
The B2B Playbook
Selling Business to Business? Trying to do everything, but not sure if any of it works? We’re here to help!
We're Kevin and George - digital marketing professionals who are here to share with you the RIGHT plan so you can get your amazing business growing online. We’ve waded through the noise, made the mistakes, and found what works so you don't have to.
We also share tips, tricks and templates from our upcoming playbook and insights from successful people in the industry.
If you’re in a B2B business and like to see your marketing work for you, then this is the podcast for you!
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Latest episodes

Apr 28, 2024 • 35min
#134: 5 Steps to Transition from Lead Gen to Demand Gen - Demand Gen mini-series Ep.6
Want to make the change from lead generation to demand generation? Making the shift from lead generation to demand generation can be a game-changer for B2B marketers looking to drive sustainable, scalable growth. But knowing how to execute that transition smoothly is key. In this episode, we lay out our proven 5-step framework for successfully implementing a demand gen strategy without disrupting your existing marketing efforts.We cover the importance of making a strong business case, cutting a portion of your budget for a pilot program, creating a detailed demand gen plan, assigning tasks and accountability, and measuring and scaling your success.You'll learn how to allocate a portion of your current budget to pilot a demand gen program, develop a comprehensive strategy tailored to your business, assign clear roles and accountability, and measure success so you can double down on what's working. We also share tips for getting buy-in from sales and leadership.This is pt.6 of our mini-series on Demand Generation, where we answer every question you could possibly have around the topic. Tune in and learn:+ How to make a compelling business case for demand generation+ Step-by-step guidance on transitioning to a demand gen strategy+ Best practices for executing a successful demand gen pilot programWhether you're just starting to explore demand gen or looking to level up your existing programs, this episode breaks down exactly how to transition the right way. Follow our step-by-step guidance and you'll be on the path to a scalable demand engine that drives more qualified ops and top-line revenue.-----------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybookSUBSCRIBE to our newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/GET the latest CONTENT: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:00:00 5 Steps to Transition from Lead Generation to Demand Generation00:01:19 Step 1: Making the Business Case for Demand Generation00:04:14 Recapping the Business Case00:06:26 Calculating Return on Investment00:09:19 Step 2: Cutting 10% of Budget for a Pilot Program00:12:11 Auditing Existing Activities00:14:42 Focusing on One Product and Segment00:16:18 Step 3: Creating the Demand Gen Plan00:19:09 Executing the Demand Gen Pilot Program00:21:46 Using a Gantt Chart for Task Planning00:23:40 Step 4: Assigning Tasks and Accountability00:25:32 Step 5: Measuring and Scaling Success00:27:52 Key Takeaways and Next Steps00:29:54 Closing Remarks-----------------------------------------------------👥 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/the-b2b-incubatorS06 E134 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #b2bsaas #revenuemarketing #MarketingStrategy #leadgeneration

Apr 21, 2024 • 34min
#133: 10 Questions to Decide If You Should Start a New Demand Gen Strategy - Demand Gen mini-series Ep.5
Are you struggling to generate consistent demand and pipeline for your B2B business? In this episode of The B2B Playbook, we dive deep into 10 critical questions that will help you determine whether you need to start your demand generation strategy from scratch or simply plug the gaps in your existing approach.You'll love our comprehensive framework to audit and optimize your demand generation efforts. It covers key areas such as customer alignment, content creation, measurement, and documentation. They offer practical insights and actionable steps to help you build a robust demand generation engine that drives consistent pipeline and revenue.Throughout the episode, we share real-world examples and best practices, highlighting the importance of understanding your dream customers, leveraging subject matter experts, mapping content to the stages of awareness, and implementing effective content repurposing and distribution strategies. We also address advanced tactics like account-based marketing and product ads, ensuring you have a well-rounded approach to demand generation.This is pt.5 of our mini-series on Demand Generation, where we answer every question you could possibly have around the topic. Tune in and learn:+ How to assess if your demand generation strategy is built on a solid foundation+ The essential elements of a successful demand generation program+ Practical tips for optimizing your existing efforts and filling gapsThis episode is a must-watch for B2B marketers who want to maximize their demand generation impact and drive consistent growth for their business.-----------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybookSUBSCRIBE to our newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/GET the latest CONTENT: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:00:00 Introduction: Should You Start From Scratch or Plug Gaps?00:01:21 Overview of the Five B's Framework00:02:37 Question 1: Are You and Sales Aligned on Target Customers?00:05:58 Question 2: Is Your Understanding Based on Customer Interviews?00:09:21 Question 3: Are Content Pillars Based on Customer Pain Points?00:11:45 Question 4: Is Your Content Led by Subject Matter Experts?00:15:32 Question 5: Is Your Content Matched to Stages of Awareness?00:18:34 Question 6: Do You Have a Content Repurposing System?00:21:30 Question 7: Are You Tracking Leading and Lagging Indicators?00:23:29 Question 8: Have You Tried Account-Based Marketing?00:25:00 Question 9: Do You Have Product Ads Running?00:26:29 Question 10: Is Your Demand Gen Strategy Documented?00:28:17 Get Help with the B2B Incubator Program00:29:24 Key Takeaways and Next Steps00:30:31 Closing Remarks-----------------------------------------------------👥 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/the-b2b-incubatorS06 E133 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #b2bsaas #revenuemarketing #MarketingStrategy

Apr 14, 2024 • 34min
#132: How To Build A Winning Business Case and Get Internal Buy in For Demand Generation? - Demand Gen mini-series Ep.4
How do you get buy-in from your organization to pursue Demand Generation as a strategy? We show you EXACTLY how, step-by-step. (Plus we share some free templates to help you put together the presentation you need to!)We cover everything from evaluating the effectiveness of your current lead generation efforts to calculating the true ROI of your marketing activities, including often-overlooked costs like sales time. Additionally, we introduce the concept of a "split the funnel" analysis to identify high-intent leads and demonstrate the significant impact demand generation can have on your pipeline and revenue.}We share clear examples, real-world scenarios, and walk you through the process of presenting a data-driven business case to leadership, highlighting the limitations of traditional lead generation and the scalable growth potential of demand generation.This is pt.4 of our mini-series on Demand Generation, where we answer every question you could possibly have around the topic. Tune in and learn:+ How to assess the profitability of your current marketing efforts+ The importance of including sales costs in your ROI calculations+ Techniques for identifying high-intent vs. low-intent leads+ Strategies for gradually shifting towards a demand generation model+ Tips for building a convincing business case for demand generationThis episode is a must-watch for any B2B marketer looking to drive sustainable growth, improve sales enablement, and gain leadership buy-in for a demand generation strategy.-----------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybookSUBSCRIBE to our newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/GET the latest CONTENT: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:03:18 Defining Demand Generation00:05:15 The 97% Market Opportunity00:06:15 Evaluate Current Strategy00:07:24 Calculating Cost per Lead00:09:52 Including Sales Cost in ROI00:11:46 Calculating Revenue from Leads00:14:02 The Importance of True ROI00:15:22 Split the Funnel Analysis00:19:01 Mapping High vs Low Intent Leads00:21:58 Proposing Demand Generation00:24:23 Building the Business Case00:27:00 Gradual Shift to Demand Gen00:29:11 Key Takeaways-----------------------------------------------------👥 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/the-b2b-incubatorS06 E132 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #b2bsaas #revenuemarketing #MarketingStrategy

Apr 7, 2024 • 24min
#131: What Companies Are Suited To Demand Generation? - Demand Gen mini-series Ep.3
Are you wondering if demand generation is the right fit for your company? We bring out the whiteboard again in this video to explore which companies are suited for demand gen. We'll take into account different go-to-market strategies, industries, and business models.We examine real-life success stories, from traditional manufacturing to cutting-edge SaaS businesses, demonstrating the power of demand gen across various industries.Whether you're a sales-led organization struggling to connect with the right prospects or a marketing team seeking better alignment with sales, this video will provide you with valuable insights and a practical framework to drive sustainable growth for your business.This is part.3 of our mini-series on Demand Generation, where we answer every question you could possibly have around the topic. Tune in and learn:+ Why your go-to-market motion doesn't matter for demand gen success+ How demand generation can impact companies in any industry+ The right time and prioritization for implementing a demand gen strategyIf you're a B2B marketer or a leader exploring whether now is the right time to start investing in demand generation, this episode is for you.-----------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybookSUBSCRIBE to our newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/GET the latest CONTENT: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:00:00 Intro: What Companies are Suited for Demand Gen?00:01:02 Defining Demand Generation00:02:56 Does Go-to-Market Motion Matter?00:05:20 Demand Gen for Inbound and Outbound Strategies00:07:13 Demand Gen for Other Go-to-Market Motions00:09:06 Demand Gen for Outbound Sales Teams00:10:38 Why Industry Doesn't Matter00:13:22 Demand Gen Complements All Go-to-Market Strategies00:14:23 A Real-Life Demand Gen Success Story00:17:18 Demand Gen Impacts All Industries00:18:36 The Right Time and Prioritization for Demand Gen00:19:27 Key Takeaways-----------------------------------------------------👥 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/the-b2b-incubatorS06 E131 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #b2bsaas #revenuemarketing #MarketingStrategy

Apr 1, 2024 • 24min
#130: When is the Right Time to Invest in Demand Generation? (and mistakes to avoid getting started) - Demand Gen mini-series Ep.2
When is the right time to invest in Demand Generation? Are you struggling to scale your B2B business? Tired of feeling like you're searching for a needle in a haystack when it comes to finding new customers? If so, it might be time to explore demand generation.What is Demand Generation? If you asked 10 different marketers, you'd get 10 different answers. But at The B2B Playbook, we are practitioners and teachers of Demand Generation. So we're here to set the record straight. --------------This episode is sponsored by Sessions.usHead over to Sessions.us and sign up for a 14-day free no strings attached free trialhttps://sessions.us//?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=body&utm_campaign=b2bplaybk--------------In this episode of The B2B Playbook, we break down when is the right time for your B2B company to start a demand generation strategy. We share the brutal truth about why most businesses struggle to scale without demand gen and reveal the key prerequisite your company needs before launching a program.This is part.2 of our mini-series on Demand Generation, where we answer every question you could possibly have around the topic. Tune in and learn:+ The critical prerequisite your B2B company needs before starting demand generation+ 3 signs that signal your business is ready for a demand gen program+ How to launch a successful demand generation pilot projectYou'll discover the tell-tale signs that indicate your business is ready for demand generation, including the ideal company size, team structure, and level of product-market fit. We also provide practical tips on how to start small with a pilot project, support your existing acquisition channels, and document your demand gen strategy for long-term success.}-----------------------------------------------------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 Intro: When to Start Demand Generation?02:14 Recapping the 5 Bs Framework04:37 The Importance of Demand Generation06:33 Prerequisite: Product Market Fit09:22 Signs Your Business is Ready for Demand Gen11:52 Starting Small with a Pilot Project14:02 Supporting Existing Acquisition Channels15:42 Documenting Your Demand Gen Strategy17:07 Key Takeaways: When to Start Demand Gen18:40 Outro and Call-to-Action-----------------------------------------------------👥 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/the-b2b-incubatorS06 E130 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #b2bsaas #revenuemarketing #MarketingStrategy

Mar 24, 2024 • 47min
#129: What is Demand Generation (PLUS lead gen vs demand gen, benefits, easy framework) - Demand Gen mini-series Ep.1
What is Demand Generation? If you asked 10 different marketers, you'd get 10 different answers. But at The B2B Playbook, we are practitioners and teachers of Demand Generation. So we're here to set the record straight. Head over to Sessions.us and sign up for a 14-day free no strings attached free trialhttps://sessions.us//?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=body&utm_campaign=b2bplaybkThis is part.1 of our mini-series on Demand Generation, where we answer every question you could possibly have around the topic. Tune in and learn:+ what demand generation is+ why your business needs it and its benefits+ the difference between lead gen vs demand genWe'll also share our favourite framework to simplify demand generation. This is a 'must listen' for any B2B marketer that's looking for sustainable growth engines to fuel their business.-----------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybookSUBSCRIBE to our newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/GET the latest CONTENT: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:04:30 What Is Demand Generation?00:11:35 The Core Components of Demand Gen00:13:03 The Five Stages of Awareness00:18:47 The Importance of Being First-Mind00:21:49 Crafting a Healthy Demand Gen Engine00:28:35 The Challenge of Attribution in Demand Gen00:31:47 Demand Gen vs. Brand Marketing00:33:03 Lead Gen: The Good, Bad, and Ugly00:39:22 The Limitations of Lead Gen00:40:58 The Strategic Advantage of Early Demand Gen00:42:09 Framework for Demand Creation00:43:57 Closing Thoughts & What's Next-----------------------------------------------------👥 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/the-b2b-incubatorS06 E129 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #b2bsaas #revenuemarketing #MarketingStrategy

Mar 17, 2024 • 54min
#128: LinkedIn's own B2B go-to-market strategy (revealed) - Lucy Sonter
Head over to Sessions.us and sign up for a 14-day free no strings attached free trialhttps://sessions.us//?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=body&utm_campaign=b2bplaybkThis week we have one of LinkedIn's very own marketers - Lucy Sonter - on the show to walk us through how the beast itself pulls together its own B2B go-to-market strategy. Lucy shares stories and examples from successful product launches at LinkedIn. In her former life, Lucy also worked in Sales, so she's able to weigh in on how sales and marketing can work better together. Tune in and learn:+ how to leverages sales insights to enrich your marketing strategies+ how LinkedIn changed everyone's mind about using their 'audience network'+ what customer insights you need and how to gather themJust like many of our listeners and viewers, Lucy's team is resource and time strapped - so she faces many of the same problems that you do. -----------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybookSUBSCRIBE to our newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/GET the latest CONTENT: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction00:06:00 - The Journey from Sales to Marketing00:12:00 - Customer Insights: The Foundation of Strategy00:18:00 - Participating in Customer Advisory Boards00:24:00 - Hindi Ads Case Study: Overcoming Language Barriers00:30:00 - LinkedIn Audience Network: A Global Perspective00:36:00 - Sales and Marketing Alignment: A Personal Take00:42:00 - Enhancing APAC Strategies with Local Insights00:48:00 - Wrap-Up: The Importance of Measurement-----------------------------------------------------👥 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/the-b2b-incubatorS05 E128 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #demandgen #b2bsaas #demandgeneration #marketingstrategy #linkedin

Mar 10, 2024 • 46min
#127: How to Start & Grow a B2B Podcast for your Company or Personal Brand - lessons from $1million+ pipeline
Thinking of starting a B2B podcast for your company or personal brand? Or running one but you it's not achieving the goals you wanted it to? With 130+ episodes in the bank and over $1million+ in pipeline generated from their podcast, hosts of The B2B Playbook Kevin Chen and George Coudounaris share all the things they wish they knew before getting started.Because let's face it, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows!Many of these questions have been sourced directly from the audience - so it's likely your question has been covered! Tune in and learn:+ 5 essential steps to launch your podcast+ how to make your audience fall in love with it+ the process and equipment you need to run the whole show smoothlyThis episode is a must-watch for B2B SaaS marketers who want a solid strategy to follow that's guaranteed to drive long term pipeline. -----------------------------------------------------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 Kickoff: Why Your B2B Company Needs a Podcast05:45 First Steps: Planning Your Podcast Strategy11:30 Content Creation: Engaging Your Audience17:15 Tech Talk: Essential Gear for Starting22:50 Promotion Tactics: Increasing Your Reach28:25 Guest Selection: Booking Impactful Voices34:00 Analytics Deep Dive: Measuring Success39:35 Monetization Strategies: Making Profit45:10 Listener Engagement: Building a Community50:45 SEO for Podcasts: Boosting Visibility56:20 Future Trends: Staying Ahead in Podcasting61:55 Case Studies: Real Success Stories67:30 Challenges & Solutions: Overcoming Obstacles73:05 Final Thoughts: Your Next Steps-----------------------------------------------------👥 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/the-b2b-incubatorS05 E127 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #socialmediamarketing #b2bsaas #contentstrategy #demandgeneration#B2BMarketing #DemandGeneration #MarketingStrategy #contentmarketing

Mar 3, 2024 • 1h 2min
#126: Capture More Demand & Drive Pipeline with this Next Level B2B SEO Strategy - Sam Dunning
B2B SEO expert Sam Dunning shares strategies to drive pipeline while you sleep. Topics include common SEO mistakes, effective frameworks, content utilization, debunking SEO myths, backlink importance, on-page techniques, and SEO tools.

Feb 25, 2024 • 59min
#125: B2B SaaS Demand Generation: Q&A | George Coudounaris hosted by Factors.ai
How can B2B SaaS companies drive long term revenue with Demand Generation? What gaps do most have in their strategy? How can they execute this strategy with so few resources?This week George Coudounaris sits down with Factors.ai to share The B2B Playbook's Demand Generation Framework - The 5 BEs Framework. He also answers questions from the audience on practically applying this framework, as well as any tips in executing it. Tune in and learn:+ the 5 BEs Framework for demand generation+ how to build a content engine that delivers revenue and is highly resource efficient+ how to start implementing this framework in your businessThis episode is a must-watch for B2B SaaS marketers who want a solid strategy to follow that's guaranteed to drive long term pipeline. -----------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theb2bplaybookSUBSCRIBE to our newsletter: https://theb2bplaybook.com/newsletter/GET the latest CONTENT: https://theb2bplaybook.com/-----------------------------------------------------00:30 George's Introduction & B2B Playbook Overview03:00 Fundamentals of Demand Generation06:00 Learning from Performance Marketing09:00 The 5 BEs Framework Explained12:00 Be Ready: Understanding Your Audience15:00 Be Helpful: Creating Valuable Content18:00 Be Seen: Amplifying Your Message21:00 Be Better: Optimizing Your Approach24:00 Be the Best: Advanced Tactics27:00 Generating Demand for B2B Incubator30:00 Effective Content Marketing Strategies36:00 Enhancing LinkedIn Ads for Demand Gen39:00 Conclusion & Final Thoughts-----------------------------------------------------👥 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/the-b2b-incubatorS05 E125 - The B2B Playbook#b2b #b2bmarketing #socialmediamarketing #b2bsaas #contentstrategy #demandgeneration#B2BMarketing #DemandGeneration #MarketingStrategy #contentmarketing
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