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Meme of the week #13 – Case study tumbleweed

Waiting approval blog

Case studies – what better way to substantiate a track record and success. They’re roundly recognised as playing an influential role in the marketing and selling process.

So why are they SO hard to get mobilised and over the line? Aligning the motivations and timing of sellers, relationship owners, end-customers and approvers is a complex task that takes skill and perseverance. 

How often does a case study fail because of internal inertia? Worse, how many have hours and months of crafting only to fall at the approvals stage?       

Check out the meme, ‘Case study tumbleweed’ – have you or your colleagues been on this road?

Waiting for approval meme

The challenges represented by ‘Case study tumbleweed’ relate to; 

  • Heads of marketing or sales recognising the need to increase commitment to voice-of-the-customer marketing 
  • Customer marketing, success or advocacy managers managing case study programmes

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #12 – Really – it’s 970×250

Display campaign blog

As marketers, we’re used to the art of distillation – applying the powers of verbal and visual compression to reduce, reduce, and reduce message.

This is no truer than planning for display campaigns running across multiple platforms and formats. So, it’s not surprising there’s a collective ‘aggggghhhfor tangential messages to be infused into the 15 word ad.  

Check out the meme, ‘Really – it’s 970×250!Sound familiar?

Marketing overkill meme

The challenges represented by ‘Really – it’s 970×250!’ relate to; 

  • Campaign managers collaborating with internal colleagues managing important, but tangential corporate initiatives 
  • On-line managers with an imperative to collaborate with cross-marketing stakeholders 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #11 – Gone missing

Marketing battle cards blog

‘Now where are they?’ ‘They’re not fully finished or current’ ‘They were written by Product’.

These are the 3 top answers to the question posed in the meme above… supposedly the most important tool to get ahead of competitive plays. The age-old battlecard can be an extremely powerful tool for agency, marketing and sales teams alike. What better way to understand the very best, industry-tested, crafted messages to land ‘killer blows’ in campaigns and conversations. How can let this happen? Poor show.

Check out the meme, ‘Gone missing How do you plead – guilty, not guilty, or not my fault?

Sales Battlecards Meme

The challenges represented by ‘Gone missing’ relate to; 

  • Heads of sales or enablement charged with improving performance of sellers 
  • Heads of marketing teams with a close relationship and/or influential role with sellers 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #10 – It won’t fly!

Art and science blog

The current era for marketing needs to find the right balance of art and science.

The ‘art roots’ of marketing and advertising are still crucial for creating emotional success. But they now need the counterbalance of data, analytics, and AI to prove performance and inform decision-making.

Pursuing emotional engagement through creative cannot now live in isolation. Similarly, insights won’t fly without the right vehicle for doing the job.

Check out the meme, ‘It won’t fly!’. Have you been guilty of not getting the right balance?

Art and Science Meme

The challenges represented by ‘It won’t fly’ relate to; 

  • Campaign managers and planners looking to mobilise the right resources and experts 
  • Heads of marketing planning team resources and skill-sets 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #9 – The C Bomb

Compliant data blog

‘Is the data compliant?’ There’s rarely a question more guaranteed to stop the client in their tracks as they head towards the campaign launch.

Most marketers recognise the role of the various data protection standards in achieving the right balance of value and privacy, but responsibility for the final decision is often passed around the team and stakeholders like the ticking bomb in this clip.

How often has the campaign launch been delayed because this question lacked a definitive answer? And how often has the ‘legitimate interest’ card been played in place of it?

Check out the meme, ‘The C Bomb‘. Recognise these marketing team behaviours?

Data Complient Meme

The challenges represented by ‘The C Bomb’ relate to; 

  • Marketing and programme managers planning and mobilising campaigns  
  • ABM strategists planning GTM channels and activities 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #8 – Over-blending

Over blending blog

Lack of decisiveness? Possibly. Being too polite? Maybe.

Whatever the reason, ‘over-blending’ is a pet hate of agencies and creative teams. You spend all your time crafting an approach that addresses a singular message or assertion, and the client wants it all mixed together.

Now that’s not to say that all ‘fusion’ is bad – but there’s sometimes a fine line between asserting multiple messages and creating a ‘$#^! Soup’ 

Check out the meme, ‘Over-blending‘. Is this something that makes you or colleagues cringe?

Blend 3 Ideas Together Meme

The challenges represented by ‘Over-blending’ relate to; 

  • Campaign managers consolidating feedback from product, brand and sales teams 
  • Content managers developing assets with too many perspectives and viewpoints 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #7 – Squeeeeze it in

Explainer video blog

‘And another thing...’ ‘Could you just add....’

We’ve all been there, colleagues or clients trying to shoehorn far too much into a particular marketing asset – especially explainers.

While content and creative pro’s do a great of job at distillation and reduction, sometimes there’s just too much crammed into that kitchen sink of an explainer video.

Check out the meme, ‘Squeeeeze it in‘. How often have you suffered this in producing assets?

Explainer video meme

The challenges represented by ‘Squeeeeze it in’ relate to; 

  • Content marketers and their associate writers and agencies charged with production 
  • Product marketers who may be under pressure to over-expand the explainer video mandate to cover too many agendas and messages 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #6 – WTF is our purpose???

Band promise blog

No, it’s not your value proposition. No, it’s not your difference, It’s not even your USP or the portfolio of what you sell.

It’s the very reason that you’re in business doing what you do, and the impact you bring to those around you.

So, why is it that so many marketing, sales and other customer-facing professionals don’t know their company purpose or brand promise? 

Check out the meme, ‘WTF is our purpose???‘. Sound familiar?

Brand promise meme

The challenges represented by ‘WTF is our purpose?’ relate to; 

  • Sales and enablement leads driving teams with key corporate initiatives  
  • Marketing leaders managing teams with a close and influential role with sellers 
  • Corporate brand strategists and internal communicators charged with internal adoption 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #5 – Duck tape won’t do

Plaster over crack

We all know about the rise of content over the last few years - and we’ve always recognised the importance of the marketing required for all stages of the funnel.

But this focus on continually feeding the pipeline brings some issues. Too frequently, poorly formed, low-quality and value-misleading content is offered at ‘top-of-funnel’. It’s time to say ‘Enough!’

Why offer a piece of gated content thats going to underwhelm or even set expectations too high? It damages goodwill, brand perception, and any supporting efforts that will try and progress that lead through the system.  

Check out the meme, ‘Duck tape won’t do’. Sound familiar?

Low Quality Content Meme

The challenges represented by ‘Duck tape won’t do’ relate to; 

  • Marketing managers and their marketing agencies developing campaigns with brown-field collateral and assets 
  • Marketing, content and campaign managers auditing the value of existing assets 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #4 – Rabbit v Duck Season

Alignment meeting blog

There’s nothing like the ‘creative friction’ of the agency doing battle with ‘Team Brand’

We’re marketers, so we all know the impact that great brand stewardship can have on the tech business. But, for this to work for bigger businesses at scale, you need the optimum mix of internal brand custodianship and external agency vitality.

The winners and losers in our markets are often predicated on it. But, the combination of differences in creative ideology and conceptual boundaries (with a heady mix of egos and not-invented-here syndrome) can often create some (aherm) interesting dynamics.

Check out the meme, ‘Rabbit v Duck season‘. Press any buttons with you?

Project Disagreement Meme

The challenges represented by ‘Rabbit v Duck season’ relate to; 

  • Marketing managers charged with ensuring external agency programmes align with corporate agendas and principles 
  • Campaign heads leading the internal development of initiatives requiring brand sign-off before external go-live 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #3 – ABMmmmmm

ABM targeting blog

I bet ABM has cropped-up in your marketing planning. Has it had this response?

Roll-on the discipline that’s ABM. Quite rightly, tech businesses of all segments and sizes have either considered, piloted or deployed an ABM programme for selling their stuff over the last few years. But with this brave decision to focus effort, $$$ and resources on a select group of accounts comes with the onus of ‘who’.

Check out the meme, ‘ABMmmmmm‘. Press any buttons with you?

Who are we targeting meme

The challenges represented by ‘ABMmmmmm’ relate to; 

  • Heads of sales, marketing and channels recognising the need to consider ABM, but not quite knowing where to start 
  • ABM managers starting to mobilise the conversation and motions within the business 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #2 – Sales AWOL

Sales enablement day blog

Upcoming sales kick-off? Does this sound familiar?

Good luck and best wishes to the unsung heroes in product management, marketing, business development, strategy or sales enablement who are planning a SKO.

You’ve probably been ‘upping the ante’ throughout December and the holiday season while your colleagues have activated the OOO. Good on you and we hope you get the recognition you deserve.

Check out the meme, ‘Sales AWOL’. Press any buttons with you?

Sales Enablement Day Meme

The challenges represented by ‘Sales AWOL’ relate to; 

  • Product / programme / content marketers and sales management charged with developing influential content for the SKO
  • Sales enablement leads shaping the delivery of training and enablement days 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Meme of the week #1 – Not me

Customer Journey blog

Planning a content journey or proposition cascade?

If you’re improving your CX with the aid of more enhanced or comprehensive marketing, then you need to know the pathway the customer takes and the journey they experience. You’ll need to be aware of the routes, conditions, signs, diversions and occasional car crashes they need to navigate along the way.

The customer journey map is a no-brainer. It also comes in useful (albeit to a lesser extent) if you’re planning a new ABM campaign, nurture streams or digital journeys too. So where is it? Who’s mapped it? You’re not going to find success without it.

Check out the meme, ‘Not me’. Press any buttons with you? 

Customer Journey Meme

The challenges represented relate to; 

  • Heads of marketing looking to increase their marketing influence on the customer experience 
  • CX leads wanting to reduce the friction, increase self-sufficiency and consolidate the customer journey 

This post is 1:50 from #WhenTheAgency, a witty collection of observations through the eyes of the tech marketing agency. All memes are available to drag and drop into presentations or social posts. Visitors are encouraged to share and create knowing smiles amongst your colleagues and peers.

The full library of memes for #WhenTheAgency is available here. Enjoy!

Discover the five silver linings of new tech marketing outlook.

Silver lining playbook blog header

Let’s face it, 2020 didn’t go to plan for anyone. The technology sector is no exception and, like every other business sector, is having to anticipate and deal with the direct and indirect effects of ‘C-19’.

2020 has been a lesson in expecting the unexpected. As the uncertainty continues, the impact of dealing with a global pandemic has challenged business and market sectors in different ways – with some feeling more disruption and financial pain than others.

As a breed, marketers are perhaps more prepared to catch a curved ball when it’s thrown in their direction. As practitioners in the art of anticipating and meeting demand with changing market dynamics, marketers are ready to zig when circumstances zag.

Looking to the horizon, we see clouds growing in the shape of reduced marketing budgets and customer spending. But even in this general climate of uncertainty it is, believe it or not, possible to pick out some silver linings – that can turn challenges into opportunities.

Find out more, get your free copy of Silver Linings Playbook for Tech Marketers.

Video focus – a guide for technology marketers

Video focus – a guide for Technology Marketers

Edited around 9 chapters on producing best practice content, 'Video focus - A guide for Technology Marketers' is a new free guide published by The Rubicon Agency.

Based on years of writing and producing influential B2B video content, the guide is aimed at any technology marketer who suspects or already knows that video can be a uniquely effective medium for strategic and tactical purposes.

Video marketing – an increasingly influential and integrated channel

With the rapid growth and acceptance of video in all marketing, senior tech marketers are increasing their investment in corporate, industry and open channels that broadcast this content – accelerated by the growing commitment to the medium from publishers and social platforms.

Marketing teams are expected to demonstrate the flare, innovation and communications clarity that they apply to other marketing assets, without necessarily having the training and skills development required to deliver a quality product.

Distilling over a decade of expertise in video production

The guide distils over 10 years of experience, insights, practices and pragmatism from a marketing agency dedicated exclusively to the technology sector. It’s not a comprehensive DIY guide or a geek’s guide to video technology – nor is it a budget-busting view from a creative ivory tower.

Written in a no-nonsense, plain English style, the guide provides a broad overview of the key principles and considerations for various types and formats of video.

What types of video are covered in this guide?

Check out the chapters contained within the guide:

Take 1: About this guide
Take 2: Video types
Take 3: Three considerations for a teaser video
Take 4: Why make a trailer video?
Take 5: The explainer video in three acts
Take 6: Show and tell with a demo video
Take 7: When it’s showcase time
Take 8: Keeping it real with a documentary video
Take 9: What makes a good vision video?
Take 10: Specialist agency or production company?
Take 11: The closing shot

At The Rubicon Agency, we are enthusiastic and experienced advocates of video as a technology marketing asset. From launch trailers to aspirational vision videos, they have a unique ability to stimulate interest, accelerate understanding and influence decision makers – three key goals for any tech marketer.

Download your copy of the guide today, or check out our video gallery if you need some inspiration.