CMO Alliance

Marketing teams are under pressure to launch more campaigns, faster - without sacrificing quality or burning out. Balancing speed, quality, and personalization across multiple channels feels impossible… unless you know the secrets. We’re taking you behind the scenes with experts from RingCentral and Tofu to reveal how they use AI to ship campaigns 8x faster while keeping quality top-notch. ?? March 27, 2025 ? 9am PT | 12pm ET | 5pm GMT ?? Kira Makagon, Elaine Zelby Expect real strategies, no fluff. Just a front-row seat to how high-performance teams make speed and scale look easy. Sign up now ?? https://lnkd.in/eiFgQFqe (Can’t make it? Sign up anyway—we’ll send you the recording!)

Can AI really deliver a personal touch—or are we just drowning in more generic content? ?? 'Personalization' is everywhere in marketing, but as AI-powered tools explode, there’s a real danger of efficiency overshadowing authenticity. In this must-listen episode of CMO Convo, brought to you by Tofu, Elaine Zelby (CRO & Co-founder) flips the script on AI skepticism. She’s tearing down the myth that AI and personalization can’t coexist—and showing you how to ditch the 'frankenstack' and build a workflow that actually works. Don’t let AI turn your brand into a content machine with no soul. Tune in now. #marketing #cmo #podcast ?? Watch: https://lnkd.in/erXHD7cV ?? Listen: https://lnkd.in/egKJ27yK

?? BIG NEW PARTNERSHIP RayBan makes A$AP Rocky "Creative Director" Their first ever creative director btw. This is a BIG winning move. Why? ?? Data from our CMO Insights Report 2025 67% of influencer campaigns outperform brand only marketing Smart brands are forming long-term partnerships. They are bringing creators in-house. Which is smart for 3 reasons. 1?? It's a true partnership, not a shallow endorsement Rocky's role goes beyond typical "face of the brand" tasks. They are going DEEP together. - Developing new product collections (first drop: April 2025) - Designing store experiences across 282 locations - Incorporating music, fashion and art - Overseeing creative projects - Directing campaigns 2?? It's authentic to both parties Rocky has a documented history with eyewear and fashion. There's natural alignment to his existing fanbase. Together 1+1 can become 10 here. 3?? It taps into an existing audience (rather than building from zero) Even in B2B, there's real power to an active fanbase. 91% of B2B are influenced by word of mouth. AND.... We'll repeat it for impact: 67% of the time? Influencer beats brand only campaigns. So find your long-term partners. And bet big with them. TOGETHER. -- ?? P.S. Thoughts on the partnership? Let us know below!

The February edition of CMO Insights is live - and packed with latest trends, strategies, and industry shifts that every CMO needs to know. Here's a rundown of what's inside this month's installment ?? ?? Rewardful CEO talks trust and credibility in affiliate marketing ?? Transforming marketing from cost-center to revenue powerhouse ?? The state of marketing leadership in 2025 ?? The essential qualities of great CMOs Got a trending conversation or resource to share? Drop a comment below! Let us know what else you want to see in our next edition ??

How can we infuse modern AI tech with the magic 'personal touch?' ?? Personalization is a common buzzword in marketing leadership. And with the rise of AI, there's a risk that the need for a 'personal touch' can take a backseat to efficiency and the constant proliferation of MORE content. In this special episode of CMO Convo, brought to you by Tofu, Elaine Zelby, Tofu's CRO and Co-founder, smashes preconceived notions about AI tools and lays out a practical strategy for ditching those dreaded 'frankenstacks' and streamlining your workflows. Catch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eGN4npG2 Or, if you prefer to take your podcasts on the go, listen here: https://lnkd.in/e5pM9tAP

The budget SQUEEZE is real in 2025. ?? NEW marketing data for you: The CMO Insights 2025 Report is here ?? CMOs are being asked to do more with less. 73% of CMOs were forced to downsize their teams and reduce their tech spend... Who got hit the hardest? Startups. 83% say economic uncertainty has directly impacted their growth goals. Budgets shrank. But expectations did NOT. 81% of CMOs list revenue as their # 1 priority metric - up from previous years. Meanwhile, Gartner found marketing budgets fell by 15% on average last year. The classic "do more with less" squeeze. SO... What's happening behind closed doors? 1) Teams are getting leaner but more specialized - Marketing generalists dropped from 69% to 52% of teams - Video marketing roles jumped by 17 percentage points - SEO specialists increased by 7 percentage points 2) Tech investment is changing dramatically by company stage - Startups are doubling down on martech (33% of budget vs 16% last year) - Enterprise companies are cutting back (12% of budget vs 20% last year) - 54% of CMOs feel they have key tools missing from their stack 3) AI adopting is slower than you think - 63% of CMOs have integrated AI tools - BUT only 25% of startup CMOs have adopted AI - 44% are using generative AI specifically - 77% report AI tools being effective or very effective ?? We should have put this CMO quote on the cover "Reduced marketing budget by 20%. Therefore every penny has to work harder and ROI is measured to determine the most fruitful investment." ?? The biggest change? A shift toward hyper measurable channels: - Email marketing importance is up (35% vs 30% last year) - Account-based marketing grew substantially (41% vs 27%) - Product marketing is gaining traction (37% vs 31%) Teams are feeling the pressure to deliver TODAY. With 67% of budget allocated to short-term goals. (Which is 17% higher than CMOs would prefer) Credit to Elena Verna for the hilarious meme ?? Make sure you give Elena a follow! — ?? P.S. Are you feeling the squeeze?

Marketing headaches? We’ve got the cure. ?? If AI-powered CX feels like a tightrope walk... If your GTM strategy feels like a jigsaw puzzle missing pieces... If keeping up with consumer habits feels like running on a treadmill... CMO Summit Silicon Valley has the exact treatment you need. ?? Crafting customer-centric experiences: Balancing Gen AI utilization with a human touch – with JPMorganChase, Upstart & Temenos. ?? Bridging product, marketing, and GTM for scalable success – led by Magnit. ?? Adapting to changing consumer habits: Realigning marketing strategies in the age of new media – featuring San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away… but who needs apples when you’ve got CMO Summit Silicon Valley? ?? Get your complimentary invite while spaces last: https://lnkd.in/gHHxh8Pd

CMOnow: Trendspotting and futurecasting Join Jocelyn Johnson as she explores how to navigate the shifting marketing landscape and identify new revenue streams through innovative strategies. The discussion will focus on leveraging existing assets, utilizing customer insights, and applying trendspotting and futurecasting to uncover and validate new opportunities. ??? February 26, 2025 ? 4:00pm GMT | 11:00am EST

Nike went HARD about winning. Adidas went SOFT ?? Here's why soft may win... ?? CONTEXT: The NEW global 2025 Adidas campaign just dropped "We All Need Someone to Make Us Believe" ?? THE DATA THEY BASED IT ON: "4 of 5 athletes experience negative sideline behaviors" Those negative vibes? They make people quit sports. So Adidas is doing the opposite of Nike. They're focusing on support. Positive vibes. With this new message "You Got This" ?? Nike is tapping into individuality. But Adidas found something a bit deeper... Community and connection. They're showing the people who make us BELIEVE 1) Friends who refuse to let us quit 2) Coaches who see our potential 3) Parents on the sidelines 4) Teammates who pick us up They're even launching a four episode docuseries called "Illuminated" featuring athletes like Anthony Edwards and Aitana Bonmati alongside their closest supporters. ?? This is SMART marketing psychology - It's inclusive (everyone can support someone) - It's relatable (we all remember who believed in us) - It creates emotional connection (beyond product features) While Nike celebrates the hero's journey? Adidas celebrates the village that raises them. Different approaches. Both powerful. ???P.S. Which resonates more with you?

In today's complex marketplace, CMOs are being asked to do more with less - that means finding pipelines for growth. That's why CMO Alliance is excited to announce a partnership with the?Hispanic Marketing Council, the only national trade organization of all marketing, communications, and media firms with trusted Hispanic expertise. They are the undisputed authority on Hispanic culture and marketing - and with U.S. Latinos serving as the fifth largest global economy with $3.6 trillion in GDP, this is the kind of marketing that needs to be done right. HMC can help you connect authentically with this market by leveraging the power of genuine cultural storytelling, data-driven insights, and creativity to tap into this global powerhouse audience. For more information, visit?https://lnkd.in/dsR_P7si. We are so excited to be partnering with HMC for our CMO Summit in New York, on March 12. Request your complimentary pass to be there: https://lnkd.in/eT6iHEkE