing team transforms into a powerful growth engine, achieving your goals with less pressure and more precision.

In this insightful episode of Tech Qualified, Meredith Metsker hosts Lindsay McGuire, Associate Director of Content and Campaigns at Goldcast. They dive into the art of crafting effective event strategies for small marketing teams. Lindsay emphasizes the importance of aligning events with business goals, highlighting how different event types serve varied objectives - from brand building to community engagement.

Lindsay shares practical advice on efficiently running events with limited resources. She stresses the significance of roles like hosts and producers in ensuring the smooth execution of events. The discussion also explores leveraging virtual events to extend brand reach and content strategies, underscoring the value of audience engagement and feedback in shaping event direction.

Concluding with key insights, Lindsay offers guidance for small teams considering event strategies. She advocates for using events as content generators and prioritizing audience needs, ensuring impactful and sustainable marketing efforts.

This episode is produced by New North. New North is a strategic B2B marketing agency specializing in working with tech companies. Going beyond conventional tactics, we craft a personalized marketing strategy, conduct research, lay a solid foundation, execute dynamic campaigns, and continuously refine our approach through analysis.

With New North, your small, scrappy marketing team transforms into a powerful growth engine, achieving your goals with less pressure and more precision.

In this episode of Tech Qualified, Meredith Metsker and Justin Brown dive into essential marketing strategies. They reflect on an interview with Tory Kindlick, VP of Marketing at Corti, discussing the fundamental role of content marketing. Kindlick's approach to building a marketing team prioritizes content creation, highlighting its vital role in successful marketing strategies.

The conversation shifts to the importance of diverse skill sets in marketing teams. Justin, with a background in content, emphasizes the need for technical expertise in tandem with content creation. This balance ensures a comprehensive approach to marketing, facilitating both creative and analytical strengths. They underscore the need for marketers to possess a blend of skills to adapt and thrive in various marketing environments.

Lastly, the episode focuses on the art of interviewing in marketing. Justin stresses the significance of asking the right questions to gain deeper insights. This skill is crucial for understanding market needs and crafting relevant content. Their discussion reveals how effective interviewing can lead to more impactful marketing strategies and better audience engagement.

This episode is produced by New North. New North is a strategic B2B marketing agency specializing in working with tech companies. Going beyond conventional tactics, we craft a personalized marketing strategy, conduct research, lay a solid foundation, execute dynamic campaigns, and continuously refine our approach through analysis.

With New North, your small, scrappy marketing team transforms into a powerful growth engine, achieving your goals with less pressure and more precision.

In this episode of Tech Qualified, host Justin Brown welcomes Meredith Metsker, Senior Content Marketing Manager at uConnect. They delve into the challenges and strategies of content marketing in a small team environment. Meredith shares her experiences in creating effective content strategies that balance both execution and strategic planning.

Meredith emphasizes the importance of agility and autonomy in small teams. She discusses how these qualities enable quick adaptation to changing market trends and audience needs. The conversation also touches on the significance of understanding the audience to create relevant and engaging content.

The episode concludes with insights into the future of content marketing. Meredith provides valuable tips for solo content marketers, stressing the need for a balance between hands-on content creation and overarching strategy development. This discussion offers a comprehensive look into the dynamic world of content marketing from an expert's perspective.

This episode is produced by New North. New North is a strategic B2B marketing agency specializing in working with tech companies. Going beyond conventional tactics, we craft a personalized marketing strategy, conduct research, lay a solid foundation, execute dynamic campaigns, and continuously refine our approach through analysis.

With New North, your small, scrappy marketing team transforms into a powerful growth engine, achieving your goals with less pressure and more precision.

In this episode of Tech Qualified, hosts Justin Brown and Meredith Metsker welcome Rachel Cottam, Director of Content at Delivery Solutions. Rachel shares her diverse experiences in marketing, emphasizing the unique challenges small marketing teams face. She draws parallels between her past as a high school English teacher and her current role, highlighting the nuanced skills required in content marketing.

Rachel dives into the isolation often felt in small teams, discussing how content marketers, despite being part of a niche, need to ensure their strategies and metrics are well understood organization-wide. She stresses the importance of community building among marketers and the need to recognize the varied roles and responsibilities within the marketing sphere.

The conversation shifts to the balance of creativity and strategy in small teams. Rachel advises embracing a growth mindset, encouraging marketers to say "yes" to diverse tasks and learn through experience. Her approach underlines the importance of adaptability and feedback in honing one's skills, especially in compact marketing teams.

This episode is produced by New North. New North is a strategic B2B marketing agency specializing in working with tech companies. Going beyond conventional tactics, we craft a personalized marketing strategy, conduct research, lay a solid foundation, execute dynamic campaigns, and continuously refine our approach through analysis.

With New North, your small, scrappy marketing team transforms into a powerful growth engine, achieving your goals with less pressure and more precision.

In the relaunched episode of Tech Qualified, hosts Justin Brown and Meredith Metsker dive deep into the evolution of the podcast. Justin reminisces about the podcast's earlier days, where they interviewed VPs of marketing and CMOs, emphasizing the shift towards creating more targeted and meaningful content.

Both hosts highlight the significance of addressing core audience issues when crafting content. Meredith, drawing from her journalistic background, underscores the importance of starting with the most pressing information and genuinely adding value to the audience. She champions the idea of facilitating genuine subject matter expertise rather than feigning it.

From an agency standpoint, Justin elaborates on the centrality of content in effective marketing. He believes that understanding the customer, producing content tailored to them, and then amplifying that content are the pillars of successful marketing. The episode serves as a rich exploration of content creation from both in-house and agency perspectives.

This episode is produced by New North. New North is a strategic B2B marketing agency specializing in working with tech companies. Going beyond conventional tactics, we craft a personalized marketing strategy, conduct research, lay a solid foundation, execute dynamic campaigns, and continuously refine our approach through analysis.

With New North, your small, scrappy marketing team transforms into a powerful growth engine, achieving your goals with less pressure and more precision.