So you’ve wrapped your head around Inbound, checked out the step by step timeline, waded through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then held your breath through the Lincoln Tunnel.
You’ve been busy, and now that you understand what an inbound marketing team does, let’s introduce you to an actual inbound marketing team: our team here at 12South Music. 12SM becomes an integral part of your team throughout your inbound marketing journey and walks side by side with you into the world of SMART goals, content curation, and awesome digital experiences.
Through a multitude of touchpoints, an inbound team helps shape your inbound marketing experience and ultimately brings you from riding with digital training wheels to no-handing your way down Mt. Kilimanjaro.
You wouldn’t trust a mountain guide you didn’t know, would you? Neither would we. Read on to get to know us and the makeup of an Inbound Marketing Team.
CEO / Inbound Consultant
The CEO serves a number of purposes but generally plays a large role in founding new inbound partnerships as an Inbound Consultant, acting as a Channel Account Manager (see CAM description a bit farther down), and making sure everything is running smoothly. In other words, the CEO is the glue and is constantly offering feedback and advice to every component of an inbound team.
“Inbound Consultants help determine if inbound is right for you and identify how an inbound team can help you realize your goals.”
Inbound Consultant
Inbound Consultants are usually the first people you’ll meet from an Inbound team. They’re a rare breed who are just as gregarious as they are likable, and whose main goal in life is to help you better understand what inbound marketing can do for you.
These folks are on the front lines and will work with you step by step to help you understand the inbound methodology, lay out specific SMART goals for your business, and initiate the inbound process. Basically, Inbound Consultants help determine if inbound is right for you and begin identifying how an inbound team can help you realize your goals. They’re pretty much the “e” adjectives rolled into one: energetic, enthusiastic, and excited about inbound marketing and the music industry working hand in hand!
Hear what our CEO Michael and Inbound Consultant Chelsea have to say about their time as Inbound Consultants.
Channel Account Manager
Once you’ve settled with a marketing agency and campaign, the CAM is your contact for everything inbound marketing related. From helping you find your voice, to laying out step by step campaign strategies, to helping execute marketing initiatives, the CAM is there every step of the way.
CAMs are pretty much your marketing sidekicks.
They develop marketing blueprints, brainstorm SMART goals, conduct content audits, and so much more.
CAMs are pretty much your marketing sidekicks.
Hear what Nathan has to say about being a CAM!
Project Manager
The PM is typically a spreadsheet nerd and an organizational nut. Their job is to be aware of every hour spent on every task for every goal an inbound marketing team is going to accomplish together.
“Project Managers are THE point of contact for all things production, ensuring that all parts of the engine are working in concert.”
PM’s are the internal point of contact for designers, developers, and channel account managers, and they are THE point of contact for all things production, ensuring that all parts of the engine are working in concert.
In essence, they make sure stuff gets done. Our very own PM and Vice President, Bobby Dirienzo, gives the rundown on what a PM does.
Designers
A Creative Director oversees the output of the design department, meets with clients, and creates elegant pieces of visual communication. They work closely with clients to determine the best way to visually showcase the essence of their brand and execute design strategies.
“Design Managers make sure your brand is being represented professionally and uniformly by creating assets, establishing visual guidelines, and being a consistent source of professional advice.”
Design Managers are the handymen of the design department and help create web, print, and video content for inbound. When there’s a marketing push, a DM is by your side creating assets. DMs also make sure your brand is being represented professionally and uniformy by creating assets, establishing visual guidelines, and being a consistent source of professional advice.
Hear Sarah and Stephen lay out their philosophies and experiences as designers.
Developers
Lead Developers — a.k.a. Command Line Enthusiasts. Their job is to make sure that sites and apps leverage the latest technology to be fast, reliable, and secure. Developers work closely with designers and project managers to make sure brands get the functionality they need to achieve their marketing goals.
Inbound developers also typically brainstorm with the CEO about ways to improve sites and apps for their clients. Check out what Ian has to say about being a Lead Developer!
Every inbound team is slightly different, but the essential components are the same. Hopefully this helps shine some light on the types of people you’ll be interacting with on your inbound marketing journey.
