Marked Closed Won Podcast

Marked Closed Won Podcast

Marked Closed Won is the podcast for the builders, sellers, and leaders who are tired of “good pipeline meetings” and ready for real revenue. We’re a sales + marketing company obsessed with the full sales funnel, lead gen, conversion, and closing, because hope isn’t a strategy and “we’re getting a lot of interest” doesn’t pay the bills. If you’ve ever watched a deal stall out for no obvious reason (or die quietly in the CRM like a sad houseplant), you’re not alone. We’ve been there. This show is about fixing that, for good. Each episode features the people who actually make the sales funnel move: Account Executives on the frontlines sharing what’s working right now to create momentum and close cleanSales leaders building systems, teams, and pipeline discipline that hold up under pressureMarketing leaders generating demand that converts, without the fluff metricsCorporate buyers telling you what they really care about, what makes them skeptical, and what earns trustAccount managers / customer teams protecting revenue, preventing churn, and turning renewals into growth This isn’t motivational noise or recycled LinkedIn advice. It’s practical, candid, occasionally uncomfortable, and built for people who want to sharpen their craft and win more often. If you’re ready to tighten up your sales funnel and watch more deals go from lead to Marked Closed Won, hit play.

  1. Sep 21

    Hiring A-Players: What Great Sales Teams Look For

    What does it actually take to identify, hire, develop, and retain A-player salespeople? In this episode of Marked Closed Won, Jon Reynolds sits down with longtime sales leader Kevin “KG” Gaither to take a deep dive into what separates great salespeople from great resumes and how sales leaders can build teams that consistently produce. KG brings experience from eight startups, three successful liquidity events, and decades in sales leadership, and shares the lessons he has learned from building, fixing, and growing sales organizations. The conversation covers: The six traits every sales hire should haveWhy resumes are marketing vehicles and what sales leaders should evaluate insteadHow to structure an effective interview process without dragging it out for monthsThe red flags that can expose a bad hire before it's too lateWhy reference checks should be handled by the hiring managerWhy KG doesn't rely on presentations, demos, and projects when evaluating sales candidatesHow to build a structured onboarding and training programThe Tell → Show → Do → Assess approach to sales trainingHow to give A-player salespeople autonomy without sacrificing accountabilityWhy “you cannot manage outputs, you can only manage inputs”The importance of activities, meetings, and pipeline as forward-looking sales metricsHow to create an environment where motivated salespeople can thriveHow managers should distinguish between skill and will when coaching struggling repsWhen a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) makes senseHow to handle performance-based terminations objectively and consistentlyThe four pillars of building, fixing, and growing a sales organization: Hiring, Onboarding & Training, Coaching, and Performance ManagementWhy creating a clear career path can help a sales organization become self-optimizing Whether you're a startup founder, VP of Sales, CRO, frontline sales manager, or sales professional, this conversation is packed with practical ideas for building a stronger sales organization. Connect with KG: KG's website: InsideSalesExpert.com His site includes hundreds of sales leadership articles and free resources, including his popular 77 Interview Questions for Sales Leaders guide. Subscribe to Marked Closed Won for more conversations focused on the sales funnel from generating leads, to increasing conversion, to closing more business and growing revenue. http://markedclosedwon.com  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578258184776 | https://www.instagram.com/markedclosedwon/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/marked-closed-won/ https://www.youtube.com/@MarkedClosedWon #Sales #SalesLeadership #SalesManagement #SalesHiring #SalesRecruiting #APlayers #SalesTraining #SalesCoaching #SalesTeam #SalesPerformance #SaaSSales #B2BSales #EnterpriseSales #StartupSales #RevenueGrowth #SalesStrategy #MarkedClosedWon

  2. Sep 8

    Turn LinkedIn Into a Pipeline, Not a Posting Platform

    LinkedIn Isn’t the Problem. Your Strategy Might Be. In this episode of the Marked Closed Won podcast, Jon Reynolds sits down with Andrew Barber, a career advertising and sales professional who now helps salespeople and business leaders turn their LinkedIn presence into a real business development asset. LinkedIn has become crowded with sales pitches, generic AI-generated content, personal branding, and people talking about how great they are. So how do you cut through the noise and actually get in front of buyers? Andrew breaks down what salespeople and businesses need to understand about using LinkedIn as part of their sales funnel, including: Why your LinkedIn network is bigger than your first-degree connectionsHow to create content that attracts buyers instead of other salespeopleWhy your content should make your buyer feel understoodThe biggest mistakes businesses make with their LinkedIn profilesHow salespeople can turn their real-world experience into valuable contentWhy consistency matters—but isn't the whole strategyHow LinkedIn can work alongside email, outbound, and other marketing channelsThe difference between leading and lagging indicators on LinkedInThe ONE metric Andrew believes salespeople should focus on: qualified conversationsWhen a business should consider getting professional help with its LinkedIn strategy If you're posting on LinkedIn but aren't seeing meaningful business conversations come from it, this episode will give you a different way to think about the platform, and how it fits into your overall sales funnel. http://markedclosedwon.com  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578258184776 | https://www.instagram.com/markedclosedwon/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/marked-closed-won/ https://www.youtube.com/@MarkedClosedWon #LinkedIn #LinkedInSales #SocialSelling #B2BSales #SalesStrategy #LeadGeneration #SalesFunnel #ContentMarketing #B2BMarketing #SalesProspecting #BusinessDevelopment #SalesTraining #PersonalBranding #MarkedClosedWon

  3. Aug 25

    Building an Outbound System That Actually Feeds Your Sales Funnel

    YouTube DescriptionOutbound sales is changing, and simply hiring an SDR, buying a database, or adding another sales tool isn't enough. In this episode of Marked Closed Won, Jon Reynolds sits down with Kevin Hops, owner of SmartBound, to break down what it actually takes to build a predictable outbound sales engine. Kevin has worked with more than 80 businesses across B2B technology, cybersecurity, HR tech, managed services, and startups. He shares the lessons he's learned from building outbound teams, training SDR organizations, and running cold-calling campaigns. In this episode, we discuss:The 5 essential components of outbound sales: People, Process, Technology, Targeting, and MessagingWhy having the right people or the right technology alone won't fix outboundWhy bad data, not bad effort, may be killing your pipelineHow to identify the right target market before you start dialingWhy outbound requires both quality AND volumeHow AI is changing prospecting, cold calling, and sales developmentWhere AI can help, and where humans still matterBuilding a culture of continuous improvement through call reviewsHow SDRs and AEs can work together to improve cold-meeting conversionThe simple steps that can dramatically reduce no-showsWhat metrics sales leaders should actually be trackingWhy disposition data mattersHow to build a repeatable outbound system instead of relying on individual heroics One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation is simple: Outbound isn't one problem with one solution. It's a system. If your company is struggling to generate consistent pipeline through outbound, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can put into action. Connect with Kevin / SmartBound: SmartBound — https://smartbound.ai If you enjoyed the episode, like, subscribe, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway. http://markedclosedwon.com  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578258184776 | https://www.instagram.com/markedclosedwon/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/marked-closed-won/ https://www.youtube.com/@MarkedClosedWon #Sales #OutboundSales #B2BSales #ColdCalling #SalesDevelopment #SDR #LeadGeneration #SalesStrategy #SalesProspecting #AIinSales #SalesLeadership #BusinessDevelopment #PipelineGeneration #SaaS #MarkedClosedWon

  4. Aug 10

    The Revenue Blueprint: Aligning Sales, Marketing & Success

    In this episode of Marked Closed Won, Jon Reynolds sits down with Jack Wagner, COO and Co-Founder of Closin.ai, to break down what Revenue Operations (RevOps) really means—and why it can have a major impact on predictable revenue. RevOps isn't just dashboards, analytics, or CRM administration. It's about connecting marketing, sales, and customer success, identifying friction between teams, measuring the customer journey, and finding the bottlenecks that are quietly costing your business revenue. Jack shares practical insights on: What RevOps actually is and how it differs from traditional sales, marketing, and CS operationsHow RevOps uncovers hidden problems across the entire revenue journeyUsing "sales math" to connect activity and pipeline to revenue goalsHow conversion rates can reveal where your biggest problems really areWhy the biggest revenue problem may not be where leadership thinks it isOptimizing the funnel from lead generation through post-saleWhy customer success and retention are often underutilized revenue opportunitiesHow small businesses can apply RevOps principles without hiring a RevOps teamWhere AI fits into the future of revenue operationsWhy sales leaders should write down their own playbook and get the knowledge out of their heads Whether you're a sales leader, business owner, CRO, marketer, or simply trying to build a more predictable revenue engine, this episode offers a practical look at how operational discipline can turn disconnected teams and processes into a more efficient revenue machine. If you enjoyed this episode: * Like the video * Subscribe for more sales and marketing content * Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway or your favorite sales mindset tip New episodes of Marked Closed Won are released regularly, featuring sales leaders, marketers, entrepreneurs, and business experts sharing real-world strategies to help you grow revenue. http://markedclosedwon.com  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578258184776 | https://www.instagram.com/markedclosedwon/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/marked-closed-won/ https://www.youtube.com/@MarkedClosedWon #RevOps #RevenueOperations #SalesOperations #SalesLeadership #RevenueGrowth #SalesStrategy #B2BSales #GoToMarket #SalesFunnel #SalesLeadership #AI #BusinessGrowth #MarkedClosedWon

  5. Jul 27

    Winning the Next Call: The Habits of High-Performing Salespeople

    🎙️ Sales Is More Than a Script—It's a Mindset | Featuring Chris Appicelli What separates average salespeople from top performers? Is it charisma? Natural talent? Or is it something much deeper? In this episode of Marked Closed Won, Jon Reynolds sits down with enterprise sales executive Chris Appicelli to explore the mindset, habits, and practical strategies that drive consistent success in sales. Chris shares his journey from making fundraising cold calls in college to negotiating multi-million-dollar enterprise deals, along with the lessons he wishes he'd known when he first started. Together, Jon and Chris dive into everything from overcoming imposter syndrome to handling rejection, avoiding burnout, building trust, and why the best salespeople are often the best listeners, not the best talkers. Whether you're a business owner, SDR, account executive, or entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with actionable insights you can implement immediately. In this episode, you'll learn: Why asking for the sale is one of the biggest hurdles in salesHow to overcome imposter syndrome—even after achieving successThe mindset shifts that separate top performers from everyone elseWhy "frictionless selling" creates more winsHow discovery conversations can make or break a dealPractical ways to recover from rejection and sales burnoutThe importance of mastering your product and industryHow AI is changing sales—and why human connection matters more than everWhy taking care of yourself is one of the best sales strategies you'll ever haveThe simple principle behind consistently closing more business If you're looking to generate more leads, increase your conversion rate, and close more deals, this episode is for you. If you enjoyed this episode: Like the videoSubscribe for more sales and marketing contentLeave a comment with your biggest takeaway or your favorite sales mindset tip New episodes of Marked Closed Won are released regularly, featuring sales leaders, marketers, entrepreneurs, and business experts sharing real-world strategies to help you grow revenue. http://markedclosedwon.com  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578258184776 | https://www.instagram.com/markedclosedwon/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/marked-closed-won/ https://www.youtube.com/@MarkedClosedWon #MarkedClosedWon #Sales #SalesLeadership #SalesTraining #B2BSales #EnterpriseSales #ColdCalling #Prospecting #SalesMindset #RevenueGrowth #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneur #Leadership #Marketing #SalesPodcast #MarkedClosedWon

  6. Jul 13

    Video That Closes: Content Built For The Sales Funnel

    Video isn't just another marketing tactic; it's becoming one of the most powerful sales tools available. In this episode of Marked Closed Won, Jon Reynolds sits down with Todd Holbrook, founder of Brookstream Media, to break down how businesses can use video strategically throughout the entire sales funnel, not just to generate views, but to generate revenue. Todd explains why most companies approach video the wrong way, how different types of videos serve different stages of the buyer's journey, and why authenticity is becoming more valuable than ever in an AI-driven world. Whether you're a business owner, sales leader, marketer, or account executive, you'll walk away with practical ideas you can immediately implement. In this episode, you'll learn: Why every video needs a specific purpose before it's ever filmedHow to use video from lead generation through customer retentionThe biggest mistakes companies make with video marketingWhere testimonials, explainers, and educational content fit in the sales funnelHow sales reps can use personalized video to build trust and close more dealsTodd's "Rule of 50" framework for building a high-performing video libraryHow AI is changing video marketing, and why authentic human content is becoming even more valuable If you're looking to create more trust, shorten your sales cycle, and build a marketing engine that actually supports your sales team, this is an episode you won't want to miss. http://markedclosedwon.com  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578258184776 | https://www.instagram.com/markedclosedwon/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/marked-closed-won/ https://www.youtube.com/@MarkedClosedWon #MarkedClosedWon #SalesPodcast #SalesLeadership #SalesStrategy #B2BSales #VideoMarketing #SalesFunnel #LeadGeneration #MarketingStrategy #ContentMarketing

  7. Jun 29

    Product Marketing: From “That's Nice” to “We Need This”

    In this episode of Marked Closed Won, Jon Reynolds sits down with his longtime friend (and former work partner) Adam O’Brien - a product marketer who’s made a career out of walking into companies where product marketing doesn’t exist yet… and building the whole thing from scratch. Adam breaks down what product marketing actually does when it’s done right: positioning, messaging, sales enablement, win/loss insights, and removing friction from the funnel. He talks about being the “point guard” for sales, where the goal is simple: make reps’ lives easier and deals move faster. They also get into the realities most people avoid: Why “no response” is the most common (and most painful) form of closed-lostHow better ICP + anti-fit definitions save everyone time and sanityWhat assets sales teams actually use (spoiler: case studies… always case studies)How AI and call transcripts are changing the game for founders and small teams that don’t have time for 26-page strategy docsAnd why the best sales and marketing teams aren’t best friends—they’re just aligned on winning If you’re a founder, sales leader, or solopreneur trying to tighten up your funnel, stop wasting time on bad-fit leads, and build a message that actually converts—this episode is a practical gut-check (with a little friendly trash talk between sales and marketing along the way). You can also find Adam’s podcast, Product Marketing For You, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and connect with him on LinkedIn (he’s “chronically online,” by his own admission). http://markedclosedwon.com  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578258184776 | https://www.instagram.com/markedclosedwon/?hl=en | https://www.linkedin.com/company/marked-closed-won/?viewAsMember=true | https://www.youtube.com/@MarkedClosedWon #Sales #ProductMarketing #MarketingStrategy #SalesEnablement #GoToMarket #B2BMarketing #B2BSales #RevenueGrowth #SalesFunnel #Positioning

  8. Jun 15

    Borrowed Audiences: How Podcast Guesting Drives Leads Without Starting a Show

    Building an audience from scratch is a grind, but what if you could borrow someone else’s? In this episode of Marked Closed Won, Jon Reynolds sits down with longtime friend Joe “Mr. Allwaysgood” Moghaizel, CEO and co-founder of Aligned Speaker Academy, to break down how podcast guesting can become one of the fastest, highest-trust ways to generate leads, without starting your own show. Joe shares how he went from leading inside sales for a multi-billion-dollar company to building a business through speaking, then pivoting after 2020 into the world of podcast guesting. Together, Jon and Joe unpack why podcast audiences are uniquely valuable (longer attention spans, higher income demographics, and stronger trust), and how entrepreneurs can turn guest appearances into a repeatable lead-gen system. What you’ll learn: Why podcast guesting can outperform cold outreach, ads, and social media for trust + conversionHow “borrowing audiences” works—and why you don’t need the perfect niche at firstWhat separates “meh” podcast appearances from the ones that actually drive ROIThe role of a lead magnet in converting listeners into warm leadsJoe’s simple first step for getting booked and stopping the overthinking Free resource mentioned: Get Joe’s lead magnet training at greatleadmagnet.com to learn how to create an effective lead magnet that captures leads from podcast appearances. If you want more visibility, more trust, and better leads—this episode lays out the playbook. #PodcastEpisode #PodcastGuest #PodcastGuesting #BorrowedAudience #AudienceGrowth #AuthorityBuilding #TrustBasedMarketing #LeadGeneration #ClientAcquisition #SalesFunnel #InboundMarketing #B2BMarketing #SalesStrategy #EntrepreneurLife

About

Marked Closed Won is the podcast for the builders, sellers, and leaders who are tired of “good pipeline meetings” and ready for real revenue. We’re a sales + marketing company obsessed with the full sales funnel, lead gen, conversion, and closing, because hope isn’t a strategy and “we’re getting a lot of interest” doesn’t pay the bills. If you’ve ever watched a deal stall out for no obvious reason (or die quietly in the CRM like a sad houseplant), you’re not alone. We’ve been there. This show is about fixing that, for good. Each episode features the people who actually make the sales funnel move: Account Executives on the frontlines sharing what’s working right now to create momentum and close cleanSales leaders building systems, teams, and pipeline discipline that hold up under pressureMarketing leaders generating demand that converts, without the fluff metricsCorporate buyers telling you what they really care about, what makes them skeptical, and what earns trustAccount managers / customer teams protecting revenue, preventing churn, and turning renewals into growth This isn’t motivational noise or recycled LinkedIn advice. It’s practical, candid, occasionally uncomfortable, and built for people who want to sharpen their craft and win more often. If you’re ready to tighten up your sales funnel and watch more deals go from lead to Marked Closed Won, hit play.