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GTM News Desk

Funnel Strategy, SEO, & Acquisition News with Nikki Engel

Google rewards originality. Badly AI-written content is punished. Funnels must serve people, not pressure them. And executives need to stop skipping to the ROI.

 

Build Funnels for Buyers, Not Boardrooms

This week’s episode dismantles the lazy thinking behind AI-generated content, calls out executives who don’t understand brand building, and delivers a tactical teardown of outdated marketing funnels. Hosts Nick Bennett and Mark Kilens bring in Gainsight’s Nikki Engel to lay out a new blueprint: one that respects buyer intent, centers trust, and aligns across teams.

Segment one breaks down the PathFactory x Uberflip merger. While the press release spins it as a values-aligned love story, Mark calls it what it is: a lifeline in a bloated Martech landscape. Legacy platforms need a reboot, not another integration. If ChatFactory can help clean up web bloat with AI, maybe there’s hope for buyer-centric experiences—maybe.

Segment two tackles Google’s recent updates to kill low-effort, SEO-gamed content. The message is clear: AI can assist, but originality wins. If you’re still pumping out listicles or letting LLMs write your blogs from scratch, you’re not just lazy—you’re invisible.

Finally, Nikki Engel brings the heat in segment three. Funnels don’t need to be reinvented. They need to be humanized. She outlines why personalization, sequencing, and messaging clarity beat high-pressure “book a demo” spam every time. Her framework? Smart KPIs, trust-first narratives, and cross-functional education. No more pushing. Start pulling—with purpose.

🧠 Takeaways:

  • Originality is non-negotiable. AI can’t replace real insight.

  • M&A in Martech often signals decay, not growth.

  • Google’s algorithm is rewarding reputation, experience, and voice.

  • Stop pushing prospects. Court them. Pull them through with smart sequencing.

  • KPIs at every funnel stage = control, clarity, and credibility.

 




EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

 

 

 

Mark Kilens

Mark Kilens

Mark Kilens is the CEO and Co-Founder of TACK, a B2B media and go-to-market firm. Previously, he was CMO at Airmeet, VP at Drift, and led HubSpot Academy, specializing in content, community building, and innovative GTM strategies. He’s a thought leader in customer-centric B2B marketing.

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