01
Find the opening
Growth strategy & partnerships
Evaluate affiliate and performance channels, lead generation, partner economics, and relationships that can create a practical path to growth.
Founder-led growth advisory · Performance marketing since 1997
Strategy for
what’s next.
Since 1997, Darren Blatt has been at the front edge of performance marketing. He has worked with some of the internet’s biggest clients, taken part in significant industry deals, and stayed in direct contact with many of the people leading the space. MarketingFirm gives clients access to that perspective and network through one experienced advisor who can spot opportunities, see what’s missing, and connect them with the right operators across partnerships, sales, events, and emerging technology.
Free 30-minute introductory meeting · Choose a time on Calendly
Performance marketing since 1997 · Affiliate Ball founder · AFFY Awards creator
Since 1997Performance marketing
MarketingFirmConsulting since 1998
Affiliate BallFounder · 2011
AFFY AwardsCreator · 2012
What we do
Experience that turns into a next move.
The work starts with a simple question: what’s missing? MarketingFirm looks for gaps in a growth plan, partner mix, sales process, trade-show investment, or workflow. Then the firm helps shape a practical way to close them, whether that means changing the approach, bringing in a specialist, or connecting the client with someone who has solved a similar problem. Darren leads the strategy and relationships; the client team or a specialist can handle implementation.
Every engagement starts with the client’s goals and the friction around them: the offer, pitch, channels, team, trade shows, follow-up, and tools. From there, MarketingFirm focuses on actions that fit the business and its capacity.
02
Make the room count
Trade shows & event strategy
Choose the shows, plan the investment, and design the right presence: booth, sponsorship, private gathering, wine tasting, networking event, or signature party.
03
Sharpen the approach
Sales team coaching
Improve the pitch, prospecting, cold outreach, canvassing, trade-show conversations, and follow-up so the team gets more from every opportunity.
04
Get ahead of the curve
AI, technology & workflow
Find process friction, assess where automation can help, and connect with experienced operators who can assess tools and new workflows.
Trade show monetization
Make every investment earn its place.
Trade shows take real budget and real team time. MarketingFirm helps clients decide which events deserve investment, what level makes sense, and how to turn a presence into business conversations.
The right idea might be a room of 20, a wine tasting, or a party for hundreds. The format is shaped around the audience, the goals, and the investment.
01 / Choose
Compare audience fit, meeting potential, sponsorship options, booth costs, travel, and what your team can realistically execute.
02 / Shape
Choose a format that fits: an intentional booth, private dinner, hosted tasting, intimate gathering, or a larger event built around your brand.
03 / Convert
Prepare the team to open conversations, qualify prospects, make introductions, and follow through after the show.
AI & emerging technology
Cut the line to people already building what’s next.
AI is moving at a pace that feels familiar to anyone who watched the early internet take off. New tools appear constantly. The challenge is knowing which problems matter and who can actually help solve them.
Darren stays close to the operators shaping performance marketing and new technology. He helps frame the right problem, bring experienced practitioners into the conversation, and decide what to test, change, or leave alone. When deeper implementation is needed, Darren can bring independent specialists into the conversation so the right people are involved for the challenge.
Book a Free ConsultationFrom friction to a working connection
01Find the workflow that slows the business down
02Define where automation or AI could make a difference
03Bring the right builders and operators to the table
04Choose a focused next step and see what it changes
Sales teams & execution
Give good reps a sharper playbook.
Sometimes the offer is right and the market is there, but the pitch, targeting, or follow-through needs work. MarketingFirm helps sales leaders and reps improve the steps that turn a prospect into a real conversation.
- Pitch and positioning ↗
- Sales strategy and prospect prioritization ↗
- Cold calling, canvassing, and outreach ↗
- Trade-show booth and floor conversations ↗
- Prospect follow-up and handoffs ↗
Leadership
Founder-led. Connected across the industry.
Darren Blatt entered performance marketing at the beginning of affiliate marketing in 1997. Since then, he has worked with some of the internet’s biggest clients, taken part in major industry deals, and built direct relationships with leading operators, event organizers, and specialists across the field. His edge is knowing who is moving the market, where opportunity is forming, and who can help make the next move.
By 1998, Darren was running MarketingFirm as a consulting firm. The marketingfirm.com domain was registered in 1999. He founded the Affiliate Ball in 2011 and created the AFFY Awards in 2012. He has also produced the Players Ball and co-created Bundy Club with David Faustino. Today, he remains active with the people building, buying, selling, and experimenting across the industry.
MarketingFirm is a founder-led advisory practice. Darren leads each engagement directly, helping leadership teams see overlooked options, reach the right experts sooner, and connect strategy with people who can evaluate and execute it when there’s a fit.
Performance marketing since 1997MarketingFirm consulting · 1998Affiliate Ball founder · 2011AFFY Awards creator · 2012Event producer
Built from the industry, for the industry
The longest-running, biggest, and best networking event in performance marketing.
A room built to bring the industry together, create real conversations, and make room for the relationships that lead somewhere.
The most prestigious performance marketing award, and the one everyone wants to win.
Created by Darren Blatt to recognize the legends and leaders whose work set the standard for the industry.
A useful conversation comes first
What could your company do with the right connection?
Share the opportunity, challenge, or decision in front of your team. Darren will help determine whether MarketingFirm can offer the right perspective or connection.