​By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Solutions

​Imagine driving down the highway with a blindfold on. Sounds terrifying, right? Well, that's essentially what running a business without proper pipeline visibility is like. You're hurtling forward, oblivious to the obstacles and opportunities lying ahead.

A clear view of your sales pipeline is crucial for making informed decisions and driving sustainable growth. Pipeline visibility gives you insight into lead sources, conversion rates, deal stages, and more, enabling you to steer your business in the right direction.

So, how do you go about this? Let's dive deeper to learn the benefits!

1. The Guesswork Trap

Operating based on assumptions and gut feelings rather than data-driven insights is a risky game. You could miss out on prime opportunities or waste resources on ineffective strategies, leading to stagnant growth and frustration. But with the power of pipeline visibility, you can avoid this 'Guesswork Trap' and feel secure in your decision-making, confident that you're not missing out on any opportunities.

2. The Leaky Pipeline Problem

Without visibility into your pipeline, leads can easily slip through the cracks. A lack of proper follow-up processes and nurturing can result in lost prospects and revenue. In fact, studies show that companies that follow up within an hour are nearly seven times more likely to qualify the lead than those that wait longer.

3. Aligning Sales and Marketing Efforts

Pipeline visibility allows for better collaboration and alignment between your sales and marketing teams. With a shared view of the pipeline, they can effectively nurture leads, deliver cohesive messaging, and increase conversion rates.

4. Optimizing Your Funnel

Visibility into your sales process enables you to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies and make targeted improvements. By streamlining your funnel, you'll see higher conversion rates and accelerated growth, empowering you to take control and be proactive in your business growth.

5. Staying Ahead of the Curve

In today's rapidly changing business landscape, agility is critical. Imagine the power of proactively adapting your strategies to stay ahead of the competition and capitalize on emerging opportunities! This gives you the confidence and reassurance to face the future, knowing that you're not just keeping up, but leading the way.


Pipeline visibility drives informed decision-making, improved sales and marketing alignment, and the ability to optimize and scale effectively. It's the secret weapon for sustainable business growth and long-term success.

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Ready to remove the blindfold and gain the clarity you need to drive your business forward?

Book a demo today to discover the power of increased pipeline visibility through our Workestrate CRM, which is revolutionizing my sales and marketing processes! I'd love to show you how you can revolutionize your pipeline visibility.
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Don't miss this opportunity to take your business to the next level!

​By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Solutions

Here's a secret worth knowing: Personalized email campaigns, once considered a luxury for small businesses, are now within reach for all, regardless of the size of your subscriber list.

You don't have to be a superhero to do this!

With the power of automation, you can deliver hyper-relevant 1:1 experiences at scale.
Interested in learning more?

Then, let's dive into this topic so you can learn how to unleash a new level of audience engagement that turns strangers into loyal fans!

1. Robust Data Collection & Segmentation

At the heart of personalized automation lies robust data. It's not just about basic demographics like name and location. You can create laser-focused micro-segments by strategically collecting and segmenting data points around subscriber interests, behaviors, purchase histories, and more. These are perfect for crafting unique messages that truly resonate with your audience.

2. Dynamic Content Blocks

With your rich audience segments defined, leveraging dynamic content blocks within your automated flows is a breeze. These intuitive blocks automatically adjust the email content based on each subscriber's unique data profile. So, every single recipient experiences a tailored journey with customized messages, offers, product recommendations, and more - all delivered at the perfect time without any manual effort. It's automation that's as easy as it is effective.

3. Scalable Cross-Channel Personalization

However, authentic 1:1 engagement extends far beyond the email inbox. The most sophisticated personalization engines enable you to map unified user journeys that adapt the messaging and content experience in real time as subscribers navigate across channels like your website, app, social media, and more. It's a delightfully seamless cross-channel experience guided by automation.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

After our first or second meeting with prospects, I aim for them to book a demo of our CRM, Workestrate. If a prospect doesn't do that within three days, they are automatically sent an email sequence explaining how Workestrate would benefit them. At the end of each email, they can book a demo. If they do indeed schedule one, the sequence terminates, and they are automatically added to my weekly email.

4. Continuous Learning & Optimization

Remember, none of these tactics would matter without a commitment to continuous optimization. Every granular data insight fuels innovative automation that gets more dialed in with each send. It's an ever-evolving cycle of learning and refinement to keep your messaging fresh and relevant, ensuring your audience always receives the best experience.

With the right personalization and automation engine, you can deliver powerfully relevant and cohesive audience experiences unlike anything your competitors can match. So, don't settle for generic, mass-blasted emails. Embrace the scale and 1:1 connection your engaged subscribers crave!

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Speaking of demos, I would love to show you the exceptional benefits of Workestrate! It's an all-in-one CRM with just about everything except the kitchen sink!  

With our CRM, you can create customized customer journeys, which I’ve been talking about, that will help you manage the whole process more seamlessly.
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If you would like to schedule a demo of our CRM, click the button below to schedule some 1:1 time to review what Workestrate can do!

Have you ever wondered how you can scale your business on autopilot? Well, I’ve discovered that automating your email campaigns is a total game-changer. But simply setting it and forgetting it? That's a surefire way to get your messages lost in irrelevant inbox clutter. The key is crafting campaigns that feel like natural, human-to-human conversations at every touchpoint.

Intrigued?

Then, let’s dive into four secrets of automated emails that truly convert, which will inspire you to embark on a journey of learning and growth in your marketing strategy!

1. Establish a Solid Foundation

First, you need a rock-solid foundation of reliable data and strategic segmentation. One-size-fits-all batch-and-blast emails don’t cut it. Your best bet is hyper-relevant messaging tailored to each recipient's unique profile, preferences, and behaviors. By leveraging the wealth of data at your fingertips, you can personalize subject lines, content, calls to action, and more with laser-like precision, making each recipient feel valued and understood.

2. Map the Buyer's Journey

Next, you'll need to map your automated flows to seamlessly guide prospects through every step of the buyer's journey, such as welcome sequences that instantly establish value and nurture streams packed with educational resources that address real pain points. As subscribers move down the funnel, your automated emails will adapt with solutions-focused messaging and irresistible offers primed for conversion.

3. Humanize the Experience

However, the key to crafting emails that convert is humanizing the entire experience to forge authentic connections with your audience. Inject your unique brand voice and personality into the copy. Offer a mix of entertaining storytelling and credible social proof. Most importantly, maintain a genuine, conversational tone that makes each subscriber feel like you're communicating directly with them.

4. Continuous Testing & Optimization

Of course, building high-converting automated campaigns is an iterative process of continuous testing and optimization. Closely monitor each sequence's performance metrics like open rates, click-throughs, and conversions. Identify patterns and opportunities for refinement, whether subject line formulas captivate or content segments spike engagement. An unwavering commitment to data-driven tweaks will keep your messaging fresh and compelling.

With the right automation strategy, you can nurture genuine relationships at scale while more seamlessly enjoying a profitable stream of new sales. So, my advice is to ditch the boring email blasts and embrace the power of irresistible automated emails that truly convert!

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Another thing that helps is giving away freebies weaved throughout the customer journey. Who doesn't want FREE stuff?

So, if you missed it last week, I have a new freebie for you: the Email Open Rate Mastery Checklist. It's a one-pager to help you navigate and master the tricky issue of increasing reader engagement, and who doesn't want that!

​By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Solutions

Ah, the age-old email marketing conundrum – when is the perfect time to hit "send" and ensure your message lands in inboxes with maximum impact? We've all been there, agonizing over the optimal send time, hoping our carefully crafted email doesn't get lost in a digital abyss.

But what if I told you there's a data-driven solution that can unlock the secrets of email deliverability and engagement? With this solution, you can eliminate the guesswork and embrace the power of optimized send times. Read on to learn more!

1. Understanding Email Deliverability

Email deliverability is the cornerstone of success in email marketing. It's the gatekeeper that decides whether your message lands in the inbox or gets lost in the spam folder. To help ensure your emails reach their intended destination, maintain a clean list, craft engaging content, and monitor metrics like open and bounce rates.

2. The Importance of Send Time Optimization

While deliverability is essential, optimizing send times amplifies your impact. Different audiences have unique email habits, so timing is everything. Send during a subscriber's peak productivity hours, and your email may get buried. But send during downtimes, like a commute, to increase the chances of grabbing their attention.

3. Leveraging Data for Send Time Optimization

The true power lies in data. Email platforms provide robust analytics on open rates, clicks, and conversions across different send times. By studying this data, you can pinpoint the optimal windows when your audience is most engaged, empowering you to ensure your message lands at the perfect moment. This data-driven approach also empowers you to make informed decisions and take control of your email marketing strategy.

One great example of leveraging data is how I settled on my Tuesday 7:00 a.m. send time. For years, I sent my email newsletters at 10:00 a.m. Suddenly, my open rates dropped dramatically. One day, I accidentally sent my newsletter at 7:00 a.m. My open rates skyrocketed from 15% to over 50%. Disclaimer: it's important to note that individual experiences may vary.

4. Continuous Testing and Refinement

Like any strategy, send-time optimization requires continuous testing and refinement. As audience habits shift, so must your approach. Implement a testing framework to experiment with send times, subject lines, and content variations. Analyze the results, identify patterns, and iterate to ensure your emails consistently resonate. This ongoing process keeps you engaged and in tune with your audience, making you a proactive participant in the success of your email campaigns.


With data-driven send-time optimization, you can say goodbye to guesswork and unlock a future of highly targeted, engaging email campaigns that captivate your audience. Why not unleash the full potential of your email marketing efforts and experience unparalleled deliverability and engagement?

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Would you like a more scientific way to optimize reader engagement than the serendipitous discovery of my optimal send time? Then download my latest freebie, the Email Open Rate Mastery Checklist. It's a one-pager to help you navigate and master the tricky issue of increasing reader engagement.

​By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Solutions

How many of you have crafted an email marketing campaign that you had high hopes for but fell flat Or are your open rates taking a nosedive, leaving you bewildered as to why that’s the case? I understand the challenges you're facing; I've been there, done that!

If that's you, I have a solution that can bring you relief--automated A/B testing.

Imagine having the ability to scientifically optimize your emails for maximum engagement, ensuring that your message hits the mark every time. That's the control that automated A/B testing can provide.

Are you intrigued? Then, let's dive into the world of automated A/B testing strategies that will boost your email open rates!

So, what is A/B testing? Here's a definition:

A/B testing, or split testing, compares two versions of an email (or any marketing asset) to determine which performs better. By testing different elements like subject lines, sender names, or email content, you can identify the most effective approach and optimize your campaigns for better results.

The Benefits of Automated A/B Testing

Manual A/B testing can be time-consuming and prone to human error. Automated A/B testing streamlines the process, allowing you to test multiple variables simultaneously and gather data more efficiently. This efficiency saves time and provides more accurate and reliable insights into what resonates with your audience, relieving you from the burden of manual testing.

Crafting an Effective A/B Testing Strategy

To maximize the impact of automated A/B testing, you need to develop a comprehensive strategy. Start by identifying the elements you want to test, such as subject lines, preheader text, or call-to-action copy. Then, determine the best metrics to measure success: open rates, click-through rates, or conversions.

Implementing Automated A/B Testing

Leverage email marketing platforms or tools that offer automated A/B testing capabilities. These tools will randomly distribute your email variants to segments of your audience and track their performance in real time. The platform will automatically send the winning version to the remaining subscribers based on the results.

Continuous Optimization and Testing

A/B testing is an ongoing process. Continuously analyze the data, identify patterns, and refine your strategy. Test new elements, experiment with different approaches, and keep iterating to ensure your email campaigns remain fresh, engaging, and optimized for maximum impact.
Embracing automated A/B testing strategies empowers you with deep insights into your audience's preferences and behavior. With this data-driven optimization, you'll craft email campaigns that resonate, boosting open rates, engagement, and conversions. And who doesn't want that?

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If you're interested in a CRM with automated A/B testing, Workestrate does that and much more!

However, if you're happy with your CRM but would like to fill in any sales or marketing gaps, we offer standalone revenue-generating services that help you:

• Nurture leads more effectively to improve conversion rates
• Scale your outreach efforts at a fraction of the cost of adding more employees

Want to learn more? Download our case study of how a gym owner received a 10X return on his investment using our RevenueAccelerator services!