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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.
How to Establish a Strategic 2024 Growth Plan and Justify Your Marketing Budget
Wed, Oct 25, 2023 — Article 3 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen In an era characterized by rapid technological shifts, changing consumer behavior, and a volatile global economic landscape, successful businesses are those that look ahead, anticipate challenges, and seize opportunities. But when it comes to developing your own business growth strategy, are you prepared for all that 2024 will throw at your company? Or are you content on a “lather, rinse, repeat” approach to strategic business development?
Analyze Your Current Customers to Supercharge Your 2024 Annual Business Planning
Thu, Oct 19, 2023 — Article 2 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen When we ask our clients why customers buy from them, much of the time, they either don’t know, or are completely off-base about the reason. In an uber-competitive marketplace and with so much at stake, this inability to define why people should buy your product or service can be a fatal misstep.
Why You Can’t Afford to Cut Your Marketing Investment for 2024
Wed, Oct 11, 2023 — Article 1 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen In an era dominated by rapid change and economic unpredictability, businesses often find themselves at the crossroads of making challenging decisions, especially when it comes to budgeting. One of the areas often eyed for potential cuts is marketing. But is this a wise move?
Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning
Tue, Oct 3, 2023 — Introduction: Take Action Now to Plan for Success By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen Temperatures are dropping, leaves are changing colors, and you can almost hear the sounds of the crowd cheering at the high school homecoming game. With these and other harbingers of the calendar’s fourth quarter, you’re likely about to sharpen your pencil, corral your executive leadership – and engage in your strategic business planning process for 2024.
Your Business Needs a Secret Sauce: Enter the 3 Uniques™
Tue, Sep 12, 2023 — Today, we’re going to whip up a secret sauce. Now, I can’t promise that this tasty combination will result in your anointment as a Kitchen Hero or the envy of Gordon Ramsay. But when basted upon your business, your clandestine condiment could unlock the kind of business success that will have your competitors salivating and your customers asking for seconds.
AI Trends for the Progressive CEO: Navigating the Transformative Landscape
Wed, Sep 6, 2023 — By: Ed Valdez and Angus Robertson It’s hard to think of another digital trend that has shaken the foundations of conventional wisdom as AI has. Though artificial intelligence has existed in some form since the 1950s, it has taken the emergence – and the related spinal shivers – of Open AI’s ChatGPT product to truly advance the conversation.
Building a Growth Engine with Effective, Efficient Marketing
Wed, May 10, 2023 — “Efficient marketing requires a target, followed by a message that immediately resonates sufficiently to foster a conversation between two willing parties.” - David C. Baker When that pithy sentence from marketing guru David Baker hit my email box in February, it rang true.
Wizard or Witch? How to Keep Your Business Ahead of the Tornado
Tue, Mar 21, 2023 — My little sister, the owner of an upscale hair salon in Georgia, called last week. Twice. No message. In our family that means a twister has touched down in the backyard, so “call me back – now.” I eventually reached my dear sis and she spat, in a Wizard-of-Oz-Lions-and-Tigers-and-Bears-Oh-My tone of voice, her concerns over the economy. The collapse of two banks. Rampant inflation.
“It worked really well, until it didn’t”
Thu, Mar 9, 2023 — Over dinner with Ted, the retired founder/CEO of a successful company in the electric power sector, I heard an interesting story with a widely applicable lesson.