AI has made it easier than ever to produce content at scale, but more content doesn't always mean better results. As marketers rethink their approach to answer engine optimization (AEO), combining AI efficiency with human creativity is becoming essential to driving meaningful engagement and inbound leads.

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Adam Sockel hears from Amy Osmond Cook, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Fullcast, about how her team's content strategy has changed over the past year. Amy shares how using Copy.ai helped increase AEO performance by 30% in just one month, why content alone wasn't enough to sustain results, and how LinkedIn, Reddit, backlinks, and review platforms like G2 became essential parts of their broader strategy. She also explains why Fullcast shifted away from relying heavily on AI-generated content and started combining AI-powered intelligence with human creativity to produce more engaging campaigns that attract inbound leads.

You’ll learn:

• Why producing more AI-generated content isn't enough to build a successful AEO strategy
• Why human creativity is essential to creating engaging content in the age of AI
• How combining AI intelligence with creative storytelling can help drive inbound leads

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Why we wanted to hear from Amy Osmond Cook

(01:42) Increasing AEO performance by 30% with Copy.ai

(02:00) Why content alone isn't enough for AEO

(02:13) Expanding the strategy with LinkedIn, Reddit, backlinks, and G2

(02:37) Why AI-generated content was missing human creativity

(02:52) Combining AI intelligence with human creativity

(03:10) Creating engaging campaigns that drive inbound leads

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who've been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you'll want to play again.

Don't miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore our big little wins newsletter for more B2B content strategy insights.

Great leadership is a lot like conducting an orchestra. Success depends on mastering the details, keeping every team in sync, and knowing what excellence looks like.

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Adam Sockel hears from Eva Rothwell, Head of Marketing at Spark Hire, about how her background in classical music shaped her approach to leadership and marketing. Eva shares why attention to detail can elevate good work to great work, how coordination between teams is essential to successful execution, and why sales and marketing alignment matters more than ever. She also explores how AI is raising the importance of maintaining high standards of quality and what marketers can learn from musicians about developing an instinct for excellence.

You’ll learn:

• How classical music develops essential leadership and teamwork skills
• Why mastering small details can turn good work into great work
• How cross-functional alignment strengthens marketing and business performance
• Why maintaining high quality standards matters more in the age of AI

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Why we wanted to hear from Eva Rothwell

(01:41) How classical music shaped Eva's leadership style

(02:07) Why mastering the details makes a difference

(02:41) The importance of coordination across teams

(02:49) Why sales and marketing must stay aligned

(03:19) Leadership lessons from performing in an orchestra

(04:05) Staying in sync when the pressure is on

(04:22) Why AI makes quality standards more important

(04:56) Developing an instinct for great work

(05:07) Treating marketing as a craft and discipline

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who've been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you'll want to play again.

Don't miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore our big little wins newsletter for more B2B content strategy insights.

Sales follow-ups are not about sending more messages. They are about creating conversations that give prospects a reason to engage.

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Adam Sockel hears from Chris Cicconi, Director of Sales and Business Development at KnowledgeNow eLearning Solutions, about why effective follow-ups require a deeper understanding of your audience, your offering, and the value you bring to the conversation. Chris explains why generic outreach has become easier than ever to ignore, how sales teams can create more relevant messages by understanding the industries and people they serve, and why every follow-up should add a new chapter to the story instead of repeating the same message.

You’ll learn:

• Why understanding your offering is the foundation of effective sales follow-ups
• How to tailor outreach based on your audience, industry, and buyer needs
• Why valuable follow-ups need to provide context instead of adding more noise
• How creating a consistent story across follow-ups can help prospects engage

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Why we wanted to hear from Chris Cicconi

(01:13) Why sales follow-ups are harder now

(01:55) Start with a clear value proposition

(02:22) Personalizing follow-ups by prospect

(02:50) Scaling personalization across accounts

(03:14) Using industry-specific pain points

(03:39) Adding value without getting a reply

(03:57) Choosing the right follow-up channel

(04:15) How to leave a better voicemail

(04:46) Meeting prospects where they respond

(05:09) Make every follow-up tell a story

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who've been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you'll want to play again.

Don't miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore our big little wins newsletter for more B2B content strategy insights.