Marketing Nerd for Hire

Open to a Senior Director or VP of Marketing role, on-site in Austin, TX or remote. Page ONE of resume below. Link to FULL resume here: https://lnkd.in/g3g5T5m9

Marketing Magic: It's All in the Testing! ??? Remember my last post about running ads to catch the eye of hiring managers and HR professionals? (https://lnkd.in/gi4YEe-m) Well, buckle up, because this marketer's taking you on a wild ride through the world of A/B testing! ?? The Golden Rule of Marketing ?? It's a numbers game, folks! You've gotta love data to thrive in this field. But here's the kicker - even us seasoned pros can't always predict what'll work best. So, What's a Marketer to Do? ?? TEST, TEST, TEST! ?? We're talking: Email subject lines ?? Ad headlines and creatives ??? CTA button copy and colors ?? Landing pages ?? The Great Ad-Off ?? Below are the two of the first ads that I've run targeting those hiring managers and HR pros. Which one is performing better? The Beauty of Marketing ?? It's like hosting a silent party where your audience votes with their eyeballs and clicks. No awkward surveys, just pure, unadulterated user preference. The Unexpected Victor ?? I would have guessed that Lionel Richie would grab my target audience's attention. But I was wrong! The resume ad is crushing it with 36% more impressions. In hindsight, it makes sense. Hiring mangers and HR pros + resumes = results The Journey Continues ?? But wait, there's more! I'm cooking up new variations as we speak. Will they de-throne our current champ? Will they land me my dream job? Stay tuned for the next episode of "Is It Me You're Looking For?"! Remember, folks: Let your creativity lead the charge, but let the numbers tell the real story. #MarketingMadness #ABTestingAdventures #HireMeAlready #DataDrivenDreamer P.S. Hiring managers, if you're reading this, you know you want a marketer who can turn job hunting into a viral campaign. Just saying... ??

Turning Job Hunting into a Marketing Campaign: My Unconventional Approach In this tough job market, I've realized something: job hunting is just marketing yourself. So, I decided to treat it like I do when I working... My LinkedIn Ad Campaign ?? With help from my brilliant Product Marketing wife, Brook A., we've: 1. Created a Showcase page on LinkedIn 2. Launched targeted ads for CMOs and HR leaders in my desired industries (See Lionel Richie below) 3. Directed traffic to my LinkedIn profile and resume The Full-Court Press ?? Beyond the ad campaign, I've: - Revamped my resume and LinkedIn profile so many times, I've lost count! - Reached out to recruiters and hiring managers as soon as I apply to one of their roles - Built up my personal brand with LinkedIn posts like this one - Upskilled with new training - Applied to hundreds of jobs - Been networking like crazy (shoutout to Austin Digital Jobs, Lisa Hackbarth ????, and Fractionals United!) The Road Not Taken ?? We almost sent cakes with QR codes to hiring managers and HR professionals. But with so many remote workers we decided against it - didn't want to come off as creepy using their home addresses. You're welcome, hiring managers and HR folks! ?? Lessons from the Trenches ?? Like so many others, this is by far the hardest I've had to work to get a new job, and I'm learning a lot: 1. I'm treating every day like a typical work day, keeping my routine. 2. I'm focusing on activities I miss having time for like meditating, reading, playing the drums and learning Italian. 3. I'm forced to think outside the box and flex my marketing muscles. I feel like I'm at a startup again! 4. I'm helping others in my position as much as I can. 5. I'm trying to stay positive. If you know me, this may be a shock, but it has been a back and forth battle. For all of you #OpenToWork friends, what are your innovative job-seeking strategies? Share below and let's help each other out! ?? Thank you...each and every one of you that has introduced me to contacts at companies that I've applied for, given me advice, and helped me stay positive. You've been paramount in me accomplishing #5 above. #MarketingStrategy #HelpingOthers #HelloIsItMeYoureLookingFor #JobHunt2024 #NetworkingNinja #CreativeJobSearch

"Rowing harder doesn't help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction." ?? Sounds obvious, right? Sadly, many organizations often fall into the trap of "random acts of marketing" (thank you Authentic?) - working hard on tasks that don't align with overarching marketing strategy. ?? Some examples: - "Make a flyer for sales" - "Build a landing page about X" - "Email all of our contacts about Y" These requests, whether from leadership or across departments, can derail strategic focus. As marketing leaders, our role is crucial: 1?? Uncover the 'why' behind each request 2?? Align actions with overall marketing strategy 3?? Demonstrate how (or if) the task supports broader efforts 4?? Guide teams towards strategy-supporting alternatives 5?? Be prepared to respectfully decline misaligned tasks Remember: It's not about working harder; it's about working smarter towards a unified strategy. Then your collective efforts will "lift all boats" and support each other in attaining your strategic goals. #MarketingStrategy #LeadershipInsights #BusinessAlignment What's your take? How do you ensure your marketing efforts are rowing in the right direction?

"Why are we rebranding? Everyone knows who we are by our logo!" Change is hard. Especially when it involves something you've poured your heart into. Having led 6 companies through rebranding, I've heard this question countless times. And you know what? It's valid. You don't rebrand on a whim - you do it because it's necessary. Here are a few examples of what drives a rebrand: 1. Pivoting: New services or market shifts demand a fresh face. 2. Rapid Growth: Appealing to bigger clients? A strong brand becomes non-negotiable. 3. Mergers and Acquisitions: New offerings, new audience = new brand. 4. Consistency: Many startups begin as an MVP or done on the fly just to get the company started and they need to level up. I'll also hear things like, "You don't see Apple or McDonald's or Starbucks changing their brands!" Really? Take a look at the image below to see just how much some of the largest brands in the world have evolved. Imagine if these giants never evolved from their first logos. Perception matters. Rebranding is a key to the evolution of a company and must be done with intent and a deep understanding as to WHY you need to rebrand. When rebranding, execution is key: - It must be thorough and comprehensive. - It needs to represent the vision and strategy of the company. - Every asset needs to be re-designed Your old brand should be nearly impossible to find in public. - Internal buy-in is paramount. Rebranding isn't just a facelift - it's the evolution of your company's story. Have you ever been through a rebrand? How did it go? Were you sold on it right away, or did you have some reservations about it? #Branding #Rebranding #MarketingStrategy #Logo

I've never liked the phrase, "Practice makes perfect" No, I'm not against practice, in fact I love practice. Whether it's sports, work, or self improvement related, practice is a necessity. But what happens when you're NOT perfect? If your goal is to be perfect, you'll never succeed. No one is perfect, and never will be. So why is practice important? Why do even the best athletes in the world practice nearly every single day? Progress! They're looking to get just a little bit better at some aspect of their game. Sometimes it's something big, like adjusting their mechanics, and sometimes it's small like where they place their foot when swinging. But the objective is just to improve...at something...anything every time they practice. Those tiny improvements add up and make massive impacts. That is when practicing becomes addictive, impactful and MOTIVATING. You start to see the results of your hard work. When striving for perfection, you don't learn from your failures. The same goes for marketing. The goal of marketing is to constantly find ways to improve. - improve your ad copy - improve your SEO - improve your workflows and lead nurture - improve email performance - improve UX ......the list can go one for ever. Nothing is ever completely done and there is ALWAYS room for improvement. In life, in sports and in business. Do you agree? Share below. #ProgressOverPerfection #MarketingStrategy #Practice #MarketingPerformance

Sales vs Marketing: Which is More Important? It's a question I've heard countless times throughout my career, and everyone seems to have their own opinion. So, what's the answer? It depends. Let me break it down: The Startup Journey 1. Early-stage startups: Sales reign supreme. With unproven concepts and evolving value propositions, relationship-building is key. Marketing primarily supports sales efforts. 2. Mid-stage startups: Pure sales become harder to scale. Enter demand generation and performance marketing to reach broader audiences efficiently. 3. Late-stage/established businesses: The brand starts selling itself. Brand marketing takes center stage, making the sales process smoother by building trust and reputation. The Dance of Sales and Marketing Here's the crucial insight: At every stage, sales and marketing must be in perfect sync. It's a dynamic feedback loop: - Sales communicates needs - Marketing provides solutions - Results inform future strategies As companies grow and evolve, marketing becomes the expert in channel optimization, process automation, and brand consistency. It "greases the skids" for sales, warming up prospects so the sales team can focus on what they do best: closing deals. The Verdict Both sales and marketing are indispensable, but their relative importance shifts based on your company's stage and goals. The key is fostering a symbiotic relationship between the two. This is easier said than done, but if you can make this balance work, you'll see the results across top and bottom line revenue. What's your take? Which do you think is more important in your current business stage? #SalesAndMarketing #SalesEnablement #MarketingLeadership #MarketingStrategy

I cannot agree more. The toughest part of this is seeing what that threshold is while interviewing for a job. Most of the time it rears it's ugly head after you've been with the company for a while.

It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do. —Steve Jobs

Ever find yourself crafting emails that rival War and Peace in length? Or worse, receiving those never-ending digital scrolls? It's time to rethink our email strategy, and I've got just the analogy for you: ?? Enter My Tortilla Chip Theory ?? Imagine your email as a tortilla chip. Delicious? Sure. But let's be honest, it's what's on the chip that makes it irresistible. Your Email = The Chip - A vessel for something more enticing - Should be crisp, light, and easy to consume Your Content = The Dip - The real star of the show (think queso, guacamole or salsa) - What your readers actually crave - What people talk about Why This Matters for Your Marketing 1. Engagement: People want to interact with your website, videos, and landing pages, and you want that as well. 2. Conversion: These platforms convert better than long, text-heavy emails. 3. Analytics: Now that readers are interacting with multiple channels, it becomes easier to track engagement and adjust strategies. How to Apply the Tortilla Chip Theory 1. Keep your emails concise and intriguing 2. Use teasers to pique interest 3. Link to your "dips" - website content, videos, landing pages **Remember: Good emails don't have to be short, just more engaging!** Real-World Example I'm a big fan of the Morning Brew's newsletter. They've mastered the art of serving up a variety of "chips" with links to delicious "dips." Check it out yourself: https://lnkd.in/g3XxrD6t Now it's your turn! Share your favorite examples of emails that effectively guide you to the "good stuff." Let's compile a taste-test of email marketing excellence! #EmailMarketing #MarketingStrategy #ContentMarketing #DigitalMarketing #QuesoIsDelicious