Most readers of this blog will know that I’m passionate about Marketing Automation and Lead Management. As a consultant, I really enjoy helping organizations optimize their Marketing Automation efforts using the latest techniques and best practices. On this blog I write about this, trying to generate discussion, share ideas, and – in the process – learn a lot myself. To accelerate this learning process I’ve decided to join the Marketo consulting team, in which I can focus 100% on Marketing Automation and Lead Management.
As LeadSloth I did a lot of blogging, but my consulting practice paid the bills. However, I found that being an independent consultant has its challenges. When you’re doing projects, you’re busy and you don’t spend enough time doing sales. And when you’re doing sales, it takes a while to get new projects lined up. As a result, my revenue wasn’t very predictable, but additionally, it also slowed down my learning: fewer projects means fewer opportunities to learn.
Marketo gives me access to more projects, and also the interesting projects that I wouldn’t be able to get as an independent consultant. There are also many colleagues to learn from, not just within consulting, but also in all other departments. All in all, there is a lot of opportunity for personal and professional growth. The only downside is that I won’t have exposure to other Marketing Automation systems anymore (and all the great people that work at those vendors).
What’s Going to Happen With LeadSloth?
I will still be blogging at LeadSloth.com and I will continue to help organize Marketing Automation Mondays. Both of those are independent from Marketo, and done in my own time. However, working for a vendor in the space inevitably brings a bias. Therefore, I won’t blog about vendors and products.
Overall, my goal is to help grow the marketing automation market as a whole. In my new role, I believe I will be in the good position to do exactly that. And with LeadSloth I will focus on activities that are vendor agnostic.
I’m looking forward to hear your feedback. Feel free to leave a comment or contact me via email (jep at leadsloth dot com).
Congrats on the move Jep. Independent consulting definitely seems to have its challenges, but some rewards as well. In any case, its hard to resist an offer from a fast growing emergent industry leader like Marketo! Good luck.
Well a steady paycheque changes many minds. Sorry to see you lose your independent status. Good luck!
Congrats Jep! I’ve enjoyed the educational material and all I’ve learned from both you and Marketo – it sounds like a great fit.
Jep-
You are a great catch for Marketo! Bias is OK but don’t lose your pragmatism!
I hope you help make more b2b marketers successful – better campaigns, improved processes, less spam. There’s enough thought leadership in the MAP space, what we need today are more successes, more heroes. It’s ‘picks and shovels’ time in the market.
-Sam
Congrats on the new gig!
Jep
Congratulations!
Marketo is great solution and seem like a tight team.
Don’t lose your independence or your voice. We love your insight!
Cheers
Scott Armstrong and the BrainRider team
“sharing what we know about how to attract and convert more B2B customers is what we do!”
Congrats, Jep! I think this is definitely a good move as you have gleaned quite a bit of experience already working with many key players in the CRM and marketing automation space. Personally, I don’t think that blogging about marketing automation necessarily conflicts with what you do at Marketo – I think it would add a great deal of credibility to your already unbiased research and analysis.
I look forward to future insights you have the marketing automation and lead nurturing space. Nice to see you’re making a splash on the Marketo blog already.
Congrats again! Will be looking to hear more.
–Joseph Manna
Congrats Jep. Glad you’re keeping up your personal blogging in this move.
Congrats Jep !!! Great move. They have a solid team.
Good luck and best wishes Jep, I’m sure it’s a great move which will be very rewarding. Look forward to continuing to read the blog though!
Congratulations Jep,
sorry that we lose your objective reviews – but I am sure you’ll get the chance to help more companies directly in their revenue growth – that’s very satisfying;-)
still hope to check out a marketing automation Monday sometime – glad you’ll keep those up!
Happy Holidays
Kirsten
Wow, big news and congrats Jep. I have enjoyed reading your observations/insights. Best of luck in your new role. If you have time I would love the chance to chat with you about a new business I’m launching focused on nurture marketing which relies on (or at least inevitably leads into a discussion of) marketing automation. I’m at bob (at) londonink (dot) com if you have a chance.
– Bob
One other thing: let me know if you need help organizing or promoting the Washington, DC area MAM :-)
Congratulations, Jep! Looking forward to hearing more about the your next chapter in marketing automation space!
Congrats, Jep! Wish you a lot of success in your new role.
Congrats Jep, you are joining the leading marketing automation team in the industry, and the fastest growing. It promises to be a dazzling experience!
-Kevin
Congrats on the move, Jep. I happened to be following Marketo on Linkedin and looked at New Employees. Very surprised but not shocked. I can see why b2b lead generation experts like you and me join companies like Marketo. They offer resources we’d never have on our own.
Best of luck to you, Jep.
Jeff Ogden, the Fearless Competitor
Find New Customers “Lead Generation Made Simple”
http://www.findnewcustomers.com
Hi Jep,
First of all I wish you all the best in your new position!
Second, I wanted to know, because I am really interested in becoming an independent consultant for Marketing Automaton solutions and best practices in the future:
Would you recommend others to go through the same path, and if so, what would you advise to focus on in order to build a long lasting business?
Congrats Jep,
Glad to have another convert at Marketo. As someone who went from being a b2b Marketing Director evaluating Marketo and marketing automation solutions to a member of the Marketo team, it’s been a great choice for me and I know it will be for you. Your lead sloth background will make you a great addition to our consulting team because you are a smart independent thinker! Don’t change!
Hoi Jep! Congrats on your new role. Please be in touch if there’s anything I can do to help you.
– Mark Felman
VP Marketing, NetProspex
Jep – congrats. Marketo is a great product and you’ll have a blast. Keep on blogging and sharing your experiences.
Thanks Mark and Darryl! I’ll do my best to keep on blogging, but it will be a little quieter in the next couple of months.
Best,
Jep
Congratulations on your new role and continue blogging. All the best.
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