How Michael Maximoff Scaled Belkins To $15M: Retention, Pricing & Profitability The Founder-Led Marketing Show podcast

#Business #Marketing #Finn Thormeier

20:33

Have you ever opened Instagram to see a bunch of people posting from the same place — Lisbon? The Amalfi Coast? Charleston? Japan? It’s no coincidence that every year, it feels like everyone is going on the exact same trips. In this episode, we’re going to pull back the curtain on the travel media industry and show you how a place becomes a viral destination. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show »
How Michael Maximoff Scaled Belkins to $15M: Retention, Pricing & Profitability

4 days ago 37:30

MP3•Episode home

In this episode, Michael shares why retention is the real growth lever for agencies, how to build a comp structure that drives accountability, and why the dream of 50% profit margins is mostly a myth. He also breaks down what most agency founders get wrong when trying to launch a product and what he'd do differently today.

### *Topics we cover in this episode:*

- Why retention and not acquisition, is what actually scales agencies

- How to structure account manager compensation for maximum LTV

- Why smaller agencies struggle more with client churn

- The myth of 50% profit margins—and what’s realistic instead

- Building a calm, profitable agency vs. chasing top-line growth

- What to know before launching a SaaS product from your agency

- Why your internal tools might be your best product idea

- How to think about equity, ownership, and hiring a “#2” early

### *Topics that we are covering in this episode:*

- The biggest growth levers behind scaling to $3M ARR

- How Frank dominated LinkedIn to drive early traction

- Why founder-led marketing works—but why it isn’t enough long-term

- How AI agents and automation are reshaping outbound sales

- Why Salesforge launched multiple products in parallel instead of a single brand

- The playbook for building an ecosystem of SaaS tools

- Scaling from 3 founders to 40 employees in 12 months

- The right way to transition from founder-led growth to scalable marketing

### *Perfect for:*

- Agency founders looking to improve retention and margins

- Entrepreneurs considering the leap from services to software

- SaaS builders who want to avoid common product spin-out mistakes

- Operators thinking long-term about structure, incentives, and scale

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more insights from industry leaders reshaping B2B SaaS and marketing!

### *Connect with Michael:*

- *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff/

- *Belkins:* https://belkins.io/

- *From Zero to Agency Hero Newsletter:* https://www.fromzerotoagencyhero.com/

### *Connect with me:*

- *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/

- *Website:* https://www.project33.io/

- *Podcast:* https://open.spotify.com/show/03CXzsZp7wdqIRVDcqPTFH

### *Chapters*

00:00 Introduction and Michael’s Background

01:10 Why Retention is the #1 Metric for Agencies

03:00 The Revenue-Sharing Model for Account Managers

06:15 Aligning Incentives with Client Success

08:30 Building an Ownership Culture in Account Management

11:10 Setting North Star Metrics and Client KPIs

14:00 The Myth of 50% Profit Margins

16:30 Why Small Agencies Struggle with Churn

20:00 How to Build a Calm, Profitable Agency

23:00 Scaling from $1M to $5M: The Key Levers

26:00 Finding and Growing Your #2 Operator

28:00 What to Know Before Spinning Out a SaaS Product

31:00 The Mistake Most Founders Make When Building Products

33:00 Building Tools Your Agency Can’t Live Without

35:00 Why Most SaaS Companies Don’t Make Real Money

36:30 Final Thoughts and Michael’s Newsletter

#linkedin #founderledmarketing #saas #b2bmarketing #contentmarketing #ecommerce #shopify #personalbranding

#linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbrandingcoach #linkedin #founderledmarketing #saas #b2bmarketing #aiagents #salesautomation #outboundsales #contentmarketing #growthstrategy

105 episodes

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

How Michael Maximoff Scaled Belkins to $15M: Retention, Pricing & Profitability

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

published 4 days ago

MP3•Episode home

### *Topics we cover in this episode:*

- Why retention and not acquisition, is what actually scales agencies

- How to structure account manager compensation for maximum LTV

- Why smaller agencies struggle more with client churn

- The myth of 50% profit margins—and what’s realistic instead

- Building a calm, profitable agency vs. chasing top-line growth

- What to know before launching a SaaS product from your agency

- Why your internal tools might be your best product idea

- How to think about equity, ownership, and hiring a “#2” early

### *Topics that we are covering in this episode:*

- The biggest growth levers behind scaling to $3M ARR

- How Frank dominated LinkedIn to drive early traction

- Why founder-led marketing works—but why it isn’t enough long-term

- How AI agents and automation are reshaping outbound sales

- Why Salesforge launched multiple products in parallel instead of a single brand

- The playbook for building an ecosystem of SaaS tools

- Scaling from 3 founders to 40 employees in 12 months

- The right way to transition from founder-led growth to scalable marketing

### *Perfect for:*

- Agency founders looking to improve retention and margins

- Entrepreneurs considering the leap from services to software

- SaaS builders who want to avoid common product spin-out mistakes

- Operators thinking long-term about structure, incentives, and scale

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more insights from industry leaders reshaping B2B SaaS and marketing!

### *Connect with Michael:*

- *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff/

- *Belkins:* https://belkins.io/

- *From Zero to Agency Hero Newsletter:* https://www.fromzerotoagencyhero.com/

### *Connect with me:*

- *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/

- *Website:* https://www.project33.io/

- *Podcast:* https://open.spotify.com/show/03CXzsZp7wdqIRVDcqPTFH

### *Chapters*

00:00 Introduction and Michael’s Background

01:10 Why Retention is the #1 Metric for Agencies

03:00 The Revenue-Sharing Model for Account Managers

06:15 Aligning Incentives with Client Success

08:30 Building an Ownership Culture in Account Management

11:10 Setting North Star Metrics and Client KPIs

14:00 The Myth of 50% Profit Margins

16:30 Why Small Agencies Struggle with Churn

20:00 How to Build a Calm, Profitable Agency

23:00 Scaling from $1M to $5M: The Key Levers

26:00 Finding and Growing Your #2 Operator

28:00 What to Know Before Spinning Out a SaaS Product

31:00 The Mistake Most Founders Make When Building Products

33:00 Building Tools Your Agency Can’t Live Without

35:00 Why Most SaaS Companies Don’t Make Real Money

36:30 Final Thoughts and Michael’s Newsletter

#linkedin #founderledmarketing #saas #b2bmarketing #contentmarketing #ecommerce #shopify #personalbranding

105 episodes

#Business #Marketing #Finn Thormeier

All episodes

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
How Michael Maximoff Scaled Belkins to $15M: Retention, Pricing & Profitability 37:30

4 days ago37:30

37:30

Michael Maximoff co-founded Belkins, a $15M/year appointment-setting agency that’s grown into one of the most efficient and well-run ops in the space. Alongside the agency, Michael also helped launch Folderly, a SaaS product born out of Belkins' internal needs. In this episode, Michael shares why retention is the real growth lever for agencies, how to build a comp structure that drives accountability, and why the dream of 50% profit margins is mostly a myth. He also breaks down what most agency founders get wrong when trying to launch a product and what he'd do differently today. ### *Topics we cover in this episode:* - Why retention and not acquisition, is what actually scales agencies - How to structure account manager compensation for maximum LTV - Why smaller agencies struggle more with client churn - The myth of 50% profit margins—and what’s realistic instead - Building a calm, profitable agency vs. chasing top-line growth - What to know before launching a SaaS product from your agency - Why your internal tools might be your best product idea - How to think about equity, ownership, and hiring a “#2” early ### *Topics that we are covering in this episode:* - The biggest growth levers behind scaling to $3M ARR - How Frank dominated LinkedIn to drive early traction - Why founder-led marketing works—but why it isn’t enough long-term - How AI agents and automation are reshaping outbound sales - Why Salesforge launched multiple products in parallel instead of a single brand - The playbook for building an ecosystem of SaaS tools - Scaling from 3 founders to 40 employees in 12 months - The right way to transition from founder-led growth to scalable marketing ### *Perfect for:* - Agency founders looking to improve retention and margins - Entrepreneurs considering the leap from services to software - SaaS builders who want to avoid common product spin-out mistakes - Operators thinking long-term about structure, incentives, and scale Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more insights from industry leaders reshaping B2B SaaS and marketing! ### *Connect with Michael:* - *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff/ - *Belkins:* https://belkins.io/ - *From Zero to Agency Hero Newsletter:* https://www.fromzerotoagencyhero.com/ ### *Connect with me:* - *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ - *Website:* https://www.project33.io/ - *Podcast:* https://open.spotify.com/show/03CXzsZp7wdqIRVDcqPTFH ### *Chapters* 00:00 Introduction and Michael’s Background 01:10 Why Retention is the #1 Metric for Agencies 03:00 The Revenue-Sharing Model for Account Managers 06:15 Aligning Incentives with Client Success 08:30 Building an Ownership Culture in Account Management 11:10 Setting North Star Metrics and Client KPIs 14:00 The Myth of 50% Profit Margins 16:30 Why Small Agencies Struggle with Churn 20:00 How to Build a Calm, Profitable Agency 23:00 Scaling from $1M to $5M: The Key Levers 26:00 Finding and Growing Your #2 Operator 28:00 What to Know Before Spinning Out a SaaS Product 31:00 The Mistake Most Founders Make When Building Products 33:00 Building Tools Your Agency Can’t Live Without 35:00 Why Most SaaS Companies Don’t Make Real Money 36:30 Final Thoughts and Michael’s Newsletter #linkedin #founderledmarketing #saas #b2bmarketing #contentmarketing #ecommerce #shopify #personalbranding #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbrandingcoach #linkedin #founderledmarketing #saas #b2bmarketing #aiagents #salesautomation #outboundsales #contentmarketing #growthstrategy…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
How This SaaS CEO Built a $3M ARR Ecosystem in Just 12 Month Without a Sales Team 50:52

12 days ago50:52

50:52

Frank Sondors is the co-founder and CEO of Salesforge, a platform that blends AI agents and human sales teams to maximize pipeline generation. In just 12 months, Salesforge scaled from 0 to $3M ARR without a massive sales team. In this episode, Frank breaks down the biggest levers behind that rapid growth, why founder-led marketing was essential in the early days, and how his team is building an AI-powered sales ecosystem instead of a traditional SaaS tool. He also shares the mindset and execution strategies behind scaling multiple products in parallel, optimizing founder-led marketing, and when to transition beyond it as a company grows. ### *Topics that we are covering in this episode:* - The biggest growth levers behind scaling to $3M ARR - How Frank dominated LinkedIn to drive early traction - Why founder-led marketing works—but why it isn’t enough long-term - How AI agents and automation are reshaping outbound sales - Why Salesforge launched multiple products in parallel instead of a single brand - The playbook for building an ecosystem of SaaS tools - Scaling from 3 founders to 40 employees in 12 months - The right way to transition from founder-led growth to scalable marketing ### *Perfect for:* - SaaS founders looking to scale revenue without a large sales team - B2B sales leaders navigating AI and automation in pipeline generation - Entrepreneurs figuring out how to transition beyond founder-led sales Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more insights from industry leaders reshaping B2B SaaS and marketing! ### *Connect with Frank:* - *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksondors/ - *Salesforge:* https://www.salesforge.ai/ ### *Connect with me:* - *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ - *Website:* https://www.project33.io/ - *Podcast:* https://open.spotify.com/show/03CXzsZp7wdqIRVDcqPTFH ### *Chapters* 00:00 Introduction and Frank’s Background 03:10 The AI Sales Revolution: Why Salesforge Exists 06:00 Scaling to $3M ARR in 12 Months—Without a Sales Team 08:48 The Founder-Led Marketing Playbook for Early Growth 11:59 Why LinkedIn Domination Was Critical for Scaling 14:45 Running Multiple SaaS Products Instead of One 21:08 The Power of AI Agents and Automation in Sales 27:20 How to Transition from Founder-Led to Scalable Growth 30:09 The Role of SEO, Affiliate, and Word-of-Mouth Growth 33:02 Building a Modular SaaS Ecosystem Instead of a Single Product 35:49 Why AI Agents Won’t Replace Sales Teams—But Will Change Them 39:02 How Salesforge is Reducing the Cost of Sales Teams 41:49 The Future of AI-Powered Sales and Go-To-Market Strategies #linkedin #founderledmarketing #saas #b2bmarketing #contentmarketing #ecommerce #shopify #personalbranding #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbrandingcoach #linkedin #founderledmarketing #saas #b2bmarketing #aiagents #salesautomation #outboundsales #contentmarketing #growthstrategy…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
The LinkedIn Allbound Playbook Generating 250+ Demos & 1,000+ Signups/Month for this SaaS Founder 51:48

14 days ago51:48

51:48

Bethany Stachenfeld is the co-founder and CEO of Sendspark, a SaaS platform that helps businesses create personalized videos at scale using AI. Since launching in 2019, SendSpark has grown into a go-to tool for sales teams looking to increase engagement and efficiency in outreach. In this episode, Bethany shares how she’s leveraged founder-led marketing to build SendSpark, scale her audience to over 25,000 LinkedIn followers, and generate thousands of signups per month. She breaks down the workflow strategies, automation tools, and signals she tracks to convert content engagement into warm outbound leads. ### *Topics that we are covering in this episode:* - How AI is changing video personalization in sales and marketing - The impact of founder-led marketing on brand growth - Bethany’s process for consistently posting high-value content - The automation stack she uses to scale outreach and engagement - How to track and convert social engagement into revenue - The role of video in outbound sales and why it works - Lessons from scaling a SaaS company in a competitive market ### *Perfect for:* - SaaS founders and marketing leaders looking to leverage founder-led marketing - Entrepreneurs curious about AI-powered personalization in sales - Business leaders exploring outbound sales automation - Marketers and sales teams who want to increase engagement with video Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more insights from industry leaders reshaping B2B SaaS and marketing! ### *Connect with Bethany:* - *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-stachenfeld/ - *Sendspark:* https://www.sendspark.com/ ### *Connect with me:* - *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ - *Website:* https://www.project33.io/ - *Podcast:* https://open.spotify.com/show/03CXzsZp7wdqIRVDcqPTFH ### *Chapters* 00:00 Introduction and Bethany’s Background 03:10 How AI is Changing Video Personalization 06:00 The Founder-Led Marketing Playbook 08:48 Turning Social Engagement into Revenue 11:59 Automating Outreach Without Losing Authenticity 14:45 Scaling a SaaS Company with Founder-Led Growth 21:08 The Role of Video in Sales and Marketing 27:20 The Tools and Tech Stack Behind SendSpark’s Growth 30:09 Best Practices for Outbound Sales Using AI 33:02 The Future of AI in Sales and Marketing 35:49 Common Mistakes in Founder-Led Marketing 39:02 What’s Next for SendSpark #linkedin #founderledmarketing #saas #b2bmarketing #contentmarketing #ecommerce #shopify #personalbranding #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
Is Founder-Led Marketing Setting Your Company Up for Failure? 54:21

18 days ago54:21

54:21

Frank Grillo is a veteran B2B marketing leader. After his 30+ year career as a CMO in IT and Telecoms, he quit his job, moved to Italy and started his own distillery (talk about something cool!!!) In this episode, Frank shares how SaaS companies can avoid messaging pitfalls, and what it really takes to reach the right customers. He also breaks down the biggest lessons from failed SaaS companies, the role of AI in business strategy, and what marketing and distilling have in common. We get into: - The Challenges of Founder-Led Marketing - Why SaaS Companies Struggle with Messaging & Growth - Understanding Customer Needs (feat. The Milkshake Analogy) - When & How to Transition Beyond Founder-Led Marketing - Lessons from Failed SaaS Companies - The Role of AI in Business & Marketing Strategy - Frank’s Journey from SaaS to Distilling Perfect for: Founders, marketers, and B2B SaaS leaders who actually want to move the needle and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more insights from industry leaders reshaping B2B SaaS and marketing! Connect with Frank: Frank’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frgrillo/ Altamura Distilleries: https://www.altamuradistilleries.com/en/ Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/03CXzsZp7wdqIRVDcqPTFH LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Chapters: 00:00 The Journey from B2B Marketing to Distilling 03:10 Challenges of Founder-Led Marketing 06:00 The Milkshake Example: Understanding Customer Needs 08:48 Transitioning from Founder-Led to Broader Marketing 11:59 The Importance of Language in Marketing 14:45 Case Studies: Lessons from Failed SaaS Companies 21:08 The Role of Founders in Scaling Businesses 27:20 Evolving Marketing Strategies for SaaS Companies 30:09 The Role of Founder-Led Marketing 33:02 Identifying the Right Founders for Marketing 35:49 Breaking Norms in Founder-Led Marketing 39:02 Understanding Market Opportunities and Risks 41:49 Transitioning from Marketing to Distilling 49:50 Leveraging AI in Business Strategies #linkedin #founderledmarketing #saas #b2bmarketing #contentmarketing #businessgrowth #entrepreneurship #personalbranding #AIinbusiness #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
How this B2B Founder Generated 1.6M Views and $1M+ ARR from LinkedIn in 2024 for his Ecom SaaS 34:11

21 days ago34:11

34:11

Ben Sharf is the co-founder and co-CEO of Platter, a profitability toolkit designed for Shopify brands. Before founding Platter, Ben worked at GoPuff, where he gained deep insights into e-commerce operations. In this episode, Ben shares his transition into entrepreneurship, the power of founder-led marketing, and the lessons he’s learned from consistently creating content online. He talks about how podcasts have become an unexpected growth lever, why authenticity is key in content creation, and how simplifying complex ideas can drive engagement. ### *Topics that we are covering in this episode:* - Ben’s journey from GoPuff to launching Platter - Lessons from a year of consistent LinkedIn content - The power of authenticity in founder-led marketing - How podcasts help build relationships and business opportunities - Overcoming insecurities in content creation - The role of content in hiring and investment opportunities - Why simplifying complex ideas makes content more engaging ### *Perfect for:* - Founders and operators in e-commerce and SaaS - Entrepreneurs looking to build a personal brand through content - Business leaders exploring podcasting as a marketing tool - Startup founders navigating early-stage marketing and growth Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more insights from industry leaders reshaping B2B SaaS and marketing! ### *Connect with Ben:* - *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-sharf-b554a5b3/ - *Platter:* https://www.platter.com/ ### *Connect with me:* - *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ - *Website:* https://www.project33.io/ - *Podcast:* https://open.spotify.com/show/03CXzsZp7wdqIRVDcqPTFH ### *Chapters* *00:00* Introduction and Background *08:51* Insights from a Year of Content Creation *14:26* The Role of Podcasting in Founder Marketing *19:45* The Role of Content in Business Growth *26:47* The Power of Simplifying Complex Ideas *33:09* Navigating the Pressure of Content Creation #linkedin #founderledmarketing #saas #b2bmarketing #contentmarketing #ecommerce #shopify #personalbranding #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
Dave Gerhardt’s Top Advice on Building a Founder Brand in 2025 53:31

26 days ago53:31

53:31

Dave Gerhardt is the Founder of Exit Five and a marketing leader known for helping scale some of the fastest-growing B2B SaaS companies. With a background that includes key roles at Drift and Privy. In this episode, Dave shares his insights on building a powerful personal brand as a founder, the importance of differentiation in a crowded SaaS market, and why consistency and quality in content creation are essential. He also talks about leveraging audience feedback, the role of storytelling in marketing, and how to build a strong online presence and community that amplifies your brand message. We get into: - The Evolution of Founder Branding - Differentiation in a Competitive Landscape - Building a Personal Brand as a Founder - Consistency and Quality in Content Creation - Finding Your Niche and Standing Out - Innovative Marketing Strategies for Founders - Storytelling and Copywriting as Key Marketing Skills Perfect for: Founders, marketers, and B2B SaaS leaders who actually want to move the needle and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more insights from industry leaders reshaping B2B SaaS and marketing! Connect with Dave: Dave's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegerhardt/ Exit Five: https://www.exitfive.com/ Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/03CXzsZp7wdqIRVDcqPTFH LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Chapters: 00:00 The Evolution of Founder Branding 02:46 Differentiation in a Competitive Landscape 05:57 Building a Personal Brand as a Founder 08:50 The Importance of Consistency and Content Quality 11:50 Finding Your Niche and Standing Out 15:10 Leveraging Feedback and Signals for Growth 17:51 Creating a Unique Value Proposition 21:06 The Role of Community in Brand Building 28:51 Innovative Marketing Strategies for Founders 32:34 The Importance of Differentiation in SaaS 35:50 Iterative Learning and Customer Feedback 38:48 The Art of Storytelling in Marketing 44:48 Building an Online Presence and Community #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
From VP at Twilio to AI Founder: Mark Gilbert’s Lessons on Product Management, Growth, and Fundraising 38:52

28 days ago38:52

38:52

Mark Gilbert is the Co-Founder & CEO of Zocks, an AI meeting assistant designed specifically for financial advisors. Before founding Zox, Mark was the VP Of Product Management at Twilio, CTO at Hearsay Systems and General Manager at Microsoft. In this episode, Mark shares how he transitioned from corporate life to running his own startup, the challenges and opportunities he sees in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, and why focusing on a niche market has been a game-changer for Zox. He also dives into the importance of prioritizing product development, building credibility in B2B, and the realities of fundraising. We discuss: - Mark's Journey from Corporate Executive to Startup Founder - Prioritizing Product Development in a Fast-Paced AI Startup - The Strategic Focus on Financial Advisors and Why It Works - Lessons Learned from Transitioning to Startup Life - Building Credibility in B2B Markets - The Realities of Fundraising and Preparing for Investor Discussions - Understanding User Problems to Drive Product Success - How to Navigate the AI Hype and Maintain Focus - The Long-Term Nature of Building a Successful Business Perfect for: Founders and executives in B2B SaaS and AI-driven businesses looking for insights on product strategy, fundraising, and navigating a rapidly changing market. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more conversations with industry leaders reshaping B2B SaaS and AI. Connect with Mark: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgil/ Zocks: https://www.zocks.io/ Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/03CXzsZp7wdqIRVDcqPTFH LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Chapters 00:00 The Journey to Entrepreneurship 02:52 Navigating the AI Landscape 06:06 Prioritizing Product Development 09:09 Focusing on Financial Advisors 11:59 Expanding Beyond Financial Advisors 14:51 Lessons from Transitioning to Startup Life 18:00 Advice for Aspiring Founders 21:04 Building Credibility in B2B 23:46 Fundraising Insights 26:49 Navigating the AI Hype 30:02 Future of AI in Business #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
Justin Rowe: $100K/Month LinkedIn Ads Strategy 55:17

5 weeks ago55:17

55:17

Justin Rowe is the Founder of Impactable. Impactable is the #1 B2B LinkedIn agency where LinkedIn experts scale modern B2B startups with demand gen & retargeting frameworks. Justin's story ranges from the Restaurant Industry to launching a lead gen agency that was acquired to now running the #1 LinkedIn Ads Agency. We talk about the balance of LinkedIn Ads and Paid Search, how to effectively budget your campaigns and many other topics like: - Strategies for Boosting Organic Content - Paid Search vs. LinkedIn Ads - Budgeting for LinkedIn Ads - Campaign Structure for Cold vs. Retargeting Layers - Content Strategy for Cold vs. Retargeting Ads - Optimizing Ad Performance and Budget Allocation - Optimizing LinkedIn Ad Spend - Thought Leader Ads - Troubleshooting LinkedIn Ad Performance Perfect for: CEOs and founders of B2B SaaS companies focused on creating awareness, building trust, and driving pipeline by implementing a proven content process. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more conversations with industry leaders who are reshaping B2B GTM and growth. Connect with Justin: Justin’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-rowe-4043339b/ Impactable: https://impactable.com/ Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to LinkedIn Ads and Fletch 02:18 Strategies for Amplifying Organic Content 05:39 Paid Search vs. LinkedIn Ads: A Balanced Approach 09:23 Budgeting for LinkedIn Ads: Initial Considerations 11:44 Campaign Structure: Cold vs. Retargeting Layers 15:52 Attribution and Measuring Impact 19:27 Content Strategy for Cold and Retargeting Ads 23:32 Optimizing Ad Performance and Budget Allocation 27:49 Optimizing LinkedIn Ad Spend 30:09 Building Brand Awareness for Non-Market Buyers 32:02 Leveraging Engagement Signals for Outbound Strategies 35:09 The Hustle Behind Successful Marketing 37:08 Exploring Cross-Platform Advertising Strategies 39:00 The Evolution of Thought Leader Ads 40:58 Foundational Elements for LinkedIn Advertising Success 45:51 Troubleshooting LinkedIn Ad Performance #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
The Viral Product Launch Template for LinkedIn (How to Do PR in 2025) 50:50

5 weeks ago50:50

50:50

In this episode, I break down the viral product launch template for LinkedIn. I will talk about: - Strategic Use of Funding Announcements - The New PR Playbook for Founders - Leveraging Social Proof for Growth - Depth vs. Frequency in Content Creation - Iterating on Content Strategy for Better Engagement Perfect for: CEOs and founders of B2B SaaS companies focused on creating awareness, building trust, and driving pipeline by implementing a proven content process. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more conversations with industry leaders who are reshaping B2B GTM and growth. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Chapters 00:00 Masterclass in Product Launch on LinkedIn 05:27 Strategic Use of Funding Announcements 08:48 The New PR Playbook for Founders 12:46 Building an Engaging Audience 17:14 Navigating Engagement Pods and Boosted Posts 20:08 Leveraging Social Proof for Growth 25:22 Building Strong Associations in Business 26:42 Starting from Scratch: The Power of Focus 27:45 Creating a Podcast to Connect with Your Audience 29:20 Leveraging Conversations for Content Creation 31:19 Establishing a Consistent Posting Cadence 33:41 Maintaining Momentum in Content Creation 36:59 Learning from Mistakes: The Importance of Focus 43:10 The Value of Newsletters in Building Relationships 44:51 Depth vs. Frequency in Content Creation #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
The LinkedIn Post Format This SaaS CEO Used to 5.5x Revenue in 2024 40:36

6 weeks ago40:36

40:36

Marty Kausas is the Co-Founder & CEO at Pylon. Pylon is a modern alternative to Zendesk, optimized for B2B. Marty's LinkedIn posts generated 1.2 million impressions, leading to 5.5x their revenue in 2024. We talk about the impact of Founder-Led Marketing on Pylon's revenue, how the tech landscape in San Francisco is changing, and many other topics like: - Founder-Led Marketing Insights - Marty's Journey of Building his LinkedIn Presence - Measuring Success and Growth - The Role of LinkedIn in Pylon's Business Growth - Understanding B2B vs B2C Workflows - The Importance of Messaging and Positioning - Defining a Unique Point of View - Marty's Advice for Aspiring SaaS Founders Perfect for: CEOs and founders of B2B SaaS companies focused on creating awareness, building trust, and driving pipeline by implementing a proven content process. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more conversations with industry leaders who are reshaping B2B GTM and growth. Connect with Marty: Marty’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martykausas/ Pylon: https://usepylon.com/ Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Chapters 00:00 The San Francisco Tech Landscape 03:09 Political Climate and Its Impact 06:03 Founder-Led Marketing Insights 08:49 The Journey of Building a LinkedIn Presence 12:06 Navigating Controversy and Viral Content 15:02 The Role of LinkedIn in Business Growth 18:06 Positioning Against Competitors: The Zendesk Killer 21:07 Understanding B2B vs B2C Workflows 22:45 Defining a Unique Point of View 24:58 The Importance of Messaging and Positioning 28:00 Maximizing Content Marketing Efforts 30:34 Adapting to a Crowded LinkedIn Landscape 38:01 Transitioning to Upmarket Strategies 42:10 Advice for Aspiring SaaS Founders #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
How to 10-100X Your Leads From LinkedIn: The Direct Response Post Framework 38:40

6 weeks ago38:40

38:40

In this Episode, I break down the step-by-step direct response post framework to 10-100X your leads from LinkedIn. Topics that we will cover are: - Case Studies and Practical Tools - How to Write Good LinkedIn Hooks - The Importance of Resonance Over Engagement - Understanding Customer Priorities Through Research - How to Scale Content - Iterating on Content Strategy for Better Engagement Perfect for: CEOs and founders of B2B SaaS companies focused on creating awareness, building trust, and driving pipeline by implementing a proven content process. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more conversations with industry leaders who are reshaping B2B GTM and growth. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Chapters 07:10 Engagement and Community Building 08:03 Direct Response LinkedIn Framework 20:47 Case Studies and Practical Applications 27:21 Mapping Product Solutions to Customer Priorities 30:21 Crafting Effective Hooks for Engagement 33:23 Delivering on Promises: The Importance of Solutions 36:12 Understanding Customer Priorities Through Research 39:11 Scaling Content: The Power of Video Sales Letters 42:25 Creating Layered Content for Diverse Needs 44:43 Defining Real Priorities for Your Ideal Customer Profile 48:44 Iterating on Content Strategy for Better Engagement #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
10M+ Linkedin Impressions per Year: Gal Aga’s Head of Content Shares BTS Insights 46:27

7 weeks ago46:27

46:27

Arthur Castillo is the Director of Content, Community & Partnerships at Aligned. Aligned is pioneering the new way that B2B revenue teams interact with customers in today's remote, digital era. After excelling as a top 3 sales rep at every company Arthur worked for, he decided to explore marketing and his obsession with the B2B buying journey. We talk about how Aligned made LinkedIn, with over 10M+ impressions per year, one of their biggest lead channels and many other topics like: - Understanding PLG and Sales Strategies - Developing a Unique Point of View - Measuring Success and Growth - How to Start Posting on LinkedIn - Experimentation and Goal Setting - The Importance of Customer Feedback - Supporting CEOs in Content Creation - Targeting the Right Audience with Founder-Led Marketing Perfect for: CEOs and founders of B2B SaaS companies focused on creating awareness, building trust, and driving pipeline by implementing a proven content process. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more conversations with industry leaders who are reshaping B2B GTM and growth. Connect with Arthur: Arthur’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-castillo/ Aligned: https://alignedup.com/ Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Aligned and Its Leadership 03:01 The Power of Founder-Led Marketing 05:52 Understanding Buyer Enablement 09:09 Developing a Unique Point of View 12:07 The Feedback Loop in Content Creation 14:55 Measuring Success and Growth 17:52 Strategies for Advocating Content Marketing 20:51 Framing Content Marketing as an Experiment 24:02 Experimentation and Goal Setting 27:24 The Power of Content as Leverage 30:00 Understanding Customer Feedback 32:20 Supporting CEOs in Content Creation 35:30 Targeting the Right Audience 39:53 Navigating Complex Buying Committees 43:02 Bridging Communication Gaps #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
Why This Founder’s #1 GTM Channel Is a Book Launch 43:37

7 weeks ago43:37

43:37

Wes Bush is CEO & Founder of ProductLed. The #1 Coaching Company For SaaS Founders & Their GTM Teams Looking To Scale With Product-Led Growth. Over the last 8 years, Wes worked hands-on with 400+ SaaS companies, helping them unlock $1B+ in self-serve revenue through Product-Led Growth (PLG). We discuss the principles of Product-Led Growth (PLG), the importance of Founder-Led Marketing and many other topics like: - The Role of Content in Building Trust and Authority - The Value of Newsletters in B2B Marketing - The Impact of Webinars on Trust and Engagement - Understanding What Drives Business Outcomes - Leveraging Ghostwriters for Content Creation - The Three Modes of Product-Led's Business Model Perfect for: CEOs and founders of B2B SaaS companies focused on creating awareness, building trust, and driving pipeline by implementing a proven content process. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more conversations with industry leaders who are reshaping B2B GTM and growth. Connect with Wes: Wes’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesbush/ ProductLed: https://productled.com/ Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to PLG & Founder-Led Marketing 02:50 – The Three Modes of a Product-Led Business 06:09 – Why Writing & Publishing Books Matters 08:47 – How Content Builds Trust & Authority 12:10 – Should Founders Write a Book? 14:49 – The Power of Newsletters in B2B Marketing 18:03 – Building a Product Philosophy 20:57 – The Character Diamond & Personal Branding 24:05 – How Webinars Build Trust & Engagement 26:51 – Using Ghostwriters for Content Creation 30:04 – What Drives Business Outcomes? 33:03 – Final Thoughts on Writing & Content Strategy #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
Case Study: 4 Enterprise VP Leads ($500K ACV) With 1 LinkedIn Post 32:39

8 weeks ago32:39

32:39

Breaking down a customer case study on Fredrik Björk, CEO at Grafbase. Grafbase provides secure self-hosted deployment options, unmatched query speed, advanced governance, and unified data access for reliable, enterprise-grade API management. I analyze how he was able to generate 4 enterprise VP leads ($500K ACV) with 1 LinkedIn post, with specific insights around: - Understanding the Customer's Background - Content Strategy and Performance Metrics - The Importance of Resonance Over Engagement - Leveraging Insights for Business Strategy - Measuring Trust and Credibility - Competitive Advantage in Content Creation Perfect for: CEOs and founders of B2B SaaS companies focused on creating awareness, building trust, and driving pipeline by implementing a proven content process. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more conversations with industry leaders who are reshaping B2B GTM and growth. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finnthormeier/ Website: https://www.project33.io/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Customer Case Study 02:48 Understanding the Customer's Background 05:34 Content Strategy and Performance Metrics 09:32 The Importance of Resonance Over Engagement 14:29 Leveraging Insights for Business Strategy 18:45 Measuring Trust and Credibility 24:56 Competitive Advantage in Content Creation #linkedin #founderledmarketing #linkedinads #linkedinagency #founderbranding #saas #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #demandgen #content #b2b #revenue #contentmarketing #performancemarketing #videomarketing #personalbranding…

The Founder-Led Marketing Show

1
Jacco van der Kooij: 3 Ways SaaS Founders Need to Implement AI in Their GTM in 2025 37:24

9 weeks ago37:24