
I need to show you something that's going to make you uncomfortable.
Last month, I talked to a packaging manufacturer spending $400,000 per year on
sales and marketing.
Qualified opportunities generated: 7
Cost per opportunity: $57,000
When I showed the VP of Sales this math, he said: "Well, we need to spend MORE
on marketing then."
No.
You're trying to solve a MATH problem with MARKETING .
And it will never work.
Let me show you exactly what to do instead.
Why The Equation Is Broken

Here's what most packaging manufacturers are doing right now:
$50,000 - Content marketer (writing blogs and LinkedIn posts)
$40,000 - Google Ads
$30,000 - New website
$125,000 - Sales rep salary
$155,000 - Directories and trade shows (ThomasNet, Pack Expo, etc.)
Total: $400,000
And here's the problem:
The equation is broken BEFORE they spend a dollar.
Let me show you what I mean:
If you're invisible to AI...
90% of buyers are now using AI to research suppliers (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Google AI Overview).
If they can't find you there, it doesn't matter how good your content is.
Nobody will see it.
If your sales rep spends 95% of their time prospecting...
You're not paying $125,000 for a salesperson.
You're paying for a researcher.
If your Google Ads don't show up in AI answers...
And they don't.
You're spending $40,000 on ads that reach only 10% of the market.
You can't multiply your way out of zero.
The equation is broken.
And throwing more money at it just makes it worse.
What To Do Instead

Step 1: Fix Your Visibility
Not your website. Not your content. Not your ads.
Here's what I mean:
When a buyer asks ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity:
"What's the best flexible packaging manufacturer for frozen food applications?"
Does AI recommend you?
For 95% of packaging manufacturers, the answer is no.
Your AI Trust Score which measures how much AI trusts you enough to recommend you.Your score is probably around 40-50%.

That's a failing grade.
AI needs to see five things before it will recommend you:

1. Cost Transparency
AI needs pricing signals. Not your exact prices, but enough information that AI knows you're in the right range for what the buyer needs.
2. Problem-Solving Content
AI needs to see that you understand the buyer's specific problems and have solutions. Not generic marketing speak actual problem-solving depth.
3. Comparison Data
AI needs to see how you compare to alternatives. If you don't provide this, AI will make assumptions (and they're usually wrong).
4. Third-Party Validation
AI needs reviews, case studies, and testimonials from sources it trusts. Not just what you say about yourself.
5. Best-In-Class Proof
AI needs evidence that you're actually good at what you do. Certifications, awards, technical specs, performance data.
Most manufacturers have ZERO of these five.
That's why AI doesn't recommend them.
That's why they're invisible.
The Visibility Blueprint
This is where we start.
Cost: $1,500
Time: 2 weeks to implement
We'll identify:
What you do better than anyone else (1-2 things)
Solutions you provide and for which industries
Who your competition is
Your ideal customer profile
You'll come out with a business and competitive analysis you can implement immediately.
Step 2: Build Your AI Marketplace

Now you're visible. AI is recommending you. Buyers are finding you.
You need somewhere for them to go.
This is your AI Marketplace.
And no it's not your website.
Your website is built for humans who already know they want to talk to you.
Your AI Marketplace is built for buyers who are still researching.
What It Does:
Qualifies prospects automatically.
Buyers land on your AI Marketplace and see:
✔️ Your capabilities (what you actually do)
✔️ Your comparisons (how you stack up against alternatives)
✔️ Your pricing signals (are we in the right ballpark?)
✔️ Your case studies (proof you can deliver)
✔️ Your technical specs (can you handle our requirements?)
The AI Marketplace answers 90% of their questions without them having to call you.
And here's the magic:
While they're exploring, your AI Sales Agent is watching.
It sees:
What pages they visit
What questions they ask
What comparisons they're making
How qualified they are
And when they're ready, it engages.
Interruption vs. Invitation
Old way: Your sales rep cold calls 100 people hoping 2 are interested.
New way: 15-20 qualified buyers find you, research you, and raise their hand when they're ready.
Your sales rep goes from spending 95% of their time prospecting to spending 95% of their time actually selling to people who want to talk.
That's what happens when the equation is fixed.
Learn More About AI Marketplace
Step 3: Deploy Your AI Sales Agent

Okay, so now you're visible. Buyers are finding you. They're on your AI Marketplace researching.
Your AI Sales Agent closes the loop.
Here's what most manufacturers get wrong:
They think AI is about replacing salespeople.
It's not.
It's about replacing the 95% of work your salesperson does that isn't selling .
What Your AI Sales Agent Does:
Nurtures prospects 24/7
Buyer visits at 11pm on Saturday? AI Sales Agent is there answering questions.
Provides instant quotes and comparisons
Buyer wants to know how you compare to three competitors? AI Sales Agent shows them with your positioning baked in.
Qualifies based on your ICP
Buyer doesn't meet your minimum order quantity? AI Sales Agent politely redirects them instead of wasting your rep's time.
Schedules demos with revenue-ready prospects
When a buyer is qualified and ready to talk, AI Sales Agent puts them directly on your rep's calendar.
What Happens Next:
Your sales rep wakes up to 3-4 meetings on their calendar.
Every single one is:
Your rep's job is to CLOSE.
Not prospect. Not educate. Not qualify.
Close.
That's what a $125,000 sales rep should be doing.
And that's what happens when the equation is fixed.

The Math
Old Equation (Broken):
$400,000 spent annually ÷ 7 qualified opportunities = $57,000 per opportunity
New Equation (Fixed):
$1,500 invested (one time)
15-20 qualified opportunities/month
180-240 opportunities/year
= $8.33 per opportunity
That's not a typo.
$8.33 per qualified opportunity.
And:
✅ Your sales rep is actually selling (not cold calling)
✅ Your content marketer's work is actually being seen
✅ Your marketing spend is actually generating ROI
Because the equation is fixed.
The Choice
Here's where you are right now.
You have two options.
Option 1: Keep Doing What You're Doing
Keep spending $400,000 on the broken equation
Keep getting single-digit qualified opportunities
Keep watching your sales rep spend 95% of their time NOT selling
Keep being invisible to 90% of buyers using AI
Keep following your competitors off the cliff
Option 2: Fix The Equation
Invest $1,500 in the Visibility Blueprint
Build The Big Five so AI recommends you
Create your AI Marketplace so buyers can research you properly
Deploy your AI Sales Agent so your rep actually sells
Generate 15-20 qualified opportunities per month
Let me be clear about something:
This is not theory. This is not hypothetical.
I've done this for 50+ packaging manufacturers.
Average result: 10-15× more qualified opportunities at 1/1000th the cost.
But here's what I can't do:
I can't make you choose Option 2.
I can show you the math. I can show you the proof. I can show you exactly how to do it.
But I can't make you do it.
The Market Doesn't Wait
Your competitors are fixing their equations right now .
While you're "thinking about it."
While you're "running it by the team."
While you're "waiting for next quarter."
They're becoming AI-discoverable.
They're generating 15-20 qualified opportunities per month.
They're winning the deals you'll never even know existed.
So here's my question:
How much longer are you going to fund a broken equation?
What Happens In 18 Months
Look, I get it. This is different from what "everyone else" is doing.
And that's scary.
But here's what I know:
In 18 months, one of two things will be true:
Scenario A:
You spent another $600,000-$800,000 on the broken equation.
You generated 15-20 total qualified opportunities.
You closed 3-4 deals.
And you're having a conversation with your CEO about "why sales are down."
Scenario B:
You spent $1,500 to fix the equation.
You generated 270-360 qualified opportunities.
You closed 54-72 deals.
And your CEO just asked you: "How do we scale this?"
The math doesn't care about your feelings.
The equation is either broken or it's not.
What To Do Next

Book a Visibility Blueprint call with me.
Cost: Free
Time: 30 minutes
I'll show you:
✅ Your current AI Trust Score
✅ Where you're invisible to buyers and decision makers on AI
✅ What The Big Five looks like for your specific business
✅ Exactly what it costs to fix your visibility
✅ What 15-20 qualified opportunities per month would mean for your revenue
Value: Knowing whether you're spending $400,000 on something that cannot work.
Or comment "BLUEPRINT" on any of my LinkedIn posts and I'll send you the link directly.
Stop Funding A Broken Equation
Fix it. Then scale it.
I'll see you on the call.
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