Lay of the Brand

Today’s CISOs have an unprecedented amount of work and conflicting priorities on their plates, making it extremely difficult for anyone—let alone a vendor trying to sell them something—to grab their attention. To understand how B2B cybersecurity marketers can reach these elusive decision makers, we talked with Sujeet Bambawale, CISO of 7-Eleven and Marci McCarthy, CEO and President of Tech Exec Ne...

Industry events have gone virtual or hybrid, making it harder to land a speaking slot for your CEO or SME. And for the presenters, it’s a totally different experience. Keppler Speakers, which books high-profile speakers at events worldwide, has learned to adapt to this new environment. CEO Warren Jones gives us insights on what’s changed and what speakers, PR pros and marketers need to know to suc...

Entrepreneurial dreams are alive and strong, but how can they become reality in uncertain times? To land venture dollars you need to outshine the competition and demonstrate your worth. S3 Ventures, the largest VC focused on Texas, provides a pulse on the market and insights into how startups can win over VC decisionmakers. Key topics discussed include: how VC investment strategies are adjusting t...

Keeping the economy moving in the COVID-19 environment is driving a lot of change and confusion in how tech companies go to market. In part 1 of “CMO Insights: Strategies for Getting Back to Business,” our panel of experts—Rashmi Vittal of Conversica, Russ Cobb of IronNet Cybersecurity and Matt Selheimer of PAS Global—give insight into how companies can adapt their marketing and sales approaches t...

Tech companies are still evolving how they approach marketing in the COVID-19 economy. In part 1 of “CMO Insights: Strategies for Getting Back to Business,” our panel of experts -- Rashmi Vittal of Conversica, Russ Cobb of IronNet Cybersecurity and Matt Selheimer of PAS Global --  shared perspectives on messaging, content and measurement as well as aligning with sales and the C-suite. In part 2, t...

Just about every single marketing leader constantly faces one big problem: doing more with less. Buyer journeys are becoming more complex. Channels, both online and offline, are exploding. Investing in MarTech is a must. And the cost of great marketing talent isn't getting any less expensive. Whether you are a billion-dollar public company, or a startup, you face difficult choices every day a...

Marketing your products and services to government agencies is not as simple as swapping out the word ‘mission’ for ‘profitability’ on your commercial collateral. If your business is considering selling to the public sector, you need to be prepared to communicate to a unique market that is more mission-driven and has different motivations than the B2B market. On this episode of Lay of the Brand Al...

In today's digital world, there are thousands, if not millions of marketing tools and approaches to reach your buyer. But knowing the approach to quickly and efficiently reach your audience with a relevant message, content or offer is essential to keeping your marketing program manageable, within budget and effective. On this episode of Lay of the Brand, we ask Merritt Group's very own S...

From defining brand names to relaying empathy during times of crisis, businesses know the art of storytelling is paramount to success. So, how do tech companies craft their narratives? How do they take a stance on controversial issues without alienating consumers? In this episode of Lay of the Brand, we continue our discussion with a panel of experts hosted by George Mason's Department of Com...

Enhancing performance marketing through data and analytics is a key ingredient to any organization's marketing strategy. In this episode of Lay of the Brand, Merritt Group speaks with its own Senior Marketing Project Manager, Abigail Bracy, to learn about the latest tools and themes making an impact on performance marketing, and how they are best used to inform strategic brand decisions. 

When it comes to branding, gone are the days where you can just "set it and forget it." In this episode of Lay of the Brand, Merritt Group speaks with award-winning author of the Agile Brand and host of the Agile World Podcast, Greg Kihlström, to learn about how organizations can apply agile methodology to create a continually evolving brand that stays true to its values and keeps up wit...

Positive brand perception is critical to building customer loyalty and increasing customer confidence in your organization and product. But as seen with tech companies like Facebook, it's easier said than done. On this Lay of the Brand episode, Merritt Group speaks with Serge Samoilenko, a Communications Professor at George Mason University, who will delve into his own research on reputation...

Reputation can make or break a brand in an age where information can be instantaneously tweeted and texted. So how do tech-companies maintain their brand integrity in an especially disruptive industry where innovation inevitably raises new questions about privacy, trade and community commitment? In this episode of Lay of the Brand, you'll hear seasoned insights and advice from a panel of expe...

Whether small, medium-sized or part of the big leagues, how do organizations take their public affairs and communications from skittish and reactive to powerful and proactive? On this Lay of the Brand episode, Merritt Group asks Amber Allman, current Vice President of Corporate Communications at Gannett and former head of Global Public Affairs at Yahoo! how organizations can navigate the business...