GrowthRise Mastermind #9 Recap

GrowthRise Mastermind #9 Summary‍

This afternoon we had our 9th GrowthRise Mastermind call, bringing together B2B CMOs, CROs, Heads of Growth, and Marketing Managers to share tips on how to scale revenue faster.

Recording here

In this GrowthRise call, we went deep into scaling AI-personalized cold email outreach. I laid out a few options like Instantly VIP, ListKit, and Amplemarket for automating outbound at scale, but emphasized that if you want true AI personalization at high volumes, a dedicated agency like GetKen.ai is the best bet. We talked about how even though tools like Instantly and ListKit can crank out 200k+ cold emails a month, the real game-changer is personalized messaging driven by tools like Claude and Clay.com — which has helped us jump from 1–2% click rates to 7–13%. We’re living proof that smart personalization works when it’s layered with good outbound systems.

We also tackled Amplemarket’s pros and cons. While it’s solid for higher-intent outreach, it’s a heavier lift to configure and less ideal for massive volume unless you have the time to set it up properly. I shared how we enrich data first with Clay.com (email first, then LinkedIn) and use API-driven AI prompts to generate full personalized sequences — subject line, opener, body, PS line — without burning through a crazy number of Clay credits. One important hack we covered: leaving the subject line the same across follow-ups inside Instantly has helped boost our second email click rates by over 40%.

From there, we transitioned into warm email nurturing strategy. I showed how we run a simple but powerful warm system using Transpond — emailing our 234k+ warm list twice a week, plus a 90-day onboarding sequence with 30 emails. The mantra: don't overcomplicate it. Just ship valuable content consistently. I stressed that emailing once or twice per month is not enough if you want to drive meaningful revenue — instead, aim for 2–4 emails per week, knowing unsubscribes are part of the game. The winners in email are the ones who stay visible and provide genuine value.

We also touched on integrating AI-personalized videos into outreach using tools like Potion. I shared early results from our campaigns, including 900+ personalized videos viewed from 20,000 sends, and explained why it’s important to weave video naturally into the warm flow rather than just cold blasting. Elena brought up scheduling demos, and we explored how for buyers under 40, you can't just push sales calls upfront — you have to earn them. That means prioritizing PDFs, case studies, webinars, and asynchronous demos as your main CTAs, with the sales call link as a quiet second option tucked into your signature.

Finally, we closed out with some rapid-fire on deliverability best practices (yes, you can and should use links if you're monitoring inbox placement weekly), LinkedIn sponsored messaging ads (they're outperforming feed ads by 3–5x on cost), and lead scoring in CRMs like HubSpot. Bottom line: today's growth playbook is all about smart automation, true personalization, and meeting prospects where they are — not where you wish they were. Huge thanks to everyone who contributed; it’s an exciting time to be building smarter and faster together.

Top 7 Call Takeaways:

GrowthRise Mastermind #8 – Top 7 Takeaways

1. True Personalization > Templates:
   AI-personalized emails (using Clay, Claude, and LinkedIn enrichment) are driving 7–13% click rates — 5x higher than old-school mail merges.
2. Best Cold Outreach Stack:
   For volume, Instantly and ListKit work great. But for elite AI personalization at scale, agencies like GetKen.ai are next-level (and worth the extra investment).
3. Nurture Sequences Win:
   Warm lead nurturing is simple: email twice a week, automate a 90-day onboarding sequence, and don't overthink it — consistency and value crush fancy automation maps.
4. Videos Are the Future (but Integrate Smartly):
   Potion AI videos boosted engagement across both cold and warm lists. Use them to nurture, not just cold blast.
5. Don’t Push Calls — Educate First:
   Especially for buyers under 40, offer valuable content (reports, webinars, case studies) before pitching sales calls. Education = conversion.
6. Use Links in Cold Email (Smartly):
   Despite the myths, good links + weekly deliverability tests = high inbox placement (we're holding 87–88% even with links embedded).
7. LinkedIn Sponsored Messages Crush Feed Ads:
   Cost per impression and cost per engagement are way lower with LinkedIn thought leader ads vs. regular display ads — smart move for B2B scaling.

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GrowthRise Mastermind #9 Call Topics:‍

The call covered several key topics around B2B marketing and sales:

• Cold Email Marketing:
  • AI personalization outbound email using Claude API and ChatGPT (within Clay) showing 7-13% click rates vs 1.5-2% without AI
  • Tools discussed: Instantly, ListKit, AmpleMarket, GetKen.ai
  • Best practices: Focus on providing value before asking for sales calls
  • Cost: $1,500-2,000/month for managed services
• Warm Email Nurturing:
  • Sending frequency: 2-3 times per week optimal
  • 30-lesson automated sequence over 90 days for new subscribers
  • Using tools like Transpond for email sending
  • Importance of maintaining global opt-out lists
• LinkedIn Advertising:
  • Thought Leader ads more effective than display ads
  • Cost: $30-35 CPM vs $150-200 CPM for display
  • Recommended testing both formats
  • Boosting organic content showing good engagement
• Lead Scoring:
  • Create your own lead scoring point-based system in your CRM
  • Example scoring: 1pt website visit, 2pts email, 3pts PDF download
  • MQL/SQL qualification process
  • Tools mentioned: Hubspot, Pipedrive, Salesforce
• Video Marketing:
  • AI personalized video tools: Potion and SendSpark
  • 20,000 videos sent with 900 watches
  • Best for warm lead nurturing within 30 minutes
• Sales Call / Demo Strategy:
  • Generational differences in sales call preferences
  • Focus on asynchronous education before calls
  • Offer interactive demos and webinars first
  • Use calendar links in email signatures
• Tools & Resources Mentioned:
  • Clay.com - LinkedIn data enrichment
  • Potion - AI personalized videos
  • SendSpark - Video messaging
  • Arcade.software - Interactive demos
  • HockeyStack - Product analytics
  • Base Row - Database management
  • Hypertide - Email infrastructure
  • Beehiiv - Email marketing platform