How to Get Early Wins that Sales, the CEO, and CFO Care About on the Path to ABX

How to Get Early Wins That Sales, the CEO, and CFO Care About on the Path to ABX

“What’s In It for Me?”-The Unspoken Question Behind Every Revenue Leader’s Smile

Let’s be honest.

No matter how polished your ABX strategy deck is, if you can’t show a win that matters to sales, finance, and the CEO within 60 days, it’s likely to sit untouched.

So, how do you move fast, without sacrificing credibility?

You focus on early wins that impact the metrics leadership respects: pipeline, revenue, and velocity.

Because when you can show results that speak the language of business, ABX stops being a marketing buzzword. It becomes a shared go-to-market mindset.

What Is ABX and Why Should You Care?

Account-Based Experience, or ABX, is the next-level evolution of what ABM set out to achieve: more connected, more intelligent, and far more customer-centric. But while ABM targets specific accounts with personalized marketing, ABX elevates the game by aligning sales, marketing, and customer success around a consistent, meaningful journey.

As Forrester explains, ABX is about orchestrating relevant experiences across the entire buyer lifecycle, rather than isolated marketing plays. It’s about empathy, timing, and connection. 

And it pays off.

According to Demandbase’s State of ABM Report 2024, organizations using ABX:

  • Drive 2x more engagement from target accounts
  • Close deals 36% faster
  • See 171% higher average contract values (ACV)

Why Early Wins Matter More Than Grand Launches in ABX

Picture a movie with no trailer. No early buzz. Just a release date.

Would you watch it?

That’s what launching ABX without a few early wins feels like. You need small, strategic victories that excite your internal teams and leadership.

These quick wins are your trailer, your sneak peek that shows what’s coming, why it matters, and why they should care now.

Step 1: Use Intent Data to Target Accounts Already in Motion

Let’s skip the “spray and pray” approach.

Start by identifying accounts already showing buying intent. These companies are likely searching for solutions, comparing vendors, or visiting competitors’ websites. Your edge lies in stepping forward before others take the leap. 

According to Gartner, 70% of the B2B buying journey is completed before a buyer ever engages with sales. 

Tools like:

  • 6sense
  • Bombora

can show you which companies are active in your category.

Practical next step? Pick 20 of these intent-rich accounts. Work with sales to build messaging that reflects what these buyers care about, right now.

This isn’t about complex campaigns. It’s about timing your value to meet their intent.

Step 2: Don’t Just Involve Sales – Create with Them

ABX is not a hand-off model. It’s a co-creation process.

Start by asking sales, “Which accounts are stuck? Let’s carve a strategy that untangles the standstill and unlocks momentum.

Instead of a 10-step campaign plan, try something lean and useful:

  • A personalized email campaign with content tied to account signals
  • A mini-event tailored to the buyer’s industry
  • An email-to-video follow-up showing how your product solves their current challenge

LinkedIn’s State of Sales Report 2024 found that revenue teams with strong sales-marketing alignment grow 19% faster than their competitors.

You don’t have to start from scratch – just make sure your sales team has the spark to turn talks into traction.

Step 3: Show CFOs the Metrics That Matter in ABX

Click-through rates? The CFO has bigger numbers on their radar.

What they care about is:

  • Pipeline influenced by target accounts
  • Cost per qualified opportunity
  • Acceleration of deal cycles
  • Improved average contract value

According to TOPO (now part of Gartner), B2B companies that implement account-based strategies like ABX can drive 30% more revenue within the first year when tracking the right outcomes. 

So translate your results:

  • Don’t say: “We ran a campaign that got 3,000 views.”
  • Do say: “From 15 targeted accounts, 4 moved to the pipeline within  30 days, with a 27% increase in deal size.”

This makes ABX financially relevant, not just functionally impressive.

Step 4: Turn Every Win Into a Boardroom-Ready Story

C-suite leaders connect with stories. Not dashboards.

So, frame your ABX success in a way they’ll remember:

“One target account we tracked with Bombora showed high surging interest. We personalized a short-form campaign. They signed a deal within two weeks – 70% faster than our average sales cycle.”

That’s a story with:

  • A customer
  • A tactic
  • A timeline
  • A business result

That’s what boards and CEOs want to hear.

Step 5: Use Light Tech – Don’t Wait for a Full Stack

You don’t need a full-blown martech overhaul to start.

Use what you already have:

  • Intent data
  • CRM
  • Email automation
  • Content tailored to verticals or buyer stages

If you’re running HubSpot or Marketo and using tools like Drift or Salesloft, you’re already halfway there. The key is orchestration, not overengineering.

Launch quick pilots. Measure tightly. Then expand.

A Real-World Insight From the Field of ABX

Last quarter, we interviewed the CMO of a mid-sized cybersecurity company. They ran a small ABX pilot targeting just 10 accounts, using 6sense intent data. Within 21 days, two accounts moved into the pipeline. By 45 days, one closed, resulting in a $270K deal.

The twist?

They didn’t change their tech stack. They just aligned earlier, targeted smarter, and responded faster.

That’s ABX in action – without the bloat.

Final Word: What Would Happen If You Launched ABX Tomorrow?

Would sales care?
Would the CFO ask for a report?
Might the CEO highlight this in the upcoming investor briefing?

If you’re unsure, start smaller. Win faster. And make your first 30 days so impactful that no one questions your next 90.

Because in the world of ABX, small wins create big beliefs.

FAQs 

  1. How is ABX different from ABM?
    Account-Based Experience (ABX) takes the foundation of ABM further by weaving together actions from marketing, sales, and success teams into one seamless customer journey. It’s about personalized experiences, not just campaigns.
  2. How do you uncover which prospects are quietly moving toward a decision?
    Use intent data tools like 6sense, Bombora, or Intent Amplify to track which companies are researching relevant topics, engaging with your brand, or visiting competitor websites.
  3. How long before I see ROI from ABX?
    Pilot programs often yield results within 30 to 60 days, especially when focused on high-intent accounts with close sales alignment.
  4. What metrics matter most when measuring early wins?
    Pipeline generated, deal velocity, influenced revenue, cost per opportunity, and increased deal size are the most relevant for internal stakeholders.
  5. Do I need to overhaul my tech stack to get started with ABX?
    Not at all. You can begin with existing CRM, email tools, and intent data. The key is orchestration and alignment, not technology overload.

Ready to accelerate your ABX with high-intent signals?
Explore IntentAmplify.com to see how targeted intelligence can drive a qualified pipeline – fast.

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Intent Amplify™ Staff Writer is subject matter expert and industry analyst with a passion for... Read more
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