The Kiln

Most B2B sales teams fail to follow the basics. The outbound space is rapidly changing. If you do outbound for your business, follow these steps to generate more opportunities: 1. A Clear Offer: Focus on one product or service that best fits the leads you are reaching out to, plus the timing. This is the single most important factor that will determine if your prospects will reply or not. 2. Nail Your ICP: Go super specific in segmenting your leads into various personas. Use Clay to find their LinkedIn bio, company summary, size, revenue, and use these parameters to fit the leads into specific ICPs. 3. Reliable Lead Sources: Use sources like LinkedIn, Apollo, Ocean.io, etc., and leverage Clay to avoid manual lead collection. 4. Email Copy: Your copy must be short and to the point. People don’t read long emails—remove all the fluff. 5. Make an Offer They Can’t Refuse: From free trials to unique incentives, ensure your offer aligns with your value prop and grabs attention. 6. Use Enrichment Tools: Enrich extra information to segment your leads better and curate personalizations. Relevant personalization will help boost your response rates. 7. Automate with Sequencing Tools: Use tools like Smartlead (email), Heyreach (LinkedIn), and La Growth Machine (LinkedIn + email) to send large-volume campaigns in an organized manner. Want the full breakdown? Check the comments for the complete YouTube video link. ??? What’s your go-to strategy for outbound success? Share it below! ??

Choosing the wrong channel can sabotage your outbound strategy. Imagine crafting the perfect outbound message, only for it to fall flat because you chose the wrong platform. Here’s how to ensure your outreach lands in the right place: 1. Email- High Scale Outreach Email is unmatched for sending high-volume messages, making it ideal for large-scale campaigns Almost everyone in the B2B space has an accessible email 2. LinkedIn: Low Volume, Targeted Outreach You can’t send as many LinkedIn messages a day as you can email, but the higher positive response rates and more refined targeting makes up for it. It’s perfect for industries like tech, real estate, and finance, where prospects are more active 3. Instagram Great for reaching out to creators, influencers, and individuals who actively use personal social profiles. Due to platform restrictions, high-scale automated messaging isn’t an option 4. Twitter Great for reaching out to startup founders, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts. Twitter is ideal for short, impactful outreach that leverages public interactions, mentions, and direct messages. 5. Direct Mail: The Unconventional Yet Impactful Approach Direct mail may sound old-school, but it can be surprisingly effective, especially for audiences less engaged in digital spaces Use direct mail for high-value prospects or industries that appreciate more traditional communication methods. Check out the video here for a deep dive ??

Mastering Cold Outbound Copywriting: Here’s What You Need to Know Crafting the perfect cold email isn’t easy, but getting it right can mean the difference between being ignored and landing your next big client. Here’s how to ensure your emails hit the mark: 1. Hook Them with Your Opening - A personalized intro grabs attention. Reference their latest achievement or a common challenge they face to make your email feel like a conversation, not a pitch. - First impressions matter—make yours count. 2. Keep It Concise - Less is more. Attention spans are short, so aim for under 100 words. - Every word should add value. Cut the fluff and focus on what matters most. 3. Tap Into Emotions - People respond to emotions more than logic. Address their pain points and position your product as the relief they need. - For example, “Frustrated by [problem]? Here’s how we help [solution].” 4. Present Your Value Clearly - Skip the jargon and list of features. Focus on the tangible benefits they’ll gain. - Think: “Our tool has helped [similar clients] achieve [specific results].” 5. Back It Up with Social Proof - Trust is everything. Showcase client success stories, stats, or industry mentions: “90% of our clients report [positive outcome].” 6. Master Your Follow-Up Game - Not getting a reply? It doesn’t mean ‘no’—it might just mean ‘not now.’ Send a follow-up with fresh value or insights to stay top of mind. - Include a clear, simple call to action every time. Want to see these strategies in action? Watch the full YouTube video here ??: https://lnkd.in/dQ3aqcXK Which of these strategies will you try first? Let me know below! ??

Here are 10 Sales Myths that are holding back your business: 1. Myth: Cold Email is Dead Many think cold emails no longer work, but that’s far from true. Blasting generic emails to thousands doesn’t work anymore, but strategic, personalized emails still perform well—especially with tools like Google and Microsoft making filters even more strict. Focus on quality over quantity, and you'll see results. 2. Myth: You Need a Large SDR Team for Success Bigger isn't always better. A large SDR team doesn’t guarantee more sales. In fact, a lean, focused team equipped with tools like Clay and Instantly can be just as effective, delivering high-impact results without the hefty overhead. 3. Myth: AI-Written Emails Don't Work While fully AI-generated emails may feel impersonal, AI-driven snippets and personalization can significantly enhance templated emails. Tools like Twain are helping sales teams fine-tune their outreach for better engagement. 4. Myth: Cold Calling is Dead Think no one picks up their phone anymore? Think again! Cold calling is far from dead, especially for high-value sales. With fewer competitors using this tactic, your calls may stand out. Leverage AI tools like Aurum to enhance your approach and maximize success. 5. Myth: All Salespeople Are Extroverts You don’t need to be an extrovert to be successful in sales. In fact, introverts often excel by focusing on value and thoughtful conversations rather than aggressive pitches. 6. Myth: High Volume Equals High Sales More outreach doesn’t always mean more sales. It’s about targeting the right prospects with personalized messages. A small, well-segmented email campaign can drive more conversions than a generic blast to a huge list. 7. Myth: Always Try to Close Not every prospect is a fit for your product, and pushing for a close can hurt your reputation. Sometimes, being honest and recommending an alternative leads to trust and referrals that benefit you in the long run. 8. Myth: Sales is All About Relationships While relationships are key, you don’t need to have a pre-existing connection to close a sale. Authentic, value-driven conversations can build strong relationships with new prospects, leading to successful deals. 9. Myth: AI Will Replace Salespeople AI can handle initial outreach, but the human touch is irreplaceable in closing deals. People buy from people they trust, and no AI can replicate that trust-building dynamic. 10. Myth: Personalization is Essential While personalization helps, a strong offer can sometimes be more important. If your offer is compelling, it can break through the noise even with less personalization. That said, for more generic offers, personalization boosts engagement. Debunk these myths and watch your sales evolve. Understanding the realities will help fine-tune your strategies and drive business growth. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to discuss how to apply these insights to your business. Happy selling! #sales #coldemail

The easiest way to supercharge your outreach in 2024? It’s with Claygent—a powerful feature designed to give you the insights you need on potential leads. Here’s how you can make the most of it: Key Use Cases 1. Find Funding Information Need to know if a company has raised capital? Claygent can pull funding details with just a company domain, including information about rounds and investors. For example, I found that one company raised $2.2 million in a round backed by three investors, with clickable sources for verification 2. Track Upcoming Events Looking to time your outreach perfectly? Claygent uncovers upcoming events—webinars, conferences, or in-person gatherings—hosted by target companies. Just input the domain to get event details, like “Startup Showcase 2023,” with host information and confidence levels 3. Identify Competitors in Seconds Claygent helps you find a company’s top competitors, offering quick insights backed by clear reasoning. Ideal for staying ahead in conversations and research 4. Pinpoint Company Headquarters Whether you need the company’s headquarters address or location details, Claygent can pull this information from a company’s domain, making your outreach more specific Additional Features ? Open Job Listings: Discover active job openings to spot growth areas or challenges within a company ? Social Media Posts: See recent posts from founders or key personnel on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn ? Competitor Pricing Info: In some cases, Claygent can retrieve product or service pricing from websites or videos ? Employee Names: Build contact lists by finding employee names from target companies (best results in certain industries) Have questions or want to learn more? comment and we’ll walk you through how it can fit into your workflow #sales #outbound #clay

Personalization alone won’t book you calls with prospects. Yes, personalization matters—but without relevance, it’s not enough. Personalizing emails for the wrong prospects won’t get you results. Personalization + relevance with high-intent prospects = success. Here are 5 tools/sources to help you target the right prospects: ? RB2B: Tracks website visitors. ? LinkedIn enrichments in Clay: Company Headcount Growth, recent posts by users ? Crunchbase: Company Funding Info ? PredictLeads: Find recent news ? Trigify.io: Company hiring trends Get the right signals, then personalize effectively for real impact. #sales #b2b

Here are 5 ways to increase conversion for cold emails: 1.? ?Enhance Deliverability ??? Use multiple email accounts to avoid spam filters. ?? Keep emails simple—avoid images and links. ??? Ensure proper authentication (DMARC, DKIM, SPF) for better deliverability. ?? Choose reliable email providers - stick with reputable email providers like Gmail and Microsoft 365, avoid cheaper alternatives that promise the world. 2.? ?Include personalization in your copy ?The goal of personalization is to make your prospect feel understood. Tailor your personalization specifically to the pain points of the recipients Use templates as a base but customize them to enhance engagement. 3.? ?Increase Volume, Track metrics & optimize Set realistic email sending goals and track response metrics to refine your approach. Experiment with different subject lines and email styles through A/B testing. ?? Test Subject Lines ?? Vary your email body ?? Vary personalizations ?4. ?Inbox Management ?Always keep a track of replies you get & answer to those replies quickly You might conisder using automated follow up tools if you don’t have a team Push positive replies bottom to your funnel so that you don’t miss on the warm lead. ?5. Follow-Up Strategically Following up is a game changer. Often, a lack of response doesn’t mean disinterest; the prospect might simply be too busy to reply. It’s an additional opportunity to provide more value. Send follow-ups within a few days of your initial cold email to keep your message fresh in the recipient’s mind. Each follow-up should offer something new—whether it’s a relevant article, case study, or an answer to a potential question they might have. Hope this helps ?? #sales #coldemails

Here’s how to build an effective cold email system: Cold emailing can transform your outreach, but how do you build an efficient system that drives results? 1.? ?Define Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP): Know your audience before you hit send! Identifying firmographics, psychographics, and demographics ensures you’re speaking to the right people. 2.? ?Use the Right Tools: Sourcing leads is easy with these tools: ? Apollo.io: A goldmine for B2B leads. ?? ?Crunchbase and Ocean.io: Find data-driven insights. ?? ?Google Maps API: Perfect for targeting local businesses. 3.? ?Write Compelling Cold Emails: Keep it short, personal, and packed with value. Always include a clear CTA to spark engagement. 4.? ?Don’t Forget to Follow Up: Follow-ups increase your chances. Use them to reframe your offer, provide better deals, or even ask for referrals if your contact isn't the right fit. 5.? ?Automate Your Outreach: Tools like Instantly.ai and Smartlead let you scale your campaigns without sacrificing personalization. Bonus: Focus on email deliverability to avoid spam folders. Clean your lists regularly and monitor sender reputation. Master these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to building a cold email system that drives results in record time! #coldemailing #leadgeneration #sales

Inbound vs. Outbound – Which Strategy Should You Focus On? Sales is complex, and knowing whether to focus on inbound or outbound strategies can make all the difference. Inbound sales attract prospects through content and marketing efforts. When a prospect signs up for your newsletter, downloads an eBook, or books a meeting, they’re showing interest and naturally moving down your sales funnel. Key inbound techniques include: ? Content Marketing: Create valuable content that educates and engages potential buyers. ? SEO: Ensure your business is easily discoverable by optimizing your website for search engines. ? Social Media Engagement: Leverage platforms like LinkedIn to create meaningful interactions. Key tools? ? Beehive for newsletters ? Common Room for social media engagement ? RB2B for tracking website visitors Outbound sales require you to reach out directly to potential customers who may not be aware of your business yet. This is crucial for high-ticket items or targeted accounts where waiting for leads isn’t an option. Common outbound strategies include: ? Cold Emails: Personalize your outreach with tools like Apollo and Clay to identify and message the right prospects. ? Cold Calling: Real-time conversations allow you to address objections and build rapport, and their value cannot be understated for some sales systems. ? Social Media Messaging: Use platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter to connect directly with decision-makers. Key outbound tools: ? Clay, Ocean.io, Apollo.io for finding high-value prospects ? Clay for data enrichment and personalization ? Smartlead for automating email outreach ? HeyReach for LinkedIn outreach So, which approach works best? Both. The most successful sales teams combine inbound efforts to attract leads and outbound strategies to proactively engage high-value accounts. For example, use inbound techniques like content marketing and SEO to attract leads, then follow up with outbound tactics like cold emails or LinkedIn messages to close the deal. Here’s how you can make both inbound and outbound work better for your team: ? Segment Your Audience: In both inbound and outbound sales, knowing your audience is key. Use tools like Clay to segment your audience into different groups based on use case and intent ? Personalization: Customize your outreach with insights gathered from inbound data (e.g., website visits, social media interactions) to make your outbound messages more relevant. ? Follow-Up Consistently: Often times, a sales cycle requires multiple touchpoints, so don’t stop after the first cold email or call—stay persistent. ? Track and Optimize: Monitor metrics like response rates and conversion rates using tools like Apollo and SmartLead to continually refine your strategies. Final Thoughts: Leveraging both inbound and outbound sales strategies gives you the best chance at consistently driving growth. Checkout the video for more detail! #inbound #outbound #sales

Here's a step-by-step guide for building a surprisingly simple outbound machine that floods your inbox with QUALIFIED leads. After sending 1M+ emails, we’ve nailed down a few things that all successful outbound campaigns have: quality data source(s), high-intent prospects, and hyper-relevant messaging This evergreen allbound workflow not only checks all three of these boxes, but also: - Can be propped up in a weekend - Is extremely intuitive and therefore easy to develop copy/messaging for - Doesn't require a crazy expansive tech stack Step 1: Use RB2B to track website visitors Step 2: Filter down visitors your ICP (can be done in either RB2B or Clay) Step 3: Find lookalikes of ICP visitors using Ocean.io Step 4: Reach out with cold emails using Smartlead Plain and simple. #intent #outbound