Author Archives: Melissa Davies

I believe in breakfast, lunch, breaks and Starbucks

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I was in Vegas this week at the Marketo Marketing Nation #MKTGNation. This is my 5th.  I love attending this event, simply because I connect with people I probably would never have spoken to and learn more from sitting at a 8 top table for breakfast and lunch, hanging out between sessions on sofas and what we’re supposed to be early morning work sessions at Starbucks. 

I find I get 1:1 time with vendors and learn more about what they do, how they do it, and how it applies to me when I visit the expo hall during a session. 

Don’t get me wrong the sessions are awesome.

The parties are off the hook and always fun.

The keynotes were inspiring especially the one that ended with this:


But the event is definitely more about the people I meet, get into conversations with, dance with, laugh with, learn with and get inspired by.  

I believe that in this world of technology we have reduced the people factor to a small amount.  I believe this week was a reminder. 

I believe I owe #Marketo a huge thank you for pulling all these amazing people together. 

I also believe I didn’t catch up with 1/2 the people I wanted and met 2x I had expected to. 

I believe there is next year in April in San Francisco! 

I believe in my inner Marketing Geek

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Today I am on a flight to Vegas to attend the Marketo Marketing Summit. 

I believe this is one of my favorite events, because I get to let my inner Marketing Geek out. 

I believe I will get to have animated conversations about such things as personalization, valuable metrics, new technology, repurposed technology, predictive lead scoring, and best practices,  and I will get to use words like ROI, B2B , RTP, RCA, RCE, CTR, and ABM and not have to explain them. 

I believe I will see the a spark of interest vs the glazed over look in people’s eyes when my inner Marketing Geek starts talking. 

I believe I will get to see Will Smith.

I believe my inner Marketing Geek will shine and sparkle in VEGAS this week and have lots of interesting things to share. 

I believe in the spark of joy

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I recently read “The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Tidying” and I believe of all the books I read in the last year (Well over 200+) this book has had the most affect on my life, point of view, my decision making process and lightness of being.  Most think this is a book about organizing, and it is but the focus is only having things in your life that brings you joy. 

I believe my my mind was blown.  I started applying this to all kinds of things, people, actions, and possessions.  It has not been an easy journey but it has been an enlighting one. 

I am consistently asking myself (and others when they are trying to make a decision) “Does it bring you joy?”

I was surprised how often I said “no!” 

I believe I this led to the next book that has had a profound affect on my life – “F**k It, a spiritual guide”

I believe in the spark of joy!

I believe in The Marketo Marketing Nation Summit

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I believe in The Marketo Summit  – April 13-15, 2015 in San Francisco  – and was fortunate enough to be asked to do a session during it with Mark Townsend. I believe I love most about these kinds of things is the sharing of knowledge. I believe in going to these kinds of things because I learn so much, about myself, about what I do, about others that do similar, new ideas and perspectives.

I believe it’s worth every penny (time and money).

I believe when I got asked to do a session in January,  to say I was  honored, nervous, and flat out thrilled out of my highest stiletto shoes, would be putting it mildly.

I believed we were a little worried about how many people would be interested in listening to us —-Our topic was considered advanced. Our time slot was on the 2nd (last) day after lunch. My company isn’t a house hold name. We agreed we would be thrilled if we got 6 people in the room besides us.

I believe I was wrong in my expectations – we had a full house (with some amazing companies represented, people asked great questions, and I believe it was AWESOME!

I believe I am super proud of myself (public speaking is a challenge for me),  I believe I’m grateful for the mentorship and guidance and support I received from Mark Townsend.

I believe Marketo does a great job of recording these and sharing them, I believe I will share the recording here

BTW John Legend perfomred during the keynote – 

I believe in self promotion…..

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I believe I am honored to have people in my field of expertise ask me for my opinion (should read – geek out).

I believe I will share some of the places I have been quoted or where I am speaking….

I believe I have several others coming in the next two months.

I believe I will keep you in suspense.

I believe in B2B solar powered money making machines…

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I believe B2B solar powered money making machines are more then possible in an organization with a good sales team and a kick ass marketing team.

I believe you need these things to build your own B2B Solar Powered Money Making Machine:

  • Marketing programs that produce valuable measurable engagements with the right people at the right companies.
  • The tools/processes to separate the “okay” vs. the right people at the right companies at the right time.
  • Repeatable/Scale-able process/tools to communicate credibly with Sales Team the value of these as “right’s”
  • Content that the Sales Team can EASILY use to communicate with these “right’s”
  • A good professional inside sales team with great follow up skills
  • A good professional field sales team with good demo skills
  • A good professional field sales team with CLOSING skills
  • Sales Leadership invested in training in demo and closing skills
  • Great (ideally drill-able) reporting for both sides (Sales and Marketing)
  • Decent (not great, not good, but not in dire need of Marriage counseling) Sales and Marketing relationship.
  • Leadership that believes in celebrating every win and everyone that participated in that win not just the person that closed the deal (there is no “I” in team)

I believe I will quote my favorite CMO – “The key is to have many of these “Solar Powered Money Making Machines” set up in the desert and you just have to do preventive maintenance on them and the keep printing money.”

I believe that this is possible, I believe this is happening out in the wide world, I believe the above is no particular order.

I believe this is just my opinion (from my Marketing Operations view point) and does not reflect on any company I have worked with past or present.

I believe its been too long….

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Its been a year since I posted. So much has happened, changed, evolved, etc.

I believe big life changes are a scary, but regrets are scarier.

I believe I have made some big life changes this year. Moved from Albuquerque to San Jose, Ca., started a new job with a new company. I believe I have regrets, I believe I have made big life changes this year, and I believe I don’t regret any of them.

I believe I am still me, I believe I am a better version of me, for having made these big life changes. I believe I am still afraid of big life changes, but I believe I still make them.

I believe in doing what scares you, like I’m speaking at two sessions at the Marketing Nation (Marketo User) Summit, and a session at SiriusDecisions (these are the “Mecca” of my professional world (think Oscars, Grammy’s, TedTalk).  I believe I have some fear of public speaking, but I believe I can do this. I believe that universe has pushed me the right direction.

I believe I was nervous about going on vacation, (things like – dog sitters, work issues, traveling with my Dad and Step Mom, being able to relax, being completely cut off from technology) I believe this was the best thing I have done this year. I believe I am planning a 2 week walking trip across Scotland in October because I believe I have conquered my nerves about vacation.

I believe its been way too long since I posted on this blog and I believe I will do it more often.

I believe I might be a B2B stalker

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I was on a plane recently and the person seated next to me asked me what I do for a living, making conversation. I usually respond with the generic “Marketing”, “B2B Marketing”, or “Marketing Technology”.  I love what I do but people who aren’t into Marketing don’t have a clue what “Marketing Automation” is, so sometimes it just easier to do the 30,000 foot view. But there those times that I encounter someone who asks a follow up question, that isn’t – “So you build websites”.

This 30,000 foot conversation was one of them. I am always curious how long before they get the glazed over look in their eyes when I start to Marketing Automation geek out on them (my record for non Marketing people is 45.3 seconds). I decided out of boredom (no electronics yet) to try a new tactic – shock value!  

“I’m a B2B stalker”, I said in total seriousness. 

This got me a raised eyebrow and silence that I took as wanting to know more. 

“If you come to one of my clients sites, by the time you leave I will have communicated with the sales team, what pages you visited, what you downloaded, who you are, and how many emails we have sent you, how many you have opened, how many you have clicked,  how many times sales has reached out you, or if you have reached out to us, I will know what webinars you have signed up for, which ones you attended live and which ones you missed, and which ones you have watched on demand. Any interaction (inbound or outbound) I will have weighed, scored, and I will have prioritized you based on your behavior and your demographics on if you are ready to engage in the sales process. I will have provided your LinkedIn profile, maybe your Facebook profile and your Google+ profile for not only you but your company as well. If I’m really good I will have connected you to your boss and your coworkers – and provided all this in an easy to read graphic that the sales guy can then dive deeper into if they so desire. 

You might even be getting a call/email from said sales guy before you even leave the site (although even I agree that can be a little creepy)” 

A deep breath from my seat mate – “Yep, I believe you are a stalker” 

I believe in manners

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I believe in please and thank  you. Saying hello to a stranger. Holding the door for people. I believe in saying Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah. I believe in saying excuse me when I need to get by. Letting people who have 1 or 2 items ahead of me in line. Ending my emails with a Cheers. I believe that manners seem to be missing more and more as I venture out into the US this time of year and I believe I am a sad about that. I believe that email (with pre done signature lines), text messages, instant messages, reliance of parents on teachers to teach these basic human skills,  have all lead to the demise of common courtesy. I believe like common sense, common courtesy is going the way of the dodo bird. I believe I will keep using my manners and hope that other will catch on. Thanks for reading my blog.