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What Is Marketing, Really? Why Founders and CEOs Must Lead the Most Misunderstood Function in the Business
This blog is part of Chief Outsiders’ Marketing Leadership for CEOs series, an ongoing examination of the critical dimensions of Marketing (the capital “M” is intentional, as you’ll see) that every CEO needs to understand.
A Different Perspective on Marginal Cost Pricing
Fri, Mar 7, 2025 — I pulled up behind a Prius at a red light. A sticker on its left rear bumper, in type too small to read unless you were within a car length or two, said: “Sorry for driving so close in front of you.” A different point of view on the tailgaters that clearly bug that vehicle owner!
The AI Revolution: Why SaaS Companies Must Adapt or Become Obsolete
Fri, Mar 7, 2025 — In 2025, AI agents are revolutionizing the SaaS industry, transforming traditional cloud-based applications into dynamic, self-optimizing platforms. For business leaders, this trend represents a seismic shift from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) to FOBO (Fear of Becoming Obsolete), with the rapid pace of AI adoption and its transformative potential driving noticeable shifts in strategy.
5 Questions to Elevate the Marketing Conversation in Your Client’s Level 10 Meeting™
Thu, Mar 6, 2025 — A Practical Guide for EOS® Implementers to Keep Marketing Aligned and Accountable As an EOS® Implementer, you’re the architect of operational excellence — helping your clients bring vision to life through disciplined focus, measurable traction, and team-wide accountability. But when it comes to marketing, even the best-run EOS companies can hit a wall.
Drive Revenue With B2B Sales Consulting
Mon, Mar 3, 2025 — Growth doesn't happen simply by chance. It's engineered by insight, strategy, and execution, especially in complex B2B environments where longer sales cycles, shifting buyer expectations, and pressure to prove return on investment (ROI) dominate the landscape. That's where B2B sales consulting becomes a revenue accelerator, not a luxury.
How to Use Positioning to Own Your Market
Wed, Feb 26, 2025 — Become a big fish in your pond Of all the marketing strategy lessons we at Chief Outsiders share with founders and business leaders, positioning ranks among the most critical. It truly is a difference-maker for businesses that wish to become the leader of the pack—to become, in fishing parlance, the big fish in your pond.
The Power of the SKO (Sales Kickoff Meeting)
Thu, Feb 20, 2025 — It's that time of year again! A Sales Kickoff (SKO) meeting is a cornerstone for energizing your sales team and aligning them with your company's goals. It sets the tone for the year, fosters collaboration, and provides valuable insights to empower your team to succeed.
The Hidden Costs of Overwhelmed Sales Teams
Fri, Feb 7, 2025 — An alarming insight from Gartner: Overwhelmed sellers are 45% less likely to hit their quota. The culprit? Too many required skills and tech tools meant to "help." Overwhelming sales teams with non-sales tasks and excessive technology can significantly impact performance and profitability. Salespeople burdened with administrative duties and complex tools have less time for core selling activities, leading to decreased sales performance and lower conversion rates.
A CEO’s Guide to Marketing Performance | Measuring Performance (and Underperformance)
Thu, Feb 6, 2025 — Part 3 of A CEO's Guide to Marketing Performance In the marketing world, performance is the difference maker - not experience, expertise, effort, or endurance, just results. This article is about how to address underperformance in the three major measurement components (Market Presence, Brand Strength, and Pipeline Health), and six key performance indicators (reach, share, engagement, loyalty, pipeline, and progression).
Unlocking Business Growth: The Power of USP, Value Proposition, and Positioning
Wed, Jan 15, 2025 — As a CEO, you understand that growth depends on effectively communicating the value of your products and services to your customers. However, our language and strategies to convey that value can often get muddled. That’s where understanding key concepts like Unique Selling Proposition (USP), Value Proposition, and Positioning becomes crucial to driving brand differentiation and customer loyalty. In this post, I’ll break down the differences between these terms and explain how they contribute to the growth of your business.