Has marketing lost the ability to tell a great story?

Radically Transparent Published: August 31, 2022
Has marketing lost the ability to tell a great story?

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Episode summary

Has marketing lost the ability to tell a great story?

According to Peter Bell, Senior Director UKI Enterprise & EMEA Commercial Marketing at Adobe, it has.

Marketing may have lost the discipline of focusing on their narrative: something that has anchored the brand in people’s hearts and minds and has kept it there.

In this episode of Radically Transparent, Peter and Jen take a look back at some of the greatest marketing stories of all time and talk through what made these specific campaigns stand out.

Together, they tackle the thorny issue of why brands today are no longer in control of the stories they tell and how to break through the noise to get the important messages across. Peter also reveals why it’s imperative for brands today to have a narrative arc to carry their story – regardless of how many channels and platforms marketing is spread across.

Hot topics of this episode include:

  • What has contributed to the loss of marketing’s ability to tell a great story and how to turn it around
  • Why marketers are no longer in control of the message, and how to keep it from preventing the narrative
  • With marketing spread across so many channels and platforms, how to concentrate on telling a story on your own terms – in less than 10 words

Meet Peter

Peter Bell is currently serving as Senior Director of UKI Enterprise Marketing and EMEA Commercial Marketing of Adobe. He’s an experienced marketing executive with a deep knowledge of the software industry and online media with extensive experience in growing product lines and businesses from early stage to global success.

Peter’s unique value stems from his ability to work across the boundaries of sales, marketing, and software development teams, going into detail with each of them individually but bringing them together collectively.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a strong brand narrative crucial for B2B marketing success?

A strong brand narrative anchors the brand in people's hearts and minds, providing a consistent story across all channels. Without this focus, brands risk losing control of their message and struggling to break through market noise, making it harder to convey important messages effectively.

How can B2B brands maintain narrative control across numerous marketing channels?

It is imperative for B2B brands to develop a clear narrative arc that carries their story, regardless of how many channels and platforms marketing is spread across. This strategic focus enables brands to concentrate on telling their story on their own terms, preventing message dilution.

What contributes to B2B marketers losing control of their brand's story?

The episode suggests that marketers may have lost the discipline of focusing on their core narrative. This lack of narrative discipline leads to brands no longer being in control of the stories they tell, making it challenging to get important messages across consistently.

What strategies can B2B marketers implement to strengthen their brand's storytelling?

To strengthen storytelling, B2B marketers should focus on re-establishing a clear narrative arc. This allows them to concentrate on telling a compelling story on their own terms, which helps to regain control of the message and break through the noise.

Why is narrative discipline essential for B2B marketing in today's crowded landscape?

In today's crowded and multi-channel marketing landscape, narrative discipline ensures that a brand's core message remains clear and impactful. It helps brands break through the noise, anchor themselves in the target audience's memory, and maintain control over their story even with marketing spread widely.

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