TechCrunch Experts: Q1 2022 Marketing Budget Advice

TechCrunch Experts Program: A Week in Review

The TechCrunch Experts program experienced a particularly productive week, delivering valuable insights for professionals.

Expert Analyses and Strategic Guidance

Joey Noble, serving as community manager at Demand Curve, provided a detailed analysis of Customer.io’s homepage. His teardown offers actionable strategies applicable to enhancing your own company’s web presence.

Furthermore, Jonathan Martinez outlined the essential components for building a high-performing growth marketing tech stack. His recommendations are designed to optimize marketing efforts.

Planning for Q1 2022 and the Power of Zero-Party Data

As the new year approaches, interviews were conducted with several experts identified through the program. The focus was on effective strategies for managing a limited marketing budget during the first quarter of 2022.

On Wednesday, Senior Editor Walter Thompson facilitated a Twitter Space discussion with Ben Parr, co-founder of Octane.ai. The conversation centered on leveraging zero-party data to achieve impactful personalization.

Beyond Marketing: DevOps and Space Exploration

This week’s coverage extends beyond marketing, highlighting the crucial role of DevOps in supporting both recent and future space missions.

A comprehensive recap of all featured content from the week is available below.

• Insights into homepage optimization from Joey Noble.
• Essential tools for a growth marketing tech stack, as shared by Jonathan Martinez.
• Expert advice on Q1 2022 marketing budget allocation.
• Discussion on zero-party data and personalization with Ben Parr.
• Coverage of DevOps contributions to space exploration.

Software Consulting

The evolution of DevOps practices is extending to new frontiers, notably edge computing and the realm of space exploration. Fred Simon, co-founder and chief data scientist at JFrog, has detailed the significant advancements made in this area over the last two years.

Simon observes that the modern space industry is increasingly reliant on software. While software development is becoming more efficient and capable of frequent updates, the computational demands for executing these commands in space are escalating rapidly.

Challenges of Software Updates in Space

With projections indicating the launch of up to 40,000 satellites in the coming years, a critical question arises: how can we effectively manage and continually update the software operating in these orbital environments?

The need for robust and reliable software update mechanisms is paramount to ensure the functionality and longevity of these space-based assets.

Featured Consultant

Consultant: Emit Knowledge

Recommended by: Envoice

Testimonial: “Emit Knowledge enabled us to concentrate on business development while expertly guiding the product lifecycle from initial concept through to final deployment and ongoing management.”

This allows companies to leverage specialized expertise without diverting internal resources.

The Importance of Specialized Expertise

• Focus on Core Business: Outsourcing software development and management allows companies to prioritize their primary objectives.
• Access to Skilled Professionals: Consultants like Emit Knowledge provide access to a team with specialized knowledge and experience.
• Efficient Product Delivery: Streamlined processes and expert guidance accelerate the product development lifecycle.

Growth Marketing Strategies

A recent survey of growth marketing professionals explored optimal budget allocation for the first quarter of 2022. Miranda Halpern consulted with seven marketers participating in the TechCrunch Experts program. Each expert was presented with a scenario: a $25,000 marketing budget for Q1 2022, and asked to detail their spending strategy. The complete article outlines the specific breakdowns provided by these marketers.

For startups operating with limited resources, a well-defined growth marketing technology stack is crucial. Without it, integrating the various tasks involved in customer acquisition becomes significantly more challenging. Jonathan Martinez, a paid acquisition specialist, identifies the core elements of such a stack:

• Customer Data Platform (CDP): Centralizes customer information.
• Mobile Measurement Partner (MMP): Tracks mobile campaign performance.
• Data Warehouse: Stores and manages large datasets.
• Business Intelligence (BI) Tool: Analyzes data for insights.
• Customer Engagement Tools: Facilitate communication and interaction.
• A/B Testing/Experimentation Tools: Optimize marketing efforts.
• Acquisition Mediums: Channels used to reach potential customers.

Martinez uses an analogy, stating that these tools function like the components of a vehicle, with the CDP serving as the engine and the remaining tools connected to it.

Demand Curve recently analyzed Customer.io’s homepage, focusing on its effectiveness in converting visitors into paying customers. Joey Noble, Demand Curve’s community manager, offers actionable insights applicable to any website. Noble emphasizes that a compelling header should clearly communicate a company’s identity and value proposition, even if it’s the only content a visitor reads.

Featured Marketers

Marketer: PVTSEO
Recommended by: Flynax
Testimonial: “Their assistance enabled us to effectively reach our target audience and achieve higher search engine rankings, ultimately leading to increased revenue.”

Marketer: Eli Schwartz
Recommended by: Anonymous at a16z
Testimonial: “Previously, my portfolio companies were investing in consultants without seeing tangible results. We’ve now shifted our SEO approach and are focused on driving revenue and product growth.”