Ian Truscott

Get Your Buyers AMPED with our Customer Journey

January 23, 2025

In a couple of podcast episodes, we’ve discussed buyers and customer journeys, pulling inspiration from various sources like Gartner, Forrester,…

Time to Start Your School of Rock?

February 15, 2024

In this article, Ian Truscott takes a look at educational content marketing as a strategy and goal, what you can do to engage the big bucket of future buyers and how we measure success.

Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One Before

January 31, 2024

As content marketers, we want to be useful, and educational content can be useful. But how do you get the balance right with a knowledgeable buyer between helping them or treating them like bloody idiots?

5 F'in' Steps to Build Your Personas

July 1, 2023

A simple model for creating personas, the essential insight you need to differentiate and help your audience buy your products and services.

Back to Brand

July 20, 2022

Dust off your marketing LPs, vinyl records, the eight tracks and maybe the gramophone because old-school brand building will be a tune the cool kids of modern marketing will need to be jumping to.

The Swimming Pool #30: CMOs as Social Influencers

May 31, 2022

In this trip to the Rockstar CMO Swimming Pool, Ian Truscott is inspired by Rebecca Biestman, the Chief Marketing Officer at Reputation, who, on the podcast, suggested "the pressure on CMOs to be social influencers". What do you think? Did he chuck it in?

What the F' is Product Led Growth (PLG)?

May 9, 2022

You may have heard that there is a new acronym kid on the tech product marketing block; Product Led Growth (PLG), but is this a hit or something only its mother will love?

Last Months Podcast Picks

January 7, 2021

Rockstar CMO FM, the M is for marketing, the F is for, well you decide as you are probably wondering; does the world need another marketing podcast? Well here is a roundup of what went down on The Rockstar CMO F'in Marketing Podcast this month.

The Swimming Pool #29: The entire year of 2020

January 7, 2021

What do you reckon? Should we chuck 2020 into the Rockstar CMO Swimming Pool, our portal to marketing hell? Or should we give it a reprieve? Ian Truscott has a suggestion inspired by Robert Rose.

Top of the 2020 Charts

January 2, 2021

Maybe there was something good to come out of 2020? In keeping with the theme of this issue, our editor looks back on the most popular articles from this year

Ain't bringing nothing to the table but your plate

November 30, 2020

It's unlikely that rapper Meghan Thee Stallion and personal branding Jane Scandurra have been seen in the same room, but Jane's thoughts of thanks have inspired Ian Truscott to share something inspired by Hot Girl Meg.

Love the one you're with

November 30, 2020

Inspired by a chat with Simon Daniels, marketing operations expert, Ian Truscott shares that you should love the one you're with when it comes to marketing technology.

Thanks to the podcast this month

November 30, 2020

A roundup of another splendid month on the podcast, with some fascinating guests, insightful cocktails, and some fun by the Rockstar CMO Swimming pool.

The Green Room: Giving Thanks & Holiday Gifts

November 30, 2020

It's been a crazy year, find out what our rocks star CMOs have found to be thankful for and what gifts of advice they would share with us, as we join them in the Green Room.

The Swimming Pool #28: Attribution

November 29, 2020

This month, standing on the penthouse balcony overlooking it is Grant Johnson, veteran CMO, now plying his trade at Emburse, who's ready to commit 'attribution' to its watery demise.

Rent or build? Ask Quibi

October 25, 2020

Is there a better example of the theme of this issue of renting versus building in marketing? Although Quibi owned the land, they didn't own what they put on it, and it seems they've danced their last dance.

The Green Room: Rent or Build?

October 18, 2020

This month four of our Rockstar CMOs chime in on the topic of this month's issue, when it comes to building an audience do you rent or build?

The Sample: Rent vs. Build?

October 18, 2020

Welcome to The Sample, where we spin the dial on the interwebs and record what plays to this month's tune. The beat for this month's tracks; should we build or rent for our fans?

What dropped in the podcast last month?

October 17, 2020

The latest from the podcast this month. A fabulous line up stepped up to the mic and we have a few cocktails along the way.

Backstage Q&A – Eric Jan van Putten - Dynamicweb

September 9, 2020

This month we go backstage with a shiny new CMO, Eric Jan van Putten who is fresh in post at Dynamicweb, after a diverse marketing career working through the B2B tech marketing ranks, we find out d findwhere this new CMO finds his marketing mojo...

The Green Room: A bit of a blur

September 4, 2020

Sounds very rockstar, but this month's Green Room is literally a bit of a blur. We've had an extended period of pandemic lockdown and the separation between home and work has become blurred. We asked six of our rockstar CMOs for their advice.

The Swimming Pool #27 – A marketer that wants to be your friend

September 4, 2020

This month our trip to the Rockstar CMO penthouse balcony, is inspired by business development expert and coach Caroline Kay, as we prepare "a marketer that wants to be your friend" for its watery demise.

The Sample – Blurred Lines

September 3, 2020

This month on The Sample we spin the dial on the interwebs to discover what you should be grooving to. The topic, the blurring lines between work and home, both at work and on social media.

Backstage Q&A - Sally Yates, CMO Xceptor

July 18, 2020

Sally Yates is the Chief Marketing Officer at Xceptor, a fintech software house and in this interview, Ian Truscott got to find out what makes this UK based marketer in this hot software space tick

The Green Room – Marketing Education

July 18, 2020

Marketers come from diverse career backgrounds, we are not like accountants or lawyers that need a specific education, and on social media we have been seeing some pushback on this from folks like Mark Ritson, who as a marketing professor is pretty vocal about those of us that don’t have a marketing education. So, what do our Rockstar CMO’s think?

The Swimming Pool #26 – LinkedIn Solicitations Like You're My Best Friend

July 18, 2020

This month, inspired by Jane Scandurra, we are wondering if we should be chucking "LinkedIn Solicitations Like You're My Best Friend" into our portal to marketing hell.

On the podcast this month

July 17, 2020

A roundup of what's been happening on the podcast this month, with some fantastic interviews and cocktails!

Tales from the tour bus: Carlos Doughty and the MarTech Alliance

June 1, 2020

On the tour bus this month is Carlos Doughty, founder of the Martech Alliance, who recently ran a series of virtual events called the MarTechFest Dial-up and we caught up with him to find out how that went.

The Green Room: Five CMOs name their crisis keepers

June 1, 2020

We ask five of our Rockstar CMOs what they’ve learned during the crisis and what practices we should keep as the world slowly emerges from lockdown.

The Sample: Keep on movin'

June 1, 2020

Welcome to The Sample, where we whirl the dial on the interwebs, hit record, and sample what we hear about the topic in this issue. This month our attention is drawn to the tension in marketing right now, about moving forward, waiting and what's next.

The Swimming Pool #25: Bandwagoning

June 1, 2020

This month we are joined John Howe-Marshall, Chief Marketing Officer of SplitmediaLabs on the penthouse balcony, ready to give the heave-ho to "Bandwagoning".

Tales from the Tour Bus: Jessie Paul, CEO Paul Writer

May 1, 2020

Ian Truscott catches up with Jessie Paul, CEO of Paul Writer, an Indian based B2B agency and they chat about her experience as a CMO of some of the biggest organizations in India, the current crisis and what she'd thrown into the Rockstar CMO Swimming Pool.

The Green Room: Marketing in the "new normal"

May 1, 2020

Commentators are calling whatever we emerge from lockdown the "new normal" as a world we try and live with an immediate future of COVID-19. So, in this Green Room we turned to our Rockstar CMOs for advice on marketing in this changed world.

Backstage with John Howe-Marshall

April 30, 2020

Gamers are emerging as the new celebrities of a new media age, and the popularity of this entertainment genre has been accelerated by the lockdown. So, who better to catch up with than the Chief Marketing Officer of SplitmediaLabs a platform on the leading edge of enabling gamers to get published? Ian Truscott chats with John Howe-Marshall.

The Swimming Pool #24: Alec Baldwin

April 30, 2020

I know, right? Alec Baldwin? Well, we have Keith Smith, MD of The Advertist to thank for this one from our conversation on the podcast. We should explain..

Tales from The Tour Bus: Rachel "Wackadoos" Miller

March 30, 2020

We catch-up with Rachel Miller, who recently joined SAP as Global Influencer Marketing Lead. We get some tips on B2B marketing, beer and what she would chuck into the pool.

The Green Room: Data vs Creativity: Fight!

March 30, 2020

This month the question we ask the Green Room - our Rockstar CMO panel How should marketers balance their decision-making between a healthy data obsession and creative thinking?

The Swimming Pool #23: Brand purpose

March 30, 2020

In this trip to the Rockstar CMO Swimming Pool, we are inspired by Peter Morgan, Metia’s VP of Demand and our recent trip on the tour bus with him. Should 'brand purpose' be the next big splash in our portal to marketing hell?

Backstage with Oliver Pilgerstorfer

February 7, 2020

IFS develops and delivers enterprise software for customers around the world and when their CMO, Oliver Pilgerstorfer, sat down with us and started an answer with "I probably shouldn't admit this" our editor Ian Truscott knew he was in for a fun interview...

Tales from the Tour Bus: Pete Morgan, Metia

February 7, 2020

Global agency Metia recently published some new research “B2B marketing trends for 2020, Six essential trends for the curious CMO.” Well, people call us a lot of things and one of them is ‘curious’, so we tracked down the author, former record label owner and Metia’s VP of Demand Pete Morgan...

The Green Room: Marketers and the features creatures

February 7, 2020

The Green Room, our excuse to do our best Colombo impression and ask "Just one more thing" to the wonderful Rockstar marketers we've gone backstage with. This month we chatted about marketings' relationship with product development.

The Sample: The Features Creatures

February 2, 2020

Welcome to The Sample, where we whirl the dial on the interwebs, hit record and sample what we hear about the topic in this issue. This time, we are looking at the relationship between marketing and the product teams, here is what we found.

The Green Room: 2020 future vision

January 1, 2020

Hanging out with rock stars backstage rarely gives anyone 2020 vision, but as we welcome a new decade, what do they think is the future for marketing?

The Sample #3: 2020 marketing predictions from around the web

January 1, 2020

The Sample, where we whirl the dial on the interwebs, hit record and sample what we hear. In this issue we are looking to the future, so our picks this month are predictions on some of the topics we’ve covered in recent issues.

Tales from the tour bus: Tom Wentworth

December 30, 2019

Back in the summer of 2018, for The Straight Outta Compton Issue, we went backstage with Tom Wentworth, then CMO of Rapid Miner and in this interview, we catch up with this technologist turned marketer.

The Swimming Pool #22: The lazy call to action

December 30, 2019

When we interviewed founder and CEO of Lately, Kate Bradley Chernis in our Backstage Q&A, she asked us to chuck the term ‘check out’ as a call to action into the Rockstar CMO Swimming Pool. But, why stop there?

Best of 2019: Editors picks

December 29, 2019

While the majority of this issue we are looking forward to the future of marketing, the turn of the year is also a time for reflection, we take a step back through 2019 and share some of the highlights.

December 19, 2019

In the deluge of B2B content, how do you stand out? Try these 5 R's, with examples of organizations doing this well...

December 4, 2019

We seem a bit obsessed with "personalization at scale", but as B2B marketers, should this be a priority?

12 days of Rockstar CMO Christmas

November 30, 2019

As we approach the UK holidays and celebrate the US Thanksgiving, I thought I'd destroy a beloved Christmas carol with my our gifts for the 12 days of Christmas.

Into the Pool #21: Personalization at scale

November 29, 2019

This month we are hanging over the balcony with the fractional CMO and marketing strategist, J. Robert Slaughter, who has nominated ‘personalization at scale’ for the drop to it's watery demise.

The Green Room – Holiday potluck lunch

November 29, 2019

We’ve grabbed our backstage pass for holiday treats in the Green Room. In a tradition we’ve borrowed from the US, the potluck lunch where everyone brings a favorite to share, we’ve asked our Rockstars what they would bring from this year to share with the world of marketing.

Backstage with Kate Bradley Chernis

November 28, 2019

In this backstage interview we find out how founder and CEO of Lately, Kate Bradley Chernis, a former DJ with an audience of 20 million listeners got Walmart dancing.

The Green Room: The State of Influence

November 2, 2019

Again we've grabbed the backstage pass to our Rockstar CMO’s, hang out in the Green Room and pick over the topic of the month. In this issue, we discuss the current state of influencer marketing.

Into the Pool #20: Marketing can’t be measured

November 1, 2019

This month we are hanging over the balcony with Acquia CMO Lynne Capozzi, who nominated “marketing can’t be measured” for the drop from the penthouse to splashdown into the portal to our special place in marketing hell

The Sample: Under the influence

November 1, 2019

The Sample, where we whirl the dial on the interwebs, hit record and sample what we hear. The topic of this issue is Influencer Marketing and here are some of the best beats we’ve picked up this month.

Backstage with J. Robert Slaughter

September 30, 2019

Having been following the direct opinions and observations of this fractional CMO, veteran marketing & sales strategist and practitioner, we had to sit down with J.Robert Slaughter and learn more.

The Green Room: Marketing collaborations

September 30, 2019

Every month we grab our backstage pass to our Rockstar CMO’s, hang out in the Green Room and over a glass of whatever we can find in the mini bar, pick a topic and chat. This month Ian Truscott asks who do our Rockstar CMOs most like to duet with?

The Sample: Putting the show together

September 30, 2019

This month we kick off a new series, The Sample, where we whirl the dial on the interwebs, hit record and sample what we hear. The topic of this issue is the critical partnerships CMOs need to put on the marketing show.

The Swimming Pool #19: Self-serving “market research”

September 29, 2019

You find us on the Rockstar CMO penthouse balcony, peering down at the pool. This time after a very jolly conversation with Sydni Craig-Hart we have a whiteboard and several reams of printed PowerPoints that are about to get very wet. Why?

Tales from the Tour Bus: Sydni Craig-Hart

September 2, 2019

When Robert Rose interviewed this champion of small, minority and women owned businesses on his podcast, we had to jump on the Tour Bus with multicultural marketing expert Sydni Craig-Hart and find out more.

The Green Room: Diving into Diversity

September 2, 2019

Every month we grab our backstage pass to our Rockstar CMO’s, hang out in the Green Room and over a glass of whatever we can find in the mini bar, pick a topic and chat. This month Ian Truscott asks how we address a diverse audience, diversify our teams and keep our ideas fresh.

Into the Pool #18: The Bloody Goldfish

September 1, 2019

In this issue, we are leaning over the balcony of the penthouse with a big glass bowl and a fish, our partner in crime this issue is Robert Rose. But why are we standing here with a fish?

Tales from the tour bus: Catch-up with L.Michelle Smith

September 1, 2019

Back in The London Calling Issue, we went backstage with L. Michelle Smith, author, speaker, marketing leader and diversity champion. In this issue, Ian Truscott hops on the tour bus and catches up with with what's new..

Backstage with Lynne Capozzi

July 25, 2019

Lynne Capozzi is the CMO of Acquia, a global marketing technology vendor. Ian Truscott sits down with this passionate marketer and finds out what get's her marketing mojo working

Tales from the Tour Bus: Dennis Shiao

July 25, 2019

Known by his Twitter fans for his passion for content marketing, expressed in his work and regular columns for CMSWire and The Content Marketing Institute, we hop on the tour bus with Dennis Shaio.

Tales from the Tour Bus: Punk CX with Adrian Swinscoe

July 25, 2019

This month we heard a whisper of someone taking a punk beat and applying it to the overblown prod rock of customer experience and we had to find the source. Ian Truscott tracks down the author of Punk CX, Adrian Swinscoe.

The Green Room: Sticking to a Tune in a World of Jazz

July 25, 2019

Each month in the Green Room we return backstage to pose a question to a group of our Rockstar CMOs. In this issue, Ian Truscott catches up with seven of them to talk about how to stay focused on a marketing strategy, when it's so easy to be distracted by channels, tech and tactics.

Into the Pool #17: Banner Ads

July 25, 2019

In this issue, barely noticed and infrequently engaged with, is it time to put banner ads out of their lonely misery? Jasmine Martirossian, VP of Marketing at TÜV SÜD America certainly thinks so..

Backstage with Jasmine Martirossian

June 29, 2019

What has marketing got to do with the laws of physics? We talk to author, frequent conference keynote and VP of Marketing at TÜV SÜD Americas, Jasmine Martirossian.

The Green Room: Amplify the Sound; Turn Colleagues into Fans

June 29, 2019

It's clear, our brand, service and value are in the hands of everyone in a business. In the Green Room this month we sit down with eight of our Rockstar CMOs and ask them how they approach getting employees engaged, in sharing the story

Into the Pool #16 – More Tech Will Fix It

June 28, 2019

We find ourselves peering over the balcony pondering the fate of the idea that "more tech will fix it". We hear from a queue of folks on hand to help, will it make a splash?

Marketing Clouds: Lip-syncing Fake or Fab Four?

June 28, 2019

We can't get the marketing technology song out of our head, it's a topic we keep returning to and in this article, we talk to four practitioners from across the industry and get their take on the latest solution to all of our problems - Marketing Clouds.

Interview with Tim "Beg Data" Walters

May 31, 2019

Tim "Beg Data" Walters, Ph.D. works with an impressive list of organizations that seek out his advice on how to make their way through the complexity of consumer sensitivity and increasing legislation around GDPR and privacy. So, when we decided to theme this issue on privacy, an interview with "Beg Data" was the first on the list.

Into the Pool #15: The Dumb, Creepy Kind

May 31, 2019

Inspired by our backstage chat with David Howland, we ponder if we should chuck personalization into our portal to marketing hell, or maybe just the dumb, creepy kind.

Tales from the Tour Bus: Richard Shotton

May 31, 2019

This issue we hop on the tour bus with the author of one of our favorite recent marketing reads, Richard Shotton, the writer of The Choice Factory, a best-selling book on using behavioral science in marketing. We find out what inspired this former media planner to write and set up his own consultancy.

The Green Room: Are we afraid of the dark?

May 31, 2019

Our audience is going dark, we ask 5 of our Rockstar CMOs what they think of the refusal of cookie consent, ad-blockers, incognito browsing and the prevailing view that we marketers are up to something....

The Risky Business of Rockstar Marketers and Their Briefs

May 31, 2019

The Brief, the essential song sheet that could decide if the work is a hit. We asked Bryce Groves, a freelance Creative Director with big-agency experience to lift the lid on the process, why the brief is so important, what makes a great brief and to spill the beans on the worst he's seen...

Tales from the Tour Bus: Amber Osborne

May 29, 2019

Now on her third start-up, Amber Osborne is the CMO at Doghead Simulations (the company behind Rumii, a virtual reality conferencing and collaboration platform) and industry influencer. In this Tale from the Tour Bus, she reveals what it takes to launch something new and gives an insiders view of being an insider.

Backstage with Ian Lowe

April 25, 2019

Ian Lowe, VP of Marketing for global SaaS WCM vendor Crownpeak popped by the penthouse to chat to Ian Truscott about what gets his marketing mojo working...

Five Marketing Truths from Paige O’Neill

April 25, 2019

I got a backstage pass at the Sitecore Experience event in London, the opportunity to catch-up with my old boss Paige O’Neill and chat about her keynote and her latest message to marketers…

Into the Swimming Pool #14: Resistance to Change

April 25, 2019

Ahmed Hasan is our inspiration as we peer over the balcony down to the Rockstar CMO Swimming Pool and we consider chucking “resistance to change” into its shimmering depths.

Tales from the Tour Bus: Janice B. Gordon

April 25, 2019

Like the Rolling Stones versus the Beatles or Oasis versus Blur, sales and marketing have a reputation for not always getting along. So, for this Tale from the Tour Bus we cross the tracks, to speak to sales mentor Janice B. Gordon.

The Green Room: Marketing a Desert Island - What Would You Take?

April 25, 2019

In this issue Ian Truscott catches up with five of our Rockstars and gets his inspiration from a 77 year old radio show.. wait.. what?

The Rise Of the Marketing Machines: Carlos Doughty

April 25, 2019

We've heard the views of the marketers on the rise of the marketing machines, but what do the Martech industry insiders think? We ask Carlos Doughty.

The Rise Of the Marketing Machines: David Aponovich

April 25, 2019

We’ve heard the views of the marketers on the rise of the marketing machines, but what do the Martech industry insiders think? We asked David Aponovich for his take.

April 9, 2019

The successful telling of the story around a product is recognized to be as important as the product itself. This is especially essential for start-ups looking to stake their claim in the market, Ian Truscott shares his experience.

Case Studies: How to Create Marketing Gold

April 5, 2019

In a world seemingly more and more cynical of sales and marketing, the authentic voice of a someone “like them” is compelling. Ian Truscott shares his experience on how to create this marketing gold.

Backstage with David Howland

March 28, 2019

We go backstage with David Howland, CMO of Longview Solutions, former creative and art director and marketing leader at Nasdaq and he shares his journey and the common thread of his career - creating compelling, meaningful experiences.

Into the Pool #13: Surface and no Substance

March 28, 2019

What would Margaret Molloy, the Global Chief Marketing Officer at Siegel+Gale and top 5 most influential CMO's like us to chuck into the Rockstar CMO Swimming Pool? We dive in...

Tales from the Tour Bus: John Andrews and Photofy

March 28, 2019

This issue regular Rock Star contributor John Andrews, serial entrepreneur, marketer and CEO of Photofy shares his journey, the bumps in the road and the next destination.

The Green Room: The Rise of the Marketing Machines

March 28, 2019

Ian Truscott catches up with six of Rockstar CMOs and asks for their view on whether tech has been a force for good for marketing. 

March 7, 2019

We might not baseball experts, but we have a bit of experience creating content across customer journeys and in this article Ian Truscott outlines the five types of content needed to support a B2B buyer...

Backstage with Ahmed Hasan

February 28, 2019

Ian Truscott sits down with Ahmed Hasan,Global Head of Customer Engagement Marketing at Spark44 to talk Blink-182, the advantages of failing fast, and why now is a great time for lean thinking marketers. 

Into the Pool #12: Omnichannel for the Sake of Omnichannel

February 28, 2019

This month, Ian Truscott is inspired by L. Michelle Smith as he looks to heft “omnichannel for the sake of it” off the penthouse balcony.

The Green Room: With All the Fakery, How Do You Keep it Real?

February 28, 2019

We sit down with six of our Rockstar marketers and ask how we can keep it real and appeal to the cynical, empowered consumer that craves authenticity.

February 21, 2019

We are a fan of content hubs, low branded thought leadership web publications as a place for consumer and influencer engagement. Having created a few, in this post we share a bit of that experience.

February 8, 2019

There is a lot to juggle when you are leading a marketing team and creativity can be lost at the crucible of internal resistance and getting shit done, I know, I've been there. Help could be close at hand - get a creative buddy. 

Backstage with Margaret Molloy

January 31, 2019

Margaret Molloy, Forbes Top 5 Most Influential CMOs talks about the power of simplicity, always staying relevant to the customer, and building brands into movements.

I Know You Got Soul - Brands Need to Show They Got the Feelin'

January 31, 2019

Your brand story doesn’t get you very far if you are just puffing your chest out and telling people what you think they want to hear, whether you are selling soft toys or software, to engage with a consumer every brand has to have a story with some soul and with the Bobby Byrd/James Brown hit “I Know You Got Soul” on repeat, Ian Truscott digs deeper.

Into the Pool #11: One and DONE!

January 31, 2019

This month, Ian Truscott is inspired by Wendy Bryant-Beswick, VP of Marketing at Service Credit Union, and ponders if time is up for ‘one and done’ marketing.

The Green Room: Working with an Agency Backing Band

January 31, 2019

Each month in the Green Room we return backstage to pose a question to our Rockstar CMOs. This month Ian Truscott catches up with five of them and they share their advice on working with agencies.

Two Rockstars, One Podcast: L. Michelle Smith talks to Ted Rubin

January 31, 2019

This month two of our favorite Rockstar CMOs got together, as L. Michelle Smith welcomed Ted Rubin to The Culture Soup podcast to talk personal branding. Here we share why we’re shouting for an encore.

Why invest in persona development?

January 22, 2019

In an era of big data, agile marketing, A/B testing, fail fast - is persona development still a good use of your time?

January 3, 2019

It’s easy to be distracted by techniques, strategies, channels and outputs, but focus on ART and create outcomes.

Rockstar CMO Review of 2018

January 1, 2019

If you've visited before, you'll see we've entered the new year with a fresh new look and as we combed through our first 10 issues, we thought this was a great opportunity to reflect and celebrate the fantastic folks that have contributed to our community in 2018.

The Green Room Secret Santa

December 24, 2018

Every month we pose a question to our Rockstar CMOs. As this issue drops during the season of goodwill, we’re thinking about gifts. So we wondered, what would this fine and generous band of marketers gift to our marketing community?

A Little More Conversation, a Little Less Action, Please?

December 20, 2018

Ian Truscott argues that in this new age of marketing, you need to focus on the real, relevant and considered conversations you have with your audiences – and why anything else is just spam.

Backstage with L.Michelle Smith

December 20, 2018

A classically-trained mezzo soprano, entrepreneur, author, speaker, coach, marketing leader, L.Michelle Smith is on a mission and shares her insights from a 25 year career.

Into the Pool #10: Marketing AI

December 20, 2018

Casey Petersen is conspiring with Ian Truscott to chuck Marketing AI into the Rockstar CMO swimming pool. Some would say a brave choice as artificial intelligence is such a darling of the current marketing zeitgeist. Do you agree?

The Rockstar CMO Hall of Fame

December 20, 2018

Every rock hero stands on the shoulders of giants: think Prince’s debt to little Richard, or Chuck Berry’s impact on the Stones. So as the final chords of 2018 reverb round the Rockstar CMO stage, we asked our backstage rock stars who they’d induct into the Marketing Hall of Fame.

Backstage with Casey Petersen

November 30, 2018

We go back stage with Casey Petersen, Vice President of Marketing and Analytics at content creation app Photofy and has been a leader in digital marketing for over 15 years.

Into the Pool #9: The Big Deal Today About Chatbots

November 30, 2018

This month’s penthouse ruckus has been started by Jeanniey Mullen who suggests that Ian Truscott throw “The big deal today about chatbots” into the Rockstar CMO Swimming pool. Something he seems only too eager to do.

Singing is Optional – Defining a Brand Personality

November 30, 2018

Following an experience where a hotel offered him the opportunity to sing in the shower, Ian Truscott explores the art of creating a brand personality.

Giving Thanks in The Green Room

November 30, 2018

Welcome to the Green Room, a new monthly feature where we will be evading security yet again to go backstage with our Rockstar CMOs and pose them a question that’s top of mind for us back at the Rockstar CMO penthouse. 

November 19, 2018

As Seth Godin said "Products and services that get talked about are the ones that are worth talking about." so, how do you stand out?

November 19, 2018

What do we mean by creating ART for B2B? Ian Truscott shares his successful philosophy.

Be the hero of your category story

November 17, 2018

Taking the time to define a brand story is necessary and fantastic, but changing the definition of a category, owning the story of the market in which you play is hugely powerful.

Backstage with Jeanniey Mullen

October 31, 2018

Global Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer, Executive Board Advisor, keynote speaker, CMO Council Co-Chair, author of 3 books, Jeanniey Mullen is a woman in demand.

Grab Your Torches and Pitchforks Folks, it’s Frankenstack!

October 31, 2018

There’s a mind-boggling array of software available to marketers today. Designed to make your life easier or lurching around, threatening to destroy your business? Ian Truscott explores the perils and pitfalls of the Frankenstack.

Into the Pool #8: The Crap Other Marketers on the Internet Tell Me to Do

October 31, 2018

Amber Osborne inspires Ian Truscott this month, as she tires of some of the crap marketing advice that’s being hawked across the internet.

Authenticity Is a Battle of Two Brands, Both Are Yours

September 26, 2018

Think you’ve only got one brand? You actually have two, argues Ian Truscott. And the space between them is crucial to ensuring your brand’s authenticity – and trustworthiness. 

Backstage with Amber Osborne

September 26, 2018

Amber Osborne, Forbes #2 Most Influential CMO on Social, discusses feeling like an imposter, destroying stereotypes in business, and the challenges disruptive markets.

Backstage with Wendy Bryant-Beswick

September 26, 2018

Award-winning marketer with 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry and VP of Marketing at Service Credit Union, Wendy Bryant-Beswick shares how she starts with values.

Into the Pool #7: Can We Get Some PR On This?

September 26, 2018

This month, Ian Truscott has been shooting the shit with Jenni Young. The discussion quickly turned to PR and, well, let’s just say you’d better steer clear of the pool.

Backstage with Jenni Young

August 30, 2018

Jenni Young, the CMO of tappit shares the importance of company values, building solid relationships, and why creating a culture of risk can lead to marketing success. Oh, and Creme Eggs.

Into the pool#6: Wasted Interuptions

August 30, 2018

Ian Truscott has been hanging out in the proverbial penthouse with Christine Bailey. As usual, the conversation quickly bubbled with ire. The subject: interruption marketing and wasted advertising. Feel differently? Then let us know. 

We’re All Kids and That’s Alright

August 30, 2018

Ian Truscott explores the issue of ageism in marketing, and the attributes that all marketers – regardless of whether they’re young or old – need to embrace in order to truly make a difference.

Backstage with Christine Bailey

July 26, 2018

Christine Bailey is CMO of Valitor, having forged a career in the tech sector, she’s led European marketing for Hewlett-Packard and Cisco Systems, and writes frequently for Forbes Woman.

Backstage with Tom Wentworth

July 26, 2018

Ian Truscott chats to Tom Wentworth CMO at Boston-based RapidMiner, where he heads up global go-to-market strategy, product marketing and communications.

Into the Pool #5: Push Marketing

July 26, 2018

It seems Rockstar CMOs do not like anything that’s easy, cheap, driven by the machine and annoys 99.99% of the people it touches. John Andrews chimes in with Push Marketing...

Marketers, Get Straight Outta Your Compton

July 26, 2018

Ian Truscott looks at rap past and present, and finds that NWA, Public Enemy and Lil Uzi Vert hold the secret to breaking out of your bubble to build a loyal, engaged community.

Backstage with John Andrews

June 28, 2018

Ian Truscott sat down with John Andrews, head honcho at Photofy – and chat about his 20 years’ experience in digital marketing.

Into the Pool #4: Marketing Suites

June 28, 2018

Encouraged by Darren Guarnaccia we're taking bets on the size of splash that single vendor marketing suites are going to make as he offers up his bugbear.

Into the Pool #3: Programmatic

May 31, 2018

The pool guy is not going to be pleased with what he’s going to be scooping out in the morning. In this issue, more of that lazy and cheap shit is on its way down, as Robert Rose hands over programmatic and Ian Truscott does the honors.

Never Mind the Bollocks: Here’s Cambridge Analytica

May 31, 2018

Ian Truscott sits down with Misia Tramp – VP of customer experience strategy and insights at digital marketing agency Metia – to discuss Cambridge Analytica and the (mis)use of social data.

Backstage with Darren Guarnaccia

April 26, 2018

Darren chats to Ian Truscott and we discover what drive this marketing software veteran

Into the Pool #2: Retargeting

April 26, 2018

You know how rock stars have this reputation for throwing stuff from the hotel window into the pool? Hell, Keith Moon even parked his Rolls Royce in…

I’d Rather be the Pope

April 26, 2018

Forget chasing the zeitgeist, says Ian Truscott. Have faith in your product. Trust your product. And figure out who your story is going to help – and how. 

Backstage with Robert Rose

March 25, 2018

Robert Rose is a certified rockstar. Not just because he's a content marketing celebrity, but chat to him for a bit and you'll learn that as a musician, he's had more than a brush with being the real thing.

Backstage with Ian Truscott

March 21, 2018

Over a career spanning two decades, Ian Truscott has launched various B2B software products, been a developer, a chief technology officer, an industry analyst, a product marketer and a strategic advisor to blue chip companies inc. Nasdaq and American Express.

Backstage with Ted Rubin

March 21, 2018

Ted Rubin is a leading social marketing strategist, keynote speaker, Photofy CMO/advisor, MC/host for Brand Innovators Summits… Speaker, Author, Provocateur - Ted is our resident rock star.

Could Unilever be Marketing’s Bob Geldof?

March 21, 2018

Unilever has taken a stand over the fast and loose approach that social platforms are taking to their social responsibilities, yet in marketing we a similar reputation of being self-serving, more excited when someone does something cool that sells more Oreos than saving the world. Ian Truscott if brands will take the high road and follow Unilever... 

First in the pool: Agile Marketing

March 21, 2018

We kick off our series by flinging agile marketing off the balcony… It’ll be one hell of a bill, but oh so worth it…