Revenue Rewired

Jay Feitlinger & Sarah Shepard | B2B Growth Experts

Reimagine how you approach marketing, sales, and revenue growth with the Revenue Rewired podcast. Hosted by StringCan Interactive’s CEO Jay Feitlinger and COO Sarah Shepard, this podcast dives into the biggest challenges mid-market B2B companies face. Weekly this dynamic duo breaks down complex strategies into actionable insights to help you align your business, maximize ROI, and drive measurable growth. No jargon (ok maybe a lil), but mainly just straight talk to fuel your revenue engine. Tune in and take your business to the next level.

  1. 1d ago

    Ep 82: Strategic Partner or Task Shop? What Clients Should Know Before Hiring an Agency

    Sixteen years into running StringCan Interactive, Jay Feitlinger and Sarah Shepard get candid about why so many agency-client relationships fall apart and how agencies help cause it. They trace nearly every breakdown back to two culprits: communication and alignment. You’ll hear how a rushed sales handoff sets up failure, why clients quietly expect their agency to read minds, and how a strategic partner can push back without saying no. Jay shares real examples, including a prospect call where he steered a client away from a shiny new launch to fix their CRM first. If you hire agencies or run one, this episode is for you. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN The two root causes behind almost every agency breakup and why small misunderstandings stack up like a house of cardsWhy the handoff from business development to client services can doom a partnership before kickoffHow Jay talked a prospect out of putting 80% of their effort into a new offering, bringing in about 2% of revenueA pushback approach that lets the data deliver bad news, including the 52% close rate that didn’t hold up under a bigger data setWhat to ask any agency that says yes to everything before you sign the contract CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome, Phoenix Heat, and a World Series prediction 1:03 Why the agency-client relationship is broken, and agencies share the blame 3:21 The two root causes behind almost every breakdown 5:03 The mind reader's expectation that strains partnerships 7:56 How to have hard conversations with kindness 11:36 What “strategic partner” should actually mean 12:41 The rushed sales handoff that sinks relationships from day one 19:31 Healthy pushback vs. saying no, and using data as the messenger 24:08 Why disagreement makes a partnership stronger 26:09 Red flags to watch for when you hire an agency SEO KEYWORDS b2b marketing strategy, sales pipeline management, revenue operations, mid-market sales, sales enablement, agency client relationship, marketing agency partnership, hiring a marketing agency, strategic marketing partner, client communication, go-to-market strategy, HubSpot CRM optimization, B2B growth, marketing and sales alignment, Revenue Rewired podcast ABOUT THE HOSTS Jay Feitlinger is the CEO of StringCan Interactive and author of Revenue Rewired. He’s spent more than 16 years helping B2B companies find and fix the leaks costing them revenue. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayfeitlinger/ Sarah Shepard is the COO of StringCan and keeps strategy, operations, and client delivery running in sync. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahshepardcoo/ ABOUT REVENUE REWIRED Revenue Rewired is a podcast for B2B marketers, sales leaders, and business owners working where sales and marketing meet. Each episode delivers practical insights on b2b marketing strategy, revenue operations, sales enablement, and sales pipeline management for mid-market companies that want to grow revenue with purpose. ABOUT STRINGCAN INTERACTIVE StringCan is a B2B growth marketing agency in Scottsdale, Arizona that helps mid-market sales and marketing teams align around revenue. LINKS Email: podcast@stringcaninteractive.com Website: https://www.stringcaninteractive.com Buy the Revenue Rewired book: https://www.amazon.com/Revenue-Rewired-Identify-Leaks-Costing-ebook/dp/B0FST7JCXQ Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/revenue-rewired-7423414515779936256/

  2. Oct 22

    Ep 81: Before, During and After Turning Trade Show Traffic Into Real Revenue

    You paid for the booth, the flights, and the hotel, so why does the trade show still feel like a write-off? Jay Feitlinger just got back from supporting a client at a Las Vegas conference, and he and Sarah Shepard break down what separates an event that builds pipeline from one that drains your budget. They walk through the prep that should start weeks out, why marketing and sales alignment decides your results on the floor, the great swag debate, and the follow-up mistakes that kill hot leads. If events are part of your b2b marketing strategy, this episode shows you how to protect that investment and turn conversations into revenue. What You’ll Learn The lunch conversation with another exhibitor that revealed exactly why his conference flopped, and the prep work that would’ve saved it Why your shyest product expert could be your biggest booth liability, and how smart scheduling and sales enablement turn her into your secret closer The generic follow-up email Jay received after the event turned him off instantly, plus a simple personal approach that keeps hot leads warm How regrouping every few hours let Jay’s team test new messaging live and pivot before the show ended Where the real networking happens (hint: it isn’t your booth) and how a roaming teammate strengthens your sales pipeline management Chapters 00:00 Welcome back from Vegas, and why we follow clients to their conferences 00:48 The eye-opening exhibitor form that shows what a booth really costs 03:00 Why a revenue mindset changes how you judge event spend 05:00 Skip the prep, and you shouldn’t even go 05:57 “I just packed and came”: a cautionary tale from the exhibit hall 08:32 Meet the host halfway and double layer your marketing 10:25 Plan it like a wedding: the research that made Jay look like a past attendee 14:28 The swag debate: shiny objects or wasted budget? 17:54 During the show: social listening, power lunches and daily regroups 21:00 Follow-ups that feel personal instead of pushy 23:48 Stop guarding the booth and start fishing the floor 26:11 Staff to strengths: protecting introverts and placing hunters and farmers 29:56 Making the most of the people you bring SEO Keywords b2b marketing strategy, sales pipeline management, revenue operations, mid-market sales, sales enablement, trade show ROI, conference marketing, trade show lead generation, event follow-up, booth staffing tips, marketing and sales alignment, B2B events, Revenue Rewired podcast Meet Your Hosts Jay Feitlinger is the CEO of StringCan Interactive and co-author of Revenue Rewired. He helps mid-market companies find and fix the leaks costing them revenue. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayfeitlinger/ Sarah Shepard is the COO of StringCan and brings an operations lens to growth, focusing on protecting spend and getting the full return on every investment. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahshepardcoo/ About Revenue Rewired Revenue Rewired is a podcast for B2B marketers, sales leaders and business owners working where sales and marketing meet. Each episode delivers actionable insights on mid-market sales, revenue operations and growing revenue strategically. About StringCan Interactive StringCan Interactive is a B2B growth marketing agency in Scottsdale, Arizona that connects marketing, sales and revenue operations so mid-market companies can grow with purpose. Links Email: podcast@stringcaninteractive.com Website: https://www.stringcaninteractive.com Buy the Revenue Rewired book: https://www.amazon.com/Revenue-Rewired-Identify-Leaks-Costing-ebook/dp/B0FST7JCXQ Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/revenue-rewired-7423414515779936256/

  3. Oct 15

    Ep 80: Finding Hidden Revenue in Your Closed Lost Pipeline

    What if your next big win is already sitting in your CRM? In this episode of Revenue Rewired, Jay Feitlinger and Sarah Shepard dig into closed lost, the pipeline stage where deals quietly go to be forgotten. Jay shares how reviewing hundreds of closed lost deals in a client's HubSpot account showed roughly 70% were lost to timing, which reshaped their entire budget plan. If you lead mid-market sales or revenue operations, you'll learn why one closed lost stage protects your data, how lead scoring surfaces hidden opportunities, and how a small pilot can restart conversations with buyers who found the grass wasn't greener What You'll Learn Why 70% of one client's lost deals came down to timing, and how that finding cut their planned lead spend The surprising reason Jay advises against adding a "not yet" stage to your pipeline How lead scoring and automation turn sales pipeline management into a system for finding revived deals The simple "not now" audit you can test in Q1 with just five to ten contacts Why working your closed lost list from the deals that got closest to signing can speed up your wins Chapters 0:00 The Revenue Rewired book hits number one in four Amazon categories 2:00 Closed lost: the stage where good deals go to be forgotten 3:23 A client asked for more leads and got a smarter plan they didn't expect 7:24 Should ghosted deals and "not yet" deals live in separate stages? 10:03 Why a single closed lost stage keeps your sales data clean 14:01 You already paid for these leads, so why isn't anyone following up? 15:33 What "we miss you" campaigns can teach your sales enablement team 17:28 How a car dealership earned Jay's attention after he said no 19:41 Abandoned cart lessons and finding the right follow-up timing 21:42 How to run a "not now" audit starting with your goals and ICPs 26:56 Working your pipeline backward and spotting buyer turnover SEO Keywords b2b marketing strategy, sales pipeline management, revenue operations, mid-market sales, sales enablement, closed lost deals, HubSpot CRM, deal re-engagement, lead scoring, win back lost deals, CRM data integrity, ideal customer profile, customer journey mapping, 2027 sales planning, B2B podcast About the Hosts Jay Feitlinger is the CEO of StringCan Interactive and co-author of Revenue Rewired. He helps mid-market companies find and fix the revenue leaks that stall growth. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayfeitlinger/  Sarah Shepard is the COO of StringCan Interactive and co-author of Revenue Rewired. She brings a no-nonsense, operations-first view to aligning sales and marketing. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahshepardcoo/  About Revenue Rewired Revenue Rewired is a podcast for B2B marketers, sales leaders, and business owners working where sales and marketing meet. Each episode delivers practical insights for mid-market companies that want to grow revenue with a stronger b2b marketing strategy. About StringCan Interactive StringCan Interactive is a B2B growth marketing agency in Scottsdale, Arizona, helping companies connect marketing, sales, and revenue operations so every dollar works harder. Links Website: https://www.stringcaninteractive.com Email: podcast@stringcaninteractive.com Buy the Revenue Rewired book: https://www.amazon.com/Revenue-Rewired-Identify-Leaks-Costing-ebook/dp/B0FST7JCXQ Read this week's newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-best-2027-pipeline-might-sitting-closed-lost-jay-feitlinger-bdcdc

  4. Oct 8

    Ep 79: Feelings vs Features and the Sales Experience That Wins or Loses the Deal

    Picture a buyer comparing two software platforms, and the one with the stronger features loses because the sales experience felt slow and inconsistent. Jay Feitlinger and Sarah Shepard use a real client situation to explore how feelings and features both shape a purchase, and how a few days of silence can undo great marketing. You'll hear how to treat early friction as a single data point instead of a verdict, why unspoken expectations break trust, and how a quick audit of your touchpoints can reveal revenue leaks. If you lead mid-market sales or own your b2b marketing strategy, this episode will change how you view every handoff. KEY TAKEAWAYS The surprising reason a platform with missing features can still win the deal, and what it means for your sales pipeline management A simple way to tell one annoying moment from a real pattern of friction before you walk away from a vendor The onboarding question that surfaces unspoken expectations before they turn into lost trust A 15 minute exercise that helps any leader spot the touchpoints quietly costing them revenue CHAPTERS 0:01 The iceberg hiding beneath every sales process 1:38 A tech stack decision that came down to feelings 5:00 Meeting the people you'll actually work with after the contract 6:51 How one slow reply can make a buyer feel undervalued 8:34 The hotel anniversary story that explains inconsistent sales experiences 11:34 Buyers show up informed, so can your sales team keep up? 13:48 The Starbucks standard for a consistent brand experience 18:20 Treating friction as data points instead of deal breakers 20:36 The kickoff questions that protect trust and shape sales enablement 24:34 A 15-minute walkthrough that could uncover gold 26:41 Tangible versus intangible touchpoints and what buyers weigh 29:20 Why the effort belongs in feelings and features SEO KEYWORDS b2b marketing strategy, sales pipeline management, revenue operations, mid-market sales, sales enablement, sales process, buyer experience, customer journey, sales and marketing alignment, revenue leaks, B2B podcast YOUR HOSTS Jay Feitlinger, CEO of StringCan Interactive https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayfeitlinger/ Sarah Shepard, COO of StringCan Interactive https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahshepardcoo/ ABOUT REVENUE REWIRED Revenue Rewired is a podcast for B2B marketers, sales leaders, and business owners navigating the intersection of sales and marketing. Each episode delivers actionable insights for mid-market companies looking to grow revenue strategically. LINKS Website: https://www.stringcaninteractive.com Email: podcast@stringcaninteractive.com Buy the Revenue Rewired book: https://www.amazon.com/Revenue-Rewired-Identify-Leaks-Costing-ebook/dp/B0FST7JCXQ Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/revenue-rewired-7423414515779936256/

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About

Reimagine how you approach marketing, sales, and revenue growth with the Revenue Rewired podcast. Hosted by StringCan Interactive’s CEO Jay Feitlinger and COO Sarah Shepard, this podcast dives into the biggest challenges mid-market B2B companies face. Weekly this dynamic duo breaks down complex strategies into actionable insights to help you align your business, maximize ROI, and drive measurable growth. No jargon (ok maybe a lil), but mainly just straight talk to fuel your revenue engine. Tune in and take your business to the next level.