Blame it on Marketing ™

In this episode of Blame It on Marketing, Ruta and Emma take on the obsession with chasing competitors in B2B marketing. They dig into why marketers fall into the copycat trap, share their own experiences of getting it wrong, and discuss how to break out of the cycle with a strategy that actually works. The conversation covers the importance of knowing your own product and audience, the risks of playing it safe, and the ethical dilemmas that come with marketing today. Bottom line? Creativity beats imitation every time.

Takeaways

In this episode of Blame it on Marketing, Emma and Ruta are joined by Alex Vince-Myers, Head of Marketing, to tackle the big question: which marketing metrics actually matter? Together, they sort the fluff from the facts, breaking down the difference between vanity metrics and actionable ones that drive real results. The trio dives into personal confessions about marketing missteps, the perks of sharing metrics across teams, and why getting leadership to buy into metrics is easier said than done.

The discussion doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff—like the...

In this episode of Blame It on Marketing, Emma, Ruta, and guest Jamie Pagan dive into the gritty realities of marketing budgets. From the awkward dance of asking for money to the headaches caused by mismatched sales and marketing priorities, they unpack the budgeting struggles marketers face daily. Jamie shares practical advice from his years in B2B marketing, offering insights on educating leadership, proving ROI, and making the most of lean budgets.

This episode tackles why tight budgets make for tight-lipped marketers and how better communication and alignment with sales...

In this episode of Blame It On Marketing, hosts Emma and Ruta explore the challenges of marketing attribution with Tara Robertson. They share their own experiences with attribution, unpack the complexities of measurement, and highlight the importance of collaboration between sales and marketing teams. The conversation tackles the messy reality of attribution, emphasizing the need to better understand how marketing influences customer journeys. Their takeaway? Embrace the imperfections—attribution is rarely straightforward.

Key Takeaways:

- Attribution is often oversimplified and can mislead marketing decisions.
- The pressure to measure everything can stifle cr...

Blame It On Marketing Turns Two! 🥳 In this special anniversary episode, Ruta and Emma reflect on two years of podcasting, marketing gossip, and relentless honesty about the industry we love (and sometimes love to hate).

From the chaos of LinkedIn to outrageous sales commission stories, they revisit their favourite episodes, hard-earned lessons, and hilarious highlights. Expect shout-outs to iconic guests like Timi and Talya, alongside a passionate plea for marketers to stop settling for 35K manager roles and to demand better buying experiences. Plus, Ruta reveals her unfiltered LinkedIn comment philosophy, while Emma dreams up Lin...

Marketing: the first budget cut and the last to get the credit. In this episode, your favorite co-hosts Ruta and Emma sit down with Angeley Mullins, Chief Commercial Officer at Resourceify, as she shares her no-nonsense perspective on why cutting back on marketing during tough times is the business equivalent of eating soup with a fork: messy, ineffective, and you’ll still be hungry.

They dive into the delicate dance between performance marketing and brand building, why sales and marketing are like peanut butter and jelly (yes, they belong together), and how ignoring your customer’s needs is a...

This episode gets real. Emma, Ruta, and special guest Cohan expose the madness of sales and marketing culture, from absurd pipeline expectations to commission nightmares. We tackle the age-old question: why do outdated sales tactics still exist—and who’s really to blame?

Cohan, a seasoned sales leader, doesn’t hold back as he spills the tea on toxic company cultures, leadership fails, and the collateral damage of BS metrics. Spoiler: it’s costing you revenue and sanity. Plus, we dive into the role of AI in sales (and how it’s failing at inclusivity) and call out the el...

In this episode, Emma and Ruta tackle the world of automation and AI with guest Tim Cakir, breaking down why marketers keep ignoring the tech that could save their sanity. The chat dives into how automation isn’t just about efficiency—it's a creative lifesaver that can make the daily grind a little less grindy. Tim pushes for marketers to get an “AI-first” mindset, experiment more (even if they’re a lean team), and shows how to get buy-in from skeptical bosses. From using ChatGPT to kill off mundane tasks to automating Slack reminders, this episode serves as a wake-up ca...

In this episode, Emma, Ruta and Jennifer Macdonald dive into the all-too-common confusion between marketing strategy and business strategy—and why marketers shouldn’t be expected to magically fix business problems. They get into the mess that happens when there’s no clear business direction, how CEOs sometimes (okay, often) misunderstand marketing’s role, and why a solid business strategy is essential for marketing to actually do its job.

The conversation highlights the struggle marketers face in getting proper investment, battling unrealistic expectations, and setting boundaries with the C-suite. They call out fake engagement on social media and why...

In this episode, Emma, Ruta, and Talya Heller G. Founder at 'Down to a T' tackle the misunderstood, often-overlooked world of product marketing. They dive into the real role of product marketing, share what it means to sit smack in the middle of marketing, product, and sales, and highlight why it’s one of the most misunderstood roles in the game. Talya drops a marketing confession about the chaos of translating customer comms for international markets and gives her two cents on the nonstop online “advice” around product marketing. Spoiler: not all of it is worth your time.

They...

In this episode, Emma, Ruta, and Greg Landon take on the rollercoaster that is global marketing. Think juggling time zones, dodging cultural landmines, and realizing pretty quickly that a one-size-fits-all strategy is a no-go. They chat about how to tailor your messaging for different markets, why just translating your English tagline won’t cut it, and the massive importance of local market research (hint: you can’t just wing it). Greg spills some behind-the-scenes stories, like how Starbucks tiptoed into Italy’s hardcore coffee culture and actually made it work. If you're ready to take your brand worldwide (without fallin...

In this episode, Emma, Ruta, and Olga Karanikos tackle the wild ride that is building a career in marketing. Spoiler: there’s no neat, defined path here. They dive into why being a jack-of-all-trades (aka a Renaissance marketer) can be your secret weapon, how to show leadership without a fancy title, and why your stack of certifications might not matter as much as you think. Plus, they share tips on managing bad bosses, the shift from marketing as a cost center to revenue driver, and the cringe-worthy trend of marketers jumping on outdated bandwagons.

Takeaways:

In this episode, Emma and Ruta are joined by the brilliant Shana Pearlman, a seasoned content and brand leader with a journalism background. Shana spills her marketing confession about an expensive mishap with a video vendor (oops!) and then dives into why interviewing is a skill every marketer needs in their toolkit. Whether it’s talking to customers or getting the scoop from subject matter experts, the art of interviewing is all about breaking through the fear and tapping into stories that matter. Expect real talk on how to actually listen, ask the right questions, and use interviewing to st...

In this episode, Emma and Ruta team up with the marketing team from the Technology for Marketing and eCommerce Expo London, to spill all the dirty secrets of conference and event marketing. They’re calling out the most common mistakes vendors make—like thinking it’s enough to just show up and pitch products. Spoiler: It’s not.

This episode is packed with tips on how to actually engage with your audience, work hand-in-hand with the event’s marketing team, and turn your boring booth into the talk of the expo. Personalization, interactive experiences, and valuable content are the na...

In this episode, Emma and Ruta get real about how Blame it on Marketing went from an idea to a podcast that’s actually, somehow, is working out. This episode serves as their complete playbook, laying out everything they’ve done so far—from costs and time investment to mistakes, tech stack, and all the hard-earned lessons along the way.

They talk about how they built a community and how those in-person events have been more than just an excuse to hang out. There’s a lot of talk about perseverance—because, let’s be honest, we’ve all thought...

In this episode, Maddie and Megan talk to us about guerrilla marketing and its punchy impact on B2B brands. They’re talking about why playing it safe won’t cut it anymore, and why bold, creative, and downright unconventional tactics are the way forward. From branded beers to cheeky merch, they break down some of their campaigns that made waves and sparked serious buzz. They also dig into the fears that come with going guerrilla, like ticking off your audience or getting pushback from the higher-ups. The key takeaway? You need a safe space to experiment if you want...

Emma and Ruta get real about what it's like to be a woman in the marketing industry. Joined by their guest, Beth Crowe, they tackle everything from gender bias and the motherhood penalty to the glaring lack of women in leadership. They’re spilling the tea on the double standards, sharing personal war stories, and shining a light on why diversity and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords—they’re necessities. The conversation doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff, like the self-doubt and competition that can trip women up, and the boys' club mentality that’s still hanging around. But...

In this episode, Emma and Ruta dive into the world of marketing generalists with their guest, Michelle Boland. They kick things off by defining what it means to be a generalist and how it stacks up against being a specialist. Spoiler alert: specialists aren’t always the top dogs!

Michelle dishes out her top 10 must-have skills for generalists, including everything from learning agility and marketing planning to data analysis and brand governance. The trio chats about the unique challenges generalists face, especially when juggling a bit of everything.

They also tackle the myth that generalists ar...

We're diving into why learning and development aren't just nice-to-haves for marketers—they're our responsibility. Our fabulous guests, Robyn Hartley and Tom Blake dish on why staying sharp isn’t just for your boss's benefit but for your personal growth too. We chat about making learning intentional, carving out time for it (yes, even in your busy schedule), and focusing on what truly sparks your interest.

We’re balancing the art of playing to your strengths while also stretching that skillset to keep pace with the ever-evolving marketing landscape. Spoiler alert: it's up to YOU to take charge...

In this episode, we tackle the monumental shift towards video marketing and why business are still struggling to make video in 2024. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have exploded in popularity, and Jess shares her expert insights on the hurdles businesses face in creating video content. We're talking about the fear of imperfection, the misalignment between senior leadership and marketing teams, and how brands like Duolingo and Ryanair are nailing it. Video is no longer a nice-to-have; it's a must-have, and we’re here to help you embrace it with open arms.

Finally, we dive into the nitty-gritty of...

Emma and Ruta discuss why marketing isn't just about vibes with guest Jane Stecyk, the SVP of Marketing at Mighty Networks. They explore the challenges marketers face in articulating the value of their ideas and the importance of data-driven decision-making. They emphasise the need to move beyond subjective opinions and focus on measurable outcomes. The conversation also touches on the significance of asking the right questions, conveying messages effectively to stakeholders, and aligning marketing efforts with the wider business goals. Building relationships and effective communication are crucial in remote work.

Takeaways

- Marketing is not...