Pipe Dream | A B2B Marketing Podcast

We help B2B brands launch shows that turn their point of view into pipeline. If you're launching a podcast (or have one already) and are not sure how it can hit your bottom line, book a meeting with Jason: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/jason-bradwell/youtube-meeting-link We’re almost half way! The challenge is real, the pace is relentless, and the second half is going to be even bigger. At the start of this year, the team at B2B Better set themselves one of the most ambitious owned media challenges in B2B podcasting: publish 100 episodes of Pipe Dream in 100 working days. Being almost at the halfway point, Jason takes a moment to reflect on what that commitment has meant in practice — the production effort, the editorial coordination, and the incredible roster of guests who have given their time to share what it truly takes to build an audience-led marketing strategy. This is a short but significant milestone episode. If you have been following along since Episode 1, this is the moment to catch your breath alongside the team. If you are just discovering Pipe Dream, there is no better time to dive into the back catalogue and get up to speed before the next 50 land. Key Takeaways ◼️ How to commit to a high-cadence content strategy — B2B Better set a target of 100 podcast episodes in 100 working days and have maintained that pace, proving that ambitious owned media goals are achievable with the right team. ◼️ Why consistency is the foundation of audience-led marketing — Publishing at this volume is not just a numbers game; it builds trust, authority, and a compounding content asset that drives long-term pipeline. ◼️ How to plan a content series that delivers value across every episode — Bringing in a diverse range of expert guests ensures each episode contributes genuine insight for B2B marketers investing in owned media. ◼️ Why strategic pauses can improve long-term content quality — Taking a short hiatus to prepare the second half of the series reflects a commitment to quality alongside quantity. ◼️ How milestone moments can strengthen your audience relationship Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro 00:10 The 100 Episodes in 100 Days Challenge Explained 00:45 Hitting the Halfway Mark (almost) 01:05 Thank You to Guests and the Production Team 01:25 What to Expect in the Second Half of the Series 01:45 Announcing the Five-Day Hiatus Relevant Links and Resources Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/Learn more about B2B Better: https://www.b2b-better.comListen to Pipe Dream on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/bac4p-2a0121/Pipe-Dream-Podcast What's Next We are back on Monday with the second half of the 100-episode run — do not miss it. Subscribe now so you do not lose your place in one of B2B's most ambitious owned media experiments.

We help B2B brands launch shows that turn their point of view into pipeline. If you're launching a podcast (or have one already) and are not sure how it can hit your bottom line, book a meeting with Jason: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/jason-bradwell/youtube-meeting-link What if the fastest route to your next client is already sitting in your podcast guest queue? In this episode, Jason Bradwell reveals why most B2B brands are leaving serious pipeline on the table by mishandling one of the most powerful relationship-building tactics in owned media. In this solo episode of Pipe Dream, Jason breaks down the concept of "Trojan Horsing", the practice of inviting prospective customers onto your podcast as a means of building commercial relationships. With 95% of B2B brands considering this approach, Jason sets the record straight on where the strategy works, where it fails, and how to execute it with integrity. The episode opens with a direct challenge to the ethics of bringing guests in under the pretence of content creation only to pivot into a sales pitch. Jason argues that this approach is not only ineffective, it actively destroys trust and sabotages any chance of a future commercial relationship. Instead, he outlines a value-first framework that respects the guest's time and expertise, delivers on the promise of co-creating genuinely useful content, and builds a relationship roadmap that makes the eventual sales conversation feel natural rather than forced. Jason also shares a series of practical follow-up touchpoints that B2B marketers can use to maintain momentum after an episode goes live, from sharing download metrics to extending invitations to exclusive events, all designed to nurture the relationship across a 3 to 12-month window before any sales message is introduced. Key Takeaways ◼️ How to use your podcast as a legitimate relationship-building tool with prospective clients without compromising on ethics or content quality ◼️ Why pitch-slapping guests the moment they sit down will destroy any chance of a commercial outcome, and what to do instead ◼️ How to deliver on the promise of co-creating valuable content that genuinely benefits both your audience and your guest ◼️ Why the follow-up is where most B2B brands leave pipeline on the table and the simple changes that fix it ◼️ How to build a 3-to-12-month milestone roadmap that nurtures guest relationships towards a natural sales conversation ◼️ Why leading with value over time makes your eventual sales ask feel genuine rather than transactional Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro 00:01 What Is Trojan Horsing and Why 95% of Brands Use It 00:02 The Ethics Question: Is It Okay to Pitch Your Podcast Guests? 00:03 The Value-First Framework for Interviewing Prospective Clients 00:04 How to Introduce Your Business Without Crossing Into Pitch Territory 00:05 Building Milestone Moments: Your Post-Episode Follow-Up Roadmap 00:06 When and How to Drop the Sales Message 00:07 Recap and Key Principles of Ethical Trojan Horsing Relevant Links and Resources Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/Email Jason directly: jason@b2bbetter.comB2B Better website: https://www.b2b-better.com What's Next If you are using your podcast to build relationships with prospective clients and want to make sure you are doing it in a way that actually drives pipeline, connect with Jason on LinkedIn or drop him a message at jason@b2bbetter.com -- he would love to hear from you. Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/Listen to Pipe Dream on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detai...Learn more about B2B Better: https://www.b2b-better.com

How to Turn a Tiny Podcast Audience Into Your Biggest Sales Asset | Jason Bradwell, Founder of B2B Better and Host of Pipe Dream Podcast We help B2B brands launch shows that turn their point of view into pipeline. If you're launching a podcast (or have one already) and are not sure how it can hit your bottom line, book a meeting with Jason: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/jason-bradwell/youtube-meeting-link What if a hundred highly targeted listeners outperforms a million passive ones? In this episode, Jason makes the case that the most specialised B2B brands are not too niche for podcasting — they are the ones who need it most. In episode 43 of Pipe Dream, Jason Bradwell goes solo to tackle a question submitted directly by the audience: is podcasting the right channel for every B2B brand, including those selling highly specialised products like ball bearings? It is a question that gets to the heart of owned media strategy, and the answer will likely challenge a few assumptions. Drawing on real examples from B2B Better's own portfolio — including Data and Biotech, a show focused on the intersection of data science and biotechnology — Jason reframes how B2B marketers should think about podcast audiences. Rather than measuring success by raw download numbers, he argues that the right metric is resonance: reaching the precise buyers who are most likely to make a purchasing decision. Jason introduces a familiar business framework, TAM, SAM and SOM (Total Addressable Market, Serviceable Addressable Market and Serviceable Obtainable Market), and applies it directly to podcast strategy. If your target market is finite and highly defined, that is not a weakness. It is a competitive advantage. You can deploy your budget and resources with far greater precision than a podcast chasing mass appeal ever could. The episode closes with a clear verdict: niche B2B companies — the ones selling specialist products and services to tightly defined markets — are actually the brands that stand to gain the most from a well-executed podcast strategy. Key Takeaways ◼️ Why niche B2B brands are actually the best candidates for podcasting — a focused subject matter means every listener is a potential buyer. ◼️ How to apply TAM, SAM and SOM thinking to your podcast launch — understand your ceiling before you set your goals. ◼️ Why optimising for resonance beats chasing download numbers — a hundred of the right listeners is worth more than a million passive ones. ◼️ How to align your podcast strategy with real commercial outcomes — shortening sales cycles, improving reply rates and influencing pipeline. ◼️ Why a highly targeted audience is a competitive advantage, not a limitation — precision in B2B owned media compounds over time. Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro 00:30 The audience Question: Is Podcasting Right for Every B2B Brand? 01:20 Why Niche Shows Outperform Broad Ones 02:00 Applying TAM, SAM and SOM to Your Podcast Strategy 03:00 Why a Small, Targeted Audience Beats Mass Downloads 03:45 Optimising for Resonance, Not Reach 04:20 Final Verdict and How to Submit Your Question Useful Links Relevant Links and Resources Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/ Submit your question to Jason directly: jason@b2b-better.com Data and Biotech Podcast (referenced in episode): search "Data and Biotech" on your preferred podcast platform What's Next Got a question about building an audience-led marketing strategy? Send it to Jason on LinkedIn or email jason@b2b-better.com and it could feature on a future episode of Pipe Dream. Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/ Listen to Pipe Dream on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detai... Learn more about B2B Better: https://www.b2b-better.com

We help B2B brands launch shows that turn their point of view into pipeline. If you're launching a podcast (or have one already) and are not sure how it can hit your bottom line, book a meeting with Jason: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/jason-bradwell/youtube-meeting-link Most B2B companies already have a brand. They just have not invested in it. And every day they delay, they are handing their competitors a head start in the sales conversation. In this episode, Jason sits down with Ben Jackson, Founder and CEO of Momentum Studio, for an unplanned but unmissable conversation recorded straight after a peer agency cohort session on the South Coast of England. Ben is one of the sharpest minds in B2B branding, and this episode is packed with clarity on a topic that most marketing and revenue teams struggle to connect to real commercial outcomes. Ben breaks down why brand is not a logo, not a one-off capital expense, and certainly not a vanity exercise. It is your reputation, and it is either accelerating or actively braking your sales process. He explains how the best B2B brands reduce sales friction, establish credibility before the first call, and make conversion feel inevitable rather than effortful. If your sales team is still having to explain what you do, why you are different, and why you are worth the price, your brand has not done its job yet. This episode gives you the framework to change that. Key Takeaways ◼️ Why brand is reputation, not design. How to shift from thinking about logos to thinking about every touchpoint a customer has with your business. ◼️ How to stop competing on price. Why companies that neglect brand end up in a race to the bottom and how a strong brand breaks that cycle. ◼️ Why brand is an accelerator for your sales team. How investing in brand means sales conversations shift from "what do you do?" to "which package is right for you?" ◼️ How to avoid the vanity mindset. Why building a brand around what looks good to you, rather than what matters to your customer, is one of the most common and costly mistakes in B2B. ◼️ Why brand is never done. How to treat brand as a living, iterating asset rather than a one-off capital expense. ◼️ How to take the first practical step today. Why the best starting point is customer research, not a new logo, and how to find the highest-impact move for your current stage. Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro 01:45 What B2B brand actually means (and why it is not your logo) 03:30 How to build a brand centred on your customer, not your ego 05:00 Brand vs. demand: why the best companies invest in both 07:00 The vanity mindset trap and the race to the bottom 11:00 How brand lubricates the sales process and shortens cycles 15:00 Where to start if you have never invested in brand before Relevant Links and Resources Ben Jackson Website: https://www.momentumstudio.co.ukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjackson/ Resources Mentioned HockeyStack: https://www.hockeystack.comGrowth Leaders (peer agency cohort, South Coast of England): (add link if available) What's Next If this episode got you thinking about your own B2B brand, do not wait for a better moment. Start the conversation today by reaching out to a branding expert and asking one simple question: "What is the most impactful next step for my business right now?" Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/ Listen to Pipe Dream on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/bac4p-2a0121/Pipe-Dream-%7C-A-B2B-Marketing-Podcast Learn more about B2B Better: https://www.b2b-better.com

We help B2B brands launch shows that turn their point of view into pipeline. If you're launching a podcast (or have one already) and are not sure how it can hit your bottom line, book a meeting with Jason: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/jason-bradwell/youtube-meeting-link Most B2B podcasts are quietly failing their businesses, and the owners don't even know it. If your show is only driving downloads and impressions, you're leaving pipeline, revenue, and serious commercial momentum on the table. In this solo episode of Pipe Dream, Jason Bradwell breaks down four powerful podcast segment types that the vast majority of B2B companies are completely ignoring. Whether your show runs fortnightly or monthly, these segments are designed to stretch your content further, fill your feed more consistently, and move prospects through every stage of the buyer journey, from totally unaware all the way through to product aware. Jason explains how to think like a media company, why the standard guest interview format is holding your show back, and how a few simple structural additions can transform your podcast into a genuine revenue engine. Key Takeaways ◼️ How to use a Recap Segment to share your point of view without overshadowing your guest ◼️ Why the Hidden Segment helps you publish more frequently without recording extra episodes ◼️ How to use a Trending News Segment to tag companies and individuals and dramatically increase content visibility ◼️ Why a Company Updates segment is one of the most underrated tools for bottom-of-funnel nurture ◼️ How to map your podcast content across all four stages of buyer awareness ◼️ Why thinking like a media company is no longer optional for B2B brands serious about owned media Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro 01:00 Why Most B2B Podcasts Get Stuck at Top-of-Funnel 02:00 Using Segments to Drive Mid and Bottom-of-Funnel Results 02:45 Segment 1: The Recap Segment 04:00 Segment 2: The Hidden Segment 06:00 Segment 3: The Trending News Segment 07:45 Segment 4: Company Updates What's Next If any of these segments sparked an idea for your show, don't let it sit, book a call with Jason and turn that idea into a content system that actually drives pipeline. Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/Listen to Pipe Dream on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/bac4p-2a0121/Pipe-Dream-%7C-A-B2B-Marketing-PodcastLearn more about B2B Better: https://www.b2b-better.com

We help B2B brands launch shows that turn their point of view into pipeline. If you're launching a podcast (or have one already) and are not sure how it can hit your bottom line, book a meeting with Jason: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/jason-bradwell/youtube-meeting-link Most B2B marketers are leaving serious pipeline on the table at trade shows. In this episode, Jason reveals the three-stage podcast playbook that transforms your event strategy from an expensive gamble into a measurable revenue driver. Trade show season is a fixture in almost every B2B marketing calendar, yet most brands treat their podcast and their event strategy as completely separate initiatives. In this solo episode, Jason Bradwell breaks down the tactical framework B2B Better uses to help clients integrate podcast content across every phase of a trade show: pre-event, during the event, and post-event. Jason opens by addressing a frustration felt by B2B marketers everywhere: watching leadership commit hundreds of thousands of pounds to trade show presence while content budgets remain paper-thin. The good news is that with the right approach, a podcast can justify that investment and amplify it significantly. The pre-event phase focuses on a simple but powerful shift in cold outreach. Rather than asking prospects to visit your booth, inviting them to be featured on your podcast from the show floor lifts response rates from the industry-standard 2% up to 15-20%. During the event, Jason explains how to set up a mini broadcast studio within your booth, drawing on a real example from a client activation in Amsterdam. A well-executed editorial plan at a single trade show can generate 3 to 12 months of high-quality content. The post-event phase covers how to package that content into sales follow-up sequences that keep accounts warm long after the event ends. Key Takeaways ◼️ How to shift your cold outreach from a sales pitch to a value-first podcast invite that lifts response rates from 2% to 15-20% ◼️ Why treating your podcast and trade show strategy as separate silos is costing you pipeline ◼️ How to carve out a dedicated recording space at your booth and turn it into a micro-event within the wider trade show ◼️ Why a single trade show can generate up to 12 months of relevant B2B content when you plan your editorial calendar in advance ◼️ How to use post-event content packages to give your sales team warm, relevant touchpoints for prospect follow-up ◼️ Why owned media gives B2B brands a structural advantage over competitors relying purely on paid event presence Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro 00:01 The Trade Show Budget Problem Every B2B Marketer Knows 00:02 Pre-Event: Using Podcast Invites to Book More Meetings 00:04 Why Shifting the Ask Changes Your Response Rate Completely 00:05 During the Event: Building a Live Content Engine on the Show Floor 00:07 Post-Event: Turning Content Into Sales Follow-Up Sequences 00:08 Key Takeaways and How to Get in Touch Relevant Links and Resources RODE Wireless GO II (compact field mic referenced in episode): https://rode.com/en/microphones/wireless/wirelessgoii What's Next If you are heading into trade show season, now is the time to build your podcast editorial plan around it. Reach out to Jason on LinkedIn or drop him an email via the link in the show notes to talk through how B2B Better can help you turn your next event into a content and pipeline engine. Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/ Listen to Pipe Dream on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/bac4p-2a0121/Pipe-Dream-Podcast Learn more about B2B Better: https://www.b2b-better.com

We help B2B brands launch shows that turn their point of view into pipeline. If you're launching a podcast (or have one already) and are not sure how it can hit your bottom line, book a meeting with Jason: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/jason-bradwell/youtube-meeting-link Your download count is flattering you. And if you're pitching your podcast to a board on the back of it, you're building on sand. In this solo episode, Jason Bradwell calls out the most common measurement mistake in B2B podcasting and reveals the one metric that actually tells you whether your show is working. If you're running a podcast to drive pipeline rather than ego, this episode is essential listening. For most B2B businesses, downloads are a red herring. If your total addressable market is a few hundred or a few thousand companies, benchmarking your show against Joe Rogan or Diary of a CEO is not just meaningless -- it's actively misleading. The metric you should be tracking instead is Consumption Rate (on podcast platforms) or Watch Time (on YouTube). These tell you something far more important: how resonant your content actually is with the people who matter. Jason breaks down exactly where to find these figures in Apple, Spotify, and YouTube analytics, and makes the case that 100 listeners consuming 80% of your episode is worth considerably more than 10,000 who drop off after 60 seconds. For anyone building a business case internally to launch or continue a B2B show, this is the argument you need. Key Takeaways ◼️ Why downloads are a misleading success metric for the vast majority of B2B podcasts ◼️ How to use Consumption Rate to measure whether your show is actually resonating with buyers ◼️ Why 100 highly engaged listeners outperforms 10,000 passive ones in a B2B context ◼️ How to find Watch Time and Consumption Rate inside Apple, Spotify, and YouTube analytics ◼️ Why resonance over reach is the right frame when your total addressable market is finite ◼️ How to build a credible, data-backed business case for your podcast using a single metric Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro 00:30 Why downloads are the default metric for podcasts 01:30 The problem with downloads as a B2B success metric 02:20 Introducing Consumption Rate and Watch Time 03:00 Resonance vs. reach: which actually matters for B2B? 03:30 Where to find Consumption Rate in Apple, Spotify, and YouTube 04:00 The one metric to bring to your board What's Next If this episode made you question how you're currently measuring your show, it's time to dig into your analytics and find your Consumption Rate today. Share this episode with any founder or marketer who's still leading with download numbers in their next board update. Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/Listen to Pipe Dream on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detai...Learn more about B2B Better: https://www.b2b-better.com

We help B2B brands launch shows that turn their point of view into pipeline. If you're launching a podcast (or have one already) and are not sure how it can hit your bottom line, book a meeting with Jason: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/jason-bradwell/youtube-meeting-link They hit the top 10 in their category. They landed Fortune 500 CEOs. They racked up downloads month after month. And they closed precisely zero deals. In this solo episode, Jason Bradwell unpacks one of the most common and costly mistakes in B2B podcasting: building a show for your ego instead of your pipeline. If your guest list reads like a networking wish list, this episode is for you. Most B2B podcasters start in the same place: chasing the biggest, most recognisable names in their industry. The logic feels sound. Credibility by association. Impressive LinkedIn posts. A logo wall of guests. But those guests are rarely in your ICP; their audiences are not your audience, and the conversations you have with them rarely address the specific, real-world problems your prospects are wrestling with right now. Jason walks through the practical alternative: the editorial-led approach. Instead of starting with the guest, you start with the question. What keeps your prospects up at night? What objections come up on every sales call? What decisions are they struggling to make? Those questions become your episode topics, and the guests you find to answer them do not need to be famous. They need to be credible, relevant, and close enough to the work that your prospects genuinely recognise themselves. He also outlines a five-step framework for building an editorial roadmap rooted in sales intelligence and explains the only metrics that actually matter when measuring a podcast's commercial impact. Key Takeaways ◼️ How to audit your sales calls to build a content-driven editorial roadmap ◼️ Why booking recognisable guests optimises for vanity metrics rather than pipeline ◼️ How to structure an episode around a prospect's problem instead of a guest's agenda ◼️ Why the best podcast guests are often practitioners and customers rather than celebrities ◼️ How to give your sales team content they can actually use to move deals forward ◼️ Why download counts are the wrong success metric and what to track instead Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro 00:45 The top 10 podcast that closed zero deals 01:30 Why chasing big-name guests hurts your pipeline 02:45 Start with the question, not the guest 03:30 Ego approach vs. editorial approach: a direct comparison 05:00 When big-name guests do make sense 05:30 Five steps to build an editorial-led podcast strategy 06:45 The only metrics worth measuring What's Next If this episode made you rethink your guest strategy, the next step is simple: pull up your last five sales calls and write down the questions that came up most. That is your editorial roadmap. Share this episode with anyone on your team who is involved in your podcast or content strategy. Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/Listen to Pipe Dream on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/bac4p-2a0121/Pipe-Dream-PodcastLearn more about B2B Better: https://www.b2b-better.com

We help B2B brands launch shows that turn their point of view into pipeline. If you're launching a podcast (or have one already) and are not sure how it can hit your bottom line, book a meeting with Jason: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/jason-bradwell/youtube-meeting-link One article claimed the corporate podcast bubble is about to burst. Jason isn't letting that go without a fight. A piece published on Inc.com arguing that corporate podcasting is inefficient, hard to justify, and on borrowed time landed in Jason's feed, and rather than scroll past it, he decided to take it apart, argument by argument. In this solo episode, Jason gives credit where it's due, challenges where the thinking falls short, and makes the case for why B2B podcasting represents a bigger commercial opportunity than ever. The article in question, written by digital communications leader Paul Rei, raises four core arguments: audio is slower than text (the so-called "60% efficiency gap"), comprehension suffers in audio format, listeners lose the ability to search and skim, and ROI is nearly impossible to measure. Jason takes each one seriously and then explains precisely why the framing misses the point entirely. The real issue, as Jason sees it, is that the article evaluates podcasting as a content format competing directly with text. But that is not the right question. The person listening to your podcast is on a commute or at the gym, they are not about to open a white paper. A piece of content consumed at 150 words per minute beats one that never gets read at all. Jason also pushes back on the comprehension argument, noting the study cited compares students processing dense academic material in audio against text, a category error when applied to well-produced B2B thought leadership content. And on the loss of agency point, he highlights that tools like Descript have effectively solved the transcript problem already. Key Takeaways ◼️ Why the "efficiency gap" argument misunderstands how people actually consume podcasts, and why a 150 wpm listen beats a white paper that never gets opened ◼️ How to evaluate B2B podcasting as a full-funnel platform rather than a content format competing with text ◼️ Why the comprehension study cited against audio is a category error when applied to conversational, editorial thought leadership content ◼️ How to use transcripts and companion content to solve the "loss of agency" problem with tools like Descript ◼️ How B2B organisations have attributed over £250,000 in closed-won revenue to a single podcast, tracked directly in HubSpot ◼️ Why the corporate podcast bubble will only burst for brands with no strategy and what separates them from those generating real commercial returns Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro 01:05 The "60% Efficiency Gap" and What It Actually Means 02:00 The Comprehension Study: Why the Research Doesn't Apply 02:45 Loss of Agency: Has the Argument Kept Pace With the Industry? 03:20 The Vanity Project Problem 04:30 Why the Article Is Asking the Wrong Question 05:20 How B2B Brands Are Attributing Real Pipeline to Podcasting 06:15 Is the Corporate Podcast Bubble About to Burst? Relevant Links and Resources Original article by Paul Rei on Inc.com: "The Corporate Podcast Bubble Is About to Burst"Descript (transcript and editing tool mentioned): https://www.descript.comLenny's Podcast: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/podcast20VC Podcast: https://www.thetwentyminutevc.comConnect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/ What's Next Got a take on whether the corporate podcast bubble is real? Jason wants to hear it. Drop him a message on LinkedIn or leave a comment below. Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/ Listen to Pipe Dream on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/bac4p-2a0121/Pipe-Dream-Podcast Learn more about B2B Better: https://www.b2b-better.com

We help B2B brands launch shows that turn their point of view into pipeline. If you're launching a podcast (or have one already) and are not sure how it can hit your bottom line, book a meeting with Jason: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/jason-bradwell/youtube-meeting-link Most B2B marketers are drowning in content and starving for pipeline. Joel Harrison has spent 23 years building media empires in B2B – and he's finally putting his cards on the table. In this episode of Pipe Dream, Jason Bradwell sits down with Joel Harrison, founder of the B2B Marketing publication and host of the Trust and Influence in B2B podcast. Joel brings a rare perspective to owned media: he has built a media company from scratch, exited the operational role he created, and then rebuilt his personal brand through podcasting and thought leadership content. The result is a frank, practical conversation about what it actually takes for B2B organisations to communicate with authority in an AI-saturated world. Joel shares why he launched his podcast after abandoning plans for a book, how he has evolved from audio-only to a full content flywheel spanning YouTube, LinkedIn newsletter, and LinkedIn Live, and why trust – not technology – is the defining challenge for B2B marketers right now. He also makes a compelling case for humanisation as the antidote to AI-generated commodity content, arguing that brands which put real people and genuine points of view at the centre of their marketing will win long-term. The conversation turns candid when Joel addresses why marketing still struggles to earn a seat at the board table, and what it will take to change that dynamic. Key Takeaways ◼️ How to build a content flywheel from a single podcast – why launching with audio alone limits your reach and how adding video, newsletter, and live formats accelerates audience growth. ◼️ Why trust is the defining issue in B2B marketing right now – and how AI-generated content is making the problem worse, not better. ◼️ How to use AI as an enabler of thought leadership, not a replacement for it – the distinction between repurposing genuine perspectives and using AI as a crutch for a missing point of view. ◼️ Why B2B marketing still struggles to earn board-level credibility – and what marketers must do to speak the commercial language that CEOs and CFOs actually respond to. ◼️ How to hook your audience in the first 30 seconds – the simple structural shift Joel made after a year of podcasting that reduced early listener drop-off. ◼️ Why incremental improvements beat big production budgets – and why your point of view matters far more than your studio setup. Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro 02:15 Joel's journey: from founding B2B Marketing magazine to podcasting 07:40 Building a content flywheel across audio, video, and LinkedIn 13:05 The biggest lessons from year one of running a podcast 18:30 What "thinking like a media company" actually means in B2B 23:10 Why marketing still fails to prove its value to the board 28:45 How AI enables thought leadership without replacing it Relevant Links and Resources Joel Harrison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-harrison/Trust and Influence in B2B Podcast: [search on Spotify / Apple Podcasts]B2B Marketing (publication Joel founded): https://www.b2bmarketing.netTools mentioned by Joel: Riverside, Claude, ChatGPT, Fireflies What's Next If this episode got you thinking about how your organisation can build content that actually earns trust and drives pipeline, don't sit on it – take the first step and book a conversation with the B2B Better team today. Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/Listen to Pipe Dream on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/bac4p-2a0121/Pipe-Dream-PodcastLearn more about B2B Better: https://www.b2b-better.com

This episode is brought to you by B2B Better. Richard cut CAC by 27% by ditching billboards and investing in owned content — podcasts, videos, and customer interviews that actually moved the needle. That's exactly the kind of content engine we help B2B service businesses build. If you want a podcast that drives pipeline, not just downloads, visit b2bbetter.com. If you think B2B buying is purely rational, this episode is your wake-up call. In this episode of Pipe Dream, host Jason Bradwell sits down with Richard Dedor, Financial Services Marketing Executive, to unpack what a decade of B2C financial services marketing can teach B2B marketers about differentiation, storytelling, and cutting through a commoditised market. Richard's core point is clear: stop overthinking your product and start understanding the emotion behind the buying decision. Every purchase — whether it's a checking account or a six-figure SaaS contract — starts with a pain point. The businesses that win are the ones that lean into that pain and make the buyer the hero. The cheeseburger analogy says it all. McDonald's, In-N-Out, Wendy's — they're all selling the same thing but winning different customers by knowing exactly who they're for. B2B is no different. You don't need a revolutionary product. You need a sharper story built around the right ingredients for the right target market. The conversation gets tactical on CAC reduction. Richard's team cut acquisition costs by 27% by reallocating budget away from vanity spend — billboards chief among them — and investing in owned content instead. Podcasts, videos, webinar series, and customer interviews that spoke directly to real pain points. A billboard reaches everyone and no one. A customer interview that mirrors exactly what a prospect is feeling reaches the right person at the right moment. For B2B marketers dealing with long sales cycles and buying committees, hold the macro message steady and pivot the micro-messaging for each stakeholder in the room. And when compliance is standing between you and a good idea, make them your second-best friend — walk them through the concept one friction point at a time and help them get themselves to yes. People buy with emotion. Even in B2B. Especially in B2B. That's what you should be tapping into. Chapter Markers 00:00 - Introduction: Richard Dedor and a decade in B2C financial services 02:00 - The cheeseburger analogy: differentiation in commoditised markets 04:00 - Growing brand awareness by 50% and bridging it to conversion 06:00 - In-market moments and rare switching windows in financial services 08:00 - What B2B marketers should steal from the consumer playbook 09:00 - Micro-messaging pivots within a stable macro message 10:00 - Cutting CAC by 27%: stop spending on billboards 11:00 - Investing in owned content: podcasts, videos, and customer interviews 13:00 - Testing, killing, and doubling down on what works 14:00 - Working in regulated environments: making compliance your ally 16:00 - How to present ideas to legal and compliance teams 18:00 - Walking compliance through friction points one step at a time 20:00 - The one thing B2B companies get wrong about differentiation 22:00 - People buy with emotion — even in B2B Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Connect with Richard Dedor on LinkedIn Visit Richard Dedor's website Read Richard's writing on HubSpot and Medium Explore B2B Better and the Pipe Dream Podcast

We help B2B brands launch shows that turn their point of view into pipeline. If you're launching a podcast (or have one already) and are not sure how it can hit your bottom line, book a meeting with Jason: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/jason-bradwell/youtube-meeting-link -- Adam Holmgren turned three years of consistent LinkedIn posting into a $700K ARR SaaS business—without cold outbound, without a sales team, and with 80% of growth coming from organic content amplified by thought leader ads. In this episode of Pipe Dream, Adam Holmgren, co-founder and CEO of Fibbler, breaks down exactly how he built an attribution platform for SMBs by first building an audience of 25,000 marketers. Before launching Fibbler in May 2024, Adam spent years developing his point of view on demand generation, paid advertising, and attribution whilst at GetAccept—publishing consistently, giving value, and never asking for anything in return. When he finally launched his product, his audience was ready. Within two months, he had 50 paying customers purely from his network. But Adam didn't stop there. He shares the pivot that changed everything: shifting from organic-only to investing 50% of revenue into thought leader ads, specifically targeting the US market where LinkedIn ad spend is highest. The result? 400-500 signups per month, with 80% directly attributed to organic content plus paid amplification. Adam also reveals his weekend content system, his four content pillars (paid ads, brand building, founder-led growth, and personal), and why he believes distribution and brand are now the only real moats in a world where AI makes product features commoditised. Key Takeaways How to validate demand before launching: Build an audience first by giving value for years without asking for anything—then when you finally ask, conversion rates skyrocket. Why thought leader ads outperform traditional LinkedIn ads: Organic posts that already resonate are "battle-tested"—amplifying them with paid reach to new audiences dramatically improves ROI compared to brand account ads with CTAs. How to structure a sustainable content system: Plan content on weekends around 3-4 clear content pillars, schedule posts for the week, then stay active in comments during weekdays instead of writing on the fly. Why founder-led brands win in crowded markets: With 250,000-300,000 martech solutions available, distribution and brand are the only defensible moats—features alone won't differentiate you. How to convince sceptical executives to invest in brand: Start small, prove early signals (engagement from ICP, content mentioned in sales calls), then scale once you demonstrate pipeline impact over 3-6 months. The perfect LinkedIn post formula: Strong hook that creates curiosity or promises value + tactical insight or lesson learnt + no product pitch (let people discover you organically). Relevant Links and Resources Connect with Adam Holmgren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-holmgren/Learn more about Fibbler: https://fibbler.co What's Next If you're building a B2B brand and struggling to justify investment in owned media, start by building one person's audience consistently for 90 days—then amplify what works. The compounding effect is real. Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell/Listen to Pipe Dream on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/pipe-dreamLearn more about B2B Better: https://www.b2b-better.com

This episode is brought to you by B2B Better. Most owned media audits produce 50-page reports with vague recommendations and zero next steps. We give you four questions, 90 minutes, and a clear decision: kill, fix, or scale. If your podcast has downloads but no pipeline, this episode shows you how to audit your entire owned media strategy in 90 minutes and walk away knowing what's broken and how to fix it. Host Jason Bradwell breaks down the Four R Framework — Reach, Resonance, Revenue, and Repeatability — plus a decision tree to kill, fix, or scale. Jason's core point is clear: most owned media audits are useless. They take weeks and produce reports filled with vanity metrics. Today you get four questions that reveal everything in 90 minutes. Reach is the least important. It can be bought. If you turn off ads tomorrow, what happens? That tells you whether you have real distribution or rented attention. Resonance is where it gets interesting. Jason would rather have 100 views at 85% consumption than 10,000 views at 20%. The 100 who watch the whole thing are deeply engaged. The 10,000 who clicked away were never going to buy. For video, 50% consumption is good, 70% is excellent. For podcasts, 50% is good, 75% is excellent. Revenue asks: is your strategy generating commercial results? The benchmark: 30 to 50% of closed deals should have at least one content touch. Content-influenced deals should close 20 to 30% faster. If attribution is weak, you have an activation problem, not a content problem. Repeatability determines if your strategy works long term. You should produce content four to six weeks in advance without overtime. If you're in hero mode with one person holding everything together, you need systems, not heroics. The decision tree is simple. High reach but low resonance? Fix the content. Low reach but high resonance? Scale distribution. Low everything? Kill it. High everything but low repeatability? Fix operations first. Chapter Markers 00:00 - Why most owned media audits are useless 01:00 - The Four R Framework and why reach matters least 02:00 - Resonance and consumption rate benchmarks 03:00 - 100 views at 85% beats 10,000 at 20% 04:00 - Revenue attribution and pipeline influence 05:00 - Direct vs influenced vs self-reported attribution 06:00 - Repeatability and sustainability benchmarks 07:00 - Hero mode vs documented processes 08:00 - The decision tree: kill, fix, or scale 09:00 - High reach but low resonance means fix content 10:00 - What to do on Monday morning based on your audit 11:00 - Fix activation by emailing sales directly 12:00 - Four questions, 90 minutes, one action 13:00 - Get the full audit template with benchmarks Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Listen to Pipe Dream on Podbean Explore ABM reporting in HubSpot for tracking accounts touched Explore B2B Better website and the Pipe Dream podcast