The b2b buyer just wants to be loved: Madlibs with Mike Volpe

Mike Volpe is part man, myth, and legend when it comes to marketing and specifically, inbound marketing and he seems to have fun while doing it.  What else can I say? He is Mike Volpe….and when someone finally writes a book about this era of marketing, he will be listed as one of the thought leaders that led the way.  And here are his contributions to the Funnelholic’s Madlibs:

1. The b2b buyer is sick of cold calls and ads and just wants to be loved.
2. The biggest innovation in marketing is not marketing automation.
3. The coolest thing happening in b2b marketing is people cutting advertising and cold calling.
4. My favorite marketing books are The New Rules of Marketing & PR, and Permission Marketing.
5. My favorite social media channel is Twitter.
6. Social media for b2b is like email or phone for b2b – a tactic or communication medium – not a strategy.
7. b2b video is only for the daring and risk takers.
8. In b2b, the idea of a funnel is essential.
9. The first thing every marketer should do is know their customer.
10. Content marketing is one ingredient to successful inbound marketing.
11. The biggest mistake marketers make is focusing on nurturing before building a massive funnel.
12. The biggest myth in b2b marketing is that marketing automation will generate new leads.
13. My favorite marketing technology besides marketing automation is personalization.
14. Besides revenue, the metric every marketer must track is cost per new customer.
15. My most forgettable marketing experience is launching an alternate reality game for B2B.
16. Mobile marketing is not a separate channel.
17. The next “hot-thing” in marketing will be integration and a single marketing platform per company.
18. In 2015, marketing will be less annoying and more lovable to our customers and prospects.  I hope.
19. Over the next couple years in marketing, I can’t wait to see if cold calling dies.
20. Madlibs with the Funnelholic is more fun than doing the Harlem Shake.

Mike Volpe is Chief Marketing Officer at HubSpot, a marketing software company, where he leads the company’s lead generation and branding strategy through inbound marketing.  Under Mike’s leadership since 2007, HubSpot’s marketing has won more than 30 awards, been featured in over 20 marketing and business books, generated over 1 million leads, and grown the company from 10 customers to over 8,000 customers and $50 million in revenue.