Dear BAMf Podcast: Episode 46 with Sheena Badani

Dear BAMf // Episode 46: Sheena Badani of Gong talks about when to turn down PR placements.

In this episode of the Dear BAMf podcast, we speak with Sheena Badani, Director of Marketing at Gong. Gong enables revenue teams to realize their fullest potential by unveiling their customer reality. Sheena is an experienced marketing and business development leader at multiple pre-IPO companies at various stages — from Seed to Growth. She's also a co-host of Gong's branded podcast, The Reveal Intelligence Podcast. In this episode, Sheena answers tough marketing and PR questions from our listeners. Including this question about turning down PR placements:  

Dear BAMf,

Is it ever bad to turn down a PR opportunity, when shouldn't you turn down one?

Listen now to hear how Sheena advises this writer to move forward.

Dear BAMf: Episode 46

Episode 46 highlights:

• (1:00) What is Gong?

  Sheena begins by saying, "Gong is what we call a revenue intelligence software company. At the simplest level, what that means is we are showing you what's actually going on with your customers, with your deals, with your market." Gong takes information from customer touchpoints and turns it into rich data that enriches sales funnels and conversions. Gong helps you get better at your job.

• (05:300) What are you most proud of accomplishing in the last 12 months?

  
  "An initiative earlier this summer where we did a mini brand refresh with the focus being on diversity," Sheena explains. "We took a solid look at it at our own brand and felt that there was a tremendous opportunity for us to better reflect our market." For more ideas around DEI, read BAM's DEI Commitment.

• (05:30) What is your favorite way to tell a story?

  Sheena enjoys authentic stories from humans by humans and echoes that here, "Telling our store customer stories in the most authentic way possible, is the best way." Storytelling is important. For more tips on voice and tone visit our blog.

• (06:30) How do I know when not to take a PR opportunity?

  Sheena showed suspicion at the old phrase, "Any PR is good PR." She explains her suspicions by telling the listener to ask themselves a few questions before agreeing to a publication opportunity saying, "You need to take the time to evaluate and make sure, does this fit into our objectives? Do we have the bandwidth to do it?" If your team needs to focus on the top-tier publications and the opportunity presented is small, you will have to pass. Our host Beck echos the idea of bandwidth, and she suggests making sure your spokesperson is media trained and ready. If they don't have the capacity, take that as a sign that you are not ready.

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