The B2B Playbook

If your outbound is optimised for meetings, not conversations, you’re burning cash and trust.We sit down with Joey Gilkey (CEO, Titan X) and Adem Manderovic (Closed Circuit Selling, CRO School) to rebuild B2B outbound so it actually drives revenue. We unpack why the SDR-AE factory failed, how to get 25% connect rates, and how to use first-party signals to guide timing, ads, and follow up.Joey shows why he pays SDRs to create completed conversations and rigorous disposition buckets. Adem explains cataloguing and channel validation so marketing stops guessing and starts planning around real timing. We dig into audience activation using opt-in texts and VSLs, and why “buyer intent” data isn’t the shortcut you think it is.Tune in and learn:+ A practical B2B outbound strategy built on conversations and 6 disposition buckets+ Why the SDR-AE model and Predictable Revenue broke outbound (and what replaces it)+ Why pipeline coverage and meeting quotas mislead teams, and what to measure insteadThis is a must-watch if you’re a B2B revenue leader. Stop chasing low-value meetings and start engineering high-value conversations that inform ads, timing, and deals.-----------------------------------------------------🔗 Links + CTAs-----------------------------------------------------🧠 Learn how to drive revenue across your organisation with CRO School: https://theb2bplaybook.com/cro-school💼 Need help running your own LinkedIn Thought Leadership Ads? https://theb2bplaybook.com/linkedin-ads-agency🎓 Join our Demand Generation Program: https://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-course-----------------------------------------------------🧑‍🎓ACCESS our B2B COURSES: https://theb2bplaybook.com/courses📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybook📩 Newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/📚 Latest content: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:00 Why today’s outbound is breaking trust01:34 Joey Gilkey on Titan X and the “phone intent” wedge02:58 The 25% connect-rate play and why conversations matter04:30 How the SDR-AE split eroded buyer trust06:05 Cheap headcount, costly model: the real flaw08:36 What APAC got right: senior sellers and CS roots10:28 Market validation beats MQLs every time12:44 VC incentives and the sales industrial complex13:58 Joey’s reversal: paying SDRs to have conversations15:42 Long-cycle selling lessons that fix short-term thinking18:32 Buckets, not bookings: 6 dispositions that run your follow up21:05 Full-cycle AEs vs modern roles – what actually works27:10 Audience activation: VSL + phone + SMS that scales trust32:33 Opt-in texting, pixeling, and smarter retargeting34:52 Make marketing useful: capture commercial intel, not contacts36:55 Pipeline coverage is a vanity metric without context38:28 Phone intel powering LinkedIn ads and account timing40:28 Why “buyer intent” data misses the mark45:35 PE firms are cutting SDRs – what to run toward instead52:57 Retraining SDRs is easy. Leaders are the bottleneck55:40 Final take: value conversations, not meetings-----------------------------------------------------👥 Are you a B2B marketer in a small team??💰 Need to bring in more revenue for your company (so sales and your boss love you??)Get the:🔹 strategy🔹 templates🔹 toolsSo you have everything you need to drive more revenue for your brand.See why other B2B marketers like you love The B2B Incubatorhttps://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-courseS07 E199 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #digitalmarketing #demandgeneration #outboundsales

How to Land 6-Figure Deals with LinkedIn Thought Leadership AdsWant to get clients on LinkedIn using ads that actually build trust and drive pipeline? This is the playbook.We’re walking you through the exact LinkedIn ads strategy we use to land six-figure deals for ourselves and our clients—without spamming inboxes or relying on outdated lead gen tactics.This is our B2B demand generation system—powered by LinkedIn Thought Leadership Ads—that’s working across SaaS, consulting, and service businesses. If you're in a small marketing team and tired of wasting budget on low-quality leads, this episode will change how you market forever.You’ll learn how to:+ Map your LinkedIn content to the five stages of awareness+ Use thought leadership marketing to build trust at scale+ Combine paid media and outbound to unlock high-intent conversationsWatch this if you:+ Want a scalable way to generate demand on LinkedIn+ Need a better B2B LinkedIn ad strategy that drives revenue+ Are trying to get in front of ideal customers with zero brand awarenessWe show you how to tie content, ads, and outbound together to consistently book meetings and grow pipeline. It’s the same framework behind our $10K/month retainers—and it works for any B2B brand.This episode is a must-watch for B2B marketers who want to use LinkedIn to win high-value deals—and build a marketing engine that scales.-----------------------------------------------------🔗 Links + CTAs-----------------------------------------------------💼 Need help running your own LinkedIn Thought Leadership Ads? https://theb2bplaybook.com/linkedin-ads-agency🎓 Join our Demand Generation Program: https://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-course🧠 Learn how to drive revenue across your organisation with CRO School: https://theb2bplaybook.com/cro-school-----------------------------------------------------🧑‍🎓ACCESS our B2B COURSES: https://theb2bplaybook.com/coursesSUBSCRIBE to our channel: / @theb2bplaybook SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/GET the latest CONTENT: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------02:20 What Are LinkedIn Thought Leadership Ads?03:40 Proof It Works: Real $10K/Month Deal From These Ads05:00 Why Most Thought Leadership Ad Campaigns Fail07:00 Boosting Posts ≠ Strategy: The Common Mistake09:00 The 3-Month Trust-Building Window (Case Study Insight)11:00 You Need This Before You Run Any LinkedIn Ads12:40 Our Full Demand Gen Framework Behind These Ads14:20 Mapping Ads To The 5 Stages of Awareness16:00 Unaware to Most Aware: The Buyer Journey Blueprint18:00 How to Create a Thought Leadership Content Matrix20:00 Cold vs Warm Audiences: What Content to Serve21:40 How We Target & Build Audiences That Convert23:00 Ideal Ad Frequency: What LinkedIn Won’t Tell You24:40 Our Secret Ad Sequencing Hack That Lowers Costs27:00 Real Client Wins: Social Proof You Can Copy29:00 When To Combine Ads With Sales for Bigger Wins30:40 The KPIs That Actually Matter (And What to Ignore)34:00 Final Thoughts & Where To Learn More-----------------------------------------------------👥 Are you a B2B marketer in a small team??💰 Need to bring in more revenue for your company (so sales and your boss love you??)Get the:🔹 strategy🔹 templates🔹 toolsSo you have everything you need to drive more revenue for your brand.See why other B2B marketers like you love The B2B IncubatorCheck out: https://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-gen...S07 E179 - The B2B Playbook#LinkedInAds #B2BMarketing #ThoughtLeadership #DemandGen #TheB2BPlaybook #B2BLeadGen #LinkedInStrategy

B2B Marketing Budget Allocation: The Sustainable Way Small Teams Should Do ItIf your marketing budget keeps getting cut or ignored, it’s not you—it’s the model.In this episode, we break down a practical B2B marketing budget allocation for small teams. We explain why top-down and bottom-up alone fall apart, how to validate messaging before you buy reach, and how to shift from BOFU-only spend to a balanced brand + demand mix that compounds.We share the path we use with our 5 BEs framework—start lean and organic, prove the message, then use paid to amplify. You’ll hear realistic ROI guardrails, when to rebalance spend, and how category (established vs new) should change your split.Tune in and learn:+ How to avoid the top-down and bottom-up budget traps+ The “validate, then amplify” approach that saves cash and increases impact+ ROI ranges and a stepwise shift from BOFU to demand + brandIf you’re a B2B marketer in a small team, this is the clearest way to plan and defend your budget—and actually deliver revenue impact.-----------------------------------------------------🔗 Links + CTAs-----------------------------------------------------💼 Need help running your own LinkedIn Thought Leadership Ads? https://theb2bplaybook.com/linkedin-ads-agency🧠 Learn how to drive revenue across your organisation with CRO School: https://theb2bplaybook.com/cro-school🎓 Join our Demand Generation Program: https://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-course-----------------------------------------------------🧑‍🎓ACCESS our B2B COURSES: https://theb2bplaybook.com/courses📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybook📩 Newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/📚 Latest content: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:00 The B2B Budgeting Problem No One Solves Clearly00:27 Who We Help: Small Teams, Big Revenue Goals01:05 The 5 BEs Framework in 60 Seconds02:30 Why Budgeting Is So Hard (Variables You Can’t Ignore)03:45 The Trap: Overcommitting to Channels Having “Their Moment”04:38 Top-Down Budgeting: Looks Great on a Slide, Breaks in Reality06:05 The 95:5 Rule vs “Just Spend More on BOFU”07:18 Bottom-Up Budgeting: Sensible… Until Leadership Says “Bigger”09:45 Our Recommendation: Start Lean, Prove It Organically11:30 Validate PMF & Messaging Before You Buy Reach12:40 Paid = Amplification Once the Message Works13:40 Evolving the Mix: From BOFU-Heavy to Balanced Demand15:05 Setting ROI Targets You Can Defend (and Reinvesting)16:45 Category Matters: Established vs New (Webjet vs Uber)18:50 Build Mental Availability to Lower Future CAC20:40 Key Takeaways & Your Next Budget Moves-----------------------------------------------------👥 Are you a B2B marketer in a small team??💰 Need to bring in more revenue for your company (so sales and your boss love you??)Get the:🔹 strategy🔹 templates🔹 toolsSo you have everything you need to drive more revenue for your brand.See why other B2B marketers like you love The B2B Incubatorhttps://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-courseS07 E198 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #digitalmarketing #demandgeneration #communityledgrowth

Community-Led Growth: How To Turn Customers Into Your Growth EngineWe break down the playbook for community-led growth — how to move beyond engagement theater and build a system where customers become your distribution.Featuring Laís de Oliveira (author of Hacking Communities), this episode gives you practical frameworks like the Five Ps, the “lighthouse → port → city” journey, and closeness circles that turn casual users into passionate advocates and ambassadors.We show you how to:+ Make community a core growth engine (not a side-channel)+ Design onboarding and programming that build habit+ Use contribution, access, and recognition to scale advocacyIf you’re a B2B marketer on a small team, this episode shows how to create a community-led growth system that compounds your distribution and builds lasting trust with buyers.-----------------------------------------------------🔗 Links + CTAs-----------------------------------------------------💼 Need help running your own LinkedIn Thought Leadership Ads? https://theb2bplaybook.com/linkedin-ads-agency🧠 Learn how to drive revenue across your organisation with CRO School: https://theb2bplaybook.com/cro-school🎓 Join our Demand Generation Program: https://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-course-----------------------------------------------------🧑‍🎓ACCESS our B2B COURSES: https://theb2bplaybook.com/courses📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybook📩 Newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/📚 Latest content: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:00 Community-Led Growth: Your Unfair Distribution Advantage01:00 Why Brands Are Now Conversations (You Can’t Control Them)02:45 TL;DR Framework: From Clarity → Contribution → Advocacy04:15 The Five Ps Of Community-Led Growth06:00 Identity → Connectedness → Growth Formula08:00 Make Community Core To Value Creation10:00 Community-Led Growth x Business Model Canvas12:15 Jobs-To-Be-Done For Community-Led Growth14:30 B2B Examples: From CRM To Better Sellers16:20 Lighthouse → Port → City: How Communities Grow19:00 The First 21 Days: Onboarding That Sticks21:15 Programming That Brings People Back23:00 Turning Users Into Contributors25:10 Advocates vs Ambassadors In Community-Led Growth27:20 Closeness Circles: Reward With Access30:00 The Taylor Swift Playbook (For B2B Communities)32:10 Journey & Lifecycle: 1500:150:15 Ratios35:00 Pitfalls To Avoid In Community-Led Growth37:10 Make It A System: Track, Reward, Iterate39:30 Q&A: Communities Beyond Customers43:00 Q&A: Where To Start – Existing vs New Customers46:00 Q&A: Virality & Chapters In Community-Led Growth50:00 Q&A: When Is It Too Early To Start?53:00 Wrap: Community As A Value Engine-----------------------------------------------------👥 Are you a B2B marketer in a small team??💰 Need to bring in more revenue for your company (so sales and your boss love you??)Get the:🔹 strategy🔹 templates🔹 toolsSo you have everything you need to drive more revenue for your brand.See why other B2B marketers like you love The B2B Incubatorhttps://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-courseS07 E197 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #digitalmarketing #demandgeneration #communityledgrowth

Join Paul Perrett, CEO of Firmable, and Adem Manderovic, founder of Closed Circuit Selling, as they dive into why most B2B revenue engines fail. They discuss the innovative 10-line economic model for scaling revenue, emphasizing the importance of market validation over traditional MQLs. The duo shares insights on integrating sales and marketing for cohesive growth, building brand credibility, and turning strategic partnerships into a powerhouse revenue generator. Learn practical approaches to overcoming common growth hurdles and activating your B2B ecosystem!

This is your last chance to join our Demand Gen Course – The B2B Incubator – before doors close on Friday, 29 August. https://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-courseInside the program, you’ll get:On-demand materials you can work through in your own time6x live Q&A sessions with George to get your questions answered and stay accountableA proven framework trusted by marketers in both SaaS and servicesAlison at RIVET used it to build a demand engine that now sources 70% of pipeline from marketing.Allister Hamilton used it to triple his pipeline in services.If you’re a small marketing team and want to stop chasing bad leads and start building a system that drives real revenue — this is your shot.👉 Register now before doors close Friday, 29 August: https://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-course

Demand Generation Course Review: What I Learned Inside The B2B IncubatorThinking about joining a demand generation course—but not sure if it’s worth your time?We sat down with Allister Hamilton, Head of Marketing at Lánluas Consulting, to hear how The B2B Incubator helped him go from an unclear strategy to measurable pipeline growth.Allister shares:+ Why he picked this program over other courses (including how it's different to Ritson’s Mini MBA)+ How he got sales to actually use their content+ The exact results they saw (3x more prospect meetings, 200% LinkedIn lift, +75% attributed pipeline)Tune in and learn:+ How to build a demand gen engine with a small team+ A practical content system that aligns sales and marketing+ What to expect when you join The B2B IncubatorIf you're serious about levelling up your skills, aligning your team, and finally seeing results from your content—this episode is for you.-----------------------------------------------------🔗 Links + CTAs-----------------------------------------------------🎓 Join our Demand Generation Program: https://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-course💼 Need help running your own LinkedIn Thought Leadership Ads? https://theb2bplaybook.com/linkedin-ads-agency🧠 Learn how to drive revenue across your organisation with CRO School: https://theb2bplaybook.com/cro-school-----------------------------------------------------🧑‍🎓ACCESS our B2B COURSES: https://theb2bplaybook.com/courses📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybook📩 Newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/📚 Latest content: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:00 Demand Gen Course Review: Real Feedback from a Head of Marketing00:44 The Problem: Content That Doesn’t Drive Pipeline01:53 Why I Chose The B2B Incubator Over Other Courses02:50 Hands-On vs Theory: How It Compares to Ritson’s Mini MBA04:30 From B2C to B2B: Plugging My Skill Gaps05:40 The Mindset Shift: From Sales Support to Strategic Partner07:00 Learning to Build a Content Engine with Limited Resources08:00 Our Strategy: Pillar Content on Steroids09:02 How We Got Sales to Use Our Marketing Content09:40 The Power of Single-Minded Content10:40 Aligning Content to Personas (and Why It Worked)11:30 The Impact on Sales Conversations12:00 Tangible Results: 3x More Prospect Meetings13:00 200% LinkedIn Engagement Lift13:50 Website Dwell Time Up 80%14:30 $ Attributable Pipeline: +75% YoY15:05 The Confidence Shift: Why I’d Do It Again16:10 Making Time for the Program in a Small Team17:05 Should You Bring Your Team Into the Program Too?17:42 Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?-----------------------------------------------------👥 Are you a B2B marketer in a small team??💰 Need to bring in more revenue for your company (so sales and your boss love you??)Get the:🔹 strategy🔹 templates🔹 toolsSo you have everything you need to drive more revenue for your brand.See why other B2B marketers like you love The B2B Incubatorhttps://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-courseS07 E195 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #digitalmarketing #demandgeneration #b2bpositioning #positioningstrategy

If your sales and marketing teams feel like they’re running different races, this episode will show you the framework to fix it – fast.We break down the exact sales and marketing alignment framework we use with revenue leaders to unite GTM teams, reduce wasted spend, and win more deals. You’ll see why the old playbooks like Predictable Revenue create silos – and how our “Circuit” model hardwires sales, marketing, and customer success into one connected system.We’ll walk you through cataloguing the market to capture first-party intent, feeding that intelligence into marketing for targeted trust-building campaigns, and closing the loop with customer success so deals stick and expand.Tune in and learn:+ Why most GTM teams are misaligned – and the root cause+ How to capture first-party market intelligence that makes marketing commercially viable+ The step-by-step framework for aligning sales, marketing, and customer successThis is a must-watch if you lead sales, marketing, or customer success and want a system that unites your teams around the same revenue goal.Want access to the GTM Map that's blurred out? Register for our next webinar: 🔗 https://theb2bplaybook.com/cro-school-----------------------------------------------------🔗 Links + CTAs-----------------------------------------------------🧠 Learn how to drive revenue across your organisation with CRO School: https://theb2bplaybook.com/cro-school🔗Want access to our GTM Map? Register for our next webinar at https://theb2bplaybook.com/cro-school🎓 Join our Demand Generation Program: https://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-course💼 Need help running your own LinkedIn Thought Leadership Ads? https://theb2bplaybook.com/linkedin-ads-agency-----------------------------------------------------🧑‍🎓ACCESS our B2B COURSES: https://theb2bplaybook.com/courses📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybook📩 Newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/📚 Latest content: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:00 Welcome to The Circuit: Why GTM Misfires Happen01:20 The Big Promise: A Framework for Fixing GTM from the Frontlines03:40 Why Sales & Marketing Misalignment Costs You Revenue05:50 The Predictable Revenue Problem No One Talks About08:15 How Team Incentives Broke the GTM System10:30 The Fallout: Low-Quality Meetings & Rising CAC13:20 Marketing’s MQL Trap – and How to Escape It15:40 Why Traditional Sales Methodologies Aren’t Enough18:00 The Real Cost of Sales Overpromising & CS Under-delivering21:00 Old Principles, Modern Twist: The Case for Cataloging24:10 Step 1: How BDMs Capture First-Party Intent28:30 Step 2: Turning Catalog Data into Marketing Firepower32:20 Step 3: Live Quoting Days & Seamless Handoffs36:00 Step 4: Customer Success as a Growth Engine39:20 The Circuit vs Predictable Revenue – Side-by-Side42:00 Why Cataloging Builds Long-Term Alignment45:10 Real-World Wins: From Stalled Deals to Biggest Ever48:20 How to Pilot This Framework in Your Organisation51:00 Next Steps: CRO School, Health Checks & Roundtables-----------------------------------------------------S07 E194 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #revenue #revenuealignment #salesandmarketing #sales

If you're a CMO, CRO or Head of Sales, you should be asking yourself: how can our teams work better together to drive more revenue, in a more efficient way?We've come across so many organizations that have bloated methods for acquiring customers. They're loaded to the brim with hungry SDRs who have 'book the meeting at all costs' as their mandate. They've handcuffed marketing and reduced them to 'lead gen' to feed the sales machine. The result? A 'spray and pray' method that doesn't work unless you have serious cash to burn. Marketing, sales and customer success are incentivised to behave in ways that compete with each other. A poor customer experience. And a high level of churn and dissatisfaction at customer success.To answer your prayers for a 'better way', we've teamed up with 7x ex Head of Sales, Adem Manderovic, to bring you a combined marketing and sales system that will completely align your business. It will help you build a growth engine that allows you to win more customers for less, and reduce churn. It gets sales, marketing and customer success to all play on the same team. Today we are sharing step 1 of our framework to create complete end-to-end organizational alignment. This is the solution to start driving a much more efficient acquisition system.Step 1 is all about laying the foundations in place for your revenue engine before you go-to-market.Tune in and learn:+ How to define your next best market+ How to reposition your business to make it a 'no brainer' for future customers+ How to prioritize your next targets by cataloguing the marketIf you're struggling to hit targets and are feeling the pain of churning and burning the market, make sure you check out this mini-series where we detail our 5-step framework. -----------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybookSUBSCRIBE to our newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/GET the latest CONTENT: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:00 Welcome to the B2B Playbook: Creating a Business Growth Engine01:28 Why Understanding Your Best Market is Crucial for Success03:41 The Four-Step Process to Drive Better Commercial Outcomes05:42 Step 1: Identifying Your Best Customers Using the 80/20 Rule08:40 Step 2: Deep Dive into Customer Understanding11:22 Uncovering Hidden Insights from Lost Deals and Churned Clients13:50 The Power of Direct Customer Interviews vs. Data Analysis16:20 Step 3: Updating Your Positioning and Messaging17:52 Step 4: Cataloging the Market - A Lost Art in Modern Sales20:20 The Benefits of Building Relationships Through Market Research22:08 Wrapping Up: The Foundation for a Successful Growth Engine-----------------------------------------------------👥 Are you a B2B marketer in a small team??💰 Need to bring in more revenue for your company (so sales and your boss love you??)Get the:🔹 strategy🔹 templates🔹 toolsSo you have everything you need to drive more revenue for your brand.See why other B2B marketers like you love The B2B IncubatorCheck out: https://theb2bplaybook.com/demand-generation-courseS06 E145 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #b2bsaas #revenuemarketing #MarketingStrategy #leadgeneration #b2bcontentmarketing #salesandmarketing

Transform Your Marketing with our Demand Generation Course, The B2B IncubatorWe dive deep into our demand generation program, designed to transform how B2B marketers generate pipeline and revenue.In this video, we outline the program, discuss the challenges B2B marketers face, and share success stories from our alumni.Tune in and learn:+ Why the 5 Bs Framework is a game-changer for B2B marketers.+ How to create a scalable demand generation strategy.+ Real results from marketers who took this journey.-----------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybookSUBSCRIBE to our newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/GET the latest CONTENT: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:00 Welcome to the B2B Incubator02:00 Who is This Program For?04:00 Common Challenges in B2B Marketing06:00 The Three Key Shifts for Demand Generation08:00 Why the B2B Incubator Works10:00 The 5 Bs Framework Explained12:00 Consistency is Key in Demand Generation14:00 Overview of the Program Structure16:00 The Templates and Tools You'll Use18:00 Career Benefits of the Program20:00 Real Success Stories from Alumni22:00 FAQ: Common Program Questions24:00 How to Secure Buy-in for the Program25:30 Next Steps to Join the B2B Incubator26:40 Final Cohort Info-----------------------------------------------------