Suit up for Spring Training: Hey Now–You’re an All-Star Marketer!

Free Online Event

Hit More B2B Marketing Home Runs,
You All-Star!

Tuesday, April 29 |
10:30am–4:30pm ET

Join us for an all-star lineup of 14 marketing veterans coaching you through their winning B2B strategies. You'll get new ideas, new insights, and new inspiration to take your marketing to the big leagues. So swing for the fences, you All-Star—this Spring Training is free!

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Tuesday, April 29 |
10:30am–4:30pm ET

B2B All-Star, get ready for Spring Training! We're thrilled you joined our team. You have a great line-up by your side—14 veteran marketers coaching you to swing big and hit more home runs. Don't miss a single moment! Suit up and report back here on April 29 at 10:30am ET.

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"It's Spring Training here at MarketingProfs Stadium. Fans are excited to see what inventive ideas this scrappy team will use to win market share this year.

"And our newest B2B All-Star just arrived..."

That's you!

At this year's Spring Training, discover how to:

  • Score big by simplifying your strategy
  • Get grand slam content from generative AI
  • Send powerful emails that keep your team on base
  • Earn more runs—and sales—using buyer psychology
  • Knock it out of the park with impactful original content
  • And more! 14 expert-led sessions in all

Check out your team's roster below. With these heavy hitters on your side, an All-Star like you is sure to win!

So grab a little treat from the concession stand and settle into the dugout. You'll be up to bat soon—and this B2B All-Stars Spring Training will have you hitting home runs in no time.

Agenda


Opening Remarks and Keynote

Speakers: Ann Handley & TBD

Details coming soon

Headshot of Ann Handley
Ann Handley

Chief Content Officer | MarketingProfs

Ann is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author who speaks worldwide about how businesses can escape marketing mediocrity to ignite tangible results. IBM named her one of the 7 people shaping modern marketing. She is the Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs, a LinkedIn Influencer, a keynote speaker, mom, dog person, and writer.


AI Tools and Tactics: From Research to Writing and Beyond

Speaker: Andy Crestodina

Overview

It's famous for speed, but that's not the only reason to use generative AI. AI can also help you create content that is more targeted, more comprehensive, and more effective. It just takes a few extra prompts.

Join Andy Crestodina to explore a new approach for using AI to create high-impact content.

In this session, you'll learn:

  • How to use AI to get insights about your audience
  • How to give AI your marketing data to see which topics connect
  • How to find gaps in your content strategy and plug them with high-impact content
  • How to repurpose what you have and promote what's in your content pipeline
Headshot of Andy Crestodina
Andy Crestodina

Cofounder and CMO | Orbit Media

Andy is the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Orbit Media, an award-winning, 50-person digital agency in Chicago. Over the past 20 years, Andy has provided digital marketing advice to over 1,000 businesses. He's also the author of Content Chemistry: The Illustrated Handbook for Content Marketing.


5 Surprising, Rule-Bending Tactics for B2B Marketers

Speaker: Nancy Harhut

Overview

B2B marketers follow the rules. But today, the thing that may not make sense is the thing that may work best. You know your target doesn't always behave logically. Scientific research shows they often act irrationally, making decisions that aren't as considered as we think.

Yet you can get more of them to consider you if you take advantage of certain surprising tactics.

Discover exactly what they are and why they work in this eye-opening session. See numerous market-tested examples. And gain 5 counterintuitive ways to increase ROI. These marketing moves may not make sense, but they do make money.

In this session, you'll learn how to:

  • Gain 5 eyebrow-raising moves that could become your next best practices
  • See exactly how to structure your sales and marketing messages to trigger hardwired human behaviors, using tactics like Price Order Effect, Door in Your Face Technique, and the Motivating Uncertainty Effect
  • Discover why sometimes doing the opposite of what you think you should do is actually the best thing to do
Headshot of Nancy Harhut
Nancy Harhut

Chief Content Officer | HBT Marketing

Getting people to take action is what Nancy's all about. Her specialty is blending best-of-breed creative with decision science to prompt response. A frequent conference speaker, Nancy has shared her passion with audiences all over the world. Along the way, she's been named Online Marketing Institute Top 40 Digital Strategist, Top 50 B2B Marketing Influencer, and "the Energizer Bunny of B2B copywriting." The CCO of HBT Marketing, Nancy and her teams have won over 200 awards for digital/direct marketing effectiveness.


TBD

Speaker: TBD

Details Coming Soon

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TBD

Speaker: TBD

Details Coming Soon

Headshot of Andy Crestodina
Andy Crestodina

Cofounder and CMO | Orbit Media

Andy is the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Orbit Media, an award-winning, 50-person digital agency in Chicago. Over the past 20 years, Andy has provided digital marketing advice to over 1,000 businesses. He's also the author of Content Chemistry: The Illustrated Handbook for Content Marketing.


How to Create Incredibly Valuable and Truly Original B2B Content

Speaker: Melanie Deziel

Overview

Up against copycat competitors, regurgitating robots, and an endless sea of “experts” competing for audience attention, it's easy for B2B marketers' ideas to get lost in a sea of content sameness, depriving them of their impact.

Join Melanie Deziel as she shares a method to identify your content's primary source of value and assess its level of originality, allowing you to plot a path out of the endless hamster wheel of commodity content creation, and toward the creation of content that's differentiated, memorable, and impactful.

In this session, you'll learn how to:

  • Recognize the characteristics of the most impactful B2B content
  • Identify the source of your content's value
  • Gauge the originality of your ideas
  • Make your B2B content more valuable and original
Headshot of Melanie Deziel
Melanie Deziel

Author & Speaker | StoryFuel

Melanie Deziel is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, award-winning content creator, and author of both The Content Fuel Framework and Prove It. She brings a journalistic perspective to the world of marketing, having been the first editor of branded content at The New York Times. Melanie has helped build and improve content teams and processes for some of the most recognizable brands and media organizations, including over 30 companies on the Fortune 100 list.


Reverse Engineering Google's AI: Unlocking Emerging SEO Opportunities

Speaker: Dale Bertrand

Overview

As Google transitions to generative AI search, the impact on consumer search behavior, search marketing strategy, and consumers' perception of web content will be massive. Search marketers need to update their SEO strategies to effectively influence these emerging algorithms.

Join SEO and AI expert Dale Bertrand as he unpacks the technology powering Google's generative AI search algorithms and uncovers the new rules of SEO. Dale will guide search marketers through the fundamentals of generative AI search engines and provide detailed strategies to optimize effectively for generative AI search.

In this session, you'll learn how to:

  • Understand how Google's generative AI search works
  • Adapt as Google evolves beyond keyword search
  • Position your content for generative AI discoverability
Headshot of Dale Bertrand
Dale Bertrand

President | Fire&Spark

Dale Bertrand has been an SEO specialist and AI consultant to Fortune 500 companies and venture-backed startups around the world for two decades. His clients include global brands such as Citizen Watch, Nestle, Raymond Weil, Exxon Mobil, and Bulova. He applies his graduate school work in artificial intelligence to search engine marketing and speaks at marketing industry conferences.


All-Star Shenanigans

Details coming soon


TBD

Speaker: TBD

Details Coming Soon

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TBD

Speaker: TBD

Details Coming Soon

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How to Simplify Your Marketing Strategy to Enable Revenue Growth

Speaker: Carlos Hidalgo

Overview

Today's B2B marketing complex is filled with noise. AI, content marketing, demand generation, demand capture, the growing martech stack, GTM motions, etc. While many of these can be marketing's friends, a lot of them are only making the jobs of marketers even more complex and impeding marketing's ability to create sustainable growth.

Join Carlos Hidalgo to learn how to cut through the noise. He'll show you how you can make the complexity of marketing simple.

In this session, you'll learn:

  • How to understand your customers and use this insight to inform your marketing strategy
  • How to measure the impact of marketing and demonstrate growth
  • Where marketing should put their focus to improve their success
Headshot of Carlos Hidalgo
Carlos Hidalgo

CEO | Digital Exhaust

Carlos Hidalgo is cofounder and CEO of Digital Exhaust, a data driven, AI-enabled agency. Hidalgo is also a two-time author, executive advisor, and a TEDx and international keynote speaker. Over the span of the last 30 years, Carlos has held corporate roles, started his own entrepreneurial ventures, led his company to multiple Inc 5000 awards, and served in nonprofits.


Brand Marketing vs. Product Marketing

Speaker: Samantha Rideout

Overview

You could be marketing the most incredible brand or product in the history of the world, but no one will care about it until you figure out how to tell the story. The science of storytelling gets complicated when balancing multiple audiences, products, and the slippery slope of product vs. brand messaging.

Samantha Rideout's step-by-step B2B storytelling guide will be your new best friend and take your marketing from standard to stellar. Bonus: you'll learn what NFL pros and podcasters Travis and Jason Kelce can teach us about asking “no dumb questions” to simplify our central idea and strengthen our stories.

In this session, you'll learn how to:

  • Create a flop-proof B2B story by crafting a flexible narrative structure
  • Use the 3 Ls of adapting your central idea by lens, length, and levels to deliver the right message to the right audience
  • Crack the code to connect with any audience by unpacking multi-level storytelling strategies
Headshot of Samantha Rideout
Samantha Rideout

Product Marketing Lead | Cohere Health

Samantha Rideout is a strategic marketing leader passionate about telling the story of influential and emerging brands. Her years of marketing leadership span Fortune 500, Inc. 5000 fastest-growing, national media, and innovative tech brands. She is currently the product marketing lead at a Series B health tech startup. Samantha has a master's in public relations. She's been published by PR Daily, MarketingProfs, PR News, the University of Edinburgh Press, the American Marketing Association, and more. Her speaking engagements include Product Marketing Alliance Summits (NYC and Boston), The Marketing Millennials podcast, Ragan and PR Daily Conferences, Demand 2023, RevOps 500, and more.


TBD

Speaker: TBD

Details Coming Soon

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TBD

Speaker: TBD

Details Coming Soon

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NEW Email Tests You Haven't Tried!

Speaker: Jay Schwedelson

Overview

Jay Schwedelson is back! Get ready for all NEW email best practices that will make a huge impact on your campaigns. Discover how to cut through the noise and capture attention with real, actionable data insights from the last 60 days.

This fast-paced, tips-filled session will provide the latest tactics and techniques that actually work and can be applied immediately! Jay will deep-dive into how to get more responses on email offers and ensure you stay ahead of the pack. See what's proven to drive strong email marketing ROI right NOW.

In this session, you'll learn:

  • The best days and ideal frequencies for sending emails
  • The power of subject lines and tips/tricks to get your emails opened—specific words, symbols, personalization, and things you have never considered
  • How to drive engagement and see what forms of content are trending and performing well
  • Which call-to-action button text can make a huge difference, plus landing page changes to get more conversions
Headshot of Jay Schwedelson
Jay Schwedelson

Founder, President, & CEO | SubjectLine.com, Outcome Media

Jay Schwedelson is the founder of SubjectLine.com, the leading free subject-line rating tool ranked in the top 1% of all websites worldwide. He is also the president and CEO of Outcome Media, a multi-brand marketing services company whose portfolio includes Subjectline.com, the Do This, Not That!: For Marketers podcast, and GURU Events.


Make Me Care: How to Compete on the Impact of Your Ideas, Not the Volume of Your Marketing

Speaker: Jay Acunzo

Overview

You could be marketing the most incredible brand or product in the history of the world, but no one will care about it until you figure out how to tell the story. The science of storytelling gets complicated when balancing multiple audiences, products, and the slippery slope of product vs. brand messaging.

Samantha Rideout's step-by-step B2B storytelling guide will be your new best friend and take your marketing from standard to stellar. Bonus: you'll learn what NFL pros and podcasters Travis and Jason Kelce can teach us about asking “no dumb questions” to simplify our central idea and strengthen our stories.

In this session, you'll learn how to:

  • Create a flop-proof B2B story by crafting a flexible narrative structure
  • Use the 3 Ls of adapting your central idea by lens, length, and levels to deliver the right message to the right audience
  • Crack the code to connect with any audience by unpacking multi-level storytelling strategies
Headshot of Jay Acunzo
Jay Acunzo

Author, Podcaster, & Cofounder | Creator Kitchen

Jay Acunzo is on a mission to help others make what matters. He's the cofounder of the Creator Kitchen, where content marketers learn to become effective storytellers, and he's held media and marketing roles at ESPN, HubSpot, Google, a tiny startup, and a top-tier VC firm. When he's not working behind the scenes as a creative coach with experts, entrepreneurs, and marketers, Jay writes books, gives speeches, and hosts the popular podcast, Unthinkable. His grandest aspiration and probably delusion is to become the Anthony Bourdain of the online creator space.


Closing Remarks

Speaker: Ann Handley

Details coming soon

Headshot of Ann Handley
Ann Handley

Chief Content Officer | MarketingProfs

Ann is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author who speaks worldwide about how businesses can escape marketing mediocrity to ignite tangible results. IBM named her one of the 7 people shaping modern marketing. She is the Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs, a LinkedIn Influencer, a keynote speaker, mom, dog person, and writer.

All-Star Lineup

Baseball card of Andy Crestodina

Crestodina, Andy

  • Position: CMO | Orbit Media
  • Bats: Digital Marketing
  • Throws: Content Strategy

Career Highlights

  • Co-founded Orbit Media digital agency (2001-present)
  • Mentored 1,000+ businesses in digital strategy
  • Published "Content Chemistry" book
  • Leads award-winning team of 50

Scouting Report

Strong leadership tools with exceptional marketing IQ. Shows elite versatility in digital space. Known for deep playbook of content strategies. Proven track record developing winning game plans for businesses.

Baseball card of Ann Handley

Handley, Ann

  • Position: CCO | MarketingProfs
  • Bats: Content Strategy
  • Throws: Marketing Excellence

Career Highlights

  • Wall Street Journal bestselling author
  • Named top 7 modern marketing influencers by IBM
  • Global speaking circuit veteran
  • LinkedIn All-Star performer

Scouting Report

Elite content strategist with power to drive results. Shows exceptional range across marketing fundamentals. Known for helping teams escape slumps and mediocrity. Strong clubhouse presence as speaker and thought leader. Scouts note: Has demonstrated high compatibility with both dogs & B2B marketers.

Baseball card of Carlos Hidalgo

Hidalgo, Carlos

  • Position: CEO | Digital Exhaust
  • Bats: AI-Driven Marketing
  • Throws: Business Strategy

Career Highlights

  • Co-founded Digital Exhaust AI agency
  • Multiple Inc 5000 awards
  • Two-time author
  • 30-year veteran in corporate and startup leagues

Scouting Report

Versatile player-manager with proven success across multiple divisions. Shows exceptional power in AI, data analytics. Strong entrepreneurial tools with history of building championship-caliber teams. Demonstrates rare combination of corporate & startup league experience.

Baseball card of Dale Bertrand

Bertrand, Dale

  • Position: President | Fire&Spark
  • Bats: Search Strategy
  • Throws: Artificial Intelligence

Career Highlights

  • 20-year veteran in SEO/AI
  • Fortune 500 scout & strategist
  • Global brand portfolio manager

Scouting Report

Power player in search optimization with advanced AI tools. Shows elite consulting skills across international markets. Strong track record with premium brands & venture-backed prospects. Combines academic AI training with practical marketing expertise.

Baseball card of Jay Acunzo

Acunzo, Jay

  • Position: Cofounder | Creator Kitchen
  • Bats: Storytelling
  • Throws: Creative Strategy

Career Highlights

  • Major league stints with ESPN, Google, HubSpot
  • Prospect development in VC, startup sectors
  • Host of "Unthinkable" podcast
  • Published author
  • Creative coaching specialist

Scouting Report

Versatile utility player with rare combination of media and marketing tools. Shows exceptional range from major tech leagues to indie creator circuit. Strong storytelling mechanics with advanced creative coaching abilities. Known for helping others develop their narrative game. Scouts compare storytelling style to Anthony Bourdain.

Baseball card of Jay Schwedelson

Schwedelson, Jay

  • Position: Founder/CEO | Outcome Media
  • Bats: Email Marketing
  • Throws: Subject Lines

Career Highlights

  • Founded SubjectLine.com (Top 1% global web ranking)
  • Leads multi-brand Outcome Media portfolio
  • Hosts Do This, Not That!: For Marketers podcast
  • GURU Events commander-in-chief

Scouting Report

Power player in email marketing league with specialized subject line expertise. Shows elite tool development. Strong multi-brand management skills. Known for tactical marketing insights and strategic event operations. Scouts note exceptional ability to evaluate and optimize email performance.

Baseball card of Melanie Deziel

Deziel, Melanie

  • Position: Content Strategist
  • Bats: Journalism
  • Throws: Brand Storytelling

Career Highlights

  • First branded content editor, New York Times
  • Author of "Content Fuel Framework" and "Prove It"
  • Fortune 100 consulting veteran (30+ teams)
  • Award-winning content creator

Scouting Report

Rare player combining journalistic fundamentals with marketing power. Shows exceptional range from newsroom to boardroom. Known for building championship-caliber content teams. Strong track record developing corporate talent. Elite process improvement specialist. Scouts note unique ability to translate editorial excellence to brand success.

Baseball card of Nancy Harhut

Harhut, Nancy

  • Position: CCO | HBT Marketing
  • Bats: Decision Science
  • Throws: Response Marketing

Career Highlights

  • 200+ marketing effectiveness awards
  • Named Top 40 Digital Strategist
  • Top 50 B2B Marketing Influencer
  • Nicknamed "Energizer Bunny of B2B Copywriting"

Scouting Report

Elite response generator combining creative power with scientific approach. Shows exceptional ability to drive action through decision science. Known for high-conversion copywriting, strategic thinking. Strong international presence on speaking circuit. Scouts note remarkable stamina and consistent performance.

Baseball card of Samantha Rideout

Rideout, Samantha

  • Position: Product Marketing Lead | Series B Health Tech
  • Bats: Strategic Marketing
  • Throws: Brand Storytelling

Career Highlights

  • Fortune 500 and Inc 5000 veteran
  • Published across major marketing leagues
  • National media & tech brand specialist

Scouting Report

Versatile marketing player showing strong performance across multiple divisions. Elite storytelling tools with proven success in both established, emerging markets. Shows exceptional range from Fortune 500 to startup leagues. Notable publishing record with premium outlets. Strong presence on speaking circuit.

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