SHEILA KLOEFKORN: B2B MARKETING EXPERT AND FRACTIONAL CMO DRIVES BUSINESS RESULTS FOR MID-MARKET COMPANIES

The philosophy of marketing has dramatically changed since the 19th-century Great Industrial Revolution. The shift was fueled principally by technology, which has resulted in an exponential number of marketing breakthroughs. Technology has made the marketing process faster, more scalable, and more personalized. While the paradigm shift is has been facilitated by technology, It is crucial to remember that every innovation has a mastermind behind it. 

For our current edition, “Influential Business Leaders of the Year 2021,” we focus on the business leaders who are setting the benchmarks for success or driving innovative transformations in their respective segments. That is how we connected with Sheila Kloefkorn, a B2B marketing specialist, fractional CMO to mid-market companies, and CEO of KEO Marketing. Her passion for making a meaningful difference in the community and her clients has pushed KEO Marketing to offer custom and scalable marketing solutions to businesses of all sizes.

MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF DRIVING RESULTS

Sheila is a business growth specialist with nearly 30 years of expertise, assisting businesses in generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and leads. In 2000, she recognized the emerging opportunities in online marketing and how they could support organizational growth. She founded KEO Marketing, setting the stage for it to become a leader in B2B marketing. KEO Marketing is now a full-service B2B marketing agency specializing in marketing strategy, messaging, digital infrastructure, execution, and analytics. For more than two decades, it has set success benchmarks in quality and innovative marketing across the global business landscape. The Agency is based in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, and offers proven marketing programs that generate qualified leads to fill sales pipelines and help mid-market companies scale.

Looking at the portfolio of offerings at KEO Marketing, it is apparent the Agency’s offerings have evolved with changing clients’ needs. Sheila started this firm to uncover the exciting opportunities in online marketing, like SEO, and the offerings have expanded over the years. 

Digital marketing has advanced to the point where it now requires specialized experts across many disciplines. KEO Marketing offers a team of dynamic content marketing, website development, email marketing, digital advertising, conversion rate optimization, and other experts who provide effective strategies. They know how to adjust when new data security laws come online, or Google’s algorithm changes. The KEO Marketing Team concentrates on evolving approaches to assist clients in connecting with their prospective and current customers. They constantly test out their implementation strategies to ensure they still drive leads and engagement. 

Sheila is also a part-time Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for companies between $5M and $50M in revenue. Sheila is a trusted leader supported by in-house marketers and her team of specialists for clients who need a seasoned marketer to serve on their executive team. Sheila a fractional CMO, and her Agency team works as an extension of its clients’ executive marketing team.  This unique relationship allows cost-conscious companies to scale much faster.

Sheila and her team at KEO Marketing consistently bring home awards for their marketing strategy, execution, and results.  Sheila was recently named Phoenix Business Journal’s “Top 10 Business Leaders of the Year” and “Top 25 Dynamic Women in Business.” The CEO Magazine featured her as a “Top 20 CEO”. She was named one of “15 Arizonans to watch” by the Arizona Republic. She has received many Stevie® American Business Awards, including “Marketing Campaign of the Year” and “Worldwide Women in Business Award,” in Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations. In 2021, she was named one of MARsum’s “Top 100 Marketing and Advertising Leaders.” Sheila has also served on the boards of directors of various marketing, technology, and civic groups. She is a qualified business coach and a frequent lecturer on different marketing, business, and diversity themes, both nationally and locally.

LEADING TRANSFORMATION WITH TECHNOLOGY

Technology has fundamentally changed the way B2B marketing communication happens.  It has changed how companies communicate with clients, provide services and sustain relationships. KEO Marketing’s success always pushes it to stay ahead of the curve with technology. From CRM, SEO, and Marketing Automation, KEO Marketing offers a complete suite of marketing programs to personalize communications with prospects and customers. Sheila shared, “These platforms constantly improve and give us opportunities to elevate our results on behalf of our clients.” Innovation is part of KEO Marketing’s DNA. The Agency assesses its clients’ performance every month and constantly looks for new ways to boost growth. KEO Marketing is competitive and always moving clients forward with new ideas.

SPECIALISTS ON BOARD

While technology is the game-changer, KEO Marketing is nothing without the team that goes above and beyond to keep clients’ results improving month in and month out. Each team member is a specialist with years of digital and traditional marketing experience. The team works collaboratively to drive innovative thinking, creativity, and results. The team is distributed around the US and abroad, with some members based in India, Europe, and Asia. They maintain a flexible environment and connect daily. “We cover for each other so each person can take vacations and travel as much as they like,” adjoins Sheila. 

But what keeps them engaged and enthusiastic? A shared sense of purpose, commitment, and well-planned rhythm to their weekly schedule. Monday is a day of reflection and preparation, with time allocated across the team to review clients’ results individually. Then the team gathers on Tuesdays to collaborate. After that preparation is complete, they meet with clients each day, the rest of the week, with a bi-weekly cadence, to show progress and get approval for strategic changes. The team implements these shared strategies and tracks results. From brainstorming across disciplines, building the right concepts, and driving creative thinking and technological innovation, KEO Marketing team members work together with a singular focus on driving results.

DEDICATED TO A PURPOSE

Sheila began this journey in 2000 focused on leveraging the internet to advance marketing results. Despite market changes and uncertainties, it is her mindset and determination that ensured the company’s success. She always works to be more positive, confident, and creative to lead her team to deliver the best work. Her commitment to this purpose has rewarded her company with sustainable growth. Many of their clients stay with KEO Marketing for more than a decade, which is rare in the marketing space. 

On the road ahead, Sheila plans to continue to capitalize on the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is now present in nearly every marketing technology platform. AI allows marketing to scale with personalization and automation. Sheila and her team are constantly testing new technology to help their clients deliver more value to their customers and prospects.

PARTING WITH A THOUGHTFUL NOTE

“Show your curiosity and see what you can do. Focus on the results, learn, and don’t be afraid to fail.” – Sheila Kloefkorn 

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