REGISTER NOW: Uncomfortable Conversations: The Skills Crisis
REGISTER: 8THIRTYFOUR Skills Survival School Founding Cohort

The Rise of Marketing Automation (It’s Already Risen. It Has Risen Indeed.)

Written by

Share This Post:

Man typing on keyboard

We don’t usually accept guest blogs, cause who really wants to hear from anyone that isn’t us? When we do make an exception, it’s because we work with the company, have seen them in action, and they have the same twisted sense of humor.

Without further ado, here are our friends from 1 Bold Step. They like pairing marketing and technology together. Good job guys!

______________________________________________

Let’s face it, if you’re reading this, you’re likely someone who could or should improve your business’ efficiency, productivity, and return on marketing investment (ROMI) by 20% – because ultimately, who doesn’t want that? Of course, you do. Worry not, because you’re in excellent company and in exactly the right place. Allow me to welcome you to the world of marketing automation. 

According to Nucleus Research, marketing automation can help you improve your business’ productivity by an average of 20%. And it’s been making a big splash in the business and marketing world lately. 

In 2020, the marketing automation software market was estimated at 6.87 billion dollars. Fast forward to 2026 and it’s expected to rise to a 19.66 billion dollar industry. But along with boosting your productivity, marketing automation platforms can do so much more. 

If you like what you’re hearing so far, stick with us as we’ll dive deeper into what marketing automation is, and exactly why it’s a necessary investment.

Ready to have your mind blown? Let’s go!

What the heck is marketing automation, anyway?

Let’s kick things off with a simple definition to make things easy. Marketing automation is a process performed through a software system to efficiently automate certain tasks and marketing initiatives instead of doing them by hand. There are multiple systems that can make this happen, but at 1 Bold Step, we use HubSpot for our marketing automation platform. 

As mentioned above, marketing automation platforms can help businesses perform several different tactics. When used to its full potential, they can help businesses with some fairly common manual tasks, such as:

  • Lead generation
  • Lead nurturing
  • Lead scoring
  • Visitor and prospect tracking
  • Create custom offers and messages
  • Performing A/B testing
  • Determining ROMI 

And the list goes on.

If certain tasks like the ones above aren’t being automated, there’s a good chance you’re spending way too much time doing them by hand on a regular basis. A marketing automation platform helps to ensure that your marketing is working for you (and not the other way around).

Why is it important to invest in marketing automation right now?

You might still be wondering why marketing automation systems have been on the rise. Well, take a look at this:

According to Marketo, 76% of companies that implemented marketing automation generate a return on their investment within the first year. Not only that, but 44% of them see a return within just six months.

Just those stats alone are enough for anyone to stop and say, “Wow, I need that.” 

But wait, there’s more. 

Your company needs a digital approach to marketing now more than ever. With the evolution of the buyer and marketing and technology colliding, it can be easy for businesses to be overwhelmed by tasks to help them stay ahead of the game. However, marketing automation can help organize your data, customize your brand message, and align your sales and marketing team. (Check out our next blog for specific examples of how marketing automation can work for you). 

______________________________________________

In the meantime as you wait for their next guest blog to launch, reach out to the team at 1 Bold Step. We can personally vouch for their amazingness and they’ll get you on the way towards a higher return on your marketing investment.

Responses

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Recent Posts

Something on Your Mind?

New Happy Hour Hustle episode out now! Kim sits down with Meredith Klein, the woman behind the iconic hat and the Substack everyone in comms actually wants to read, meredith.and.the.media. 

Kim and Meredith talk about personal branding, networking without the ick, why “believe it until you achieve it” beats “fake it till you make it,” and what it takes to really own your worth.

Meredith is a communications executive with nearly two decades of experience at some of the biggest names in the game: Walmart, Pinterest, and Jet.com, to name a few. She's the author of Meredith & The Media, a wildly popular Substack on the latest news, moves, and trends in media, featuring exclusive interviews with leading journalists on what's driving their coverage. She’s a PRWeek 40 Under 40 honoree and regular contributor to Inc. She’s the person in the room who actually knows everyone and makes sure everyone else knows each other too. Basically, if comms had a connector-in-chief, it would be her. 

Grab a martini (with extra olives) and get ready for some F-bomb filled wisdom. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and watch the whole episode on Youtube! 

Link in bio.
The way you show up at work shapes how people remember you.

Last month, alyshiahull joined bodespeaks on Happy Hour Hustle to talk about what workplace authenticity really means. Alyshia is a New York-based freelance journalist who writes for Business Insider, Fast Company, USA Today, Inc., and Entrepreneur. If you are ready to bring your authentic self to work, episode #134 is for you. 

Listen to Happy Hour Hustle on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Youtube. Link in bio.
The power of the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship, in a graduate's own words:

"Growth is never accidental, it comes from being willing to learn, adapt, and embrace change. After nine months of dedication, reflection, and business development, I proudly graduated from the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship (WEF) during the Small Business Association of Michigan Annual Meeting.

Throughout the program, I challenged myself to evaluate every aspect of my business, celebrating what was working while identifying opportunities for growth and improvement. The journey was made even more meaningful through the support of an incredible cohort of women entrepreneurs, the guidance of mentor Gina Jacquart Thorsen, and the leadership of bodespeaks and her team.

A sincere thank you to smallbusinessassocofmichigan for investing in second-stage women business owners and creating opportunities that empower entrepreneurs to build stronger, more sustainable businesses."

— Mary A. Barton, President and CEO of Equitable Accounting Solutions and proud WEF graduate.

Applications for the next cohort are now open. Link in comments.
"Out of failure comes growth – you have to see it as an opportunity." 

bodespeaks joined cuzzinjustin on the strictlyfromnowhere Podcast for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, embracing your superpowers, and building a personal brand that's actually yours, the wins, the setbacks, and everything in between. And naturally, dropped an f-bomb or two along the way. You don't want to miss it.

Full episode in the comments 👇
AI doesn't treat every source equally; it trusts what's credible, cited, and current, like news coverage.

Showing up in the right places isn't just good PR. It's how the robots (and the humans) get you right.

Read the full blog at the link in bio.