Creativity is the brand new forex.
One might argue that information, know-how, and analytics are the actual driving forces for enterprise success, however creativity is what really units a model aside within the consideration financial system. In spite of everything, does not each enterprise need a hefty pockets?
Creativity captures consideration and fosters long-lasting connections, enabling each enterprise to face out and deeply resonate with its viewers. The truth is, Deloitte’s survey signifies that 50% of high-growth companies see fostering creativity as important for long-term success.
It could appear extra pure to combine this creativity into B2C content material, and B2B content material creation, in consequence, is perceived as one-dimensional and boring. However why ought to B2C advertising and marketing have all of the enjoyable?
To assist B2B entrepreneurs infuse creativity and energy their content material methods, we have turned to Nehal Tenany’s experience. Nehal is a content material creator and podcast hitmaster who has achieved B2B success at corporations like Gong and now leads content material at Clari.
This interview is a part of G2’s Skilled Highlight sequence. For extra content material like this, subscribe to G2 Tea, a publication with SaaS-y information and leisure.
Heat-up questions
What’s your favourite beverage? Coke Zero.
What was your first job? My first job was working for my dad. It was a precious studying expertise, however it taught me the significance of setting boundaries when working with household.
If not Clari, what’s your favourite software program within the present tech stack? I’d say Sprout Social. Really, my favourite instrument proper now’s ChatGPT. It has revolutionized the sport for entrepreneurs when used correctly.
What issues at work make you wish to throw your laptop computer out the window? I’d say there are two issues. First, when executives do not perceive my artistic imaginative and prescient. And second, sticking to cookie-cutter, by-the-book strategies as an alternative of pondering outdoors the field.
Deep dives with Nehal Tenany
Kamaljeet Kalsi: Are you able to inform us about your skilled journey? How did you find yourself in your present position as Content material Advertising and marketing Lead at Clari?
Nehal Tenany: In highschool, when social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat emerged, I used to be determining my profession path. My dad, who’s the CEO of one in all Microsoft’s companion corporations, urged I look into advertising and marketing. Intrigued, I researched and selected advertising and marketing as my main in school.
Throughout school, I found a love for numerous advertising and marketing facets, together with digital advertising and marketing, social promoting, and web optimization. I began my weblog, nehaltanani.com, the place I gave recommendation on journey, relationship, and product suggestions. This private branding journey intensified with the rise of Instagram, permitting me to mix theoretical information with sensible utility.
After graduating school in 2016, I joined BMC Software program, aiming to enter the tech discipline for its progress potential and monetary prospects. My love for content material advertising and marketing really blossomed at Gong, the place I realized about e mail copy, social media, demand era, and consciousness constructing. Gong pushed me to discover the complete spectrum of tech advertising and marketing, increasing my boundaries and deepening my understanding of the trade.
I began my podcast in 2018 and started my TikTok journey in 2020. My podcast, which ran for 5 years, was not too long ago acquired, reinforcing my ardour for the leisure trade and fueling my TikTok content material round what to look at and skip. I used to be at Gong throughout my podcast period and have now joined Clari, able to proceed my thrilling journey in content material advertising and marketing.
Additionally, I’m presently engaged on a product I’m obsessed with referred to as Inboundr.AI. It helps remodel on a regular basis conversations into LinkedIn content material to spice up income. This venture fuels my ardour for content material technique and highlights the significance of turning your staff and people round you into thought leaders.
How did you steadiness rising your private model along with your skilled profession?
I grew my private model with the rise of TikTok and began my very own podcast, ‘That Desi Spark.’ My private model focuses on journey, way of life, leisure, motion pictures, and popular culture, whereas my skilled model at B2B tech corporations revolves round tech and content material technique. This twin path allowed me to make the most of each my artistic and analytical abilities.
I imagine duality is a actuality in life. Do you are feeling the identical? If sure, are you able to elaborate on how this performs out in your skilled and private endeavors and the way it impacts your creativity and achievement?
Completely, I like that you just mentioned that, and I deeply resonate with it. On the one hand, my skilled position in a B2B tech firm like Clari calls for a structured strategy to content material technique, information evaluation, and assembly enterprise targets. Right here, I get to make use of my analytical abilities and contribute to impactful tasks.
Then again, my private model permits me to discover my artistic facet via platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This house is the place I share content material associated to journey, way of life, and leisure, participating in additional spontaneous and artistic endeavors.
Each aspects are essential for my general achievement. If I had been to focus solely on my skilled position, I’d miss out on the artistic freedom that retains me passionate and impressed. And solely specializing in my artistic pursuits may lack the strategic and structured challenges I take pleasure in within the tech world.
Individuals at all times ask if I’d select one over the opposite full time. I do not suppose I may very well be fulfilled doing only one. If I pursue my ardour full time, it could lose its pleasure. If I focus solely on work, my creativity will not totally flourish. Subsequently, I must steadiness each facets to remain fulfilled and keep my multifaceted nature.
Mixing these worlds permits me to train each my coronary heart and my thoughts in advertising and marketing. It ensures that I keep fulfilled, persistently challenged, and at all times evolving. This holistic strategy makes my day-to-day work extra dynamic and prevents burnout, conserving my ardour for content material advertising and marketing — whether or not for B2B or private tasks — alive and thriving.
You’ve got had immense success founding, scaling, and exiting your podcast, ‘That Desi Spark,’ all whereas incomes credibility in your tech profession. Are you able to share some key learnings from the previous 5 years?
The journey of ‘That Desi Spark’ started in 2018, with the purpose to dive into the podcasting house whereas it was gaining momentum. We did not anticipate the growth triggered by COVID-19, which made our early begin advantageous. The toughest a part of the final decade for me was rising up as an Indian American, feeling caught between two cultures. This id disaster fueled my podcast, the place I made a decision to be authentically myself and share my experiences.
The podcast was well-received, however it required relentless effort. I devoted important time to advertising and marketing, reaching out to potential company, and securing sponsorships. This stage of inbound work was new to me, as I used to be used to being approached for campaigns. Recording, modifying, and selling every episode was intensive, making me notice the entrepreneurial side of podcasting.
“The most important lesson was understanding that success requires carrying many hats and being ready to place within the work.”
Nehal Tenany
Content material Lead, Clari
Balancing the podcast with my day job and content material creation was difficult, however it taught me the significance of time administration and dedication. It is really about what you spend money on your work. Regardless of the challenges, the achievement and progress I gained from this expertise had been invaluable.
In your podcast farewell episode, you talked about that managing your time successfully whereas balancing a number of obligations had develop into a problem. How did you deal with time administration?
Managing time was simpler for me as a result of I lived alone. My husband and I had been in a long-distance relationship earlier than we bought married, with him in Jersey and me in California, so I had extra management over my schedule.
My days began with my daytime job. After work, I’d work out to alleviate stress. Within the evenings, I might deal with content material creation or my podcast, sometimes from 8 to 10 PM, as a result of that timing labored for the group and company.
I used Sundays to create content material in batches, planning and recording a number of movies in in the future. As an illustration, I’d placed on completely different shirts each hour to create the phantasm of recording on completely different days, then launch the movies all through the week.
“The important thing to managing my time was integrating my podcast, job, and content material creation into an general content material technique, making certain every job aligned seamlessly.”
Nehal Tenany
Content material Lead, Clari
You’re additionally a content material creator. Do you deliver a few of that have over to B2B content material administration? In spite of everything, why can’t B2B have some enjoyable?
I undoubtedly do. In my position as a content material creator, every thing strikes rapidly, with new options and traits always rising, like TikTok. It is essential to maintain up with these adjustments and combine them into the B2B house to keep away from being left behind.
An awesome instance is AI. Over the previous yr, AI has develop into important, and people not adopting it danger falling behind. I take advantage of AI instruments to map out content material creation and handle my schedule for each private and B2B content material. AI helps me create content material calendars, categorize posts, and observe related metrics.
As an illustration, ChatGPT affords finest practices by analyzing present insights and recommending metrics which may differ from what I initially thought. This helps me keep agile and ensures that my B2B content material is simply as dynamic and interesting as my private model.
“ChatGPT has develop into an important instrument for me. It gathers insights from the web and different corporations and offers finest practices that assist reshape my pondering.”
Nehal Tenany
Content material Lead, Clari
Are you able to share a immediate that often helps you and that our viewers may profit from?
Positive! For example I’ve an fascinating article or weblog put up I wish to remodel into social media content material. I often ask ChatGPT one thing like, ‘Hello ChatGPT, my identify is Nehal Tanani, and I am the Content material Advertising and marketing Lead at Clari. Clari is a B2B tech firm targeted on working income. I wish to flip this text into an simply digestible piece of social media content material at an eighth-grade studying stage for Clari.’ Then, I enter the article, and ChatGPT offers about 10 to fifteen sentences for a social media put up.
Subsequent, I ask ChatGPT, ‘Are you able to please infuse extra of Clari’s model tone?’ It’ll modify the put up accordingly. Earlier than it is able to go reside, I evaluation the content material, add my very own aptitude, and make essential changes.
Prompting Tip:
The important thing with ChatGPT is to be very particular about your position, your organization’s particulars, and the message you wish to convey. It is necessary to tweak the output to match your organization’s language and magnificence, as ChatGPT cannot seize the precise tone or human emotion by itself.
For manufacturers wanting to reach hyper-local markets, what position do inclusivity, authenticity, and storytelling play in content material creation?
Inclusivity, authenticity, and storytelling are important for manufacturers aiming to reach hyper-local markets. From a model perspective, it is necessary to make sure your content material represents various voices and experiences. After we run webinars or blogs, we guarantee various audio system, together with ladies and folks of coloration. This makes the content material extra relatable and inclusive, as illustration really issues.
Authenticity can be essential. For private branding, I at all times encourage individuals to not gatekeep. If you happen to uncover one thing superb, share it! Whether or not it is an excellent restaurant or an efficient product, social media needs to be about serving to others. For instance, my private model assists individuals to find one of the best locations to eat, TV reveals to look at, or wedding ceremony planning ideas. By being genuinely useful and clear, you foster a group and inclusivity. Authenticity lays the muse for this strategy. This precept applies to B2B tech corporations as nicely. Our mission at Clari is to assist B2B tech corporations run income.
Storytelling is about integrating your organization and cultural narratives into your social media. We excel at amplifying buyer tales as a result of clients are your greatest champions. Sharing their real experiences resonates extra authentically along with your viewers. As a substitute of merely stating, ‘Our buyer cherished us,’ we deal with showcasing how we solved their issues and why our services or products was one of the best match. This strategy makes the story cohesive and impactful.
In the end, storytelling ties every thing collectively, presenting your model narrative compellingly. By specializing in inclusivity, authenticity, and storytelling, manufacturers can create significant connections with their native communities.
“The distinction between a very good creator and an excellent one lies in the way you have interaction along with your group.”
Nehal Tenany
Content material Lead, Clari
What are some pitfalls you consciously keep away from when constructing content material methods within the age of AI?
It is easy to see AI as a fast and useful resolution, however you might want to do not forget that it is a instrument to help you, not exchange your effort. Many individuals neglect this and rely too closely on AI, which may be problematic. As an illustration, I usually see LinkedIn posts that clearly appear to be written by ChatGPT and are available off as inauthentic.
If you happen to’re not comfy along with your writing abilities, tone, or voice, work on creating these first fairly than relying on AI. Relying solely on AI can hurt your private model as a result of once you’re requested to talk or take part in occasions, there is a disconnect. Individuals may suppose, ‘You sounded a lot extra eloquent on LinkedIn,’ and it will not align along with your actual capabilities.
The secret’s to make use of AI to reinforce your content material creation, however at all times add your private contact and guarantee it aligns along with your genuine voice.
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Podcasting vs. quick movies: which route do you’re taking as a B2B content material chief?
I’d go together with quick movies. These days, individuals’s consideration spans and the time they’ll dedicate to a podcast have decreased. I desire consuming content material within the type of quick movies fairly than listening to a whole podcast. It offers a visible expertise with 45-second sound bites that ship the data rapidly. Except I am commuting or taking a ‘scorching woman stroll,’ I haven’t got the time to hearken to a whole podcast.
I noticed one in all your LinkedIn posts the place you talked about how repurposing content material drove exceptional outcomes for you. What makes you imagine so strongly within the energy of repurposing content material? How do you go about it, and why do you advocate for it so passionately?
I talked about this early on in my podcast. I found the ability of repurposing content material early once I realized I may flip my weblog content material into Instagram posts. Later, I discovered I may do the identical for TikTok movies. This idea carried over to B2B advertising and marketing.
It is very important be intentional earlier than creating any piece of content material. As an illustration, if I am engaged on a podcast episode, I plan tips on how to break it down into different items of content material. One podcast episode can develop into a weblog put up, 5 video clips, social media posts, Instagram reels, and TikTok movies. This manner, one piece of content material is evergreen and generates extra output with much less effort.
It is about maximizing assets. Why spend a lot time and cash creating new content material when you have got a backlog ready to be repurposed? Sturdy workflows and the best instruments, together with AI, may also help chop up content material seamlessly. By pondering forward and structuring the method, repurposing content material turns into easy and environment friendly.
The place would you make investments your cash for brief movies within the present situation? Would it not be LinkedIn for B2B, YouTube Shorts, Instagram, or TikTok?
If you happen to’re a B2B content material marketer, I’d counsel placing your advert {dollars} into LinkedIn paid advertisements. LinkedIn is one of the best platform for B2B advertising and marketing.
For natural engagement, I’d suggest TikTok. It has the quickest progress I’ve ever seen. By persistently posting, I gained 70,000 followers in two years. It is a quantity sport there, so investing your natural efforts in TikTok can yield important outcomes.
What position do individuals play in model thought management? How can content material managers allow staff and executives to drive model content material?
This subject is essential as a result of, whereas we regularly use clients to amplify our model, it is also important to show the individuals inside the corporate into thought leaders. This manner, they don’t seem to be simply selling the model or product but in addition rising their very own private model, making their advocacy extra genuine and seamless.
Investing in each staff and executives has proven one of the best outcomes.
For executives, I may need a 30-minute name with them to debate their experiences and insights, turning these conversations into precious social media posts. Many executives have many years of management and income progress expertise, and sharing their tales builds belief with the viewers. When individuals belief an government, they’re extra more likely to belief and purchase from the corporate.
The identical applies to staff. Constructing belief throughout the corporate and making certain everybody shares the identical values and message is significant. Content material managers can information staff and executives in aligning their private narratives with the model’s values, making a unified and reliable voice.
Do you suppose immediately’s content material marketer may very well be tomorrow’s chief advertising and marketing officer (CMO), on condition that AI has heightened the significance of human-led content material creation?
I’d say sure, with some {qualifications}. Content material creators can develop into CMOs if they’ve a deep understanding of the market. Nonetheless, it’s necessary for content material creators and influencers to additionally perceive how advertising and marketing methods affect the pipeline and generate income. With out the power to measure and analyze these elements, it could be difficult to transition to a CMO position.
A CMO requires information of varied facets of selling, together with product advertising and marketing, income advertising and marketing, company advertising and marketing, and communications. With the best instruments and ability improvement, a content material creator can actually develop into a CMO. Nonetheless, steady studying and ability constructing are wanted past content material creation.
Do you have got ambitions of turning into a CMO, given your background in content material creation?
For me, no. I’ve by no means aspired to climb the company ladder to develop into a CMO, primarily as a result of I might have to decide on between being a CMO or a creator. My manufacturers don’t align, and I do not suppose I might have time to do each. I am comfortable climbing the content material ladder and will see myself as a Head of Content material in the future, however not a CMO. I am already the CEO of my very own content material creation model, the place I fulfill a number of roles.
What position do you suppose mentorship has for content material advertising and marketing professionals?
I might wish to shout out to my mentor, Devin Reed. He’s like my mentor, finest good friend, and generally like a brother or dad. Devin is a content material king and performed a pivotal position in my journey by bringing me into Gong. He refined my present abilities and taught me tips on how to strategize, measure analytics, and set benchmarks, issues I hadn’t mastered earlier than.
He at all times believed in me and invested time in teaching me, which had a big impact on my profession. We share a mutual mentorship, the place I assist him along with his private model, and he helps me with my skilled improvement. We nonetheless have weekly calls to bounce concepts off one another.
For these in search of mentors, I like to recommend reaching out to inspiring individuals on LinkedIn and asking for a 20-minute chat to select their brains. If they provide good recommendation and present a willingness to spend money on you, latch onto them. I am open to mentoring anybody whose imaginative and prescient aligns with mine, which ensures that I can genuinely assist them.
If you happen to had been to create a time capsule for content material within the age of AI, what insights would you need future content material entrepreneurs to search out?
My key perception can be to embrace advancing know-how however not neglect your roots. Do not rely utterly on know-how for every thing. It is necessary to keep up conventional abilities and important pondering.
Many individuals, significantly youngsters, are glued to units and miss out on real-world experiences. Do not feel pressured to leap into each new tech development instantly; you may get there ultimately. Deal with doing issues by yourself and utilizing your crucial pondering abilities.
Do not let these abilities die out as a result of they hold your intelligence sharp. All the time push your self to develop into a greater marketer, author, and every thing in between. Keep in mind, AI instruments are there to help, not exchange, your efforts and creativity.
Comply with Nehal Tenany to maintain up with the most recent content material advertising and marketing and social media ways.
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