audience & revenue growth tips for B2B startups and creators

My mission is to build predictable pipelines for B2B startups. I share what I learn along the way. 

Read more if you are ready to build your pipeline 👇

💡 I am super relevant if you are:

→ Indie Hacker
→ Freelancer
→ Early Startup Founder
→ B2B Sales Person
→ Creator (any profession)

✍️ I write about:

→ B2B sales
→ Go to market strategies
→ Signal-based prospecting

Little more about me:

Cryptocurrency Investor. SaaS Enthusiast. Agriculture Business Owner. 

Lived in 3 countries.

I'm a T-shaped growth person who has experience in sales, content marketing, and growth.

Drop me a LinkedIn message if you need any help.

We will keep it simple.

Twitter: @sehaokudan

https://calendly.com/sehaokudan/30min

Seha Okudan

Helping B2B founders turn LinkedIn into deals | GTM Strategist

5 worst discovery questions:

5 difficult scenarios for salespeople:
(Even for the top ones.)

5 difficult scenarios for salespeople:

Stop trying to fake urgency in B2B. 
(it doesn't work)

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁:

→ Knowing pain
→ Understanding the impact of pain

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝟮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀:

1️⃣ Not every problem is worth solving

Trying to create an urgency won't work if they don't have something that is worth solving.

Nobody will buy a strong painkiller for a mild headache, even if it’s the last day of a 20% discount.

If the impact of the pain is close to zero, no urgency will stick.

2️⃣ A problem can have different solutions

Even if the pain is real, buyers still have options.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻:

•⁠ ⁠Build in-house
•⁠ ⁠Pick a cheaper workaround
•⁠ ⁠Wait until the budget frees up

Both a raincoat and an umbrella protect you from rain.

If you don’t show why your path is better, faster, or safer;

Urgency dies.

𝗧𝗟;𝗗𝗥

𝗧𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆:

-⁠ ⁠Find the pain that matters most
- ⁠Show the true cost of doing nothing
- ⁠Prove why solving it now beats later
- ⁠Position your solution as the safest path

Deals move when urgency is real. 

Not when it’s forced.

How do you create urgency without sounding pushy?

5 Unexpected Things in Sales
(hope they happen to you today)

5 Unexpected things in sales:

Contact data is out of control.
(for real)

Don't get me wrong.

I don't mind people pitching me.

I do it every day, too.

BUT

Every single week, some people:

- Add me to lists I never joined.
- Drop me into random waitlists.
- Email me again after I unsubscribe.
- Promise what no one can deliver.
- Sends emails written with poor prompts.
- Message me on WhatsApp out of nowhere.

I block them. They switch mailboxes.
I say, “I’m not a fit,” they keep texting.
I say it on the phone, they keep selling.

“I want to tell you about a promo…”
 “There’s a new offer…”

I don't want to click on report Spam.
I don't want to be rude.
I get it, we all try to make a living.

But this is not outreach.
This is not marketing.

This is SPAM.

Are some people ruining the industry?

Bad contact data can kill your business.
(real examples)

Your data provider is the most important part of your tech stack.
It is non-negotiable.

If your data is bad, you lose.
Simple as that.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝟭:
Picked the best provider, tested ICP coverage.
Checked accuracy and verified test emails.
Only had HubSpot + the data provider (not ideal).

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀:
Hit targets.
Scaled the team.
Added new tools later.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝟮:
Paid for expensive tool stacks for sequencing, etc.
Then, they selected the most cost effective data provider.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀:
High bounce rates.
Burned mailboxes.
Low call connect rates.
The team missed targets.
The company started downsizing the sales team.

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀:
1.  Build a sample list. Verify it.
2. Check coverage across your ICP + regions.
3. Choose tools that use waterfall enrichment.

If your data provider is wrong, nothing you do will work.
You cannot afford bad data.

How do you choose your contact data provider?

12 mistakes that cost you deals:

SalesDaily.co

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Founder

The Modern Sales Leader

The Modern Sales Leader

- Visual frameworks for building and scaling sales teams

- Blueprints on leadership, culture, and team performance

- Tactical guides for coaching and developing reps

- Resources that help leaders enable their teams and drive growth

lemlist

lemlist is building something different:

→ Engage across channels in one flow

→ Find & enrich leads instantly

→ Personalize at scale, without sounding like a robot

→ Track what works so you send smarter, not more

Find out more about it here: https://www.lemlist.com/in/haris-halkic

Ambassador

PowerUs

PowerUs is the largest job board for craftsmen in Germany, addressing the shortage of skilled professionals such as electricians, and heating installers (in German: Anlagenmechaniker SHK).

If your company aims to quickly reach and hire talented skilled blue-collar workers, let's connect.

Your organization will benefit from:

- Unlimited, free job postings for visibility within our community
- Targeted distribution of your ads and pre-qualification of the most suitable applicants
- Phone consultations with your recruiting expert
- Easy and reliable reachability of applicants via app and WhatsApp
- A flexible applicant management system (ATS)
- The ability to discover additional potential applicants on your own and contact them proactively

Senior Sales Manager

Coursera

* Managed full sales cycle for a re-skilling/up-skilling e-learning solution, targeting HR departments, Heads of Talent, and L&D professionals.

* Worked with around 200 assigned accounts, mainly from the finance and consulting industries, additionaly covering the South German territory (100% new business generation).

* Supported company visibility at trade shows.

Mid-Market Account Executive

Sharpist

* Sold digital coaching solutions to HR and L&D leaders.

* Closed new and existing client deals, achieving a balance of 50% new business and 50% renewals/upsells (responsible for 3 key accounts).

* Crafted 40+ customized demos, effectively converting leads from marketing campaigns, prospecting, and BDRs.

* Provided continuous account management, with close collaboration with the CS and marketing teams.

Enterprise Account Executive

TeamViewer

* Surpassed yearly sales quotas consistently: 2018 at 171%, 2019 at 123%, 2020 at 129%, and 2021 at 105% achievement.

* As a part of the Inside Sales team consisting of 12 members, I consistently ranked in the top 3, being responsible for a total of €3.5 million in sales over 3 years.

* Proactively identified and leveraged opportunities within the SMB and mid-market segment, overseeing the complete sales cycle. Secured partnerships with companies of up to 15,000 employees and revenues of up to $10 billion.

* Maintained a diversified sales portfolio: 50% new business and 50% from ongoing client relations.

Senior Sales Representative

* Selling comprehensive remote connectivity solutions, adapting offerings to diverse client needs.

* Focus on DACH region, targeting SMB and mid-market clients, averaging 80 dials a day.

* Actively expanded the client base and pursued new business opportunities.

* Proactively addressed customer service issues, improving client satisfaction and loyalty.

Inside Sales Representative

marmato GmbH Stuttgart

* Managed key account communications for Mercedes-Benz Group, ensuring smooth execution of campaigns.

* Launched tailored email marketing campaigns for the automotive sector.

* Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align email strategies with client goals.

* Analyzed campaign data, offering insights for enhancements.

Account-Manager E-Mail Marketing

rest Drink GmbH & Co. KG

rest is a delicious drink with juices that contains only natural ingredients and comes without caffeine, taurine and preservatives. Instead you get mouth-watering cranberry, orange, lime and some ginger.

We've added extracts of shizandra, suma root and passiflora. rest is the ideal drink for everyone who wishes for a natural break and relaxation in everyday life. 

How it all started: during our semester abroad in Scotland in 2013, we were inspired by the calm and relaxed atmosphere in Scotland and the idea was born to bring some of it back to Germany. A little bit later we were standing in our kitchen in Karlsruhe refining the recipe for our natural relaxation drink. After many attempts rest was born and we hit the road for Berlin.

Co-Founder & CEO

dm-drogerie markt GmbH + Co. KG

Duales Studium

Join 30k+ sellers learning LinkedIn’s best sales strategies.

SalesDaily started with one goal:

Make it easier to access good sales advice.

Every day, I collect the best ideas I find: from top reps, managers, and operators, and turn them into resources you can actually use.

Right now, 28,000+ people read it:

• Sales managers who want to coach better without starting from scratch
• Sales reps looking to improve how they prospect, run calls, and close

What you can expect:

• Tactical sales advice from top performers
• Sales infographics and cheat sheets
• Frameworks for messaging, meetings, objections, and more

If you’re in sales and want stronger inputs for your day-to-day work, check it out:
👉 salesdaily.co/subscribe

You don’t need more theory.

You need better material. That’s what I focus on.

Haris Halkic

Buyers decide in the first 30 seconds if they trust you.

A weak opening kills the call before you ever get to discovery.

Here’s how great sellers start strong instead of scrambling later 👇


_________________________
⇢ FREE: Top 50 Sales Cheat Sheets: https://lnkd.in/eWtvCSae
_________________________


11 Openers That Ruin Sales Calls (And What To Say Instead)

❌ "How are you today?"
✅ "Thanks for making time. Let’s dive in."

❌ "So… what do you want to know?"
✅ "Here’s what I had in mind for today. Does that match your priorities?"

❌ "I know you’re busy, so…"
✅ "We have 30 minutes. Here’s what I want to cover."

❌ "Let me tell you about our company…"
✅ "Before I share anything, what made you take this call?"

❌ "Let me show you the platform."
✅ "Before we look at anything, where are you today with solving X?"

❌ "Can you tell me about your company?"
✅ "From what I saw, you’re doing X. Is that accurate?"

❌ "Let me tell you what we do."
✅ "Before we dive in, can I ask what led you to this call?"

❌ "So… where do you want to start?"
✅ "Here’s the agenda I suggest. Tell me if you want to adjust anything."

❌ "So… what are you hoping to learn about us?"
✅ "Based on the context you shared, here are the two areas I think matter most. Agree?"

❌ "Do you have any questions before we start?"
✅ "Let’s start with your top priority for today and go from there."

❌ "Walk me through your situation…"
✅ "You mentioned a challenge with X. Tell me more."


A great call doesn’t begin with small talk.

It begins with clarity, leadership, and control.

Buyers feel it instantly.


📬 Subscribe for proven sales frameworks, daily insights and free resources: https://lnkd.in/eWtvCSae (already 40,000 sellers are on board)

⤷ Join 40,000 sellers reading SalesDaily | Get my results-driven sales visuals – used by top reps & sales leaders 👇

Steve Jobs wasn’t a salesperson by title.

But he mastered persuasion better than anyone in business history.

________________________________
FREE: Top 50 Sales Cheat Sheets:
https://lnkd.in/eXSev4-G
________________________________

Here are 8 timeless lessons from Jobs on sales excellence:

1. Create a Unique Value Proposition
 → Don’t compete. Differentiate.

2. Focus on Benefits, Not Features
 → Sell outcomes, not specs.

3. Keep Your Message Simple
 → Simplicity is sophistication.

4. Tell a Compelling Story
 → Emotion sells what logic can’t.

5. Know Your Audience
 → Understand their needs before they do.

6. Create an Experience, Not Just a Product
 → People buy the journey, not the item.

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Polarize
 → Stand for something. Confidence attracts believers.

8. Persistence in the Face of Rejection
 → Every “no” refines your “yes.”

---

Sales isn’t just about closing deals.

It’s about building belief in your product, your message, and yourself.

Which of these rules do you think separates great sellers from average ones?

📬 Subscribe for proven sales frameworks, daily insights and free resources:
https://lnkd.in/eXSev4-G

How to Push Without Being Pushy

7 Sales Phrases That Move Deals Forward:


⇢ Free resources: 100 Sales Objections + How to Respond (PDF)
https://lnkd.in/eNVZpK34

—

Most deals don’t stall because reps forget to follow up.

They stall because reps push the wrong way.

Here’s how top reps move deals forward—without sounding desperate:

❌ “Are you ready to move forward?”
✅ “What would a successful next step look like for you?”
→ Makes it about them, not your quota.

❌ “Just checking in…”
✅ “Last time we spoke, you mentioned [X] — is that still a priority?”
→ Anchors to their words, not your needs.

❌ “When can you sign the contract?”
✅ “Assuming we’re aligned, is [X date] realistic on your end?”
→ Increases clarity without pressure.

❌ “What’s holding you back?”
✅ “Is there anything we haven’t covered that’s still on your mind?”
→ Invites honesty instead of defensiveness.

❌ “You said this was important — what changed?”
✅ “Has the priority shifted, or is there something else we should factor in?”
→ Opens the door without guilt or shame.

❌ “Let me know what you think.”
✅ “Would it make sense to [book a call / review next steps] together?”
→ Clear CTA. Collaborative tone.

❌ “Let me know when you’re ready.”
✅ “If nothing changes, where do you see this landing in the next 2 weeks?”
→ Nudges commitment while staying helpful.

—

Because pressure creates friction.

But insightful nudges create movement.

📬 Subscribe for proven sales frameworks, daily insights & free resources:
https://lnkd.in/eD4NBzTP
(already 40,000 sellers are on board)

Some sales reps close fast. 

Others grow accounts for years. 

The best know when to do both. 

Here’s the breakdown: 

Hunters 

– Volume-based 
– Prospecting driven 
– Competitive by nature 
– Focused on new business 
– Territory expansion 
– Quick close
 
___
Prospecting-driven teams live and die by their contact quality.
 
Bad data = wasted dials, bounced emails, and blown quotas.
 
FullEnrich aggregates 20+ data sources to find verified emails and mobile numbers with an 80%+ find rate.
__ 

Farmers 

– Account growth 
– Long-term value 
– Penetration into accounts 
– Relationship building 
– Customer success 
– Revenue expansion 

And in the middle? 

– Account intelligence gathering 
– Value-based selling 
– Stakeholder mapping 
– Revenue forecasting 
– Executive relationship building 

Hunters drive speed and outreach. 
Farmers grow depth and trust. 

Top sellers learn both.

Most people think "sales" means talking.

Sales pros know it means mastering 30 different skills...

And making it look easy.

⇢ FREE: Top 50 Sales Cheat Sheets: https://lnkd.in/eQ5vbmpx

Everyone else:

🗣 "Just selling."


Sales professionals:

📈 Research.
🎯 Prospecting.
💬 Discovery.
🤝 Negotiation.
📊 Strategy.
📋 Follow-up.
📚 Continuous learning.

The best reps build systems, track metrics, and treat selling like a science.

Sales isn’t one skill.

It’s an ecosystem and top performers master the whole thing.

💡 Reminder:

If you ever feel overwhelmed, it’s not because you’re bad at sales.

It’s because you’re doing the work of ten jobs under one title.


📬 Subscribe for proven sales frameworks, daily insights and free resources:
https://lnkd.in/eQ5vbmpx (already 40,000 sellers are on board)

Your sales strategy isn’t broken.

It’s just missing one pillar.


⇢ Get our Top 50 Sales Cheat Sheets: https://lnkd.in/e3Sb_xRy 


Every repeatable sales engine runs on four core pillars:

1. Focus

• Clear ICP, clear targets, clear reason to reach out.

• Without it, reps chase everyone and close no one.


2. Demand

• A consistent motion that fills pipeline with qualified opportunities.

• Without it, growth stalls and forecasts become fiction.


3. Execution

• Process, tools, and discipline that turn interest into closed deals.

• Without it, effort rises, results don’t.


4. Expansion

• A repeatable model for upsells, cross-sells, and retention.

• Without it, every month starts from zero.


Sales Mastery

• When clarity, demand, execution, and expansion work as one.


📬 Subscribe for proven sales frameworks, daily insights & free resources:
https://lnkd.in/e3Sb_xRy 

(already 40,000 sellers are on board)

The Sales Zoo: 10 Sales Personalities That Kill Deals

1. THE PEACOCK 🦚 (All Flash, No Follow-Through)

Struts into sales calls with flashy presentations and big talk but never follows up or delivers real value.

⇢ Fix: Teach the importance of follow-ups and substance over style.

_______
FREE: Top 50 Sales Cheat Sheets: https://lnkd.in/eBfiWrDm
_______

2. THE SLOTH 🦥 (Slow to Respond, Loses Momentum)

Takes forever to answer emails, lets leads go cold, and moves at a painfully slow pace.

⇢ Fix: Implement strict response time expectations and CRM reminders.

3. THE CHAMELEON 🦎 (Says Anything to Close)

Changes their pitch based on what they think the prospect wants to hear—even if it’s untrue.

⇢ Fix: Train on ethical sales and setting realistic expectations.

4. THE HEDGEHOG 🦔 (Defensive and Resistant to Feedback)

Gets prickly when customers challenge them and refuses to adapt their approach.

⇢ Fix: Foster a growth mindset and encourage open conversations.

5. THE GOLDFISH 🐠 (Forgets Everything, Loses Deals)

Never takes notes, forgets key details, and constantly asks the same questions.

⇢ Fix: Use a CRM religiously and practice active listening.

6. THE HYENA 🐆 (Always Undercutting on Price)

Laughs off value and immediately drops prices, hurting margins and credibility.

⇢ Fix: Teach negotiation tactics focused on value instead of discounts.

7. THE MEERKAT 🐾 (Jumps from Lead to Lead, Never Closes)

Always scanning for new prospects but never sticking with one long enough to close.

⇢ Fix: Implement structured follow-ups and pipeline discipline.

8. THE TURKEY 🦃 (Talks Too Much, Listens Too Little)

Gobble, gobble—just keeps talking and pitching without understanding the prospect’s real needs.

⇢ Fix: Use a 70/30 listening-to-talking ratio in sales calls.

9. THE OWL 🦉 (Too Analytical, Never Takes Action)

Overthinks every deal, drowns in research, and hesitates to pull the trigger.

⇢ Fix: Set deadlines for decision-making and encourage action-oriented sales.

10. THE MOSQUITO 🦟 (Annoys Instead of Adds Value)

Relentlessly pesters prospects with non-stop follow-ups but offers nothing of substance.

⇢ Fix: Focus on quality engagement rather than quantity of outreach.

How to Build a High-Performing Sales Team

✔ Train for adaptability, patience, and strategic action
✔ Focus on value-driven sales rather than pushy tactics
✔ Hold reps accountable for both activity and effectiveness

⇢ "Great sales reps don’t just sell - they solve problems and build trust."

P.S. Find out why more than 40,000 sales pros read my newsletter and get my best sales resources for free: https://lnkd.in/eBfiWrDm

Most reps write emails like marketers.
 
That’s why they don’t get replies.
 
Marketers write to 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑦.
 
Reps should write to 𝑜𝑛𝑒.
 
But most cold emails still sound like this:
 
→ “Unlock 10x efficiency with our AI powered solution.”
 
→ “We help companies like yours drive predictable revenue.”
 
→ “Ready to transform your outbound strategy?”
 
Looks polished.
 
Reads fake.
 
Real buyers don’t reply to marketing copy. 
 
They reply to messages that sound like a person who understands their world.
 
That’s why I like tools like lemlist.
 
Because it lets you stay human even when you scale.
 
💡 You can:
 
→ Personalize intros using real data points (like job changes or ICP triggers)
 
→ Add short video or image previews right inside your email
 
→ Keep every follow up sounding like 𝑦𝑜𝑢, not an automation
 
→ Build sequences that feel one to one without spending all day writing them
 
In other words, automation that keeps the human touch.
 
⇢ Try lemlist for free: https://lnkd.in/ePJdXZNU

Great sellers don’t win because they know more.

They win because they execute better.

⇢ Get all free SalesDaily cheat sheets:
https://lnkd.in/e-K5x3Pp

Winning consistently isn’t about sophisticated pitches or longer workflows.

It’s about doing the small things with precision.

The reps who close more:

• Lead every call with intent
• Guide the next step without rushing the finish line
• Make buyers feel understood, not pressured
• Keep their pipeline clean, not crowded
• Ask harder questions earlier
• Control time, follow-up, and expectations
• Treat urgency, clarity, and discipline as advantages

None of this is flashy.

But it is what separates sellers who hope from sellers who win.

If you want to level up this quarter, tighten the fundamentals.

Small edges compound fast.

📬 Subscribe for proven sales frameworks, daily insights and free resources:
https://lnkd.in/e-K5x3Pp

(already 40,000 sellers are on board)

The 9 Harsh Truths Every Sales Rep Learns Too Late

These aren’t lessons - they’re battle scars.

1.) Speed beats perfect
 ⇢ You waited too long. Someone else didn’t.

_______
FREE: Top 50 Sales Cheat Sheets: https://lnkd.in/eWg9yBvm

2.) You can’t save a dead lead
 ⇢ Stop trying to resurrect ghosts. Focus on who’s moving.

3.) One line can kill the deal
 ⇢ Every word builds trust—or breaks it.

4.) Great pitch, wrong time
 ⇢ Even gold sounds like noise when the timing’s off.

5.) Nobody cares about your product
 ⇢ They care about solving their problems.

6.) Charm doesn’t beat consistency
 ⇢ Showing up > sounding slick.

7.) Nobody owes you a response
 ⇢ You’re not ignored—you’re just not relevant yet.

8.) Prospects forget you fast
 ⇢ Out of inbox = out of mind.

9.) Confidence > cleverness
 ⇢ Say it with certainty, not sarcasm.

You don’t need more hacks.

You need fewer blind spots.

👇 What would you add? Drop it in the comments.

taplio

The Battle

Seha Okudan

Haris Halkic

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taplio

The Battle

Seha Okudan

Haris Halkic

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Seha Okudan's LinkedIn Performance

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