April Digest | BLKNS B2B Pros

Welcome to April’s edition of BLKNS B2B Community Digest.

Get ready for the latest industry updates, insightful strategies, and valuable resources tailored for you. Let's dive in and discover what's in store for you this month.

Enjoy the read!

In this edition:

? What's buzzing in the industry

?? Navigating the downturn

???Google's core update: SEO strategies for success

???Mastering email deliverability amid new spam regulations

And much more.

BUZZWORTHY NEWS

In case you haven't caught wind of the latest news, here are some notable industry stories that might have slipped under your radar:

?The Clock is Ticking. President Biden recently signed a bill that's putting the heat on ByteDance, the folks behind TikTok.

?????Deal of the Year? Rumor has it Alphabet's eyeing HubSpot for a big acquisition. Could this be the talk of 2024?

???Tesla Makes Bold Moves. Tesla's been in the headlines lately for axing its entire marketing team amidst layoffs.

DOWNTURN OR…?

In today's economic landscape, staying proactive is key.

According to Jason M. Lemkin , Founder of SaaStr, we're not facing a downturn but more of a "side turn.”

• Some leaders are using market conditions as an excuse to avoid refining or adapting their products.
• It's crucial to honestly assess: "Does your product still fit the market in today's world?"
• The old "just get lean, get profitable, don't spend too much" mantra isn't cutting it anymore.
• Instead of blaming external factors, founders should focus on innovating their products and distribution strategies.

Check out the episode of "Marketing Against the Grain" for deeper insights on AI-driven transformations, early-stage startup priorities, and brand building.

BEST PRACTICES

Google's March 2024 Core update is shaking up businesses worldwide. Here's what you need to know to improve your search rankings.

Key changes to keep in mind:

• Google's algorithm overhaul aims to slash unoriginal, low-quality content by a whopping 40%.
• Say goodbye to scaled, AI-generated content lacking that human touch—it's a no-go.
• Watch out for expired and repurposed domains—they're being seen as spam.

Should you ditch AI content altogether?

Not necessarily.

What you can do instead:

1. Invest resources in crafting content that truly adds value and insight. Dive into your target audience's world and create expert content that makes them tick.
2. Use AI as a tool, not the content creator.
3. Stick to the basics of quality content—think E-E-A-T.

EXPLORE MORE TIPS

??? Need help mastering AI for content marketing? Explore the list of actionable prompts!

NAVIGATING NEW GOOGLE’S SPAM UPDATES

April and March were challenging for relying on outbound emails, with many messages ending up in spam folders due to Google's newly enforced regulations.

To ensure your emails are delivered despite the updates, follow proven guidelines and tips from our recent Masterclass:

• Email Volume. Aim for around 50 emails per mailbox daily—30 for cold outreach and 20 for warming up those connections.
• Infrastructure. Keep a close eye on deliverability at the domain level. Use secondary domains for cold outreach and maintain 2-5 inboxes per domain for optimal performance.
• Post-Setup Essentials. Prioritize warming up your inboxes for at least two weeks before launching campaigns. Keep bounce rates below 2% by regularly cleaning your email lists. Revise and update copy regularly. Use Spintax and AI for that personalized touch in your emails.

Check the full recording below ????

PRO TIP

Make sure to regularly run email deliverability tests to keep an eye on your inbox placement, domain health, and IP settings.

Tools like Inbox Insights can help you stay on top of these crucial metrics.

MORE RESOURCES

Explore these to stay ahead of the curve in B2B marketing and sales engagement ????

• ???[Report] The State of Prospecting. Data-driven guide to sales engagement, with data from 75.2 million emails and over 9 million multi-channel touchpoints
• ???[Guide] While TikTok is still around. Discover effective B2B marketing strategies with this comprehensive B2B marketing guide
• ???[Cheatsheet] 100 signals for pipeline generation. Explore layered signal-based outreach as a more effective approach than relying on single triggers
• ?????[Video] Mastering referrals. True-and-tried tactics on how to ask clients for referrals

TOOL OF THE MONTH

Airscale

tl;dr of Airscale :

1. Create lead lists (Scrape Sales Navigator, Apollo, Linkedin, or import via .csv)
2. Enrich, clean, and segment your lists with 20+ data providers and AI
3. Export your lists to your CRM / Email sequencing tool

(sponsored)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ready to kick your sales strategy up a notch and turn those leads into die-hard customers?

Belkins, hand in hand with big shots like Chili Piper and Reply , can't wait for you to join our free online event all about mastering the art of closing outbound leads.

What's the scoop?

• Tips for the pre-closure journey and lead qualification that gave Belkins a cool 10% deal closing rate
• Closing SMB deals, including top sales techniques and common slip-ups you’d do well to steer clear of
• Latest sales techniques and best practices for securing enterprise deals

SECURE YOUR SEAT

WHAT IS BLKNS COMMUNITY?

We are a network of B2B founders, marketers & sales professionals committed to fostering growth. It’s a dedicated space to exchange?invaluable advice, tackle the most pressing?business questions and tasks, and support you in?achieving your career goals.

P.S. Did someone share this newsletter with you? Join us here.

Till next time!

??

BLKNS Community Team