Deon Appelgryn

Thank you for sharing this Emily Brackett! This is certainly important to tech - but really important for so many brands in other industries, too. I think a really good test is to get someone who ISN'T in your organization to read your website homepage and ask them to answer these 3 questions: Who does my company (product or service) help? How does it help my clients (customers)? Why should they care? And, if they don't get all three answers correct - it's time to rethink the messaging!

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Most business growth problems aren’t really product problems or pricing problems. They’re communication problems. If people don’t clearly understand who you are, what you do, and why it matters, decisions slow down and opportunities slip away. This article explores why communication and presentation skills quietly shape trust, confidence, and growth — and why improving them is worth your attention. #businesscommunication #presentationskills #businessgrowth #leadershipcommunication #entrepreneurship https://lnkd.in/e8QH-Ych

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Voice AI Evolution: From IVR to Conversational Intelligence The evolution from rigid IVR systems to conversational AI represents humanity's persistent desire to bridge the gap between technological efficiency and emotional understanding. Long time industry analyst Blair Pleasant's observation that "AI advancements have entirely reinvented and revitalized the voice market" speaks to our fundamental need for communication that feels natural and responsive. This transformation suggests we're not just improving customer service but that we're attempting to preserve the essence of human dialogue in an increasingly automated world, recognizing that true connection transcends mere information exchange. This shift from traditional IVR to conversational AI delivers immediate operational benefits: 50% of consumers have already used voice AI services (PwC data), 80% of businesses planning implementation by 2026. This creates first-mover advantages for early adopters through improved customer satisfaction, reduced call abandonment rates, and lower cost-per-interaction. The technology enables 24/7 service coverage, multilingual support, and consistent service quality while freeing human agents for high-value interactions requiring emotional intelligence and complex problem-solving. 📊 Market Impact: Fundamentally transforms customer service economics from labor-intensive to technology-leveraged models 💡 Key Insight: Voice AI adoption has reached mainstream acceptance with proven customer comfort levels, which to many of us is already obvious, but some remain looking in or not at all. 🎯 Action Item: Audit current IVR systems for conversational AI upgrade opportunities 📈 GTM Angle: "Join the 80% of businesses transforming customer service with proven voice AI solutions" 🔗 Source: https://lnkd.in/gvGCgF-x Blair Pleasant Thomas McCarthy-Howe Chris Celiberti Jill Blankenship Matt Bramson Denise Marie Deptula Doug Green Rich Tehrani Erik Lagerway Craig Walker Ramona Vasquez David Erickson Bob Christopher Jeff Pulver Lauren Pulver Miles Lee James Richey Jason I. Soto #Telecom #CCaaS #AI #CPaaS #UCaaS Robert Hertz

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Monday’s Episode: Agency Side Podcast host Justin Levinson sits down with Ben Nazario, Chief Growth Officer of MC² to unpack the role of Sales Enablement in driving strategic business growth. Ben explains how the team supports sales executives by taking incoming RFPs, coordinating across design, strategy, creative, and estimating teams, and delivering polished responses—while the sales exec focuses on building client relationships. He breaks down how this “all-in” approach allows sales teams to work efficiently, leverage internal expertise, and respond to opportunities faster—all while strengthening client connections and strategic outreach. #AgencySidePodcast #SalesEnablement #ClientRelationships #StrategicSales #Teamwork #BusinessGrowth

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Monday’s Episode: Agency Side Podcast host Justin Levinson sits down with Ben Nazario, Chief Growth Officer of MC² to unpack the role of Sales Enablement in driving strategic business growth. Ben explains how the team supports sales executives by taking incoming RFPs, coordinating across design, strategy, creative, and estimating teams, and delivering polished responses—while the sales exec focuses on building client relationships. He breaks down how this “all-in” approach allows sales teams to work efficiently, leverage internal expertise, and respond to opportunities faster—all while strengthening client connections and strategic outreach. #AgencySidePodcast #SalesEnablement #ClientRelationships #StrategicSales #Teamwork #BusinessGrowth

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Most BPM marketers think their job ends with MQLs, but here’s the thing… Lead gen might fill your funnel... but it won’t win you the spec. Becoming the architecture firm standard? That happens when sales teams build trust by being reliable partners. Reps who actually provide clarity and problem-solve when architects are under pressure. But here’s the thing: Sales can’t deliver that level of trust alone. They need marketing support to craft tools that remove friction and earn spec trust. → Case studies that read like stories, not specs. → One-pagers that answer architect questions fast. → Stories that showcase long-term support - not just the sale. Architects don’t remember the loudest brand in their inbox. They remember the rep who made their job easier. Great teams don’t leave specs on the table. They earn them, together.

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Lessing-Flynn's own Shannon Hughes was featured in Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) content piece about how to leverage your marketing through your sales channel partners.

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