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Interview with Eric Watkins, President of Abstrakt Marketing Group

⏱️ 29:58 🎀 Robert Clinkenbeard, Eric Watkins
AUDIO EPISODE
Interview with Eric Watkins, President of Abstrakt Marketing Group
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Chapters

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  • 0:00
    Introduction & Abstrakt Overview
    Robert Clinkenbeard introduces Eric Watkins, who shares his background and an overview of Abstrakt Marketing Group's services, focusing on B2B sales development in industrial niches.
  • 0:26
    Commercial Landscaping Focus
    Eric details Abstrakt's focus within commercial landscaping, primarily targeting businesses that offer both annual maintenance contracts and enhancement services, excluding residential work.
  • 4:54
    Measuring Success & ROI
    Eric explains how Abstrakt measures success with clients by aligning on ROI goals, focusing on closing the first deal quickly, and providing accountability for client follow-up.
  • 12:41
    Marketing Trends & Omni-Channel
    Eric discusses changing marketing trends, emphasizing an omni-channel approach that includes direct mail, and debunks the myth that 'cold calling is dead' by highlighting the effectiveness of calling office lines.
  • 19:48
    AI & Data Utilization
    Eric explains how AI is most beneficial for data and research on the front end of the sales process, allowing for targeted outreach and personalized communication, while noting the limitations of AI in outbound calling.
  • 25:26
    Strategic Timing & Follow-up
    Eric shares strategies for identifying optimal timing for outreach, such as tracking contract end dates and sending 'happy birthday to your roof' direct mail, to improve conversion rates for prospects.
  • 30:40
    Owner's Development Formula
    Eric advises owners to understand their business development formula, calculating the number of new customers and meetings needed to achieve growth goals before deciding on internal or external marketing solutions.
  • 39:11
    Contact & Closing Remarks
    Eric provides his contact information and encourages listeners to connect on LinkedIn or email, and mentions Abstrakt's podcast, 'The Grow Show'.

Speakers

R
Robert Clinkenbeard
Host
E
Eric Watkins
President of Abstrakt Marketing Group

Key Takeaways

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Develop an omni-channel marketing strategy that includes direct mail, email, LinkedIn, and phone calls to break through the noise and capture attention.

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Don't discount cold calling; office lines can still be effective for reaching decision-makers, maintaining a consistent contact rate.

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Utilize AI for data collection and research to identify the right companies and personalize your outreach, rather than relying on it for automated outbound calls.

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Determine your business development formula by calculating necessary new customers, deal sizes, and close rates to set clear targets for your marketing efforts.

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Actively track contract end dates and review cycles of potential clients to time your outreach strategically and increase the likelihood of securing new business.

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Hold yourself and your team accountable for consistent follow-up on leads, as poor internal sales processes can undermine even the best lead generation.

✦

If you're an owner, understand the sales motion yourself before hiring sales staff; this allows you to create a proven playbook and effectively train new team members.

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