Business Growth Strategies For CEOs: Top CMOs On Marketing Strategy Implementations

Navigating Growth During the Economic Sugar Crash

Thu, Aug 4, 2022 | Posted by Pete Hayes

Everyone “knows” we’re in a recession except the economists. We feel the pain of collapsed 401k's, higher fuel and food prices, so isn’t that enough to declare a recession? And shouldn’t my business be hunkering down to ride this out?

In today’s chaotic economy, we are more likely to react to news headlines and stock market trends than market insight. We might completely abandon a core strategy, or delay critical execution tactics, based on the sick feeling in our guts. One way to solve this is by tapping the reliable data and forecasts published by ITR Economics.

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Elevating the VIP: Recognizing Your Best Customer is a Make-or-Break Proposition

Thu, Jan 13, 2022 — I have a secret to share that may be surprising. Though automotive folklore insinuates that Henry Ford would only allow his world-beating Model T to be painted in black, you could, in fact, purchase your new horseless carriage in a variety of colors, including blue, red, gray, and green. So as early as 1908 – the year the first Model T was shipped – a customer could distinguish their tastes and flaunt their individuality on America’s roads in a hue that was different from the pack.

A Marketing Mission: Core Messaging That Captivates

Thu, Dec 16, 2021 — You don’t have to be a “trekkie” to know that the continuing mission of the U.S.S. Enterprise was to “boldly go where no one has gone before.” In the same vein, one could say that marketing leaders – much like Captain Kirk or Captain Picard – are navigating a similar path. While marketers don’t face asteroids, droids, or alien encounters, the stakes of their mission are just as high — if not higher. After all, marketing leadership turnover is at an all-time high. When it comes to the business world, success or failure often falls squarely on the shoulders of the head of marketing. And without the right gas in the proverbial marketing engine, the path will be bumpy…and short.

Recruiting and Retaining Employees in a Post-COVID World

Mon, Jul 12, 2021 — Of all of the likely impacts of the COVID pandemic, it’s hard to imagine that business owners envisioned this – a labor shortage, the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades. In fact, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there were 8.1 million open and unfilled positions in March 2021 (the last month for which data is available). Even worse, the number of employees available for every open job reached a 20-year low this spring – and continues to plummet.

What's Up With Fractional CMO Demand?

Tue, Jun 29, 2021 — Demand for Fractional Marketing Executives is Exploding Chief Outsiders Fractional CMOs have been helping companies build their engines for growth since 2009. Recently, we sponsored a study with The CMO Council to uncover stakeholders' satisfaction with their marketing organizations, and where fractional CMOs are the best fit. The full study can be found here. This C-Suite Scorecard from the CMO Council brings compelling insight to a growing phenomenon in enterprise-class marketing organizations. Not everything is getting done. With an internal Net Promoter Score of -46 from C-Suite marketing stakeholders (extrapolated from Q2), it’s no wonder the fractional CMO solution is exploding to fill the gaps and holes of critical expertise and leadership. Demand for our firm alone from enterprise businesses has shot up over 150% this year.

What can Industrial & Manufacturing CEOs do Right Now?

Fri, Jul 10, 2020 — Industry Specific Advice for Marketing in a Time of Recovery from the Chief Outsider CMOs The following summary encapsulates the highlights of a panel discussion for the Industrial Manufacturing sector hosted by Art Saxby and featuring CMOs Kimberly Miller, Atul Minocha and Dawn Werry. For the full benefit, view the discussion video in its entirety (15 minutes). Short of time? See the discussion highlights (6 minutes). When the pandemic first hit, events for the industrial manufacturing sector were changing daily. Now, at the start of the recovery phase the entire industry is adapting. Some companies have had to find completely new markets for their products, while others have started making completely new products. Across the board, supply chains have been disrupted. Buyer behaviors have changed and go-to-market strategies have had to adjust in order to keep business moving.

What can Travel/Hospitality/Entertainment CEOs do Right Now?

Tue, Jun 30, 2020 — Industry Specific Advice for Marketing in a Time of Recovery from the Chief Outsider CMOs The following summary encapsulates the highlights of a panel discussion for the Travel/Hospitality/Entertainment industries hosted by Pete Hayes and featuring CMOs Deborah Fell, Adriana Lynch and Aurora Toth. For the full benefit, view the discussion video in its entirety (19 minutes). Short of time? See the discussion highlights (6 minutes). The travel and hospitality industries have been severely impacted by the pandemic but companies are slowly starting to re-open for business. It’s an unprecedented time and one of the major underlying sentiments is fear. How can CEOs and businesses in these market segments address and overcome this concern?

The 7 Rs of Resiliency Programs

Thu, Jun 11, 2020 — The world's best epidemiologists only have models to predict the full depth and breadth of the COVID-19 pandemic, but companies are already feeling the economic fallout. They're scrambling to find the best way to respond, and in many cases, survive, all the while being rightly concerned for the health of their families and communities. It's not easy, and this is no time to pretend otherwise.

3 Ways CEOs are Maximizing Recovery Impact with Least Investment

Thu, May 14, 2020 — As my partner, Art Saxby, is fond of saying, “The best marketing takes no marketing dollars.” What he means is that the stuff that makes marketing work—and work most efficiently—is done before a dollar is spent. After working with nearly 1,000 mid-market CEOs to capture or recover growth, here’s what we’ve learned:

Part 4: How Does Employee Engagement Win the Growth Game?

Mon, May 4, 2020 — Culture Shift Now: Getting the Right Help for the Times Co-Authored by Marc Umscheid, CMO, Chief Outsiders and Kristin Anderson, Partner, LeadQuest Consulting Welcome to the fourth blog in our series on the importance of a more engaged culture in fostering growth at your company (if you'd like to read any of the previous posts, they can be found here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3). Clearly, a few things have happened in our world since our last blog – namely, the COVID-19 pandemic, and an economic slowdown that has left few businesses untouched, or unscathed. If you have been following our blog series, you may recall that we have been insisting that a carefully crafted culture goes hand and glove with a high effective growth strategy, – making the case for how your leadership shapes the engagement needed for growth. Though the world may have changed – the fundamental principles have not. How you lead your employees now will indelibly reflect upon your cultural and growth mindset. This is now more important than ever.

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Growth Insights for CEOs

Navigating Growth During the Economic Sugar Crash

Recent Posts

Elevating the VIP: Recognizing Your Best Customer is a Make-or-Break Proposition

A Marketing Mission: Core Messaging That Captivates

Recruiting and Retaining Employees in a Post-COVID World

Stay up-to-date with the latest from Chief Outsiders

What's Up With Fractional CMO Demand?

What can Industrial & Manufacturing CEOs do Right Now?

What can Travel/Hospitality/Entertainment CEOs do Right Now?

The 7 Rs of Resiliency Programs

3 Ways CEOs are Maximizing Recovery Impact with Least Investment

Part 4: How Does Employee Engagement Win the Growth Game?

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