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Uncertainty Is Real. Opportunity Is Too.
The headlines say one thing. The data says something more nuanced. Here's what mid-market CEOs should actually be paying attention to right now. This two-part series from Chief Outsiders Founder & CEO Art Saxby explores what the data actually shows about CEO confidence, why this moment is different from past disruptions, and where mid-market companies are finding real growth opportunities right now.
The Benefits of a Unified Sales and Marketing Strategy
Mon, Apr 22, 2024 — It used to be that companies could achieve growth by simply focusing on sales or having sales and advertising be complementary marketing tactics. But today, macro and micro pressures along with evolving landscapes across industries have resulted in a more competitive landscape. Tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) provide a level of sophistication, and these tools can help business leaders bridge strategies and tactics across different business units.
Seven Steps to Shorten Your Sales Cycle
Thu, Apr 11, 2024 — Does your company provide customers with expensive business inputs? Or are you crucial in other ways to your customers’ business success?
Boost Your Sales with Effective Cross-Sell and Upsell Strategies
Mon, Mar 18, 2024 — In today's highly competitive market, businesses must have a cross-sell and upsell strategy to boost sales and revenue. By offering customers additional or upgraded products or services that complement their original purchase—and presenting them at the right time during the buying process—businesses can take advantage of customer interest and increase the average transaction value.
Harnessing Fear: The Catalyst for AI Strategy
Wed, Feb 7, 2024 — In business, it seems like artificial intelligence (AI) is painted as either the great white hope or the big bad wolf. There is very little middle ground. This polarization can contribute to inertia and paralysis when it comes to leveraging AI for business strategy development. Simply put, CEOs do not have a sense of urgency regarding AI, and this attitude is putting them behind the proverbial eight ball as competitors adopt AI as a strategic tool.
Navigating Growth: The Role of Fractional Sales Leaders in Transformative Strategies
Thu, Feb 1, 2024 — Today’s trend of hiring fractional executives is gaining momentum among growth-oriented businesses aiming to enhance their management expertise and bandwidth cost-effectively. In this article, I will delve into the dynamic world of fractional sales leaders, exploring their pivotal role in driving revenue growth, providing specialized expertise, and offering flexibility to scale sales leadership based on organizational needs. I will reveal how these leaders contribute to strategic focus, mitigate hiring risks, and deliver quick results, drawing insights from real-world scenarios.
Mastering Your Market: A Guide to Competitive Insights
Wed, Jan 31, 2024 — With the economy continuing in a state of uncertainty, CEOs of mid-market companies are assessing options for growth in 2024. One thing is clear: Doing more of the same activities will not help businesses break through growth inertia. From mergers and acquisitions to R&D and capital investments, how does an organization decide the direction that will deliver success?
The Art of Value-Based Selling: Boosting Your Bottom Line
Tue, Oct 24, 2023 — Attention, bargain shoppers! In the realm of business-to-business (B2B) sales, blue lights, doorbusters, Black Friday sales, or penny pinchers don’t apply. That said, in our ever-evolving battleground, the age-old theory that "everyone buys a bargain" still holds.
The CEO Mindset: Resolving Sales Performance Challenges | Part 5
Fri, Jul 14, 2023 — Part 5: Moving Your KPI Levers Into Alignment Managing a sales team can be a lonely job these days. Just a few years ago, the energy in a typical sales office was positively electric. The office reverberated with the sound of ringing phones, demonstrations, strategy sessions, pipeline reviews, and the clanging of the sales bell after a deal was closed.
The CEO Mindset: Resolving Sales Performance Challenges | Part 4
Mon, Jul 3, 2023 — Part 4: Is Your Sales Process Supporting Revenue Growth? At the dinner table, you tend to get immediate feedback when the recipe of the dish being served is not quite perfected. In the business world, where the steaks….er….stakes are higher, it is no less important to have a plan which appropriately combines the ingredients for world-class success.