If you tried to demo every marketing tool available today for one hour each, it would take you 7.7 years to get through them all. Yet when companies decide to launch an Account-Based Marketing (ABM) program, the first step is almost always to buy a new platform.

In this episode, Mason Cosby shares a repurposed session from a recent webinar with the Wish Group. He argues that most organizations already have 75% of what they need to launch a successful ABM program without spending a dime on new tech. Instead of chasing the perfect tool stack, Mason breaks down how to audit your current marketing activities and align them into a cohesive strategy using the Account Progression Model.

He explains why the "alphabet soup" of acronyms (ABM, ABX, ABS) distracts from the core goal: driving revenue from your best-fit customers. Mason also walks through his signature 4D Framework—Data, Distribution, Destination, and Direction—to turn random marketing efforts into a repeatable, measurable system.

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1. The "Alphabet Soup" doesn't matter: whether you call it ABM, ABX, or AB-GTM, the goal is the same: align the revenue team around a shared set of target accounts that mirror your best, most profitable customers.
2. Tools don't fix strategy: With over 15,900 tools on the market, it is easy to get lost in technology. Successful programs start with a strategy, not a software purchase.
3. The 75% rule: Most companies already have the components for ABM (content, email, events, CRM). The failure lies in orchestration, not a lack of resources.
4. Define "Best" correctly: Your target accounts shouldn't be limited to "big companies." They should be profitable, happy, sticky (high retention), and likely to refer others.
5. The "Ninja Move" for orchestration: The success metric (Direction) of one stage should serve as the Trigger (Data) for the next stage. This bridges the gap between simple awareness and meaningful engagement.

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1. Adopt the Account Progression Model (APM)

Stop thinking in binary terms (Lead vs. Customer). Map your accounts through these specific stages:

1. Awareness: Do they know we exist?
2. Initial Engagement: Are they interacting with problem-aware content?
3. Meaningful Engagement: Are they spending significant time with solution-aware content (e.g., a 7-hour workshop or deep-dive webinar)?
4. MQA (Converting Touch): Have they visited high-intent pages (pricing, demo)?
5. SQA to Opportunity: Sales qualification based on timing and budget.

2. Audit with the 4D Framework

Take every marketing tactic you currently run and define these four elements for it:

1. Data: Who are we targeting, and what is the trigger? (e.g., "Target accounts" + "Visited