In this episode of Expert In You, Ann Carden sits down with Ben Kniffen to discuss the evolving landscape of online networking post-COVID and the common pitfalls in paid advertising. Ben, from LinkedSelling, shares expert insights on the power of branding and storytelling in marketing, shedding light on the differences between B2B and B2C strategies and how to overcome skepticism in the sales process. The conversation also explores how to align sales with marketing funnels, the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT on advertising, and the challenges of omnichannel marketing. Ben offers a behind-the-scenes look at LinkedSelling's future goals and provides actionable strategies to enhance your marketing efforts. 🎧 Tune in now for expert insights and proven techniques to elevate your marketing success!

Ben Kniffen is the CEO and Co-Founder of LinkedSelling, the leader in Business-to-Business Lead Generation and a four-time INC 5000 company. Since 2011, he has taught hundreds of thousands of business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals how to leverage LinkedIn and social media to generate leads, clients, and sales opportunities.

With experience working with Microsoft, Dell, SAS, Neil Patel, HP, and more, Ben and his team have helped over 10,000 businesses build and execute powerful LinkedIn lead generation strategies. His insights have been featured in Entrepreneur.com, Business 2 Community, and Salesforce, making him a trusted authority in B2B marketing.

When he’s not helping businesses scale, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters, watching Cardinals baseball, and playing music. A professional musician, he never passes up a chance to lay down the groove on bass!

🌍 Website: Linkedselling.com

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/benkniffen

(0:00) Introduction and guest Ben Kniffen

(1:07) Power and efficiency of online networking post-COVID

(3:18) Common pitfalls in paid advertising and Ben's agency background

(5:53) LinkedSelling's services and the role of branding in marketing

(10:14) Identifying ideal clients and addressing misconceptions in marketing

(12:56) Storytelling and strategy differences in B2B vs. B2C marketing

(15:22) Overcoming skepticism and the importance of pain points

(18:23) Marketing funnel and multi-step advertising strategies

(21:29) Marketing vs. sales and alignment strategies

(23:19) Sponsor: Expert in You magazine

(24:43) Lead qualification, cost analysis, and nurturing

(28:24) Collaborating with large company marketing teams

(30:09) Tech stack and choosing the right ad platform

(37:36) Leveraging experience and competitive analysis through ad libraries

(41:58) Impact of ChatGPT on advertising strategies

(44:03) LinkedSelling's future goals and overcoming educational challenges

(46:44) Omnichannel marketing and competing for attention

(49:40) Contact information and acknowledgments

(50:27) Closing remarks and workshop invitation