For years, go-to-market (GTM) teams have relied on buyer personas to shape their sales and marketing strategies. But let’s be honest—these generic customer profiles often miss the mark, forcing marketers to make assumptions about their audience instead of engaging with real insights. In the latest episode of the GTM Innovators Podcast, I sat down with Nick Zeckets, founder and CEO at Air Traffic Control, to discuss why buyer personas are dead—and how AI-powered hyper-personalization is finally unlocking the ability to deliver the right content, to the right person, at the right time. One major takeaway? Content is still king—but the way we create and distribute it needs to evolve. Why Buyer Personas Fall Short in the Age of AI Buyer personas were created as a […]
GTM Innovators: Ditching Buyer Personas – Mastering Hyper-Personalization in Modern GTM
In this episode of “Ditching Buyer Personas: Mastering Hyper-Personalization in Modern GTM,” host Kyle James sits down with serial entrepreneur and content aficionado Nick Zeckets the CEO at Air Traffic Control to explore the evolving landscape of AI-driven marketing. From delivering the right content at precisely the right time to automating relevance at scale, Nick shares why traditional buyer personas are losing their power—and how organizations can embrace hyper-personalization for more meaningful engagement. Tune in for a deep dive on leveraging real-time data, refining your content strategy, and empowering teams across sales, marketing, and customer success to create truly individualized experiences. Subscript to GMT Innovators Series on the following platforms: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/research-859405782 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsoV6fwX4cpGR2Hg98rc1e1k2-cOqCbhb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gvDzcl0jxpPIfu9WYu6U4 iHeartReadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/258127960/ Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/gtm-innovators/PC:1001097038 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gtm-innovators/id1790738579 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1b000615-31cc-49dd-a5d8-f80d5098bf2d/gtm-innovators Transcript: Kyle James […]
The Missing Middle: The Critical Gap in Your GTM Strategy (And How to Fix It)
Most B2B companies focus their go-to-market (GTM) strategies on two key areas—driving awareness at the top of the funnel and closing deals at the bottom. But what about everything in between? There’s a massive gap in the middle of the funnel—the “Missing Middle”—where leads often get lost, disengaged, or undernurtured. This neglected phase is where potential buyers are trying to evaluate solutions, weigh their options, and decide whether to take the next step. If companies don’t intentionally guide them through this process, they risk losing valuable opportunities to competitors who do. On the latest episode of GTM Innovators, Sheri Otto, founder and CEO of Growth Lane Strategies, breaks down why most GTM strategies fail at lead nurturing—and what AI, data, and behavioral science can do […]
Analyst Insight: The Hidden AI Adoption Barrier – Why 80% of Companies Aren’t Ready
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been touted as the future of business, promising efficiency, automation, and transformation. Although AI is advancing rapidly, meaningful adoption creating business value has been moving slower than many expected. The issue isn’t fear or resistance—it’s something much more fundamental: most businesses simply don’t have the data infrastructure needed to make AI effective. This became abundantly clear in a recent conversation with Scott Newman, the Chief Strategy Officer at OneSource. OneSource operates contact centers across the globe, handling everything from customer support to sales. With AI transforming their industry, Scott’s insights offer a crucial perspective on where companies go wrong—and what they should be focusing on instead. The Real AI Adoption Problem: 80% of Companies Aren’t Ready One of the most surprising […]
GTM Innovators: Unlocking GTM Success – AI, Behavioral Science & Demand Gen with Sheri Otto
In this episode of GTM Innovators, host Kyle James sits down with Sheri Otto, founder and CEO of Growth Lane Strategies, to explore the evolving role of AI, behavioral science, and demand generation in modern go-to-market (GTM) strategies. As businesses struggle to connect content to revenue, Sheri shares her expert insights on how AI can go beyond just content creation to drive real engagement, improve segmentation, and optimize the customer journey. From identifying high-intent buyers to leveraging AI for strategic decision-making, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways for marketers, sales teams, and product leaders looking to elevate their GTM motions. Tune in to discover how AI is reshaping demand generation and why the best-performing companies are embracing it as a strategic growth partner—not just […]
How AI is Supercharging Product Management: Faster Iteration, Smarter Research, and a Disruptive Future
Product managers today face an ever-growing challenge—how to move fast, make data-driven decisions, and ensure that what they’re building actually meets customer needs. Traditionally, this process has been filled with bottlenecks: lengthy market research, expensive user testing, and engineering constraints that slow down iteration. But AI is changing everything. In the latest episode of GTM Innovators , we sat down with Tim Macchi, Growth Product Manager at TeamGantt, to discuss how AI is revolutionizing product management. From automating market research to synthetic user testing and streamlining product development, AI is making it possible for product managers to test more assumptions, iterate faster, and move with unprecedented speed. Here’s a glimpse of how AI is driving this transformation—and why every product manager should take notice. AI-Powered Market […]
GTM Innovators: Building Smarter with AI – Tim Macchi on Automation, Research & Product Strategy
In this episode of GTM Innovators, we sit down with Tim Macchi, Growth Product Manager at TeamGantt, to explore how AI is reshaping the way we build and optimize products. From using AI agents for QA testing to accelerating market research and streamlining product analytics, Tim shares his hands-on experience with automation and AI-powered workflows. We dive into how product managers can leverage AI to work smarter, reduce inefficiencies, and unlock new growth opportunities. Whether you’re a product leader, marketer, or innovator looking to stay ahead of the AI revolution, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss! Subscript to GMT Innovators Series on the following platforms: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/research-859405782 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsoV6fwX4cpGR2Hg98rc1e1k2-cOqCbhb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gvDzcl0jxpPIfu9WYu6U4 iHeartReadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/258127960/ Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/gtm-innovators/PC:1001097038 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gtm-innovators/id1790738579 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1b000615-31cc-49dd-a5d8-f80d5098bf2d/gtm-innovators Transcript: Kyle James […]
The Disruption of Demand Generation: How AI is Changing the Game
Demand generation as we know it is undergoing a seismic shift. The tried-and-true playbooks that marketers have relied on for years are rapidly becoming obsolete, giving way to AI-driven strategies that are redefining how companies attract, engage, and convert customers. If you’re still approaching demand gen the same way you did five years ago, you’re already behind. In the latest episode of GTM Innovators, I sat down with Prashant Kaw Founding Partner of Helmur to dive deep into the impact AI is having on marketing, particularly in demand generation. We explored how AI is transforming the way we create content, track attribution, and execute go-to-market strategies. Below, I break down three of the biggest disruptions happening right now—and why they matter for your business. 1. […]
GTM Innovators: The Future of Demand Gen – AI, Data, and Personalization with Prashant Kaw
Demand generation is undergoing a major transformation, and AI is at the center of it all. In this episode of GTM Innovators, host Kyle James sits down with Prashant Kaw to explore how AI is reshaping demand gen workflows, disrupting traditional attribution models, and redefining go-to-market strategies. From hyper-personalization to the rise of dark social, we dive deep into the biggest challenges and opportunities for marketers in an AI-driven world. Tune in for insights that will help you stay ahead in the evolving landscape of B2B marketing. Subscript to GMT Innovators Series on the following platforms: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/research-859405782 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsoV6fwX4cpGR2Hg98rc1e1k2-cOqCbhb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gvDzcl0jxpPIfu9WYu6U4 iHeartReadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/258127960/ Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/gtm-innovators/PC:1001097038 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gtm-innovators/id1790738579 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1b000615-31cc-49dd-a5d8-f80d5098bf2d/gtm-innovators Transcript: Kyle James 00:00 Welcome to another episode of GTM Innovators by 3Sixty Insights. I’m your host. […]
Revolutionizing Sales with AI: Insights from John Marcus III on the GTM Innovators Podcast
In a recent episode of the GTM Innovators Podcast , John Marcus III, founder of Fractional Ventures, shared groundbreaking perspectives on the evolving role of AI in sales and go-to-market strategies. As someone deeply immersed in the intersection of data and business growth, John’s insights highlighted the transformative potential of AI in creating more effective and efficient sales processes. Garbage In, Garbage Out: The Role of Context in AI Success One of the most compelling points John made is the importance of context when working with AI models. While tools like GPT have made significant strides in delivering actionable insights, they rely heavily on the quality and relevance of the data fed into them. “The more context you provide these models, the further they can run […]
Go-To-Market Research Agenda for 2025
Introduction Over the past few decades, there have been significant strides in enabling core organizational go-to-market (GTM) departments of B2B SaaS companies, particularly in sales, marketing, customer success, and product. The advent of digital technologies and the proliferation of software solutions have revolutionized how businesses approach their GTM strategies. According to industry estimates, there are now over 14,000 software vendors offering specialized tools and platforms designed to enhance marketing efforts alone. This surge has created a highly competitive software and solutions environment geared toward impacting and better enabling organizational GTM activities. As a result, organizations are faced with an overwhelming array of options when it comes to selecting tools and solutions that drive productivity, efficiency, customer experience, and revenue growth. The abundance of available technologies […]
GTM Innovators: AIQL, Bespoke Data, and the Future of Sales – A Conversation with John Marcus III
In this episode of the GTM Innovators Podcast, host Kyle James sits down with John Marcus III, founder of Fractional Ventures, to explore the cutting-edge intersection of AI and sales. John introduces the transformative concept of AI Qualified Leads (AIQL), dives into the power of bespoke data for uncovering non-obvious customer insights, and shares why context is the cornerstone of successful AI implementations. Packed with actionable advice and forward-thinking perspectives, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their sales strategy and embrace the future of go-to-market innovation. Subscript to GMT Innovators Series on the following platforms: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/research-859405782 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsoV6fwX4cpGR2Hg98rc1e1k2-cOqCbhb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gvDzcl0jxpPIfu9WYu6U4 iHeartReadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/258127960/ Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/gtm-innovators/PC:1001097038 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gtm-innovators/id1790738579 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1b000615-31cc-49dd-a5d8-f80d5098bf2d/gtm-innovators Transcript: Kyle James 00:00 Kyle, welcome to another episode of the GTM innovators by […]
AI in Customer Success: Insights from Mike Redbord
On the recent episode of GTM Innovators, I sat down with Mike Redbord to dive deep into the intersection of AI and customer success. We covered a lot of ground, but two subjects stood out: the shift toward simple, app-like AI interfaces and the evolving role of customer success professionals in an AI-driven world. Here’s a closer look at these transformative ideas. The Shift Towards Simple, App-Like AI Interfaces In a landscape where advanced AI capabilities seem to grab the headlines, Mike highlighted an interesting trend: the most effective AI tools are often the simplest. These tools mimic traditional web apps with dropdowns and straightforward outputs, making them highly approachable for users who may not be technically inclined. This simplicity is crucial in customer success, […]
GTM Innovators: AI in Customer Success – Insights from Mike Redbord
In this episode of GTM Innovators, I sit down with Mike Redbord to explore how AI is transforming customer success and support. From leveraging automation to streamline operations to the evolving role of CS professionals, Mike shares insights on balancing technology and human connection in modern B2B SaaS. Subscript to GMT Innovators Series on the following platforms: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/research-859405782 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsoV6fwX4cpGR2Hg98rc1e1k2-cOqCbhb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gvDzcl0jxpPIfu9WYu6U4 iHeartReadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/258127960/ Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/gtm-innovators/PC:1001097038 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gtm-innovators/id1790738579 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1b000615-31cc-49dd-a5d8-f80d5098bf2d/gtm-innovators Transcript: Kyle James 00:00 Hello, hello, hello. Welcome to another episode of GTM innovators by 3Sixty insights. I’m your host, Kyle James, and today we have Mike Redbord, who is going to talk to us about all things Customer Success and Support and how it relates to the modern GTM teams and B to B. SAS, […]
Introducing GTM Innovators: A New Podcast by 3Sixty Insights
Hosted by Kyle James, this podcast dives deep into the world of B2B SaaS, featuring conversations with experts in go-to-market strategies. With over 15 years of experience across customer success, sales, marketing, and more, Kyle brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for storytelling to every episode. In this Season, he will tackle five key questions shaping the future of B2B SaaS: How are AI and automation transforming teams? What’s the impact of AI-powered personalization on the customer journey? How are companies leveraging big data to enhance decision-making and experiences? What roles do integrations and cloud platforms play in scalability? How critical is omnichannel communication for retention and CX? Each week, we’ll learn from innovators who share their successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Tune […]
Introducing Our 2025 Go-To-Market Research Agenda
In the ever-evolving world of B2B SaaS, organizations face both exciting opportunities and daunting challenges. With over 14,000 software vendors offering tools designed to empower go-to-market (GTM) teams, it’s more critical than ever to understand which strategies, tools, and processes drive success. For these reasons, I am thrilled to be collaborating with 3Sixty Insights in launching a new research focus on Go-To-Market in the B2B SaaS industry. With this focus in mind, I’d like to share my questions from my draft Research Agenda and priorities for 2025. These questions to research are informed by conversations with industry experts and an extensive review of hundreds of B2B SaaS company websites and their offerings. We are in the last stages of finalizing it over the coming weeks. […]
Aligning Solutions with Needs: A Comprehensive Guide to Customer Needs Assessment in B2B SaaS
In our previous posts, we delved into the first two pillars of market research for B2B SaaS companies: Industry Analysis and Competitive Analysis. We explored how understanding the broader market landscape and analyzing competitors can help shape your strategic direction. We also followed a case study of a company aiming to launch a project management tool tailored for remote teams, focusing on advanced AI integration and robust security features. Outcome of Competitive Analysis: The company identified a market gap for advanced AI and enhanced security in project management tools. Their research and competitive analysis confirmed this opportunity. However, to ensure their solution truly resonates with the target audience, they need to engage in the final critical step—Customer Needs Assessment. Why Customer Needs Assessment Matters Customer […]
The Lemon Juice Bandits and the Insights of the Dunning-Kruger Effect
On January 6th, 1995, MacArthur Wheeler and Clifton Earl Johnson pulled off two bank heists in greater Pittsburgh. The twist? They made no attempt to disguise themselves. Instead, they covered their faces in lemon juice, convinced that it would make them invisible to security cameras. Lemon juice, after all, was used to create invisible ink, so in their minds, it should render them undetectable. Johnson was arrested a few days later, and Wheeler, despite believing in his lemon juice “invisibility,” was captured in April after being identified in surveillance footage. Both men faced multi-year prison sentences. So, why recount this bizarre tale of two criminals with a highly flawed understanding of science? Because it inspired one of the most fascinating research studies in psychology over […]
Outmaneuvering the Competition: A Deep Dive into Competitive Analysis for B2B SaaS
In our previous post, we explored the importance of Industry Analysis as the foundational step in market research for B2B SaaS companies. We discussed how understanding the broader market landscape sets the stage for informed strategic decisions. We also introduced a case study of a B2B SaaS company aiming to launch a project management tool tailored for remote teams, focusing on AI integration and robust security features. Outcome of Industry Analysis: The company is leaning towards integrating AI and enhancing security features to differentiate itself and appeal to the growing market segment concerned with data protection. However, to validate this direction, they need to move to the next crucial step—Competitive Analysis—to determine if existing providers are offering similar features and how these offerings are being […]
Overcoming Disagreements: Embracing the DARE Decision-Making Framework
Disagreements are an inevitable part of any collaborative effort, especially in the business world. It’s perfectly acceptable—even healthy—to disagree. Without differing opinions, innovation and discovery would stall. However, it’s crucial that these disagreements are handled with respect. Being disrespectful, rude, or resorting to bullying is entirely unacceptable. We need to maintain mutual respect to facilitate intelligent and productive discussions. In a company, it’s essential to have a clear process for resolving disagreements and making decisions to keep moving forward. Relying on a committee approach often leads to indecision and a lack of clear direction. I’ve rarely seen this method yield effective results. Instead, appointing an individual who can make the final call—a decisive leader—proves far more effective. The Importance of a Decisive Leader When a […]
