Content Marketing, Engineered Podcast | TREW Marketing

TREW Marketing & Wendy Covey

If you are a marketer in a technical company, this podcast is for you. On each episode, host, author, and TREW Marketing CEO Wendy Covey will breakdown an industry trend, challenge or best practice in marketing to engineers and like-minded technical buyers. You'll meet colleagues and industry friends who will stop by to tell you their stories along the way. Learn B2B content marketing strategies and tips to build trust and grow your business with technical content. Visit trewmarketing.com/podcast for show notes, resources and to subscribe so that you'll never miss an episode.

read less
BusinessBusiness

Episodes

Taking AI Up a Notch: Training Brand Voice, AI Assistants, and Custom GPTs
5d ago
Taking AI Up a Notch: Training Brand Voice, AI Assistants, and Custom GPTs
If you're familiar with AI and want to take your knowledge one step further, this is the episode for you! We discuss advanced strategies to train your AI for tone of voice, how to utilize custom GPTs, and more. This week we're learning from Melissa Reeve, the cofounder of MarketingFrontier.AI. We discuss the integration of AI in marketing, focusing on how to effectively use AI for writing and maintaining a brand's tone of voice. We explore the challenges marketers face when adopting AI, the importance of defining brand voice, and the creation of custom GPTs to enhance content generation. The conversation also touches on advanced strategies for teams, the necessity of persistence and nuance in AI usage, and resources available for marketers looking to leverage AI. Finally, we provide insights on how to gain executive buy-in for AI initiatives.TakeawaysThe shift from A-B testing to "A to infinity" testing is now possible with AI.Articulate differences in tone in your AI prompts for various platforms is key.Creating a negative word list in your AI prompts can help refine AI outputs.Custom GPTs can streamline content creation for brands.ResourcesConnect with Melissa on LinkedInConnect with Wendy on LinkedInLearn More About Marketing FrontierRelated Article: Technical Marketing in the Age of AI: 2025 Trends and RecommendationsRelated Episode: AI Strategies and Tools for Industrial MarketersRelated Episode: Differentiate Your B2B Marketing in 2025: Stand Out in an AI-Driven LandscapeRegister for the Industrial Marketing Summit
Differentiate Your B2B Marketing in 2025: Strategies to Stand Out in an AI-Driven Landscape
Nov 21 2024
Differentiate Your B2B Marketing in 2025: Strategies to Stand Out in an AI-Driven Landscape
Can you believe it's already time to plan for 2025? Lee Chapman and I reflect on everything that changed in the world of marketing in 2024 and how we're updating our marketing strategy in 2025.  In this episode, Wendy Covey and Lee Chapman discuss the evolving landscape of marketing as they prepare for 2025. They reflect on the significant changes in inbound marketing, the importance of having a solid strategy, and the role of AI in enhancing marketing efficiency. The conversation also delves into the necessity of strong branding and the need for companies to focus on high-quality content that resonates with their audience. As they look ahead, they emphasize the importance of adapting to new tools and trends while maintaining a clear and focused marketing strategy.TakeawaysThe inbound marketing playbook is evolving.Having a well-formed strategy is crucial before experimenting with new tools.AI tools can assist in creating more effective marketing strategies.Brand differentiation is key in a crowded marketplace.Quality of content is more important than quantity.Webinars and short-form videos are effective for conversions.Companies should focus on their unique expertise to stand out.Leveraging customer feedback is essential for brand messaging.Maintaining a clean CRM is vital for effective marketing.2025 will require marketers to adapt to new trends and tools.ResourcesConnect with Lee on LinkedInConnect with Wendy on LinkedInRegister for the Industrial Marketing SummitRelated Episode: How to Leverage Clean Data and AI for Effective Email MarketingListen to the Artificial Intelligence Show
Getting Personal: When Authenticity is a Winning Sales Strategy
Nov 14 2024
Getting Personal: When Authenticity is a Winning Sales Strategy
Scroll through Rob Brunson's LinkedIn profile and you'll see a variety of personal and professional posts - from memes to personal and emotional essays. His online presence inspires trust which ultimately makes his sales strategy a success. In this episode of Content Marketing Engineered, Rob Brunson, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Wallace Electronic Sales, shares insights on the importance of authenticity in social media, particularly on LinkedIn. He discusses his approach to personal branding versus company branding, the strategies he employs for content creation, and the significance of building genuine relationships in sales. Rob also reflects on his personal experiences, including the loss of his mother, and how these experiences shape his online presence and interactions. The conversation emphasizes the need for sales professionals to be themselves and to nurture relationships rather than resorting to aggressive sales tactics.TakeawaysAuthenticity is key in social media engagement.Different audiences require tailored content strategies.Building relationships is crucial in sales.Personal experiences can enhance professional interactions.Humor can make sales approaches more relatable.Sales professionals should avoid pitching in initial contacts.ResourcesConnect with Rob on LinkedInConnect with Wendy on LinkedInRelated Episode:The Power of Developing a Personal Brand in an Industrial Sales RoleRelated Episode: Building A Strong Personal Brand with Chris Luecke
Find Your People at the Industrial Marketing Summit
Oct 24 2024
Find Your People at the Industrial Marketing Summit
Calling all industrial marketers! The Industrial Marketing Summit is BACK!On this week's episode, we're sharing all the details on what to expect from the second annual Industrial Marketing Summit, the go-to event tailored specifically to the challenges of marketers in the B2B manufacturing, engineering, and technical industries.Joe Sullivan, co-founder of Gorilla76, is my partner in crime! Together, our agencies are hosting the Industrial Marketing Summit, which will take place Wednesday, February 26 through Friday, February 28, 2025 in the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center at the University of Texas Austin campus.I invited Joe on the podcast this week to talk about what he's most excited about for next year's event and why we started IMS in the first place. We'll peel back the curtain on the event schedule, covering workshops, keynote sessions, panels, and roundtables. We also talk about the positive feedback we received from the 2024 event and how this marketing summit is different from other marketing conferences you could attend. TakeawaysThe Industrial Marketing Summit is designed for industrial marketers.Workshops will provide actionable insights for attendees.The event aims to build a community among industrial marketers.Sponsorships opportunities are available for companies who want to get involved.The summit will feature dual tracks of sessions: Brand & Strategy and Tactical ExcellenceThe event is inclusive for all levels of marketers.ResourcesRegister for the Industrial Marketing SummitConnect with Joe on LinkedInConnect with Wendy on LinkedIn
Breaking Into New Markets: Prototyping, Messaging, and Managing Risk
Oct 17 2024
Breaking Into New Markets: Prototyping, Messaging, and Managing Risk
If you're a well-established industrial brand in a specific vertical, it can be tempting to launch your products in a completely different sector. But there is a lot that goes into making the decision to launch into a new market and even when you do make the decision, it can take years and many trial and errors to gain market share. That's why I had John Schober, founder of Sorian, on the podcast this week. John has decades of experience consulting for businesses who are interested in launching into new markets. He shares insights on entering new markets, emphasizing the importance of experimentation, understanding customer needs, and developing a strong value proposition.He discusses the iterative process of prototyping and feedback, risk management, and the necessity of collaboration across teams. Additionally, he highlights effective marketing strategies and the role of technical marketing in successfully penetrating new markets.TakeawaysExperimentation is crucial when entering new markets.Understanding customer needs is essential for success.Prototyping can help capture customer interest and feedback.Collaboration between R&D, marketing, and sales is vital.Unlearning previous assumptions is necessary when entering new markets.Iterative processes lead to better market fit and product success.ResourcesConnect with John on LinkedInConnect with Wendy on LinkedInMentioned in the Episode: Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. MooreRelated Resource: How to Create a Product Positioning StatementRelated Guide: Product Launched for Engineers
The Eight Pillars of ROI-Driven Marketing for Manufacturers
Sep 26 2024
The Eight Pillars of ROI-Driven Marketing for Manufacturers
Chris Peer, the author of The Great 8 Pillars: ROI-Driven Marketing for Manufacturing Companies joins us on the podcast this week to walk through all eight pillars and share what he thinks the most important are for industrial marketers. We talk about how to structure marketing operations for success and how to get in front of leadership with the right data that is meaningful to grow your influence within the organization and demonstrate the impact marketing can have.We also talk about the need for frameworks and processes so that you can have a repeatable model when you launch campaigns. We talk about value proposition and of course your MarTech stack and how AI factors into this equation. TakeawaysROI is crucial in marketing and should be the focus of marketing operations.A strong value proposition, messaging, and branding are essential for differentiation and attracting customers.Content creation and AI are major obstacles faced by marketers in the industrial sector.To get executive buy-in, marketers should demonstrate the impact of marketing on revenue and align marketing strategies with organizational goals.Measuring and reporting on the right metrics is key to gaining executive support and demonstrating marketing effectiveness.ResourcesConnect with Chris on LinkedInConnect with Wendy on LinkedInRegister for the Industrial Marketing SummitRead The Great 8 Pillars: ROI-Driven Marketing for Manufacturing CompaniesRelated Episode: Creating Your Manufacturing Marketing FoundationRelated Episode: How Honest and Strategic Marketing Let to Rapid Growth
AI Strategies and Tools for Industrial Marketers
Sep 19 2024
AI Strategies and Tools for Industrial Marketers
In this episode, VP of Account Service, Jennifer Dawkins, talks about her experiences at MAICON, the Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference. Jennifer shares the high-level timeline of how AI is expect to evolve over the next decade and how marketers can keep up. They discuss the rapid advancements in AI, the importance of AI literacy for organizations, and the evolving landscape of content marketing in the age of AI, including the broader copyright implications. As AI chat continues to answer user questions accurately, we discussed the importance of moving away from "what is" content, and work towards creating compelling content that stands out - with unique points of view and personal anecdotes. I also ask her about the new AI tools she's excited to learn about and try, including video editing tools and integration tools. The main takeaway from the conference? AI is here. If you don't learn it, you'll lose business to your competitors and it will ultimately hinder your career as a marketer. But it doesn't have to be impossible to learn or implement, start small and don't let initial AI mistakes dissuade you from taking advantage of the tools. TakeawaysAI literacy is essential for organizations to stay competitive.Generic content will not perform well in the AI-driven landscape and compelling content must have a unique point of view.Copyright laws regarding AI-generated content are still evolving.Organizations must develop a clear AI strategy and guidelines.The future of AI includes multimodal capabilities and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).Starting with small, low-stakes AI projects can ease the transition.ResourcesConnect with Jennifer on LinkedInConnect with Wendy on LinkedInLearn more about the Marketing AI InstituteListen to the Artificial Intelligence ShowRelated Episode: How We're Using AI Tools for Content MarketingRelated Episode: Navigating Data and Content in the Era of AI with Chris PennAI Tools MentionedChat GPTDescriptPoeChathub.ggMake
Building a Career Marketing for B2B Tech Startups
Sep 12 2024
Building a Career Marketing for B2B Tech Startups
Curious about the fast-paced world of B2B tech startups? In this episode, fractional CMO Mary Anne Gunn shares her experiences navigating the challenges and opportunities of startup marketing. From building strong customer relationships to balancing sales and marketing, Mary Anne provides actionable insights to help marketers thrive in an ever-evolving environment.Drawing from her 25+ years of experience, Mary Anne highlights the importance of adaptability in startup environments, understanding what your customers care about, and aligning marketing with high-level business goals. She discusses how to handle the pressure to deliver leads quickly while still laying a strong strategic marketing foundation. Mary Anne also provides practical tips on navigating the volatile nature of startups, balancing sales and marketing alignment, and staying up-to-date in a fast-changing marketing landscape.TakeawaysEmbrace Flexibility for Career Growth: In the startup world, adaptability is a must. If you're willing to pivot quickly and tackle challenges head-on, you’ll develop a wide skill set that accelerates your marketing career.Build Customer-Driven Strategies: Understanding customer pain points and shaping marketing strategies around their needs is essential. The deeper your insights, the more impactful your role becomes.Focus on Metrics That Matter: Go beyond vanity metrics. As your career progresses, focus on efficiency and revenue-driven metrics that align with broader business objectives to position yourself as a strategic contributor.Collaborate and Network: Partner with sales, product, and other departments to create more impactful marketing programs. Relationship-building skills are crucial to your success.Stay Ahead of Marketing Trends: Keeping up with advancements in tools like AI can enhance your skills and make you more valuable, but never lose sight of the fundamentals—clear communication and a strong understanding of your market.ResourcesConnect with Mary on LinkedInConnect with Wendy on LinkedInStart with Why by Simon SinekRevenue Vitals by Chris WalkerRelated Episode: The Scrappy Solo Marketer
Overcoming Recruitment Challenges with Strategic Marketing and Community Engagement
Sep 5 2024
Overcoming Recruitment Challenges with Strategic Marketing and Community Engagement
If you're like most industrial companies, attracting and retaining talent is one of your biggest challenges. In this episode we discuss how marketing can play a critical role in recruitment initiatives and community engagement.Batesville Products Inc., an aluminum casting manufacturer, was facing a problem that plagues many modern manufacturers - they couldn't find or retain talent to fill their vacant production roles. Even when they did fill these positions, there was a high turnover. Mary Jutzi, Digital Marketing Associate at Batesville Products,  teamed up with Batesville's human resources team to address this issue. In this week's episode, Mary shares the steps Batesville took to understand the root of their talent problem and the initiatives they launched to address those findings.This episode is full of out-of-the-box initiatives that were very successful for Batesville Products Inc. From rewriting job descriptions, engaging in community events and local schools, and developing a children's book. Mary explains how they leveraged their company culture and unique selling points to attract the right candidates. Mary offers advice for marketers tasked with meeting recruiting goals and shares insights on reaching younger professionals.TakeawaysMarketing can play a crucial role in supporting local communities and meeting recruiting goals.Increasing brand awareness in the community is essential for attracting the right candidates.Highlighting company culture and unique selling points can help differentiate from competitors.Engaging with the community through initiatives like children's books can have a significant impact.To reach younger professionals, it's important to show that the company is modern and offer workplace flexibility.Connecting with other Department of one marketers can provide support and valuable insights.ResourcesConnect with Mary on LinkedInConnect with Wendy on LinkedInLearn more about the Batesville Products Inc.Check out the Batestville Products children's book and other resources Mentioned Resource: Winning the War on Talent by Chris CzarnikRelated Episode: Navigating Modern Manufacturing: AI, Recruitment, and MarketingRelated Episode: Working Together to Solve Manufacturing's Talent and Image Issues with Meaghan Ziemba
What to Expect at the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON) 2024
Aug 22 2024
What to Expect at the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON) 2024
Fellow marketers, have you started your AI journey yet? No matter what stage of the journey you're on, The Marketing AI Institute is a resource you can use to accelerate your use of AI. We are lucky to have Cathy McPhillips, Chief Growth Officer for the Marketing AI Institute,  join us on the podcast to discuss her seasoned marketing career and all Marketing AI Institute including their upcoming Marketing AI Conference (MAICON).Cathy shared the institute's mission to to make AI approachable, accessible, and actionable for marketers, focusing on AI literacy for all.  They institute provides many free resources to get started including blogs, white papers, podcasts, research, online courses, and events. The podcast is one great way to learn a little more each week about the latest in AI for marketing and beyond.We spent a lot of time talking about MAICON and as a past attendee, I can say the event is something every marketer should add to their calendar. From networking, to valuable sessions, to learning from fellow marketers, MAICON is a can't-miss event. TakeawaysThe Marketing AI Institute aims to make AI approachable, accessible, and actionable for marketers, focusing on AI literacy for all.They provide various resources, including blogs, white papers, podcasts, research, online courses, and events.The flagship event, MAICON, focuses on accelerating AI adoption and strategy.Training and education are crucial for marketers to stay up-to-date with the rapidly changing AI landscape.AI has significant relevance and potential in the manufacturing industry, with various use cases and success stories.ResourcesConnect with Cathy on LinkedInConnect with Wendy on LinkedInLearn more about the Marketing AI InstituteLearn more about MAICONRelated Episode: What the Heck is Going on at Google?!Related Episode: Navigating Data and Content in the Era of AI with Chris Penn
How We're Using AI Tools for Content Marketing
Aug 8 2024
How We're Using AI Tools for Content Marketing
Writers from the TREW team share how they're using AI chat technology in the writing process. They also give tips on when to use tools like ChatGPT Teams and how to construct prompts and chat threads to get a better result.Jamie Tokarz, Senior Content Strategist, and Julia Holliday, Senior Inbound Marketing Specialist, both use AI chat tools to take their projects up a notch. We discuss how they're using AI tools for research, ideation, content mapping, and editing as well as how these tools have changed since they were first introduced. Has their output improved in quality, or are they still seeing issues with AI "hallucinations"? We also revisit the strategy for prompting and returning to previous chat threads.We touch on a few different AI tools including ChatGPT Teams, Claude, Perplexity AI, and Gemini.The two TREW Crewers emphasized that AI is a tool that enhances the writing process but doesn't replace human creativity. Tips for integrating AI into marketing processes include starting small, treating AI as an assistant, and iterating on prompts. TakeawaysAI tools can be used for various stages of the content creation process, including research, ideation, content mapping, and editing.The launch of ChatGPT Teams has provided a tool that allows for conversation-based AI assistance while ensuring data confidentiality.Google search results are increasingly prioritizing discussion-based sites like Reddit and Quora, which may not always provide authoritative information for technical topics.Organizing prompts by subject and providing detailed background information can improve the effectiveness of AI-generated responses.Start small when integrating AI into marketing processes and iterate on prompts.ResourcesConnect with Julia on LinkedInConnect with Jamie on LinkedInConnect with Wendy on LinkedInRelated Episode: What the Heck is Going on at Google?!Related Episode: Is Inbound Marketing Still Working?
SEO Series: Is Inbound Marketing Still Working?
Aug 1 2024
SEO Series: Is Inbound Marketing Still Working?
Worried about Google's generative AI changes? Don't panic! Learn actionable strategies to pivot to mid-funnel content and use AI tools to navigate this new SEO environment successfully.As we continue our SEO series, Wendy and Dale Bertrand delve into the evolving landscape of Google’s search results due to changing algorithms and the integration of generative AI. Dale emphasizes the need to plan proactively for upcoming uncertainties. He advises marketers to pivot their focus towards middle-of-the-funnel content, targeting customers who have identified their problems and are actively seeking solutions. Their conversation underscore the importance of adapting marketing strategies to provide unique, valuable information that truly resonates with the target audience instead of chasing trends. Additionally, Wendy and Dale delve into the use of AI tools in marketing and stresses the importance of measuring success through conversions and sales rather than merely focusing on traffic and rankings.TakeawaysDon’t panic about Google’s generative AI changes, but prepare for the uncertainties.Shift your strategy to create content for customers who are problem-aware and solution-seeking.Produce unique and valuable content that is easily consumable by your target audience.Use AI to streamline your processes and develop interactive widgets or apps.Focus on conversions and sales to gauge the true effectiveness of your marketing efforts, not just traffic and rankings.ResourcesConnect with Dale on LinkedInEmail DaleConnect with Wendy on LinkedInLinkedIn Post on using Claude to generate content mapsRelated Episode: What the Heck is Going on at Google?!