Small Business Month is here, and there’s no better time to cut through the noise and get real about what’s holding too many founders back from building a marketing engine that works. Whether you're bootstrapping your first SaaS product, growing a service-based company, or launching a healthtech brand, chances are you’ve heard a lot of “shoulds” about marketing. Let’s bust some of the most common myths I hear from founders every day—and what to believe instead.

I created Grounded Growth Studio to be exactly that: a plug-in partner for founders and growth-stage businesses who want to stop spinning and start scaling. Not with guesswork or generic playbooks, but with clarity, systems, and thoughtful execution tailored to your goals.

This month, exclusively for Small Businesses, I’m offering 10% off the first month of any multi-month engagement that kicks off in May. It’s my way of honoring the grit and creativity it takes to build something from the ground up—and helping you build the kind of marketing engine that supports real, sustained growth.

To stay ahead, B2B tech companies must shift from transactional marketing to long-term influence. The future lies in marketing strategies that focus on relationship-building, personalized engagement and sales alignment.

You’re juggling product updates, investor check-ins, team management, and probably a Slack channel that won’t stop. Marketing keeps slipping down the list—not because it’s not important, but because everything feels important. So what do you focus on when you don’t have time to fix everything?

At their latest product event, Canva rolled out a suite of AI-powered tools that aren’t just bells and whistles—they're true force multipliers. These updates are designed to help lean teams and the creators who support them work smarter, produce faster, and deliver more value without needing a large in-house design or dev team.

Startups move fast. Resources are tight. And marketing often falls into one of two extremes: strategy without follow-through, or execution without clarity. But there’s a third way—and it’s the one that actually drives growth.

Meet the Momentum Marketer: part strategist, part operator, fully focused on building traction in a smart, sustainable way.

Every internal comms decision has the power to shape your culture.

From launching a new initiative to sending out a quick update, how and what you communicate internally impacts employee trust, engagement, and momentum. That’s why the best comms leaders don’t just ask what needs to be shared—they ask why, how, and to whom.

In my latest piece for Forbes Communications Council, I join 18 other comms leaders to share the key questions we ask before taking action.

Longtime Austin marketer and nonprofit supporter Cody Gillund, founder of Grounded Growth Studio, has launched a new initiative to support the city’s nonprofit community. The studio’s Give Back & Grow Sessions offer deeply discounted marketing strategy and content support to help local nonprofits strengthen their messaging, increase visibility, and drive greater impact through fundraising, attendance, or community partnerships.

In my latest piece for Forbes Communications Council, I join other communications leaders to share practical ways internal comms can help teams realign and reengage. My advice? Transparency from leadership matters more than ever. Whether it’s a weekly AMA, a newsletter with context behind company priorities, or an open-door policy from the top, clear and consistent communication from leaders helps teams feel informed, valued, and aligned.

In B2B, we’re often conditioned to prioritize short-term performance marketing over long-term brand building. The pressure to deliver leads and pipeline fast pushes brand awareness to the background—something to revisit later, when there’s more time, more budget, more breathing room. But without brand awareness, there is no acceleration. You can't scale what people don’t know exists.

In the age of social media, news moves at lightning speed. One wrong move can send your business spiraling into a PR crisis in an instant. This means that, with an abundance of platforms for increased information sharing and public scrutiny, companies must stay ahead of the curve to protect their brand image.

Need a quick strategy session, a fresh set of eyes on your messaging, or a full marketing roadmap—but don’t want to commit to a long engagement? We’ve got you. Introducing Our Fiverr Gigs: On-Demand Marketing Support, Tailored to Fit Your Needs.

The thing that keeps getting delayed is often the most important thing. It’s the foundational work that drives clarity, momentum, and growth. But it gets buried under all the urgent-but-not-strategic demands that fill your calendar.

In business, there’s no one more important than your customers and your team. Without them, you wouldn’t have anyone to help you execute your idea or purchase your product or service. It’s natural then for companies to want to make their customers and employees the center of their communications strategy—a more “human-centric” approach.

B2B tech marketing is evolving rapidly. Traditional lead-generation models are giving way to more targeted, influence-driven strategies that focus on long-term engagement rather than short-term conversions. In an industry where buying cycles are long and decisions involve multiple stakeholders, the most effective marketing doesn't just attract leads; it guides them through the journey, builds trust and positions brands as indispensable partners.

Today’s B2B buyers expect more than generic outreach. They expect relevance, timeliness, and a buying experience that feels tailored to their unique needs. But here’s where many teams go wrong: personalization gets reduced to a {First Name} token in an email subject line.

Apple’s latest update, iOS 18.3, is here—and it’s bringing big changes that B2B marketers can’t afford to ignore.

At Grounded Growth Studio, we believe that inclusivity shouldn’t be treated as a buzzword or box to check. It’s a responsibility. One that asks us to look beyond who’s already at the table and consider who isn’t—and why.

Too often, businesses gather numbers, metrics, and dashboards only to find themselves stuck in analysis paralysis. The real power of data lies in knowing which insights matter, and how to act on them in ways that move the business forward.

For B2B tech companies, staying ahead of the curve isn’t just about being innovative—it’s about being intentional. At Grounded Growth Studio, we’re constantly scanning the horizon for trends that signal not just change, but opportunity. If you're looking to connect more meaningfully with your audience, drive qualified leads, and grow with purpose this year, here are five trends we believe will shape the path forward.