8 years of B2B Marketing Lessons Learned (The Hard Way)

I recently published an article about 8 things I’ve learnt from 8 years of B2B marketing and I thought to share a little opener here.

These lessons can help you navigate the complexities of marketing and avoid some common pitfalls. So, read till the end!

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This week’s research note includes:

• Marketing Tools Are a Sham: The data is hardly ever accurate
• Big Results are Possible Without Money: Creativity and strategy can overcome limited resources
• Marketing is Everywhere: Learn to see the world through a marketer’s lens.
• Be Flexible: Unexpected issues arise, and adaptability is crucial.
• Putting Customers First: The value of networking and connections.

1. Marketing Tools Are a Sham

My friend created a Facebook account when she was 9, despite their age requirement of 13. She lied about her date of birth on the app when creating an account. So, according to Facebook, she was 13 years old, when she was actually 9!

So, you see — most of the information from online tools isn’t 100% accurate…

Key Takeaways:

• Marketing tools can provide inaccurate audience data, such as age and gender.
• People may create fake accounts with false information.

2. Big Results are Possible Without Money

At the beginning of 2023, I set a goal for my client company to reach $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) without spending a single dollar on marketing. It sounded ambitious, but I knew it was possible with the right approach and mindset.

Key Takeaways:

• Don’t fret if you don’t have a marketing budget. Just look at it like an exciting challenge.

3. Marketing Is Everywhere

When next you go out, I expect you to pick out at least 5 marketing tactics you notice. You walk into a grocery store and you see a can of beans for $5.99 and you think, “Ah! Marketing psychology.”

And my personal favorite — seeing a discount and wanting to pay immediately before it goes back to the original price.

Key Takeaways:

• The more marketing consumes you, the more your mindset changes

4. Be Flexible

A few years ago, my client company had an unexpected technical issue during a major launch. This delayed our website updates and caused us to shift the campaign timeline. We were on the verge of losing customers and money!

The stakeholders would’ve had our heads on a stake! LoL. But luckily and skillfully, my team and I got things under control. We were able to shift our campaign launch without losing much.

Key Takeaways:

• If you’re too rigid, you’ll experience many difficulties.5. Building Relationships

I have 4 more lessons you’d love to read. Check it out here. But in the meantime, here’s a cheat sheet.

Cheat Sheet to B2B Marketing Success

Here’s a quick reference to help you on your B2B marketing journey:

1. Be Authentic: Build trust through transparency and honesty.
2. Create Valuable Content: Focus on quality and relevance.
3. Leverage Data: Make informed decisions to optimize strategies.
4. Prioritize Customers: Understand and address customer needs.
5. Network Effectively: Build and nurture valuable relationships.

Thanks for reading!

This is part of my ongoing series on effective marketing strategies for startups. If you have a tip or feedback, I’d love to hear it.

Best, Shamal.

If you’re truly ready to scale your startup, read Marketing Magic for more authentic and unique B2B marketing tips.