In my last article on B2B marketing, I took a deep dive into the different trends marketers need to be aware of as we get closer to 2020.
The article covers a lot of territory, so if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re in luck. Today, I’ve pulled together 17 of my favorite B2B marketing blogs and communities that serve up great information on the tactics and trends we all need to be aware of.
Check them out, pick your favorites and make ongoing education a priority this year and into 2020.
1. Drift
The Drift blog comes from the team behind Drift Chat – one of the web’s top chatbots. But the company’s blog isn’t just about live chat and conversational marketing. Instead, it covers a huge range of topics B2B marketers need to be successful these days, from long-form content to sales enablement strategies.
Top posts from Drift:
- 25 Women in B2B Marketing Who Inspire Us Everyday
- The 32 Ops Pros Shaping the Future of B2B Marketing
- We Analyzed the Sales and Marketing Practices of the Top 100 100 SaaS Companies. Here’s What We Found
2. Backlinko
I think it’s actually illegal to write a round-up of marketing blogs and not mention Brian Dean’s Backlinko site. So here it is – the site that brought us the Skyscraper Technique, and that continues to produce critical, data-driven evaluations of marketing best practices and commonly-held beliefs. If it isn’t already on your regular reading list, add it now.
Top content from Backlinko:
- We Analyzed 912 Million Blog Posts. Here’s What We Learned About Content Marketing.
- Copywriting: The Definitive Guide (2019)
- We Analyzed 5 Million Google Search Results. Here’s What We Learned About Organic CTR.
3. Convince and Convert
Another time-tested resource that belongs on your reading list is the Convince and Convert blog, produced by the digital marketing agency of the same name. Founded in 2008 by Jay Baer, the company’s blog features thoughtful articles on content marketing, customer experience, customer service, digital marketing, social media marketing and word-of-mouth marketing from Jay and other contributors.
Top content from Convince and Convert:
- Social Media Usage Statistics for 2019 Show Surprising Shifts
- Your 2019 Content Strategy: 5 Surprising Trends You Can’t Ignore
- Customer Reviews are the New Content Marketing
4. The B2B Lead Blog
You’re probably already familiar with Backlinko and Convince and Convert. You may even know the Drift blog. But chances are you aren’t reading Brian Carroll’s B2B Lead Blog – and if so, that’s a huge mistake. Check it out for great insight on lead generation, management and nurturing, as well as the practical applications of ABM.
Top content from The B2B Lead Blog:
- We Stopped Trying to Convince Customers and Got Triple the Results
- Bring More Innovation to Your Demand Generation Now
- 4-Step Lead Generation Analysis to Optimize Sales Conversion
5. {Grow}
According to founder Mark Schaefer, the {grow} blog “sits at the intersection of marketing, technology and humanity” (aka, exactly where today’s marketers need to live as well). Take a look not just for B2B marketing tactics, but for a well-rounded look at what it means to grow a business or brand in today’s digital environments.
Top content from {grow}:
- No Social Media, No Email, No Website. And She’s a Business Success.
- What is Your Social Media Marketing Purpose? (If You Don’t Know, This Will Help)
- Why You Can’t Believe Social Media Sentiment Analysis
6. Content Marketing Institute
The Content Marketing Institute’s blog doesn’t focus on B2B specifically; you’ll find a mix of advice geared towards both B2B and B2C professionals inside. But because the blog goes to such great lengths to curate great contributors and ensure their submissions are valuable for today’s marketers, it’s likely to become a highlight on your reading list.
Top content from Content Marketing Institute:
- 5 Steps to Find Your Brand Voice
- Will the Real ROI in Content Please Stand Up?
- Must-Have Checklist to Creating Valuable Content
7. Hubspot
Hubspot wrote the book on inbound marketing (literally). So while their content is top-notch, I’m also a fan of following their blogs to see how they integrate content pieces into larger campaigns. Read with a strategic eye, and you may wind up with some unexpected insights that’ll change the way you approach future campaigns.
Top content from Hubspot’s marketing blog:
- The 24 Best Motivational Speeches Our Employees Have Ever Heard
- Your Bookmarkable Guide to Social Media Image Sizes
- 5 Essential Skills Marketers Need to Succeed This Year [INFOGRAPHIC]
8. Heinz on Marketing
Another agency blog, Heinz on Marketing offers daily reflections for B2B marketers on everything from team management to “How I Work” profiles. Subscribe for the team’s helpful round-ups of great B2B resources.
Top content from Heinz on Marketing:
- “How I Work”: Allison Munro, Head of Sales & Marketing at Viafoura
- The Ideal Sales & Marketing Relationship for ABM Success
- The Dark Side of Social Media: Three Challenges & Six Solutions
9. The Point
Though it only publishes a few times a month, The Point blog – produced by Spear Marketing Group – deserves a mention on this list, thanks to its heavy focus on demand generation, lead nurturing and marketing automation for B2B marketers.
Top content from The Point:
- Infographic: 29 Tips to Improve B2B Email Campaign Performance
- ABM is a Strategy, Not a Campaign
- Infographic: 17 Tips for Generating Leads from Social PPC Advertising
10. OpenView Partners
Anyone who’s remotely involved in the world of venture capital and startup financing knows the name OpenView Partners. But what you may not know is that their blog is a highly-valuable resource, covering everything from sales and marketing to HR topics and what the team calls “product led growth.” Check it out not just for great B2B marketing guidance, but to keep your finger on the pulse of the startup world in general.
Top content from OpenView Partners:
- Infographic: Ready to Launch a Lead Generation Team?
- Peek Inside Slack’s Multi-Million Dollar SaaS Growth Strategy
- Top 10 Books for Entrepreneurs to Read This Summer
11. Heidi Cohen
The tagline for Heidi’s site is “actionable marketing” – and her content absolutely lives up to this standard. Heidi has been around the digital marketing world for a long time, and the advice she has for B2B marketers reflects her experience and long tenure in the field.
Top content from Heidi Cohen:
- Are You Missing These 5 Social Sharing Powerhouses?
- Best Marketing Advice for Recent Graduates
- Why Email Remains King of Social Media
12. Marketo
Even if you don’t use Marketo’s marketing automation platform, you’ll want to give their blog a look. The site is packed full of high-level thinking from some of today’s top thought leaders, covering topics from ABM and content marketing to data analysis and event marketing. Their downloadable ebooks are great as well, though you’ll have to go digging around outside of Marketo’s blog to find them.
Top content from Marketo:
- Tips to Increase Email Marketing Engagement
- Key Content Marketing Metrics for the Fearless Marketer
- Increase Productivity in Your Workday (Without Losing Your Mind)
13. GrowthHackers
GrowthHackers might be the only community on this list, but the sheer volume of great content shared on the site makes it worthy of inclusion. Marketers use the community to ask questions, but they also go there to build their brands by sharing helpful content. And since no one wants to sign their name to low-value resources, you can bet that every visit to GrowthHackers will turn up some new and interesting B2B marketing tips.
Top posts on GrowthHackers:
- AirBNB: The Growth Story You Didn’t Know
- 16 of the Most Brutal (But Fair) SaaS Onboarding Teardowns
- His Store Only Sells One Product. But He’s Made Over $140,000.
14. Product Habits
Product Habits is Hiten Shah’s site, and it’s a goldmine of practical B2B marketing knowledge for SaaS marketers in particular. First, sign up to get his (currently) free ebook. Then, head over to the blog, where you’ll find in-depth profiles on specific companies’ growth strategies, as well as the broader guidance you’ll benefit from if you work in product marketing.
Top content from Product Habits:
- How Domino’s Pizza Drove a 90x Increase in Stock Value by Acting Like a Tech Startup
- My Billion Dollar Mistake
- How Grammarly Quietly Grew Its Way to 6.9 Million Daily Users in 9 Years
15. Neil Patel
Of course I’m going to include Neil’s site here. Besides being my cousin, Neil is one of the smartest marketers working today. The content published on his personal blog is driven by more than a decade of testing and experimentation, and Neil holds nothing back when it comes to sharing the lessons he’s learned.
Top content from Neil Patel:
- How Do Colors Affect Purchases? Infographic
- The Science of Social Timing
- What Makes Someone Leave a Website? The Infographic
16. The Growth Marketing Conference Blog
I’ve had the opportunity to be involved with the Growth Marketing Conference for a few years now, so I know first-hand that they’ve managed to pull together some of the smartest leaders working in digital marketing today for both their conference and their blog content. With contributors like Ginny Mineo, James Wilson and Mark Nardone, there’s plenty of high-value information here – no matter what type of business you’re trying to grow.
Top content from Growth Marketing Conference:
- SaaS Growth Case Study: How Autopilot Went from 0 to 2,000 Customers in 18 Months
- 3 Retargeting Ads That Will Boost Your Business
- Content Marketing for Early Stage Startups
17. Northcutt
Northcutt, a Chicago-based Digital Marketing agency, offers a wide variety of SEO, link-building, and content marketing insights in their Digital Marketing Blog. It’s a true sleeper as far as SEO blogs go – Not as widely known as resources from some bigger platforms, but packed with valuable content. Northcutt’s blog gives marketers and SEO specialists all the information they need: Marketing strategies, tips, news in the world of SEO, and digital tactic roundups, all from a talented team of marketing minds.
Top content from Northcutt:
Obviously, I’d love to put the blogs of my companies here, because I really do believe in the quality of the content we put out. So, at the risk of coming across as biased, I’d also recommend keeping tabs on the content published by Mailshake, Voila Norbert, Sujan Patel, Growth Manifesto, and Right Inbox – especially if email marketing factors heavily into your B2B marketing campaigns.
Now, I want to hear from you. What other blogs or communities do you follow? Drop me a note with your additions to this list in the comments below:
Image: Pixabay
Thank you so much for including me in this round-up Sujan!
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