Podcasts about b2b marketing

Brendan Farnand, Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist at Knak, joins the podcast to talk about his marketing career at IBM and Trend Micro and the recurring challenge of turning campaign ideas into executed assets. Farnand argues email remains a highly effective, owned channel, potentially becoming even more important in the AI era, but B2B teams often “settle” for outdated templates due to technical complexity and bottlenecks. He discusses balancing marketer creativity with brand and regulatory compliance, and balancing brand consistency with conversion on landing pages through cross-team alignment and testing. Farnand says “conversion” and gating practices are still being redefined, making experimentation critical, but testing is hindered by the chaotic “messy middle” between ideation and execution platforms. He cautions against fully agentic marketing that creates undifferentiated “AI slop,” advocating intentional human/AI balance and continuous learning.   About Knak Knak is the agentic production layer for enterprise marketing. It's the system between creative brief and send, where your team and AI build on‑brand campaigns that are more personalized, more tested, and live in days.   About Brendan Farnand Brendan is the Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist at Knak, where he's on a mission to revolutionize the way marketing teams produce campaigns. A seasoned expert in demand generation, customer experience and all things MOps, Brendan is passionate about empowering marketers with agentic solutions that unleash creativity, speed up execution, and drive real results. With a keen sense of innovation, he empowers brands to develop high-impact campaigns that drive meaningful revenue - without roadblocks.   Time Stamps 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:37 Why Knak Exists 02:33 Email Isn't Dead 05:57 What Makes Emails Good 09:34 Freedom vs Brand Control 12:17 Landing Pages and Testing 14:42 Gating Content and Conversions 17:09 The Messy Middle Bottleneck 20:08 Can AI Build Everything 24:41 Enterprise Production Reality 27:26 Customer Obsession at Knak 30:04 Future of AI Marketing 34:35 Career Advice for Marketers 35:57 Best Advice Received 36:54 Where to Learn More 37:48 Closing Thanks   Quotes “Even if you do get ChatGPT to generate you an on-brand, perfectly coded email, good luck — there's many more steps to go through in an enterprise before you can actually go to market with the campaign.” Brendan Farnand, Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist at Knak. “What's really important for every enterprise organization today is to sit down and have the discussion: where should humans be involved, and where should agents be doing the work?” Brendan Farnand, Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist at Knak. “Really listen to your customers, listen to the market, listen to the people around you… before you speak your mind, just listen and learn.” Brendan Farnand, Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist at Knak.   Follow Brendan: Brendan Farnand on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanfarnand/   Knak website: https://knak.com/ Knak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/knak-/   Follow Mike: Mike Maynard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemaynard/ Napier website: https://www.napierb2b.com/ Napier LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/napier-partnership-limited/   If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to our podcast for more discussions about the latest in Marketing B2B Tech and connect with us on social media to stay updated on upcoming episodes. We'd also appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform. Want more? Check out Napier's other podcast - The Marketing Automation Moment: https://podcasts.apple.com/ua/podcast/the-marketing-automation-moment-podcast/id1659211547

In this episode, host Kavita Singh, Head of Growth Solutions Content at B2B Marketing, is joined by Gabriella Sellers, leader of EY's Global Marketing Excellence for Accounts team. Ahead of her keynote at the Global ABM Conference on 4 November, she shares the philosophy, the frameworks, and the hard-won lessons behind ABM that actually moves the needle. The conversation covers the growing tension between AI-driven efficiency and the human judgment that still defines great account-based marketing. Gabriella is candid about where AI is genuinely transforming her team's workflows, including a client-specific messaging agent her team has already deployed, and equally clear about where it falls short. If you're navigating how to stay commercially relevant as AI reshapes the function, this episode gives you a grounded, practical perspective from someone doing it at global scale. Listeners to the podcast can save 20% on their ticket to the Global ABM Conference – simply enter the discount code PODCAST when prompted at check out: https://events.b2bmarketing.net/abmconference/booktickets

Mike Mallazzo, GM at Alephic Media, joins Tye DeGrange to unpack the next arbitrage window: marketing to LLMs and AI search engines. They cover AEO and GEO strategy, how brands get cited by ChatGPT and other AI assistants, the emerging opportunity in AI-driven ad arbitrage, why partner and affiliate marketing are becoming core to AI search strategy, and why traditional attribution models (MMM/MTA) are losing their grip.#AlwaysBeTesting #AEO #GEO #AISearch

LinkedIn-Posts per WhatsApp-Voice: XHANA gratis ➔ https://xhauer.com/xhanaWorkshop "Wie LinkedIn-Posts Leads bringen" gratis ➔ https://xhauer.com/linkedin-workshopIn dieser Folge spreche ich über ein Problem, das die meisten von uns kennen, die regelmäßig Thought Leadership Content erstellen: Die eigenen Ideen fühlen sich entweder zu platt an, oder man verliert sich so tief im Thema, dass man nie fertig wird. In diesem Live-Coaching-Call zeige ich, warum Quantität immer zu Qualität führt – und was passiert, wenn du dir selbst das Commitment gibst, konstant zu veröffentlichen. Wenn du neu auf meinem Kanal bist:Mein Name ist Michael Asshauer. Ich bin Gründer und Geschäftsführer von XHAUER. Mein Team und ich helfen jeden Tag Anbietern im komplexen und technischen B2B, ihre Pipeline mit guten Verkaufsgelegenheiten zu füllen. Durch eine systematische Kombination aus Performance- und Content-Marketing. Ganz ohne Bunte-Bildchen-Marketing, sondern datengetrieben nach dem Grundsatz “Do more of what works”.Ein paar Fakten für dich, wie ich hierher gekommen bin und welche Reise ich auf diesem Kanal dokumentiere:25 Jahre: Gründung meines ersten Technologie-Unternehmens Familonet25 Jahre: Abschluss meiner Studiengänge Volkswirtschaftslehre, Betriebswirtschaftslehre und International Business (Hamburg & Melbourne)28 Jahre: Ausgründung unserer B2B-Software-Entwicklungsagentur onbyrd 30 Jahre: Übernahme unserer Unternehmen durch den Daimler-Konzern (heute Mercedes-Benz Group AG)31 Jahre: Gründung meiner Business-Content-Plattform “Machen!”32 Jahre: Gründung meines Performance-Recruiting-Unternehmens Talentmagnet (und anschließender Verkauf)34 Jahre: Gründung unserer B2B-Marketing-Agentur & Beratung XHAUER, gemeinsam mit Paula.Heute, fast 40: Paula, unser Team und ich sind auf dem Weg, eine der besten B2B-Agenturen & Beratungen weltweit aufzubauen.Auf diesem Kanal teile ich alle Erkenntnisse, Learnings und Best Practices aus Tausenden Kampagnen offen mit dir, sodass du sie für euer Marketing anwenden kannst.Für B2B-Marketing, das die Pipeline füllt.Dein Michael Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this video, I sit down with David Fastuca, the founder who built Locomotive, sold it to Travelport, bought it back, then sold it again to Webjet.We cover:Landing big-name enterprise customers like ANZ, World Vision and JB Hi-Fi as an unknown startup, why founders should build for real problems instead of shoehorning solutions into a market, and how to get honest åççcustomer feedback by taking yourself out of the room.If you are a B2B founder trying to break into enterprise sales, nail your ICP, or build a product people actually stick with, this one's for you.Tune in and learn:How David went from complete travel-industry noobs to winning major enterprise deals, why he builds minimal lovable products and iterates fast, and how he uses analytics and third-party interviews to uncover what customers really think.-----------------------------------------------------

A key theme that emerged was the influence of hidden psychological triggers—such as trust, simplicity, placement of CTAs, and personalization—on driving purchases and conversions. The discussion explored why focusing on consumer outcomes, using keywords aligned with search intent, and maintaining clear, concise messaging at a 5th-grade reading level are essential for maximizing website conversion rates. Several points were raised, including the importance of fast-loading, visually optimized pages with above-the-fold CTAs, minimal form fields, and tailored button text, all of which can significantly improve user experience and reduce friction. Proven strategies such as benchmarking against industry conversion rates, budgeting to avoid impulse purchases, and making sites accessible were also highlighted, offering actionable insights for marketers and business owners aiming to enhance their digital sales funnels.Who Is This For?The conversation focused on business owners, entrepreneurs, marketers, and anyone seeking to increase online sales and improve their website conversions. It is especially relevant for those interested in understanding the hidden psychological triggers that influence consumer buying behavior. Whether running an e-commerce shop, developing landing pages, or offering professional services, these insights aim to help optimize the digital customer journey and drive measurable results.Key Moments & TimestampsIntroduction to Psychological Triggers & Setting the Stage 00:00:05The Importance of First 5 Seconds & Above the Fold Content 00:05:50The Power of Keywords and Messaging for Trust 00:17:29Impact of Simplicity: 5th-Grade Reading Level Copy 00:24:48Median Conversion Rate Benchmarks & Short Copy Benefits 00:30:33Importance of Above the Fold & CTA Placement 00:41:37Sales Cycles Based on Deal Size 00:47:13Budgeting to Avoid Buyer's Remorse 00:55:55Checkout/Lead Form Field Optimization 01:00:14Personalized vs. Generic Calls to Action 01:02:22Accessibility & Decision Fatigue 01:05:035 Key Points1️⃣ First Impressions Make or Break SalesA key theme that emerged was the importance of the first 5 seconds—60% of users won't scroll past the top of a page. If your hook isn't clear and outcome-focused, they bounce.You have FIVE SECONDS to show them their dream, not your bio. 06:122️⃣ Keep It Simple, Keep Them BuyingThe discussion explored the power of simple sales copy. Pages written at a 5th-grade level convert up to 110% better than 8th-grade+ text. Every extra syllable or convoluted word? That's friction, not persuasion. 25:463️⃣ Above-the-Fold Buttons = 317% More ConversionsOne concept discussed was the impact of “above the fold.” Place your #1 call-to-action before users need to scroll. This alone can boost conversions by 317%. Let them click before they have time to second-guess! 41:58For more support, listeners are encouraged to book a 30-minute discovery call, or subscribe to upcoming training and resources.4️⃣ Less Friction = More MoneySeveral points were raised, including the number of form fields at checkout. Reduce to five or less, and conversion rates climb 120%. Every extra field is a potential lost customer. 01:00:145️⃣ Personalize Your CTAsPersonalized Call-To-Action buttons (“Grab your spot”, “Claim your bag”) outperform generic “Buy Now” by 202%. The little words you choose make a BIG difference in how ready people are to say yes. 01:02:46Bonus: Trust Is the Real CurrencyA central piece: none of this matters without trust. Fast-loading pages, relevant keywords, clear copy—all build micro-trust. Lose it, and you'll spend forever (maybe never) getting it back. 17:23Takeaway:Optimize for brains, not just clicks.Capture dreams in secondsKeep everything simpleMake actions effortless, immediate, and personalAlways build trust firstFAQsQ: What is the most important area to optimize on a sales page?A: Above the fold content and CTA placement are crucial; keeping key messages and calls to action visible without scrolling can boost conversions by up to 317% 00:41:37.Q: How simple should my sales copy be?A: Aim for a 5th- to 7th-grade reading level; this increases conversions by 56%–110% over more complex copy 00:24:48.Q: What's the ideal number of form fields at checkout?A: Five or fewer; reducing form complexity can lift conversion rates by 120% 01:00:18.Q: Does button text matter?A: Yes, tailoring CTA text to the specific context or segment can improve click-through rates by over 200% compared to generic “Buy Now” buttons 01:02:22.Q: How can I avoid buyer's remorse for my customers?A: Encourage budgeting, avoid impulse purchases, and allow decision time to ensure purchases align with real needs 00:55:55.Action Steps for Favour Obasi-ikeReview Sales Copy: Ensure all web copy is written at a 5th-grade level or simpler 00:24:48.Audit CTA Placement: Place primary call-to-action buttons and benefit headlines above the fold on all major pages 00:41:37.Simplify Checkout Forms: Limit lead and checkout forms to a maximum of five essential fields 01:00:18.Personalize CTA Buttons: Replace generic button text with context-relevant phrases to boost engagement 01:02:22.Benchmark Conversion Rates: Compare landing page performance to the 6.6% median industry standard and adjust as needed 00:30:33.Align with Search Intent: Use transactional keywords in headlines and content for maximum conversion potential 00:17:29.Optimize for Accessibility: Ensure mobile and desktop experiences are easily navigable for all users 01:05:03.Educate Audience: Share budgeting and purchase decision frameworks to foster loyal, satisfied customers 00:55:55.Wondering which trigger could DOUBLE your sales? Start with your CTA and above-the-fold layout. The difference is immediate.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

What happens when the algorithm stops working for you?For independent creators, entrepreneurs and small businesses, social media makes it possible to reach thousands of people. But those followers belong to a platform you don't control.In other words, you're buildng your business on borrowed land.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Jane Singer talks with Gregg Davis (DJ Self-Born), a veteran DJ and entrepreneur who has produced for Kanye West, toured with the Wu-Tang Clan, and built a million dollar music business.Gregg explains why he combines digital marketing with decidedly "old-school" tactics: getting out from behind the screen, meeting potential customers, building relationships and going where the opportunities are.His message: Use social media. Don't build your entire business on it.From Social Media Followers to Real Business RelationshipsGregg remembers when MySpace appeared to offer musicians a way to build their careers entirely online. Then the platform disappeared — along with the audiences people had spent years building.It taught him an important lesson: don't confuse access to someone else's platform with owning your business infrastructure.Today Gregg uses social media, AI and YouTube. But he sees them as tools that support the business rather than replace direct relationships.Sometimes one meaningful contact can be worth far more than reaching thousands of people who barely know who you are.Why Offline Marketing Is Working AgainOne of the more counterintuitive ideas in this conversation is that "old-school" selling may actually provide a competitive advantage today.Gregg still believes in pounding the pavement.When he moved from Chicago to Miami, he deliberately put himself in a market filled with hotels and resorts where he could personally approach potential clients. Today he is still walking into hotels, meeting decision-makers and pitching new services.Why?Because almost everyone else is sitting behind a computer.Showing up in person has become unusual enough to help you stand out.Combining Offline and Digital MarketingGregg isn't arguing that entrepreneurs should abandon technology.Instead, he explains how the two worlds can work together.AI can help research potential prospects and identify better leads. Social media can create awareness. YouTube can become a deeper content platform where people learn who you are and what you know.Then personal contact can turn awareness into an actual relationship.Gregg describes AI almost like an assistant: let technology do some of the research and busy work, then bring the human element back into the process.Why Gregg Is Betting on YouTubeGregg makes an interesting distinction between social media and YouTube.He sees YouTube less as another feed to keep posting on and more like having your own television channel — a place where you can build a body of content that tells your story and allows potential customers to understand what you do.For creators and entrepreneurs, that means thinking like your own media producer rather than simply chasing likes and followers.Authenticity Beats Perfect ContentGregg also challenges the pressure to make everything look polished.Record the setup. Show the work. Capture what happens behind the scenes. Let people see you learning, solving problems and occasionally getting things wrong.Those imperfect moments can make someone watching think: "He's like me. Maybe I can do this too."As AI-generated and highly curated content becomes increasingly common, genuine human experience can become more valuable, not less.Questions This Episode AnswersHow can you build a business without relying on social media?Build direct relationships, develop multiple ways to reach customers, create content you control and use social platforms as marketing tools rather than your entire business infrastructure.Is offline marketing still effective?Gregg argues that it can be particularly effective today because fewer competitors are willing to meet prospects personally, make direct introductions and build relationships face-to-face.Do you need thousands of followers to build a successful business?No. Gregg would rather develop a smaller number of meaningful relationships than have thousands of weak digital connections.How should entrepreneurs use AI for marketing and sales?Gregg uses AI to help identify and research potential prospects. Technology does some of the groundwork; he then builds the human relationship.How can musicians and independent creators find more clients?Go where the potential customers are. Gregg built his DJ business by targeting hotels, resorts and hospitality businesses where demand for entertainment already existed.What should someone do if they're starting a business with very little money?Identify the skill or passion you can build around, determine the basic tools you need to start, acquire what you can afford and begin. Then reinvest as the business grows.About Gregg DavisGregg Davis, also known as DJ Self-Born, is the author of Self-Born: How I Made a Million Dollars as a DJ and Built a System Anyone Can Use.The book isn't about how to mix records or operate DJ equipment. Gregg uses his experience building a successful career in music to explain broader principles of entrepreneurship: owning your tools, finding customers, building relationships, developing transferable business skills and creating opportunities from the ground up.His central lesson extends well beyond musicians:Technology can help you reach people. But ultimately, businesses are still built by connecting with people.Key Moments00:00 Building a business beyond social media02:15 Why personal connections still matter09:12 What MySpace taught Gregg about platform dependence13:20 Building a foundation you control16:51 Using AI without losing human connection18:34 Building your own marketing infrastructure25:07 Going where your customers are29:20 Why it only takes one customer33:04 What marketing is working now37:56 Why old-school selling is making a comeback44:12 Marketing beyond social media45:45 Why Gregg is betting on YouTube47:40 How to start building a business51:52 Gregg's book Self-BornConnect with Gregg DavisDJ Self Born SELF BORN MUSIC, LLC Instagram: DJ Self Born (@djselfborn) Linktree: https://linktr.ee/djselfborn Facebook: facebook.com/Rich.Blackman.507More From A Seat at The TablePodcast website:https://seat.fm/Subscribe to our newsletter:https://seat.fm/join-our-newsletter/SEND US A MESSAGETHE CONSISTENT MARKETING SYSTEMStop starting over again each month. We'll work together one-on-one to build a tailor-made system you can repeat each quarter.  Marketing gets done - on easy mode.  Get the details about the Consistent Marketing System. More resources for B2B marketers at our website at seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

What happens to a customer's words between the research readout and the campaign launch? Usually they survive in meaning and die in language. Every review cycle sands off a little more of the emotion that made the insight worth having, until the market no longer recognizes itself in what comes back.In this episode of The Trending Communicator, Dan Nestle welcomes back Dr. Matt Wilkinson, founder and CEO of Strivenn and author of The Buyer in the Loop. Matt's answer is the grounded synthetic customer: an AI representation built from a company's own interviews, CRM data, sales transcripts, and social listening that stays with the work from inception to launch and can trace every recommendation back to the evidence behind it.From there, the conversation turns to why an "act as" prompt can't stand in for real customer knowledge, and to the book cover Matt tested on a synthetic panel and on LinkedIn at the same time. Matt is candid about where synthetic customers stumble, with a Montblanc pen and New Coke along the way, and he closes with how communicators can build personas for investors and even the lobby groups working against them. He also makes the case that all of this should send teams back to their real customers more often.Listen in and hear about...Why organizational gravity can't be fixed one department at a timeThe difference between a one-page persona, an "act as" prompt, and a grounded synthetic customerHow a synthetic panel and a LinkedIn poll split the same way on three book covers, then agreed on a fourthWhy the half-life of customer research is shrinking in the era of zero-click searchWhere synthetic customers break down, from temporal drift to pricing and emotionHow communicators can model investors, stakeholders, and opposition groups before a message goes outNotable Quotes from Matt"The ability to create stuff, everybody has it now, but the ability to understand your customer is one of the few things that really sets us apart." - Dr. Matt Wilkinson [06:05 → 06:54]"Does the customer really care that you've been in business 20 years? Yes, they want a reliable partner to work with, but actually they probably want to know, what have you actually done for the industry? What have you changed? What problems have you solved?" - Dr. Matt Wilkinson [13:20 → 13:52]"The thing about the grounding is it's twofold. One, that it is grounded in evidence, but secondly, it's grounded in your evidence. And that's where the real moat comes in." - Dr. Matt Wilkinson [29:53 → 30:33]"It gives marketers the ability to start pointing at evidence rather than their gut feelings, because gut feelings are really hard to defend." - Dr. Matt Wilkinson [31:22 → 32:03]"Why would you spend five, six, seven figures on customer insight when all you're going to do is turn it into a report, share it, have a couple of meetings about it and then forget it?" - Dr. Matt Wilkinson [44:05 → 44:24]"People spend hundreds of dollars on buying a Montblanc pen. It performs the same service as a Bic Biro that maybe costs a dollar... The difference is how it makes you feel and how other people might perceive you using it." - Dr. Matt Wilkinson [47:39 → 49:27]Resources and LinksDr. Matt WilkinsonStrivenndrmattwilkinson.aiLinkedInThe Buyer in the Loop: How Synthetic Customers Stop Your Buyer Disappearing Between Research and MarketMentioned in this episodeYou're the Top of the AI Sandwich - with Brian Piper and Matt WilkinsonJim MacLeod, designer of the book coverTimestamps[00:00] Why many hands make flat work in comms and marketing[02:54] Matt returns to the show[04:24] The fireworks lecture that doubled undergraduate chemistry recruitment[06:05] When anyone can create, understanding the customer is the edge[07:18] Research-backed messaging that falls flat in the market[09:13] Organizational gravity as a force of nature, not a department problem[10:20] Naming the problem, and why good strategy stalls inside the organization[10:58] Building synthetic customers from everything you know about your buyers[12:20] Carrying the customer from inception to launch, and weighing legal's edits[13:20] The heritage line: what customers actually want to hear about longevity[17:27] Why "act as" prompts fall short[18:56] The persona spectrum, from one-page profiles to grounded synthetic customers[20:35] The persona workshop flip charts nobody ever sees again[22:24] Using AI to build customer archetypes from data[25:46] Backing up messaging decisions with 30 qualitative interviews[28:34] What "grounded" means, and why it's a moat[32:30] Testing the book cover on a synthetic panel and on LinkedIn[39:48] Organizational gravity as Steven Pressfield's resistance[40:49] Grounding as onboarding for AI models[43:13] Zero-click search and the shrinking half-life of customer research[46:15] Where synthetic customers break: temporal drift and knowledge gaps[47:39] Why synthetic customers struggle with pricing[52:28] Can synthetic personas model emotion? New Coke and asking the wrong questions[57:02] Where communicators start: investors, stakeholders, and lobby groups as personas[59:00] Wrap-up About The Trending CommunicatorThe Trending Communicator is a podcast about the future of communications and marketing, hosted by Dan Nestle. Each episode is a conversation with a communicator, marketer, author, or technologist about how the work is changing and what that means for the people doing it. The show launched in 2020 as The Dan Nestle Show and has published more than 150 episodes.About the HostDan Nestle (Daniel Nestle) is a communications strategist with more than 25 years of experience, including 16 years in Japan. He is co-founder and Chief Product & Intelligence Officer of Lilypath, the company behind the patent-pending Authority Intelligence™ platform, and founder and Chief Curiosity Officer of Inquisitive Communications, a strategic advisory practice. He received the 2022 Arthur W. Page Society Page Up Innovation Award, was named a PRWeek Dashboard 25 AI Pioneer in 2023 and 2024, and was named one of Propel's 100 Most Influential PR Tech Leaders Worldwide in 2025.Connect with DanThe Trending Communicator: https://trendingcommunicator.comSubstack: https://trendingcommunicator.substack.comLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nestleLilypath: https://lilypath.comInquisitive Communications: https://be-inquisitive.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/trendingcommunicator Show notes for The Trending Communicator are co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Fireflies. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

#394 | Dave takes his phone to the conference floor at HubSpot's UNBOUND in Boston and asks 5 B2B marketing leaders two questions: what are you doubling down on at work, and what are you doubling down on in your personal life? He opens with thoughts on why strategy and positioning matter more than tactics now that AI makes everyone sound the same. Then you'll hear from Jonathan Hunt of HubSpot on treating brands as live experiences, Palmer Houchins of G2 on balancing AI efficiency with effectiveness, Sangram Vajre of GTM Partners on the power of one-on-one conversations, Jess Cook of Vector on personally rebuilding her company's website with Claude Code, and Amit Sharan of Tatari on the importance of exploring new channels and how they're creating video content built to be found by AI search. Join 50,0000 people who get Dave's Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterLearn more about Exit Five's private marketing community: https://www.exitfive.com/***Brought to you by:Optimizely - the AI platform for marketers. Build your own AI agents or pull from a directory of 50+ pre-built ones for marketing use cases. Their new Virtual Teammates can join meetings, complete tasks, support campaigns, and keep your website optimized. Learn more at optimizely.com/exitfive.Webflow - A website platform built for the agentic web, letting modern marketing teams build fully custom sites that perform in AI search with no developer needed. Learn more at webflow.com/for/exitfive.Zoom Webinars & Events – The virtual event platform built to help B2B marketers run webinars that actually drive pipeline, with branded registration pages, live engagement features, and built-in tools to repurpose sessions into clips and content. Learn more at zoom.com/exitfive.Compound Growth Marketing - A full-funnel demand gen agency helping high-growth cybersecurity and enterprise software companies show up earlier in the buying journey, combining AEO, modern paid advertising, and a dedicated go-to-market engineering team. Podcast listeners get two free media planning sessions to find out what channels are driving the best ROI. Learn more at compoundgrowthmarketing.com/exitfive. ***Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.Visit hatch.fm to learn more

This episode dives deep into using Google AdSense for website monetization. Key strategies Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS included are blogging regularly with a focus on informational and commercial keywords, optimizing technical SEO (site speed, mobile performance, image optimization), and leveraging multiple traffic sources such as Google search, social media, and referrals. The discussion emphasizes understanding AdSense payout thresholds and analytics, using content clusters to increase page views, and continuously refining your website for better search visibility and revenue. Real-life insights, especially from Celese's experience, showcase the unexpectedly large impact of even a single well-performing blog post.For more support, listeners are encouraged to book a 30-minute discovery call, or subscribe to upcoming training and resources.Who Is This For?This episode is for small business owners, website/blog owners, content creators, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in earning passive income through website monetization—especially using Google AdSense. It's also highly relevant for those looking to improve their SEO strategies to drive traffic and increase online revenue.Key Moments & Topics (with Timestamps)Welcoming the audience and introducing Google AdSense 00:00Explanation of what Google AdSense is and its importance 00:02:32Celeste's story of unexpected blog traffic via AI-generated content 00:06:44Importance of blogging consistently and building web traffic 00:11:30Detailed walkthrough of the Google AdSense user dashboard and features 00:15:02Payment thresholds and requirements for AdSense monetization 00:12:02How traffic sources (Google, social media, referrals) drive AdSense earnings 00:30:38Creating topical clusters and interlinked content for SEO and user retention 00:38:10Discussion on technical SEO: website speed, images, schema, and internal linking 00:51:05Comparing Google AdSense to other advertising/monetization platforms 00:50:07Actionable advice: spend time on SEO before paying for ads 00:55:16Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Q: What is Google AdSense?A: An advertising program from Google that allows eligible website owners/bloggers to monetize their online content through display ads 00:02:42.Q: How does blogging help with AdSense earnings?A: Regular blogging drives website traffic, which increases ad impressions and the potential for revenue 00:13:00.Q: What is the minimum payout for AdSense?A: The threshold is $1,000 before payout is initiated 00:12:02.Q: Do I need good SEO for AdSense?A: Yes. Technical SEO, fast loading times, and relevant keywords are crucial for attracting and retaining traffic 00:51:05.Q: Are there alternatives to Google AdSense with better rates?A: Yes, but it depends on your niche and traffic source. Search for "AdSense alternatives" for more info 00:50:07.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

B2B brands spend a lot of time trying to stand out, but taking a genuinely funny approach can still feel like a risky move. Luke Winter doesn't see it that way. For the Founder & Creative Director at Deadpan Agency, comedy works best when it starts with the same things as any serious B2B campaign such as audience pain points and business goals.In this episode, Amy Woods sits down with Luke to explore how comedy fits into B2B marketing, from the creative process behind Deadpan's campaigns to the challenges of getting buy-in for work that takes a few more creative risks. One of those campaigns happens to be for a client Deadpan and Content 10x share, Vector.Vector's comedy campaign became one of Deadpan's strongest case studies: a 33% lift in branded search, a 22% increase in demo requests, and a 44% increase in pipeline, all repurposed from a single shoot into dozens of pieces of content.Luke walks through exactly how that campaign came together, and what it took to get there.Find out:Why Luke thinks comedy has a proper place in the B2B sales cycle, particularly when a brand is trying to get on an audience's radarHow a very ordinary problem for their client, Free Agency, became the idea for the "Bullshit Filter" campaignWhat Luke looks for when deciding whether a comedy idea will make people recognize themselves in the campaign rather than simply watch a brand trying to be funnyWhy Deadpan gives clients several campaign directions across a scale from "fun" to more unhingedThe low-risk way for B2B brands to start experimenting with comedy before committing to a full campaignImportant links & mentions:Blog post about this episodeLuke Winter on LinkedInDeadpan AgencyVector Series A VideoDeadpan's Vector Case StudyContent 10xAmy on LinkedInAmy's book: (Content 10x: More Content, Less Time, Maximum Results)Amy Woods is the CEO and founder of Content 10x, a creative agency that provides specialist content strategy, creation and repurposing support to B2B organizations.She's also a best-selling author, hosts two content marketing podcasts (The Content 10x Podcast and B2B Content Strategist), and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.Join thousands of business owners, content creators and marketers and get the latest content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week https://www.content10x.com/newsletter

→ Book a call to grow your revenue with AI SEO: https://www.breakingb2b.com/book-a-call→ Grab the free "90 days to revenue" AI SEO playbook: http://breakingb2b.com/playbook Episode #501 - Sam opens up about Gamma, the SaaS company that just crossed $100M/year, and their head of growth handing over the AI SEO playbook that helped get them there. Sam breaks it all down for you into a bitesized nuggets you can steal, and help you get more of your demos from buyers using ChatGPT over Google.Numbers crunched: How Chattermill went from 20% > 80% AI mentions, how Kubaru achieved 60% of new leads from organic search, and what was done to climb MarqVision's demos in just 6 weeks! Here's what we cover:

Video campaigns are 2x more likely to grow B2B market share and 1.7x more likely to deliver stronger ROI, according to new research from LinkedIn's B2B Institute and WARC. Amazon Business's Kate Rundell, LinkedIn's Vita Molis and LIONS Advisory's Imaad Ahmed join Anna Hamill to share insights from the research and practical applications for B2B marketing.Chapters:[00:00] Intro: Why video matters in B2B marketing[02:34[ Methodology: 1,025 Award-Winning B2B Campaigns Comparing Video vs Non-Video[05:03] How B2B Video Drives Market Share, ROI and Search Performance[07:14] The “Video Paradox”: High B2B Video Effectiveness but Flat Investment Budgets[09:35] Winning Over The B2B Buying Group[12:34] Amazon Business's CMO on Using Video Across the Full B2B Marketing Funnel[15:05] Creative Lessons: Designing Silent-First B2B Video and Proving ROI with Data[16:34] Discoverable, Credible, Winnable: How Video Builds B2B Brand Trust and Recall[18:35] Why B2B Marketers Underinvest in Video and Misjudge Business Buyers[22:32] Use Cases For B2B Video[24:40] Make Video Work Harder: Jobs-to-Be-Done and Journey-Led Planning[27:22] The Future of B2B Video: AI, Hidden Buyers and CFO-Friendly MeasurementSupporting resources on WARC.com:Unlocking the Value of Video in B2B: https://www.warc.com/en/article/unlocking-the-value-of-video-in-b-2-b-728926f28b29431c9493c568690fefea#B2Bmarketing #marketing #advertising #videomarketing #media #B2B #marketingscience For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday. Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here: https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcasts Sign up to daily WARC News for free: https://www.warc.com/en/latest Book a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

This episode dives deep into the distinction between SEO marketing research and strategy, emphasizing the foundational role of your website for long-term discoverability, authority, and monetization. Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS argues that while social platforms provide community and engagement, true ownership and sustainable growth come from building an optimized, content-rich, and technically sound website. The discussion spans the nuances of technical SEO, the power of toolkits and resources, strategies for competing in an AI-driven search world, and actionable tactics for entrepreneurs wanting to future-proof their presence.For more support, listeners are encouraged to book a 30-minute discovery call, or subscribe to upcoming training and resources.Who Is This Episode For?This episode is for business owners, entrepreneurs, creators, and marketers—especially those wanting to understand or enhance their approach to SEO, marketing strategy, and building sustainable digital visibility. It's highly relevant to those considering the balance between social media and independent platforms like websites for building authority, credibility, and long-term engagement.Key Moments & TimestampsIntroduction & Importance of SEO vs. Marketing Strategy00:00:02 – [Favor] lays out the focus: SEO marketing research vs. SEO marketing strategy.Content-Led SEO and Social Media's Role00:09:33 – Explanation of content creation, topic clusters, and why your website and social media presence must work together.The 4 Types of Media & Brand Control00:14:05 – [Favor] distinguishes owned, paid, shared, and earned media and emphasizes building ownership via your website.Social Proof, Domain Authority, and the Website's Central Role00:22:57 – Discussion about how websites provide trust, enable list-building, and outlast temporary social trends.Building Tools/Toolkits for Traffic & AI Searchability00:43:09 – The value of offering digital tools on your site and considerations for AI model visibility.Schema, Technical SEO, and Structuring for the Future00:35:04 – Practical details on schema, site architecture, and local SEO for scalable, resilient traffic.Competitor & Keyword Gap Research: Free Tool Highlight00:57:54 – [Favor] introduces intentgaps.com for spotting and filling keyword/content gaps.Balancing Free vs. Gated Tools/Resources01:05:21 – Insights into offering free toolkits vs. requiring information for access.Frequently Asked Questions1. Why is a website more valuable than just having social media accounts?Because you own the content, can control the narrative, build domain authority, enable SEO for long-term discoverability, and are less vulnerable to platform changes or outages (00:15:07, 00:53:10).2. How can I make my website more visible to AI search models?Ensure schema optimization, FAQ/listicle/glossary pages, keep information up-to-date, and include files like llms.txt to help AI models crawl your content efficiently (00:43:25).3. Should I offer my digital tools for free or require user information?[Favor] recommends a hybrid approach: some free access for traffic, with gated portions (email or payment required) to encourage conversions and retargeting (01:05:21).4. What is the impact of building content clusters and topic authority?It builds trust signals for search engines, increases website dwell time, and positions your site as an expert resource (00:10:39, 00:31:10).5. What tools can I use for keyword gap or competitor analysis?Intentgaps.com is highlighted for quickly spotting missing content and keyword opportunities (00:57:54).Action StepsAudit Your Website:Check for technical SEO basics—schema, meta tags, local pages, current copyright info (00:35:04, 00:53:18).Create Content Clusters:Build topic-focused blog series and link them internally.Add/Freshen FAQs and Glossary:Make your site more valuable to both users and AI search models (00:49:02).List and Gaps Analysis:Use intentgaps.com to compare your site's topics with competitors (00:57:54).Decide Toolkit Strategy:Determine what portion of free vs. gated resources to offer (01:05:21), and plan email list growth accordingly.Monitor & Update:Keep your site content fresh—update copyright, add new case studies or tools, and regularly review analytics for new opportunities (00:53:10).Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

In this episode of The Long Game Podcast, Alex Birkett sits down with Benji Hyam and Devesh Khanal, co-founders of Grow and Convert, to separate what's real from what's noise in AI search optimization. Drawing on their work with 100+ brands and their own AI visibility tracking data, they challenge popular narratives around listicle penalties, Reddit citations, and one-size-fits-all GEO tactics.They discuss how personalization and context-rich prompts make AI search fundamentally different from Google, why long-form content is losing its role in the buyer's journey, and the rise of cold inbound leads who arrive with no prior connection to the brand. The conversation also covers why positioning, reputation, and on-site source material matter more than mass third-party mentions, why attribution is getting harder as marketing becomes multi-channel, and how brands need to rethink where they earn attention.Key TakeawaysSelf-promotional listicles are not penalized by default; the widely cited examples involved thousands of AI-generated pages with misleading claims, while human-written, category-relevant comparison content has stayed stable through Google updates.Aggregate citation studies overweight Reddit and Wikipedia because their datasets skew toward high-volume consumer queries, whereas Grow and Convert found 86% of citations for B2B buying prompts came from industry-specific sites.YouTube shows up in citations across B2B clients far more often than the industry discusses, making video a real opportunity for reaching buyers.Roughly 80% of sources cited by LLMs in Grow and Convert's research ranked in Google for ordinary keywords with search volume, which suggests SEO fundamentals still drive much of AI visibility.AI summaries strip out the differentiated arguments that used to win readers over, producing cold inbound leads who compare several vendors on deliverables and need to be educated on your point of view during the sales process.Personalization means the same prompt can return entirely different recommendations for different users, so prompt-tracking tools cannot capture many of the moments where a brand actually wins a lead.Positioning and voice-of-customer research are now root-level requirements, because content on topics outside your core category can weaken the brand associations LLMs form about you.Hyper-specific, pain-point content lets smaller brands beat incumbents in AI search, and there is no 301 redirect for LLMs, which makes rebrands, pivots, and reputation fixes much harder than in traditional SEO.Holding a defined experimentation budget with expected-value thinking keeps low-cost tests like FAQs separate from expensive bets like newsletter sponsorships that rarely justify their cost.Third-party mention strategies work best when they back into the specific topics and sites that influence your category, while strong on-site source material is both more persuasive and more defensible against inaccurate claims.Show LinksVisit Grow and ConvertConnect with Benji Hyam on LinkedInConnect with Devesh Khanal on LinkedInConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterDescriptionPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedIn: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

Rabah Rahil joins Sarah and Nate to unpack the psychology behind B2B SaaS buying, from "don't get fired" decision-making to buying committees, long consideration windows, and the role of trust and brand affinity. They also get into why marketing and sales serve different jobs, why a great product needs to come before a big marketing push, and why paid ads are only one way to distribute a message. 00:00 Meet Rabah Rahil 01:00 The psychology of B2B SaaS buying 03:00 Why SaaS buyers are managing risk 05:00 How SaaS buying committees change marketing 07:00 Why B2B SaaS needs omnipresence 09:00 The story behind a consumer purchase 11:00 What B2B SaaS can learn from brand marketing 13:00 The three stages inside consideration 15:00 Why you can't control the buying timeline 17:00 Marketing, sales, and brand affinity 20:00 Why more salespeople won't fix weak pipeline 23:00 Build the product before the marketing machine

Brought to you by https://www.graphed.com/Deploy AI Agents for Marketing + GTMIntroMost of the marketing data you want is public. It's just not exposed. Ad platforms show you what makes you spend more with them, and hide the rest.Adrian runs Scrape Creators, an API for public social data. He spent this episode listing almost 20 tools that get at the stuff platforms don't hand over — creator emails, Instagram stories, full tweet history, every nutritionist in the United States.The real takeaway isn't any one API. It's that chaining them together takes an afternoon now. Google Maps → email finder → Instantly → booked meeting. No engineer.Timestamps(02:34) A customer got busted by Meta this week — where Adrian draws the legal line(08:41) Outlier identification: rank a creator's catalog, pull the transcripts, extract the hooks(12:31) The non-technical build loop — API docs into Perplexity, Python into a vibe coding tool, one-shot app(21:16) Hiker API — Instagram emails, followers, and stories from behind the login(25:56) Google Maps at scale — Targetron, Serper.dev, and the email enrichment chain on topFind Adrian- scrapecreators.com - adrian@thewebscrapingguy.com- https://x.com/adrian_horning_ on X

Katerine Tamargo, Head of AI at CJ (Commission Junction), joins Tye DeGrange to unpack one of the most surprising findings in generative engine optimization: more than 83% of AI citations point to third-party sources, not brand-owned content. They dig into the KPIs that actually define AI visibility — mention rate, sentiment, position, and citations — and why a rigorous test-and-learn methodology beats chasing tactics. Katerine also busts a few of the biggest myths circulating about GEO and agentic AI, and explains how publisher compensation models are evolving as AI reshapes the path to purchase.What you'll learn:• Why third-party content — not brand-owned pages — wins the majority of AI citations• The KPIs that define AI visibility: mentions, sentiment, position, and citations• How to build a real test-and-learn framework for GEO instead of guessing• Why the old "owned media" playbook doesn't translate to AI search• How publisher compensation is shifting as AI answers replace clicks• Common myths about GEO and agentic AI, debunked

KI-Avatare im B2B: Zukunft oder billiger Schund? KI-generierte Videos und Avatare werden immer besser. Aber nur weil etwas technisch möglich ist, heißt das noch lange nicht, dass es im Marketing auch sinnvoll ist. Genau darüber spreche ich in dieser Folge mit Markus Morgenweck, Inhaber von DESIGNROAD71 und B2B-Marketing-Berater mit über 20 Jahren Erfahrung. Markus setzt KI-generierte Videos und Avatare bereits konkret im B2B-Marketing ein und sieht darin enormes Potenzial. Ich persönlich sehe das Ganze etwas kritischer. Denn gerade bei Video sind für mich Persönlichkeit, Glaubwürdigkeit und echte menschliche Verbindung entscheidend. Und genau aus diesen unterschiedlichen Blickwinkeln ist ein spannendes Gespräch entstanden. Wir sprechen darüber, wo KI-Avatare heute bereits sinnvoll eingesetzt werden können, zum Beispiel bei Produkt- und Vertriebstrainings, Onboarding, Tutorials, Marketing-Kampagnen oder bei der Produktion von Content in vielen verschiedenen Sprachen. Aber wir gehen noch einen Schritt weiter: Denn KI verändert längst nicht nur die Person vor der Kamera. B-Roll automatisch einbauen, Grafiken und Statistiken erzeugen, Videos schneiden, lange Aufnahmen automatisch in Social-Media-Clips verwandeln oder Inhalte in andere Sprachen übertragen: Vieles, was früher Stunden oder sogar Tage an Arbeit gekostet hat, lässt sich heute bereits automatisieren. In dieser Folge erfährst Du: ✅ wo KI-Avatare und KI-generierte Videos im B2B heute wirklich sinnvoll eingesetzt werden können ✅ warum Mehrsprachigkeit, Schulungen und Content-Produktion besonders spannende Einsatzgebiete sind ✅ wie KI bereits heute Videos schneiden, B-Roll einbauen, Grafiken erzeugen und Content weiterverarbeiten kann ✅ warum ein schlecht gemachtes KI-Video genauso problematisch sein kann wie ein schlecht gemachtes echtes Video ✅ wo Persönlichkeit, Vertrauen und der echte Mensch weiterhin entscheidend bleiben Unser Fazit: Es geht nicht darum, sich zwischen Mensch und KI zu entscheiden. Entscheidend ist, die neuen Möglichkeiten sinnvoll einzusetzen und genau zu überlegen, an welcher Stelle der Customer Journey KI einen echten Mehrwert bietet und wo der Mensch nicht zu ersetzen ist. Mehr über Markus Morgenweck: Website DESIGNROAD71: https://www.designroad71.com/ Markus Morgenweck auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-morgenweck/ Mehr zu meinem Thema Videokommunikation 4.0 erfährst Du hier: Meine Website: https://www.corporate-studio.de Mein LinkedIn Profil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florian-gypser/ Du hast ein Thema rund um Corporate Videokommunikation, zu dem Du gerne einmal einen Podcast mit mir hören möchtest? Oder Du hast spannende Inhalte zum Thema und möchtest gerne mal Gast in meinem Podcast sein? Dann schreib mir an podcast@corporate-studio.de

LinkedIn Thought Leader Guide gratis ➔ https://xhauer.com/linkedinLinkedIn-Posts per WhatsApp-Voice: XHANA gratis ➔ https://xhauer.com/xhanaZU DANI GRUBER:➔ https://www.instagram.com/dani.gruber➔ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-gruberIn dieser Folge war Personal-Branding-Fotografin Dani Gruber in unserem XHAUER Circle zu Gast. Sie zeigt, wie ihr gute Business- und Personal-Branding-Fotos für Social Posts, Ads, Webseiten und Co. schnell und einfach selbst erstellt – direkt mit dem Handy, ohne Technik und ohne Vorkenntnisse. Und ihr erfahrt, worauf es bei Bildsprache, Setting und Perspektive wirklich ankommt und warum das perfekte Business-Portrait heute nicht mehr konvertiert.Wenn du neu auf meinem Kanal bist:Mein Name ist Michael Asshauer. Ich bin Gründer und Geschäftsführer von XHAUER. Mein Team und ich helfen jeden Tag Anbietern im komplexen und technischen B2B, ihre Pipeline mit guten Verkaufsgelegenheiten zu füllen. Durch eine systematische Kombination aus Performance- und Content-Marketing. Ganz ohne Bunte-Bildchen-Marketing, sondern datengetrieben nach dem Grundsatz “Do more of what works”.Ein paar Fakten für dich, wie ich hierher gekommen bin und welche Reise ich auf diesem Kanal dokumentiere:25 Jahre: Gründung meines ersten Technologie-Unternehmens Familonet25 Jahre: Abschluss meiner Studiengänge Volkswirtschaftslehre, Betriebswirtschaftslehre und International Business (Hamburg & Melbourne)28 Jahre: Ausgründung unserer B2B-Software-Entwicklungsagentur onbyrd 30 Jahre: Übernahme unserer Unternehmen durch den Daimler-Konzern (heute Mercedes-Benz Group AG)31 Jahre: Gründung meiner Business-Content-Plattform “Machen!”32 Jahre: Gründung meines Performance-Recruiting-Unternehmens Talentmagnet (und anschließender Verkauf)34 Jahre: Gründung unserer B2B-Marketing-Agentur & Beratung XHAUER, gemeinsam mit Paula.Heute, fast 40: Paula, unser Team und ich sind auf dem Weg, eine der besten B2B-Agenturen & Beratungen weltweit aufzubauen.Auf diesem Kanal teile ich alle Erkenntnisse, Learnings und Best Practices aus Tausenden Kampagnen offen mit dir, sodass du sie für euer Marketing anwenden kannst.Für B2B-Marketing, das die Pipeline füllt.Dein Michael Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KI-generierte Inhalte machen einen erheblichen Anteil längerer LinkedIn-Beiträge aus. Je nach Untersuchung soll der Anteil zwischen 40 und gar 81 % liegen. Beiträge, die LinkedIn als KI-Slop einstuft, erhalten 40 % weniger Aufrufe. Während Unternehmen und Creator durch KI-Nutzung auf Effizienz hoffen, sorgen austauschbare Beiträge und automatisierte Kommentare zunehmend für Kritik. LinkedIn hat deshalb kürzlich den AI Slop Button eingeführt. Der Button, über den User selbst Beiträge melden können, wurde in wenigen Wochen über eine Million Mal angeklickt. Wie du KI auf LinkedIn sinnvoll einsetzt, wo austauschbare Inhalte problematisch werden und welche Rolle Persönlichkeit, Haltung und eigene Expertise für Unternehmen spielen, erfährst du in Ingas Gespräch mit Natalie und Philip. Besonders relevant ist die Folge für dich, wenn dein Unternehmen Corporate Influencing, Thought Leadership oder die Company Page strategisch weiterentwickeln möchte. Fünf spannende Fragen aus der Folge - Woran lässt sich KI in LinkedIn-Beiträgen erkennen? - Welche Rolle spielt der sogenannte KI-Slop-Meldebutton für die Plattform? - Wo verläuft die Grenze zwischen KI-Unterstützung und austauschbarem Content? - Was macht einen guten Kommentar auf LinkedIn aus? - Wie lassen sich KI und Ghostwriting sinnvoll miteinander verbinden? Das sagt Natalie: „Ihr dürft KI nutzen, aber ihr dürft nicht austauschbar klingen. KI darf eigene Gedanken sortieren, aber KI darf eigene Gedanken nicht ersetzen.“ Das sagt Philip: „Substanz schlägt Politur. Hab keine Angst davor Ecken und Kanten zu zeigen.” Wenn dein Content auf LinkedIn nicht nach KI klingen soll, dann hole dir jetzt die vielen praktischen Tipps von Natalie und Philip! Mit: Natalie Amelung, Expertin für LinkedIn & B2B Kommunikation bei webnetz Philip Bolognesi, Experte für LinkedIn-Strategien für B2B bei webnetz

Meagen Eisenberg has deployed over 300 active AI agents to drive 31% year-on-year growth in pipeline per marketing dollar spent. Wow. In this episode of the Finite Podcast, Jodi Norris sits down with Meagen, CMO at Samsara, to unpack what happens when a marketing organisation puts autonomy, not automation, at the centre of its workflow. Beyond the headline number, Samsara is running 113 active agents in production workflows, with a further 37 in development, and 200 more handling personal productivity, including a website assistant whose quarterly pipeline has quadrupled. Meagen explains why agentic marketing is a genuine philosophical shift rather than a new channel, why hiring criteria have changed accordingly, and how human judgement and review cycles remain essential even as agents take on more of the workflow. Meagen Eisenberg is a four-time CMO and board advisor who has led marketing through IPOs and acquisitions at MongoDB, Navan (formerly TripActions), Lacework and now Samsara, and advises companies including Together AI and Gretel.ai. Across 25 exits since 2011, she has built a reputation for steering marketing organisations through structural, technology-driven change.Inside you'll find…Why agentic marketing demands a different hiring and management philosophy to any previous shift in the disciplineThe metrics Samsara uses to prove agentic marketing's return, and the results behind themHow human taste and judgement remain the essential checkpoint in an increasingly autonomous workflow

The 2026 B2B Marketing Awards shortlist is out, and it's telling a bigger story about where B2B is headed. In this episode, Kavita Singh is joined by Sapio, Radish and FunnelFuel to unpack what this year's entries reveal about the state of B2B marketing, from the campaigns that made the cut to the trends shaping what "good" looks like right now. From AI-powered marketing transformation and hyper-personalized ABM to the resurgence of human, humorous, B2C-style creative in traditionally "serious" B2B sectors, the panel explores how the best shortlisted campaigns are blending bold ideas with hard commercial outcomes. They also look ahead: what truly meaningful use of AI looks like (beyond efficiency), what separates real omnichannel from "lots of channels," and which new award categories the panel would like to see emerge, from talent pipelines and sales-marketing collaboration to proprietary data and AI search. If you want to understand what's really working in B2B right now and what will be winning awards in the next few years, this B2B Marketing Awards shortlist debrief is your cheat sheet.

Deploy AI agents for marketing - https://www.graphed.com/ Nick Abraham is breaking down the exact outbound system behind 250,000 LinkedIn DMs a month, including the numbers, infrastructure, and why LinkedIn is blowing cold email out of the water right now. He pulls back the curtain on the LinkedIn InMail arbitrage that most people have no idea exists, how he's stacking SalesNav licenses to send at scale without paying per credit, and why reply rates on LinkedIn are nearly 3x what he's seeing from cold email, even to the exact same lead lists. But it doesn't stop there. Nick also gets into how he's completely rethinking cold email as a one-to-one marketing channel powered by AI, where every email is essentially a personalized ad written specifically for that recipient's business, role, and pain point. He walks through a real live example using getleads.io and how he's slicing TAM lists into micro-campaigns by channel type, inbox provider, and job function to squeeze dramatically better results out of the same volume. They also get into the full outbound tech stack Nick is running right now: SmartLead for email sequencing, HeyReach for LinkedIn, Master Inbox for unified reply management, Close CRM for pipeline, and how Cursor plus Claude replaced his entire RevOps setup, no Zapier, no full-time hire. About the Guest Nick is the founder of Leadbird.io, one of the top outbound agencies running today. Link with him through here.https://x.com/NickAbraham12 https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-abraham/ Learn more about Leadbird https://leadbird.io/ 

Jeff Mains sits down with Shiv Narayanan, founder of How to SaaS, fractional CMO, and advisor to private equity firms, to unpack a fundamental shift in how B2B buyers educate themselves. The old inbound playbook — Google ads, SEO, demo forms, SDR handoffs — is collapsing as buyers increasingly turn to AI platforms to research, shortlist, and even build business cases before ever speaking to a human. Shiv introduces the concept of a "training data footprint": the idea that your company's visibility on AI platforms depends on whether your expertise shows up in the sources AI uses to learn — YouTube, podcasts, books, social platforms, and more. The conversation covers how sales and marketing must realign, why attribution anxiety is misplaced in this new world, the importance of building marketing foundations in the right order, and what defensible moats separate SaaS companies that will thrive from those facing a reckoning. Shiv's most recent book is AI Marketing Blueprint, and he hosts the PE Value Creation Podcast (125+ episodes).Key Takeaways0:00 — The buyer journey has fundamentally changed. Buyers now chat with AI platforms instead of browsing websites or talking to sales reps, going 4–5 layers deep in ways Google never allowed.4:30 — Inside the PE vantage point: marketing must be data-driven and profitable. The native language of private equity is data, and marketers who bring data secure budget.7:30 — Marketing and sales are two sides of the same coin. A strong brand pre-builds trust so that by the time a buyer enters a sales conversation, they already have a favorable view.10:00 — AI platforms are replacing Google for buyer research. Buyers can describe their company, revenue, industry, and needs in a paragraph and get a shortlist of 2–3 solutions — without ever visiting a website.13:00 — SEO and AI visibility are not the same. SEO maps keywords to relevance; AI maps queries to expertise. If AI doesn't see you as an authority, you're invisible.14:30 — The "training data footprint" concept: AI learns from YouTube videos, books, podcasts, subreddits, social platforms, and reviews — not just Google search results. You need to be present in those sources.17:00 — The old inbound playbook is becoming a liability. Companies still running Google ads to landing pages are seeing declining volumes as AI overviews capture clicks.18:00 — Google's real estate has shifted: paid links, then AI overview (which users can chat with), then organic results below — many of which are being ignored entirely.21:30 — SDR and AE roles are merging. The buyer has already self-educated, so the person making the connection and the person closing the deal increasingly need to be one and the same.22:30 — Three types of hand raisers: (1) inbound form fillers, (2) trigger-based outreach tied to industry events, (3) engagement-based — first-party intent data from people consuming your content across platforms.26:00 — The obsession with driving people to your website is counterproductive. Buyers engage across YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, podcasts, and only then come directly to your site.27:00 — Attribution is flipped on its head. Track leading indicators — YouTube subscribers, podcast downloads, branded search volume, direct traffic — and look for correlation rather than perfect attribution.31:30 — The biggest error Shiv sees: founders doing marketing in the wrong order. Foundational elements (ICP, product marketing, website, case studies, demand gen) must come before awareness campaigns.34:30 — ICP fine-tuning: many companies waste budget chasing segments where they lose money while underinvesting in the 3 segments where they actually win and retain customers.36:30 — SaaSpocalypse: defensible SaaS companies have proprietary data, proprietary functionality, and established customer bases that protect them from "vibe-coded" competitors.37:30 — Turn your moat into productized AI features. A legal software platform can offer live benchmarking that ChatGPT simply can't because it doesn't have access to that domain-specific data.43:00 — The smart money is betting on companies investing in becoming true media brands with omnipresence across all channels — that will dominate the next decade.Tweetable Quotes"If a buyer in your ideal market asks an AI platform right now to recommend solutions for the exact problem you solve, would your company show up?" — Jeff Mains"SEO and AI visibility are not the same thing. SEO ranks for relevance to keywords. AI maps answers to expertise." — Shiv Narayanan"The brands that win in the next 5 to 10 years are the ones most prominent on AI platforms as customers continue to self-educate." — Shiv Narayanan"You're not losing the deal late. You're losing it before the game even starts." — Jeff Mains"The obsession with trying to get somebody to watch something on your website is almost counterproductive to what the buyer journey is." — Shiv Narayanan"If a machine had to explain why you were the best, would it even know that you exist?" — Jeff MainsSaaS Leadership Lessons1. Build a training data footprint — not just a web presence. AI platforms learn from YouTube, podcasts, books, subreddits, social platforms, and reviews. If your expertise doesn't show up in those sources, AI won't cite you when buyers ask for recommendations. Companies need to publish across every channel where AI gathers training data — and at high volume.2. Get the foundations right before scaling awareness. The most common mistake is doing things in the wrong order: jumping to Instagram campaigns before the ICP is defined, product marketing is tight, the website converts, and case studies exist for the right segments. Foundational elements first, then expand.3. Narrow the ICP — fewer leads with higher close rates beats more leads with waste. Many companies spread marketing budget across seven segments but only win in three. Fine-tuning the ICP and reallocating spend can jump close rates from 27% to 40%, improve retention, and increase efficiency — even with fewer total leads.4. Merge sales roles and build around three types of hand raisers. As buyers self-educate through AI, the SDR-to-AE handoff breaks down. Roles should merge. Build sales plays around three signals: inbound form fills, trigger-based outreach (new investments, new laws, industry events), and engagement-based outreach using first-party intent data from content consumption.5. Stop chasing perfect attribution — track leading indicators and global metrics. In a world where buyers engage across YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and podcasts before ever visiting your site, direct attribution is impossible. Instead, track leading indicators (subscribers, watch time, downloads, branded search) and global metrics (total pipeline, CAC, influence pipeline) for correlation.6. Turn proprietary data into productized AI features that generalized platforms can't match. The strongest moat in the SaaSpocalypse era is domain-specific data. ChatGPT can't benchmark legal documents or invoice patterns for a niche industry — but your platform can. Productize that data into AI features, then align your go-to-market messaging to communicate that advantage.Guest Resourcesshiv@howtosaas.comhttps://www.howtosaas.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/shiv-n22/https://www.instagram.com/shivn22/Episode SponsorThe Futureproof Series - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfkXKUPZ5xuOqMPR7_gzGybncTtavyR1NThe Captain's KeysSmall Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel'Champion Leadership Group – https://championleadership.com/https://jeffmains.com/books/SaaS Fuel ResourcesWebsite - https://championleadership.com/Jeff Mains on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkmains/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jeffkmainsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/thesaasguy/Instagram - https://instagram.com/jeffkmains

Michael Sorg and Katie Dudas are joined by Sam Eitzen, CEO of Snapbar, for a deep dive into how artificial intelligence is changing experiential marketing, trade shows, conferences, brand activations, and the humble photo booth. Sam explains how Snapbar evolved from physically hauling hundreds of photo booths to events into building a web-based platform that lets brands create interactive experiences accessible from an iPad, touchscreen, QR code, or an attendee's own phone. What started as a necessary pandemic pivot has developed into AI photo experiences, highly personalized AI Stories, and new ways for brands to combine entertainment with lead generation. The conversation also gets beyond the AI hype. Sam discusses the unpredictability of image models, why prompt engineering still requires humans, how Snapbar tests and switches between different AI models, and why brands need to understand that generative AI is not simply automated Photoshop. Snapbar's system remains cloud-based, meaning connectivity and third-party model reliability are still real considerations for live events. Topics and products discussed: What experiential marketing actually means: Sam distinguishes traditional broadcast and digital advertising from interactive marketing designed to bring the audience into the experience through participation. Snapbar's origin story: The company began as a side-gig photo booth business before moving from weddings into conferences, trade shows, sporting events, product launches, festivals, and other B2B activations. The pandemic pivot: When physical events disappeared in 2020, a client asked whether Snapbar could bring its photo experiences online. That request became the foundation of the company's current web-based platform. World Cup fan activations: Sam describes branded soccer experiences that let attendees transform themselves into stylized or animated fans and players without improperly copying team intellectual property. QR codes instead of long lines: Experiences can run on event iPads while also letting thousands of attendees participate from their own phones by scanning a QR code. Understanding the audience: A soccer activation that works at the World Cup may flop at a legal conference. Sam says cybersecurity audiences, for example, often respond particularly well to gaming, fantasy, and trading-card concepts. Digital experiences as event swag: The group discusses whether personalized digital content can become an alternative to another pile of branded pens, bottles, and promotional giveaways. Snapbar's planned digital spinner wheel: Sam explains a digital version of the familiar trade-show prize wheel with customizable branding, prize probabilities, inventory management, QR control, redemption codes, and lead capture. The rise of the AI photo booth: Early image generation was unreliable, producing extra arms, heads, and other artifacts. As models improved, AI photo experiences became one of Snapbar's biggest products. AI Stories: Snapbar adds Mad Libs-like personalization to AI-generated experiences, allowing attendees to influence the resulting scene while brands maintain controls over the experience. Taking event tech into unusual environments: Sam recalls activations at music festivals, on boats, and experiences that attendees could even access while traveling because everything is web-based. Working across AI providers: Rather than building its own image models, Snapbar evaluates available third-party systems and can shift between models depending on prompt adherence, realism, animation style, and client needs. Why testing matters: AI models can regress or behave differently after updates. Snapbar's team tests experiences ahead of events, attempts to break them, adjusts prompts, and can intervene while an activation is live. Treat AI like a new team member: Sam suggests thinking of AI less like an infallible machine and more like a new employee that needs context, supervision, defined permissions, and an understanding of what it does well. AI is not automated Photoshop: Clients sometimes expect pixel-perfect control, but generative systems still involve prompting, probabilities, and outputs that cannot always be completely dictated. Why AI may not magically fix event networking: Sam pushes back on the idea that feeding hobbies and job titles into an AI matchmaking system automatically creates meaningful human connections. Event attendees ultimately want genuine personal and professional connection. The danger of easy AI startups: AI makes prototypes and products dramatically easier to build, but that also means competitors can build similar products just as quickly. Distribution becomes the advantage: Sam argues that customer relationships, audience access, SEO/AEO, reputation, and reaching the right buyers become even more important when everyone has access to powerful AI tools. Learn more about Snapbar at https://snapbar.com, which Sam specifically shares at the end of the interview.

In this special episode of Sales Pipeline Radio from the show floor at Webflow Conf 2026, Matt spoke with Courtney Pierce, Senior Vice President Marketing, Amtech Software. Matt interviews the best and brightest minds in sales and Marketing.  If you would like to be a guest on Sales Pipeline Radio send an email to acceleration@heinzmarketing.com. Sales Pipeline Radio was recently listed as one of 30 Best Sales Management Podcasts and Top 60 Sales Podcasts Don't miss an episode! You can subscribe right at Sales Pipeline Radio and/or listen to full recordings of past shows everywhere you listen to podcasts! You can even ask Siri, Alexa and Google or search on Audible!

Michael Sorg and Katie Dudas are joined by Sam Eitzen, CEO of Snapbar, for a deep dive into how artificial intelligence is changing experiential marketing, trade shows, conferences, brand activations, and the humble photo booth. Sam explains how Snapbar evolved from physically hauling hundreds of photo booths to events into building a web-based platform that lets brands create interactive experiences accessible from an iPad, touchscreen, QR code, or an attendee's own phone. What started as a necessary pandemic pivot has developed into AI photo experiences, highly personalized AI Stories, and new ways for brands to combine entertainment with lead generation. The conversation also gets beyond the AI hype. Sam discusses the unpredictability of image models, why prompt engineering still requires humans, how Snapbar tests and switches between different AI models, and why brands need to understand that generative AI is not simply automated Photoshop. Snapbar's system remains cloud-based, meaning connectivity and third-party model reliability are still real considerations for live events. Topics and products discussed: What experiential marketing actually means: Sam distinguishes traditional broadcast and digital advertising from interactive marketing designed to bring the audience into the experience through participation. Snapbar's origin story: The company began as a side-gig photo booth business before moving from weddings into conferences, trade shows, sporting events, product launches, festivals, and other B2B activations. The pandemic pivot: When physical events disappeared in 2020, a client asked whether Snapbar could bring its photo experiences online. That request became the foundation of the company's current web-based platform. World Cup fan activations: Sam describes branded soccer experiences that let attendees transform themselves into stylized or animated fans and players without improperly copying team intellectual property. QR codes instead of long lines: Experiences can run on event iPads while also letting thousands of attendees participate from their own phones by scanning a QR code. Understanding the audience: A soccer activation that works at the World Cup may flop at a legal conference. Sam says cybersecurity audiences, for example, often respond particularly well to gaming, fantasy, and trading-card concepts. Digital experiences as event swag: The group discusses whether personalized digital content can become an alternative to another pile of branded pens, bottles, and promotional giveaways. Snapbar's planned digital spinner wheel: Sam explains a digital version of the familiar trade-show prize wheel with customizable branding, prize probabilities, inventory management, QR control, redemption codes, and lead capture. The rise of the AI photo booth: Early image generation was unreliable, producing extra arms, heads, and other artifacts. As models improved, AI photo experiences became one of Snapbar's biggest products. AI Stories: Snapbar adds Mad Libs-like personalization to AI-generated experiences, allowing attendees to influence the resulting scene while brands maintain controls over the experience. Taking event tech into unusual environments: Sam recalls activations at music festivals, on boats, and experiences that attendees could even access while traveling because everything is web-based. Working across AI providers: Rather than building its own image models, Snapbar evaluates available third-party systems and can shift between models depending on prompt adherence, realism, animation style, and client needs. Why testing matters: AI models can regress or behave differently after updates. Snapbar's team tests experiences ahead of events, attempts to break them, adjusts prompts, and can intervene while an activation is live. Treat AI like a new team member: Sam suggests thinking of AI less like an infallible machine and more like a new employee that needs context, supervision, defined permissions, and an understanding of what it does well. AI is not automated Photoshop: Clients sometimes expect pixel-perfect control, but generative systems still involve prompting, probabilities, and outputs that cannot always be completely dictated. Why AI may not magically fix event networking: Sam pushes back on the idea that feeding hobbies and job titles into an AI matchmaking system automatically creates meaningful human connections. Event attendees ultimately want genuine personal and professional connection. The danger of easy AI startups: AI makes prototypes and products dramatically easier to build, but that also means competitors can build similar products just as quickly. Distribution becomes the advantage: Sam argues that customer relationships, audience access, SEO/AEO, reputation, and reaching the right buyers become even more important when everyone has access to powerful AI tools. Learn more about Snapbar at https://snapbar.com, which Sam specifically shares at the end of the interview.

JUST LAUNCHED: Go beyond outdated marketing measurement and static dashboards. Get better answers and explore performance yourself through AI with Passetto's MCP.Learn more → https://www.passetto.com/marketing-analytics-mcp Every marketing leader is under pressure to adopt AI. And one of the most obvious places to start is reporting, analysis, and marketing KPIs.Just connect your CRM and marketing data to Claude or ChatGPT and start asking questions. Simple, right? Not quite.In this episode, Carolyn breaks down the unsexy data problem sitting underneath AI-powered marketing analytics, and why AI can give you an incredibly confident answer without knowing that the data behind it is incomplete, disconnected, or inconsistent.You'll learn the three places marketing data most commonly breaks, why those gaps make marketing's impact invisible, and what needs to be true before you can reliably use AI to understand buyer journeys, marketing lift, pipeline velocity, win rates, and revenue impact.What the episode covers:Why AI-powered reporting is only as trustworthy as the data underneath itThe 3 foundational data problems that make marketing measurement unreliableWhy broken contact relationships can make marketing's impact invisibleHow inconsistent marketing signal tracking creates major gaps in the buyer journeyWhy inconsistent CRM fields and definitions lead to conflicting answersThe risk of AI giving you confident answers based on incomplete or broken dataWhat needs to be in place to unlock better KPIs like marketing lift, pipeline velocity, win rate, and full buyer journey visibilityHow a trusted data foundation changes the way marketing leaders report to the board and make decisionsThe real opportunity with AI isn't just getting answers faster. It's finally getting better answers you can trust.-----------------------------------------------------Measure marketing beyond leads and last-touch attribution.Passetto joins your CRM and marketing data into one clean, governed model, so you can finally see how marketing is performing as a whole – not just what channel or campaign gets credited. See how marketing influences pipeline, how marketing changes win rates and deal sizes, which programs are actually driving ROI, and where to invest next. Then query it all through AI, on demand.

→ Book a call to grow your revenue with AI SEO: https://www.breakingb2b.com/book-a-call→ Grab the free "90 days to revenue" AI SEO playbook: http://breakingb2b.com/playbook Episode #500 - We're still here; 500 episodes later! Thanks so much to all listeners to the pod, it's been a wild ride, thanks for being there with us!

A key theme that emerged was the impact of trial structure on user acquisition and conversion optimization by Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS. Free trials without card requirements drive higher volume but lower user commitment and retention, typically achieving 8-25% opt-in rates. Free trials that require a card—even at $0—deliver 30-50% opt-in rates and greater psychological attachment. Paid trials, even at a nominal amount, filter for high-intent users, lead to 51%+ opt-in rates, and yield better final conversion rates into paying customers. The discussion explored strategies for leveraging HVCO (high-value content offers) versus LCVO (low-content value offers), and underscored the importance of financial commitment on day one for building sustainable, quality user bases.Who Is This For?The conversation focused on website owners, entrepreneurs, business builders, and anyone considering how to use free or paid trials to drive conversions, engagement, and revenue for digital products or services. The discussion is especially relevant for those managing memberships, courses, newsletters, events, or any online offering looking to optimize user acquisition and retention strategies.For more support, listeners are encouraged to book a call, or subscribe to upcoming training and resources.Key MomentsOpening emphasis on the evolving relevance of free trials versus paid trials 00:01:12Clear explanation of "free" vs. "paid" trials and psychological attachment 00:02:08Discussion of opt-in rates and findings from Growth Unhinged and RevenueCat 00:05:22Detailed breakdown of conversion rates for each type of trial 00:07:19Psychological impact and perceived value of financial commitment 00:09:51Live FAQ: Are free trials better for conversions? Answer: Paid trials are better 00:12:56Analogy of phone numbers/emails and level of user commitment 00:14:55Filtering out low-intent users with paid or card-on-file trials 00:17:30Long-term vs. short-term strategy and the importance of first-day financial commitment 00:19:18Actionable call to decide between free and paid trials for your business 00:20:19Use cases and examples (newsletters, magazines, events, courses) 00:23:55Closing encouragement to take action, test, and iterate 00:28:39TimestampsIntroduction and framing: 00:01:12Trial types and user psychology: 00:02:08Research findings and opt-in data: 00:05:22Conversion rate breakdown: 00:07:19Financial commitment and user value: 00:09:51Conversion FAQ clarified: 00:12:56User filtering and targeting: 00:17:30Decision points for business owners: 00:20:19Use cases and practical advice: 00:23:55Action encouragement: 00:28:39FAQsQ: Are free trials better for conversions than paid ones?A key theme was that paid trials yield higher-quality conversions compared to free trials. Free trials without financial attachment tend to have lower retention and conversion 00:12:56.Q: What's the impact of requiring a credit card on a free trial?Requiring a card signals higher user intent and increases opt-in conversion rates to 30–50% 00:09:00.Q: Should I offer free content or put up a paywall from the start?The discussion explored both options and suggested aligning trial structure with long-term business goals and customer quality 00:21:36.Action StepsAssess your business goals: Volume vs. quality of leads? 00:12:31Decide between free, free-with-card, or paid trials for your offerings 00:20:23Experiment with HVCO and LCVO to see what content drives true interest 00:05:03Set up clear processes for card-on-file or paid entry, even at a low amount 00:16:58Analyze your conversion metrics regularly and optimize for commitment and retention 00:19:11Test, iterate, and don't hesitate to filter out low-intent users for long-term business health 00:28:39Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

Alex Wood, Global Marketing Director at Avnet and Tria, joins the podcast to talk about his journey into tech marketing and why he has stayed at Avnet for eight years through acquisitions, restructures, and multiple rebrands. Wood explains that Tria designs and manufactures customizable compute modules for OEMs across many industries, helping customers start from standard modules and tailor specs such as ports, heat resilience, and vibration resistance, supported by in-house design and manufacturing in Germany and partnerships with Intel, NXP, and Qualcomm. He describes why Avnet moved from MSC to an independent Tria brand to avoid being perceived as a transactional distributor, and how distinctive pink branding drove awareness and clearer positioning. Wood shares approaches to marketing engineers with bold attention plus useful specs, warns against low-value AI content, and emphasizes lead quality and meaningful customer conversations as key success metrics.   About Avnet Avnet Inc. is a global Fortune 250 tech company that supplies electronics components and solutions to OEMs all over the world. Avnet was founded in 1921 on Radio Row in New York, and today is a multi-faceted corporation comprising a range of well-known electronics and technology businesses worldwide, including Tria. Tria Technologies is an Avnet company that designs and manufactures embedded computing for OEMs and other businesses that need industrial, high-performance computing integrated into their products. From standard off-the-shelf compute modules to full-custom systems and even touchscreens and HMIs, Tria's innovations have been used in everything from coffee machines to farming equipment.   About Alex Wood Alex is a Marketing Director at Avnet, running marketing and communications globally for Avnet's Embedded Solutions business unit, which includes the market-leading embedded computing brand Tria. Alex started his marketing journey under the sea, literally, working for a scuba diving brand. Today he specialises in highly targeted technology marketing as well as business strategy for rapid, international growth. In his spare time Alex is a photographer, hiker and outdoorsman, enjoying climbing mountains or finding himself back under the sea where he started.   Time Stamps 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 02:32 What Tria Actually Does 03:53 Tria Differentiators 06:06 Why B2B Tech Marketing 07:29 Rebrand to Tria Story 11:31 Bold Pink Brand Identity 14:48 Did the Rebrand Work 16:58 Marketing to Engineers 21:45 Partner Marketing Balance 25:17 Measuring Campaign Success 27:39 Advice and Wrap Up   Quotes “If you've got someone's attention, you need to give them something valuable as quickly as possible and make them want more instead of just bombarding them with content.” Alex Wood, Marketing Director at Avnet. “Would you buy this? It seems overly simplistic, but a lot of the time marketers fall into this trap of selling a product to the customer in a way that they would never listen to themselves.” Alex Wood, Marketing Director at Avnet. “The pink logo is superliminal marketing. It is a ‘you cannot ignore us.' Alex Wood, Marketing Director at Avnet.   Follow Alex: Alex Wood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketingforthewin/ Avnet website: https://www.avnet.com/americas/ Avnet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avnet/ Tria website: https://www.tria-technologies.com/ Tria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/triatechnologies/   Follow Mike: Mike Maynard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemaynard/ Napier website: https://www.napierb2b.com/ Napier LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/napier-partnership-limited/   If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to our podcast for more discussions about the latest in Marketing B2B Tech and connect with us on social media to stay updated on upcoming episodes. We'd also appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform. Want more? Check out Napier's other podcast - The Marketing Automation Moment: https://podcasts.apple.com/ua/podcast/the-marketing-automation-moment-podcast/id1659211547

Are your social feeds filling up with automated slop and made-up stories? In this episode of Digital Marketing From The Coalface, Dave and Julie return from their summer break to tackle the fine line between smart AI productivity and cringey, low-quality automation. If you're an engineering company leader looking for genuine online visibility without the fluff, this episode shows you how to put AI to work to provide high-value data analytics while keeping human strategy firmly in the driver's seat.   What we cover in this episode: The cringey AI lead magnet test: Julie shares what happened when she tested a tool that promised 30 "tailored" LinkedIn posts, only to receive completely fake case studies and bizarre claims. Talking to your data in plain English: Dave and Julie talk about how connecting tools like Windsor.ai to Google Search Console, Google Ads, and GA4 lets you query your marketing data in natural language, bypassing complex PowerBI filters and SQL queries. AI watermarks & editorial control: AI watermarking isn't something to fear if you take ownership of your content. You need to make sure to apply human oversight, and refine every word you're sharing. Strategy vs. "random acts of marketing": tech businesses need a structured marketing framework so that their teams aren't just creating ad-hoc AI content for the sake of it. Plus, Julie and Dave swap summer highlights and office drama, featuring Edinburgh Fringe comedy, metal detecting adventures, a new coffee machine, and some spilled milk that no one cried over. Enjoyed the episode? Browse more at redevolution.com/digital-marketing-from-the-coalface

The discussion with Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS focused on why websites often attract high traffic but fail to convert that into sales, highlighting issues like confusing navigation, unclear offers, and lack of trust signals. John emphasized the importance of SEO and targeted keywords for driving the right kind of traffic that is more likely to convert 00:29:58. Carol and Celese stressed the need for an easy, streamlined purchasing process and understanding user behavior to minimize drop-off points 00:33:00 00:35:11. Participants emphasized using analytics and A/B testing to regularly refine content and calls to action for better conversion rates 01:04:04. The group agreed that clarity, trust, and simplicity are key factors in turning website traffic into actual sales 01:09:06.SummarySEO Is Essential: Multiple guests, especially Celeste and John, attribute business growth and audience reach primarily to consistent SEO efforts through content, keywords, and high-authority backlinks (Celeste at 06:10, John at 03:38).Content & Relevance: Content specifically targeting transactional keywords and providing clear, relevant information converts better. Consistency and updating content regularly are emphasized (Celeste at 35:40).Technical Elements: Secure sites (HTTPS), user-friendly navigation, fast load times, and mobile responsiveness are critical for both SEO and user trust (43:12).Analytics: Using tools like Google Analytics or Fathom Analytics to track user paths, page popularity, and drop-off points enables continual optimization (01:09:56).Trust Factors: Payment options, clarity on pricing, and visible security all influence both SEO ranking (indirectly) and actual conversions.Who is This For?This episode is for small business owners, entrepreneurs, web designers, marketers, and anyone interested in understanding why their website might generate traffic but not convert visitors into sales. It's especially valuable for those seeking actionable SEO insights and practical website optimization strategies.Key Moments & TimestampsIntroduction to the problem of website traffic vs. sales 00:00John introduces his podcast/radio brand and SEO focus 03:09Celeste shares her SEO success and journey from struggling entrepreneur to full-time business owner 05:05Carol introduces expertise in Shopify and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) 11:39Discussion: Website navigation, tabs, and user experience (John, Celese, Carol) 17:52The role of ease, simplicity, and minimizing steps for conversions (Celese) 35:11Pricing transparency, payment methods, and abandoned carts 43:12Tools, analytics, and actionable next steps 01:09:56Summary roundtable: final takeaways and implementation advice (John, Celese, Carol) 01:05:46For more support, listeners are encouraged to book a call, or subscribe to upcoming training and resources.FAQsQ: Why does my website get traffic but no sales?A: Common reasons include poor navigation, too many steps at checkout, unclear offers, lack of trust signals, and disconnect between content and buyer intent (Celeste at 36:15, 43:32).Q: What's the most important SEO tactic for small business?A: Keyword research focused on what your buyers are searching for, plus consistent, clear content supported by reputable backlinks (John at 03:38, Celeste at 06:10).Q: Should links on my site open in new tabs?A: Only external links should open new tabs. Internal navigation should stay in the same tab for a seamless user experience (Celeste at 19:01, Carol at 19:49).Q: How do I know where people are dropping off my site?A: Use analytics tools to monitor page visits, bounce rates, and conversion funnels (Carol at 01:04:04).Action Steps for Favour Obasi-ikeHighlight offers/service links more clearly (CLARITY = SALES) in all call-to-action buttons and navigation (01:09:02).Refine site navigation: Ensure internal links do not open in new tabs and streamline the visitor path for ease of use (Celeste at 19:01).Request user feedback: Regularly test your website's checkout and inquiry process from multiple devices (50:30).Show payment options upfront: Add visible payment logos and ensure broad compatibility (48:13).Install/Review Analytics: Regularly review entry and exit pages to find and fix drop-off points (01:09:56).Gather client source data: Continue to ask every client how they found you, using that info to double down on winning channels (Celeste at 06:07).A/B test changes: When updating navigation, CTAs, or checkout, track the impact using metrics for ongoing improvement (Carol at 01:04:43).Educate with transparency: Update website copy and offers to set clear expectations and reduce confusion (01:09:06).Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

Deborah Corn and Behavioral Science and Marketing Strategy Consultant Gee Ranasinha discuss how businesses can stand out in a landscape where buyers tend to choose what they already know. The second in a three-part discussion on Known Beats New, this episode explores the business behavior side of the topic, including the difference between distinctiveness and differentiation, why generic messaging makes companies forgettable, and how calculated risk can make brands more memorable. Mentioned in This Episode: Gee Ranasinha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranasinha/ Gee Speaks: https://gee-speaks.com KEXINO: https://kexino.com Deborah Corn: https://linkedin.com/in/deborahcorn/ Print Media Centr: https://printmediacentr.com Subscribe to News From The Printerverse: https://printmediacentr.com/subscribe-2  Girls Who Print: https://girlswhoprint.org PrintFM Radio: https://printfmradio.com Project Peacock: https://ProjectPeacock.TV 

Deborah Corn and Behavioral Science and Marketing Strategy Consultant Gee Ranasinha discuss why businesses become harder to remember when they start to look and sound like everyone else in the marketplace. The final installment in a three-part discussion on Known Beats New, this episode explores the real-world consequences of blending in, including why contrast is more memorable than competence, how smart framing makes offers more memorable, and how customer experience can shape brand reputation more than polished marketing. Mentioned in This Episode: Gee Ranasinha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranasinha/ Gee Speaks: https://gee-speaks.com KEXINO: https://kexino.com Deborah Corn: https://linkedin.com/in/deborahcorn/ Print Media Centr: https://printmediacentr.com Subscribe to News From The Printerverse: https://printmediacentr.com/subscribe-2  Girls Who Print: https://girlswhoprint.org PrintFM Radio: https://printfmradio.com Project Peacock: https://ProjectPeacock.TV 

Deborah Corn and Behavioral Science and Marketing Strategy Consultant Gee Ranasinha discuss why familiar brands often beat new options, even when people say they value new. The first in a three-part discussion, this episode unpacks the human behavior side of the topic, exploring how recognition builds trust, why B2B buyers often choose what feels safest, and how repeated exposure helps brands earn a place in the buyer's mind. Mentioned in This Episode: Gee Ranasinha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranasinha/ Gee Speaks: https://gee-speaks.com KEXINO: https://kexino.com Deborah Corn: https://linkedin.com/in/deborahcorn/ Print Media Centr: https://printmediacentr.com Subscribe to News From The Printerverse: https://printmediacentr.com/subscribe-2  Girls Who Print: https://girlswhoprint.org PrintFM Radio: https://printfmradio.com Project Peacock: https://ProjectPeacock.TV 

In this Kitchen Side episode, Alex Birkett and David Khim unpack the volatility of AI search, from citation drift and the sudden Reddit citation drop to why chasing every new AEO tactic is both exhausting and, often, a losing game.They explore how to build durable brand visibility upstream of any single citation source, the difference between expertise and tools in the age of AI, and a decision philosophy rooted in capping downside risk, preserving optionality, and making intelligent bets with asymmetric upside.Key TakeawaysCreating a perception of ubiquity through repeated exposure is the same underlying play across SEO, AEO, and PR, essentially the mere exposure effect applied to search surfaces.Citation sources turn over fast, roughly 50 percent month over month in their own analysis, so optimizing only for currently cited URLs means chasing a moving target.Rather than targeting individual citation sources, brands should optimize for the probability of adding more of their own marbles to the urn, a path-dependent advantage that compounds over time.For brands with near-zero AI visibility, almost any mention on an influential surface compounds, so early-stage effort should focus on tactics and outreach.As brands mature, the leverage shifts upstream to things that make citation sources irrelevant, like great customer experience, original research, and shipping products worth talking about.Original research does not need to be a 30-page report; quick surveys and single-chart studies can spark conversation and earn citations with far less effort.The Reddit citation drop matters less than whether a brand's ICP is genuinely active there, since Reddit stays valuable as training data and a decision-influencing surface regardless of citation metrics.Chasing whatever is trending on LinkedIn is a paper-hands strategy; durable growth requires a long-term hypothesis and a genuine point of view that daily data should not override.The real value of an experienced partner over AI plus a content team is judgment, knowing what to ignore, spotting risk, and debating a client out of detrimental moves.People systematically overweight improbable, low-impact downside and miss asymmetric upside; capping the downside through experiments and expected-value thinking lets you take high-upside bets without risking everything.Show LinksConnect with David Khim on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterWhat is Kitchen Side?One big benefit of running an agency or working at one is you get to see the "kitchen side" of many different businesses; their revenue, their operations, their automations, and their culture.You understand how things look from the inside and how that differs from the outside.You understand how the sausage is made.As an agency ourselves, we're working both on growing our clients' businesses as well as our own. This podcast is one project, but we also blog, make videos, do sales, and have quite a robust portfolio of automations and hacks to run our business.We want to take you behind the curtain, to the kitchen side of our business, to witness our brainstorms, discussions, and internal dialogues behind the public works that we ship.Past guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more. Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedIn: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

Consistent content updates, correct metadata (like canonical tags), and site speed also directly affect your sales potential. Move users from social platforms (rented land) to your site (owned land), collect their emails, and continuously improve based on analytic feedback for sustainable success.Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS breaks it down in this episode so you can turn clicks into clients by using SEO to sell your products and services on your business website.Who Is This For?This episode is for entrepreneurs, small business owners, content creators, podcasters, and anyone aiming to sell products or services online using a website. Listeners seeking to understand website fundamentals, SEO essentials, audience analytics, and digital selling strategies will find actionable insights and clear steps to optimize online growth.For more support, listeners are encouraged to book a call, or subscribe to upcoming training and resources.Key Moments & TimestampsImportance of Website for Selling Products/Services: 00:00:02The Role of Payment Processors: 00:05:37Why Policy Pages Matter (Policies, Shipping Info, Terms): 00:07:13Pre-purchase vs. Post-purchase Customer Behavior: 00:19:15The Power of Analytics for Your Website: 00:26:53Browser & OS Impact on Audience Targeting: 00:31:02Why Website Ownership Outranks Social Media-Only Strategy: 00:45:06Website Audits—Practical Example: 01:04:17The Expanding Role of SEO and GEO: 00:58:49Key Action Steps for Audience Retention and Conversion: 01:22:06FAQsQ: Why do I need a website if I have big social media followings?A: Social media is rented land—you can be deplatformed or lose access any time. A website gives you control, credibility, visibility in AI search, and allows you to capture leads and earn revenue directly 00:46:38.Q: What's most important on my website for selling?A: Secure payment processing, clear product/service pages, updated policy/info pages, fast loading speed, and internal linking for easy navigation 00:05:37, 00:14:12.Q: How do analytics help me?A: Analytics show where visitors come from, which content they engage with, and how they buy, so you can tailor ads and products and avoid wasting budget 00:27:05.Q: What is GEO?A: Generative Engine Optimization—preparing your content and site not just for Google, but for AI/LLM search platforms that cite reliable websites 00:58:54.Q: What if I don't feel “techy” enough?A: Start simple and iterate. Hire help for technical parts, or use platforms like Podpage for podcasts. What matters most is taking ownership and taking the first step 01:20:50.Action StepsAudit Your Website: Check for up-to-date content, navigation, and canonical tags 01:04:17.Integrate Secure Payment Processing if you sell products or services 00:05:37.Create and Update Policy Pages (shipping, refunds, terms) 00:07:13.Analyze Your Analytics: Use Google Analytics to see audience, behaviors, and refine content and ads 00:26:53.Capture Emails: Move your audience from social media to your own email list for retention and remarketing 00:53:08.Speed-Test Your Website: Use tools like GTMetrix. Ensure load times

Deploy AI agents for marketing - https://www.graphed.com/GTM engineering is one of the fastest-growing roles in tech right now, but what does it actually involve, and why are companies scrambling to hire for it? In this episode, I sit down with Benyamin Holley, a GTM engineer who's worked at multiple startups including AirOps, to break down what this job really looks like day to day.We dig into why API completeness is becoming the new buying criteria for software (and why Salesforce is quietly winning the AI era), why you should skip tools like Zapier and N8n entirely and go straight to code, and how "just-in-time" internal tools are changing the way teams build workflows. Ben also walks through real systems he's built and explains why expertise, not just tooling, is what actually separates winners in an increasingly saturated market.We also get into the debate around cold email as a marketing channel vs. a sales channel, why attribution is still an unsolved problem, and what companies should actually look for when hiring a GTM engineer.In this episode, we cover:00:00 — What a GTM engineer actually is (and why every company is hiring one)02:54 — Why Salesforce beats HubSpot now: API completeness is the buying criteria05:29 — Skip Zapier and n8n entirely, go straight to code08:31 — Your GitHub repo is your GTM portfolio32:29 — The job-change bot: vibe-coding UserGems and what made it hard

→ Book a call to grow your revenue with AI SEO: https://www.breakingb2b.com/book-a-call→ Grab the free "90 days to revenue" AI SEO playbook: http://breakingb2b.com/playbook Episode #499 - We're knocking on the door of our 500th epsiode & Sam still has the pedal down & a tank full of gas! Are you ready for > Sam highlighting the fact that most SaaS companies think their SEO is working because traffic's up + Google rankings look awesome, but something is wrong if demos aren't showing up. Sam explains why, laying out his "5 Levels of SaaS SEO" pinpointing exactly where your B2B could be stuck and how to get going again. Remember that ranking #1 with Google means almost zero to ChatGPT, which pulls answers from content. We end with one gut-check question to find out if your SEO is working right now.... Let's get in to it, what level are you now?

Today's conversation dives deep into three powerful pillars of online visibility: search intent, semantic search, and keyword research. You'll hear Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS talk about the mechanics behind how people find information, the role of intentional searches, and the evolving ways AI processes and retrieves content. Whether you're a business owner eager to optimize your website or just curious about what happens behind the scenes when you type a query, this episode unpacks everything you need to know to boost your reach and relevance online.Get ready for actionable tips and real-world examples that will help you harness the power of smarter searches.Summary & LearningsUnderstand the Four Mechanics: Indexing, query processing, retrieval, and ranking are foundational for getting discovered in search (05:33).Search Intent Drives Results: Recognize user intent—informational, navigational, commercial, transactional—for better keyword targeting (18:49).Structure Your Keyword Research: Use broad to narrow targeting. Utilize phrase and exact match to control relevance; negative keywords exclude unwanted traffic (37:46).Optimize Content Types: Incorporate multimedia (text, image, audio, video) and embed relevant posts for better reach (24:40, 25:58).Prioritize UX: Easy, clear booking and navigation processes convert more clients (32:20).Refresh Content Regularly: Each page needs updates at least every 24 months to stay competitive (56:48).Key Moments & TimestampsWhat are indexing, query processing, retrieval, ranking?Thorough breakdown of the fundamental mechanics behind keyword search and discovery:05:33Defining Search IntentUnderstanding what “search intent” means and how it guides customer behavior:09:40Types of Search Intent:InformationalNavigationalCommercialTransactionalExplained with examples: 18:49Types of Keyword MatchesBroad matchPhrase match (using quotation marks)Exact match (using square brackets)Negative keywords (filter out irrelevant traffic)Step-by-step guidance: 29:06 and 37:46Importance of Easy User ExperienceStreamlining booking and why simplicity beats complexity: 32:20Content Formats for SEOWhy using text, image, audio, and video enhances discovery: 24:40Embedding as SEO StrategyHow embedding social posts boosts indexing: 25:58Refresh Cycle for Web PagesWhy every web page needs regular updates—24-month SEO lifespan: 56:48Who Is This Episode For?This episode is ideal for entrepreneurs, business owners, marketers, service providers, and anyone seeking to understand the nuanced differences between search intent, semantic search, and keyword research. If you want practical advice on increasing your visibility online and actionable SEO strategies to convert searchers into customers, this is for you.For more support, listeners are encouraged to book a call, or subscribe to upcoming training and resources.FAQsQ: What's the difference between search intent, semantic search, and keyword research?A: Search intent is understanding why someone is searching. Semantic search considers context/meaning alongside keywords. Keyword research identifies what terms people actually use. Each approach builds on the other for effective SEO.Q: How do keyword matches influence my results?A: Broad matches cast a wide net. Phrase matches require the user search to include an exact phrase. Exact matches show your result only for the exact query. Negative keywords prevent unwanted clicks (e.g., blocking “free” if you sell paid services).Q: How often should I update my website?A: Pages should be refreshed every 24 months to maintain SEO performance (56:48).Action StepsAudit Your Website: Ensure every page is indexed and updated within 24 months (56:48).Clarify Your Target Intent: Map your major pages to specific intents (informational, navigational, commercial, transactional).Do Keyword Research: Use SEMrush or Google Keyword Planner to explore broad, phrase, and exact match keywords (47:37).Implement Negative Keywords: Filter out irrelevant or unqualified traffic, especially in paid ads (41:16).Upgrade Your Content: Add images, audio, and video; embed social media posts for context (25:58).Simplify Your User Journey: Make booking and buying as frictionless as possible (32:20).Book a Consultation: If you need 1:1 guidance, schedule a call (49:24).Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, I sit down with Dave Gerhardt to unpack what it really takes to win in B2B marketing today, from building brand through content and community to creating distribution that compounds over time. We also dive into AI, events, audience trust, hiring, and the mindset shifts required to build a durable media brand in a crowded market. Key Takeaways and Insights: 1. B2B Marketing Strategy in a Media-First World - Dave explains why marketing a media business differs from marketing a software company, especially when the product is the audience's attention. - We get into why more software brands are buying media companies to gain distribution, relevance, and brand equity. - We explore how owned media and off-platform content can strengthen visibility, including emerging benefits tied to AI search and LLM citations. 2. The Playbook for Starting from Scratch - Dave shares how he would approach B2B growth if he had to rebuild without his existing audience or personal brand. - His framework starts with understanding the buyer deeply, then creating highly specific content for a clearly defined niche. - A key takeaway I pull from this: great marketers do not force channels, they go where the audience already is, whether that is LinkedIn, YouTube, or even Facebook groups. 3. Building Exit Five Through Brand, Quality, and Focus - Dave breaks down the pivotal moves that helped Exit Five grow: rebranding, hiring key operators, and raising the quality bar across content and events. - He explains why perception matters in marketing and how a real brand creates more long-term value than a personality-led business alone. - This reinforces something I believe strongly: when you take the work more seriously, the market often responds in kind. 4. AI, Human Creativity, and the Future of Marketing - Dave and I discuss where AI helps and where it falls short, especially in storytelling, originality, and emotional nuance. - Dave shares a candid lesson from writing a keynote and why relying too heavily on AI can flatten great ideas into generic output. - For marketers, my takeaway is clear: use AI as a tool, but keep human insight at the center of content creation. 5. Community, Events, and Real-World Connection - In-person events as a competitive advantage in a digital-first world. - Dave explains how event curation, speaker selection, and genuine audience experiences can drive brand loyalty beyond direct ROI metrics. - We also discuss why analog experiences and real relationships are becoming even more valuable as digital content becomes easier to mass-produce. 6. Lessons on Leadership, Talent, and Continuous Improvement - Dave reflects on hard feedback, impulsiveness, sponsor fit, and the importance of not arguing when protecting brand trust. - He shares how Exit Five attracts top talent through brand reputation, product quality, and operational rigor. - The broader lesson I take away is strategic and practical: strong businesses are built through focus, iteration, and a willingness to raise the standard over time. Resources & Tools:

In this video, Kevin and I wrap up our 5Bs go-to-market framework with Be The Best, covering how to scale what's working without a bigger team by turning your wins into documented, repeatable systems and playbooks.We cover:→ Why growth does not have to mean headcount growth, especially with AI in the mix→ How documented workflows and standard operating procedures save you time and remove guesswork→ Why consistency in voice, tone, and quality is what builds trust in the market→ Building lightweight playbooks anyone can follow for content, distribution, and repurposing→ Operationalizing systems across sales, customer success, and product, not just marketing→ Mapping content to the five stages of awareness on a regular cadence→ When to double down versus pivot using your leading and lagging indicatorsIf you are a lean B2B team trying to scale demand generation without adding headcount, this episode is for you.Tune in and learn:→ How to turn your team's wins and workflows into repeatable assets→ Why simple systems can live in a spreadsheet before you ever need expensive tools→ How to build feedback loops between marketing, sales, and customer success→ Why you should use quarterly reviews to check alignment and adapt→ How to go from random acts of marketing to compounding growth driven by relentless execution-----------------------------------------------------

This week, former Forrester Research Director Jeff Clark is back in the studio and joins our host Ian Truscott to discuss a research project from the B2B CMO Project called The New Rules of B2B Marketing in 2026 - How the Best B2B CMOs Are Rewriting the Role. The B2B CMO Project, is a research and community initiative founded by Jon Miller (best known as the co-founder of Marketo) and Sydney Sloan (former CMO of Salesloft and G2) and the report is based on interviews with more than 50 B2B CMOs at companies including Zoom, Salesforce, Nutanix, Snowflake, PagerDuty, and Sprout Social. Jeff and Ian give it their 5 f'in' things treatment, pulling their favorite points from the research, including: The credibility gap for marketing leaders AI as a new capability beyond GEO Prove marketing's value in the language of the board Invest in brand as a strategic asset  Building a marketing team for the next decade. Then, Ian moves to our virtual bar, The Rose and Rockstar, and joins Robert Rose, Chief Trouble Maker at Seventh Bear. They share their horror at an AdAge article that newsjacked Dolly Parton's passing with a very poor piece about what we marketers can learn from her.  So Ian asks: if this is bad newsjacking, what is good newsjacking, and is it still an effective tool for content creators and marketers? Enjoy! — The Links The people: Ian Truscott on LinkedIn  Jeff Clark on LinkedIn Robert Rose on LinkedIn Mentioned this week: The B2B CMO Imperative: 2026 Marketing Leadership Report The Beat Newsletter: Times Like These What Dolly Parton's career can teach marketers about staying relevant (requires subscription) Robert's latest Lens newsletter: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Robert discussing the Dolly Parton article on This Old Marketing Rockstar CMO: The Beat Newsletter that we send every Monday Rockstar CMO on the web and LinkedIn Previous episodes and all the show notes: Rockstar CMO FM. Track List: We'll be right back by Stienski & Mass Media on YouTube Piano Music is by Johnny Easton, shared under a Creative Commons license Foo Fighters - Times Like These (Official HD Video) You can listen to this on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn how to use AI to answer the marketing questions that actually matter. Join our free live Masterclass → https://www.passetto.com/ai-marketing-kpi-masterclassShowing up in AI search isn't a ranking game. It's a category-level eligibility problem.In this episode, Carolyn and Amber sit down with Gaetano DiNardi, the GOAT of SEO, to break down what actually gets a brand recommended by an LLM: entity association, AKA the model's pre-existing, trained-in belief that you belong in a category. It takes months, sometimes years, to build. No schema markup or "LLMs.txt" trick shortcuts it.Then they go after the citation obsession running the GEO conversation. Gaetano has clients getting cited constantly and still not getting recommended, because a citation and a recommendation aren't the same thing.Topics covered:Why GEO is a category eligibility problem, not an SEO ranking problemWhat "entity association" is, how long it realistically takes to build, and why some brands shouldn't even try yetThe citation myth: why getting cited everywhere doesn't mean getting recommended, and why the "95% third-party" stat is misleadingWhat it actually takes to get recommended by name when a buyer asks an AI tool for a shortlistWhy top-of-funnel content is dying on owned domains and moving to "rented land" (YouTube, LinkedIn, Substack)Who should prioritize SEO/GEO right now, and who's still too early to botherSkip to 47:00 to watch a live walkthrough: Gaetano reverse-engineers a ChatGPT recommendation in real time, asking it directly how it landed on an answer and which sources it actually pulled from.-----------------------------------------------------Measure marketing beyond leads and last-touch attribution.Passetto unifies CRM and marketing data into one clean, governed model, to finally help marketing leaders measure the KPIs they actually need.See how marketing influences pipeline, how marketing changes win rates and deal size, which programs are actually working, and where to invest next. Then query it all through AI, on demand.

Deborah Corn and Behavioral Science and Marketing Strategy Consultant Gee Ranasinha, CEO of KEXINO, discuss the role of behavioral science in understanding customer decision-making, the gap between what people say they will do and what they actually do, and why familiar brands often beat new options. They also outline the three-part approach to each topic: human behavior, business behavior, and real-world results. Mentioned in This Episode: Gee Ranasinha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranasinha/ Gee Speaks: https://gee-speaks.com KEXINO: https://kexino.com Deborah Corn: https://linkedin.com/in/deborahcorn/ Print Media Centr: https://printmediacentr.com Subscribe to News From The Printerverse: https://printmediacentr.com/subscribe-2  Girls Who Print: https://girlswhoprint.org PrintFM Radio: https://printfmradio.com Project Peacock: https://ProjectPeacock.TV 

This "Flodesk Studio & Email Copywriting: Email Marketing Strategies (Serious Conversations)" episode delivers a masterclass in email marketing strategy, copywriting best practices, and leveraging AI-powered tools like Flodesk Studio for audience growth and engagement.Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS tells listeners to learn critical details such as: Effective subject lines, preview text, and body structureThe impact of timing on open ratesSegmentation, cleaning, and list healthPersonalization and branding through design and font choicesHow to use Flodesk Studio to streamline campaign creation with AISpecial attention is paid to A/B testing, the difference between click and click-through rates, and practical features like polls and analytics for persistent improvement.Who is This For?This episode is for entrepreneurs, marketers, real estate professionals, coaches, consultants, and anyone seeking actionable advice on email marketing, copywriting, AI-powered content creation, and using Flodesk Studio. The content is tailored for those wanting to grow their business, improve engagement, and optimize digital communications.Key Moments & TimestampsIntro & Topic Breakdown — 00:00:03Why Email Marketing Still Matters — 00:02:18Email Copywriting Tips (PS, emojis, numbers, preview text) — 00:04:07Intro to Flodesk Studio & AI Features — 00:07:12Real estate applications & audience segmentation — 00:08:43Email List Cleaning, Segmentation, and Engagement — 00:38:40Choosing the Best Time to Send Emails — 00:51:075 Essential Elements of Email Copy — 01:01:44Email Design, Fonts, and Branding Insights — 01:17:24Testing & Optimization Emphasis — 01:24:13Actionable Takeaways from Guests — 01:22:26FAQs1. Who benefits most from using Flodesk Studio?Anyone who wants a seamless, AI-assisted way to design and send beautiful, brand-consistent emails, especially business owners, marketers, and real estate professionals.2. How do you improve open and click-through rates?Use strong subject lines (with emojis, odd numbers, brackets), compelling preview text, personalization, and clear CTAs. Incorporate A/B testing for continual improvement.3. What is the best time to send email campaigns?It varies. Analyze your own audience data (via tools like Flodesk reporting) to find your optimal window: weekday mornings often outperform, but testing is essential 00:53:19.4. Why is list cleaning important?Regularly removing unengaged contacts preserves deliverability, yields accurate analytics, and improves campaign performance 00:38:40.5. How can you personalize emails effectively?Use segmentation, address recipients by name, and tailor content/offers by user behavior and preferences 01:04:00.6. What are key elements of a high-performing email?Subject line, preview text, concise and well-formatted body, clear call to action, optimized images—each tested before broad send-off 01:01:44.Action Steps for youPromote the episode using engaging snippets and “clips” across LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram for wider reach 00:23:00.Share Flodesk Studio link and personal testimonials; encourage audience to experiment with AI-powered email design 00:07:12.Encourage listeners to A/B test subject lines and preview text for their own audiences.Build and nurture a peer community for ongoing discussions on marketing, copywriting, and tech tools 00:58:37.Offer private consulting or group workshops on best practices in email marketing, segmentation, branding, and testing.Continue to spotlight client and listener wins secured through these tactics for future episodes and social proof.Gather feedback/analytics from podcast listeners on their favorite actionable tip, using surveys or Flodesk polls.Remain updated with new Flodesk and Clubhouse features, suggesting product improvements where valuable (as discussed re: heat maps 00:48:19).For more support, listeners are encouraged to book a call, or subscribe to upcoming training and resources.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

✨ Join our FREE upcoming Masterclass – Board-Ready Marketing KPIs with AI: https://www.passetto.com/ai-marketing-kpi-masterclassMarketing is increasingly accountable for revenue while being asked to rely on data it doesn't control and often can't validate. In this episode, Amber breaks down the main revenue data blind spots that often undermine marketing's ability to explain performance, defend spend, and make decisions with conviction and real evidence..It starts with an old mindset: that once a deal moves to sales, marketing's job is done. It's not. Marketing has a role throughout the opportunity cycle, but most teams are missing the data they need to understand what happens after handoff.Sales activity is scattered across systems. Buying committees disappear from marketing's view. Critical fields are manually set or overwritten. And system migrations can wipe out the historical context you need to understand performance over time.The result? Marketing is held accountable to pipeline and revenue numbers it can't fully explain.Amber walks through a real client example: pipeline suddenly spiked, the CEO wanted to know why, and the marketing leader couldn't confidently answer. The problem wasn't a lack of data. It was what the data couldn't tell her.What this episode covers:The old mindset that convinces marketing its role ends at handoff and why that's increasingly dangerousWhy sales activity is one of the biggest untapped data sources for marketingThe buying committee data most marketing teams lose once an opportunity is createdWhy manually set and overwritten CRM fields make seemingly simple metrics difficult to defendHow CRM and marketing automation migrations quietly destroy historical visibilityA real client story: a pipeline spike marketing couldn't confidently explain to the CEOThe specific CRM red flags to look for before building your next board narrative-----------------------------------------------------