Hello and welcome to the 115th edition of Fresh Salmon.

I'm delighted to have you here, and if you want to read past issues, you can do so here.

Fresh Salmon is one of the fastest growing newsletters in the B2B arena, thanks to your continued support and trust. Much appreciated!

In 2023, my open rates averaged around 42%-43%. The number of subscribers has doubled since Dec 31, 2023, and the open rates are trending upward. You can see it here -

A few interesting stats that I’m closely tracking are -

~ 40% Subscribers have +80% Individual Open Rate {This is important to validate quality of content}

~ 27% Subscribers have 80% Individual Open Rate with 10+ Unique Emails Opened {This is important metric and leading indicator for stickiness and retention}

Despite these metrics, my main goal in writing this newsletter consistently is clarity in my own thinking, which helps me refine my own craft and help my readers level up their B2B marketing game.

Rest everything else is a bonus.

Having said that I am contemplating partnerships, and new offerings for co-creation with my readers, but more on that in the upcoming editions.

Is This The Missing Link in Sales & Marketing Orgs?

Marketing sits on an unprecedented amount of data and information.

Thanks to cutting-edge Martech solutions, marketing teams are adept at tracking a myriad of information streams.

But how much of that is syndicated to Sales as insights is largely miniscule.

While self-serve tools for report generation are available, they fall short of delivering actionable insights.

I've been mulling over this for a while, and I'm convinced that what's really missing from our Sales and Marketing dream teams is a superhero of sorts — a Business Intelligence Analyst.

Consider this...

RevOps teams excel in laying down the data capture framework, setting the stage for insightful analysis.

But the onus of deciphering this data and extracting valuable insights falls heavily on the shoulders of Sales and Marketing managers. It's a daunting task!

Having a "Business Intelligence Analyst" who can interpret the data not just from a funnel and conversion perspective, but with a bigger revenue picture, can add a lot of value to Sales and Marketing efforts.

This perspective could significantly enhance Sales and Marketing strategies.

Imagine having expert assistance with:

- Debunking profitable segments

- Profiling prospects

- Unleashing effective prospecting channels and processes

- Amplifying intent signals

- Unlocking partnership potentials

- Refining the buyer's journey for better conversion rates

Yes, these activities are already part of most operations, but the issue is we are barely scratching the surface. The data analysis and insights generate are very surface level.

What we need is in-depth analysis. Analysis that's conducted by a dedicated expert, focused on unveiling go-to-market (GTM) strategies.

So, I pose the question:

Could a Business Intelligence Analyst be the key to elevating our Sales and Marketing initiatives from solid to revolutionary? 

Interesting Thing That I Read This Week

This week I read an interesting post by Liam Moroney about the danger of daily content creation on LinkedIn. Here it is -

My take:

Liam pointed that daily content creation lies in the potential neglect of consuming new insights and reflecting on personal viewpoints. This pursuit can lead to stagnation, dogmatism, and an unwillingness to evolve ideas.

It's a valid statement. IMO.

I think, I've fallen in that trap several times. And overtime, I have built a mechanism of sorts to not derail from achieving that balance of consistency and evolution of ideas.

3 things that have helped me achieve that rare balance are -

1. Don't be a slave to algorithms

Yes, the algorithm rewards you for following it and molding your behaviors to it, but the reality is - it won't be catastrophic in the larger scheme of things if you are "consistent enough" and loosely follow the general rules of engagement on the platforms such as LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.

We humans aren't designed like machines to have consistent productivity everyday from 9 to 5. We go through waves of productivity throughout the day, and that's how we get things done.

If the LinkedIn algorithm dictates you to post everyday around 8am for maximum impressions, don't just blindly follow it.

Take control of your schedule, and post things when it works for you. You might trade off larger reach, but you will put out your best content and that will have a better chance of getting you more visibility.

2. Keep tabs on your "oh-sh#t" moments

You know that "oh-sh#t" feeling when you have mindlessly scrolled through your LinkedIn feed or TikTok FYP for hours without any purpose - that's a bad idea.

Be intentional about your consumption, focus on content from people that matter to you, not just anything. Remember, there is more information out there than you could ever imagine.

3. Avoid information overload even if it's relevant

Consumption is only fruitful when done in moderation. Don't get caught up in the information overload.

What are your thoughts on this?

Tweet That I Wrote This Week

I’m enjoying reading James Clear’s Newsletter: 3-2-1.

What Do You Think?

This concludes this edition of Fresh Salmon.

I would like to hear what you thought of today's newsletter.

Also, let’s connect on Twitter, LinkedIn, or TikTok.

Cheers,

Vivek

PS. I love you ❤️