The missed link between tactics and strategy

We know that if you change your strategy, you need to change your tactics. But the reverse is just as true: If you change your tactics, you might be changing your strategy (or at best, contradicting it) unintentionally. In my November blog, I argued that as we start to emerge from a torrid 2020 into an uncertain 2021-2, we have to be ‘OK’ about a seeming contradiction: that stability was still crucial, but we need to be comfortable pivoting both strategically and tactically. I want now to argue that we have to be very intentional about those READ MORE ›

By |Strategy|
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Should you outsource your B2B marketing? (Yes, probably – here’s why)

Back in 2008, when the global financial crisis hit, many businesses were looking for ways to cut down costs – fast. There was a mass-culling of staff and marketing teams were one of the first to be bid adieu. But those businesses that wanted to keep selling knew they’d need some kind of marketing support. So, they looked for external experts who could help at a lower cost – and outsourced marketing services took off. Over the last several years, outsourcing has really caught on. It’s gone from something only big companies do to something businesses of READ MORE ›

By |Strategy|
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How to use your website data to improve business outcomes

Gathering information about potential customers is a critical component of your B2B marketing strategy. Without it, you won't know where to target your marketing efforts, what strategies to implement or how those efforts are being received. As the saying goes: "what isn't measured can't be managed". Successful business owners understand the importance of assessing the market to make informed decisions that align with internal goals and external market forces. By monitoring how potential customers interact with your website, you can leverage data-driven tactics to improve their experiences; building visibility, engagement, clicks and conversions for your brand. Website READ MORE ›

By |Tactics|
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How the budget, grants, and changing markets will affect business (plus the 4 steps to growth in uncertain times)

In 1966, Robert Kennedy said: "Like it or not, we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty, but they are also the most creative of any time in the history of mankind. And everyone here will ultimately be judged - will ultimately judge himself - on the effort he has contributed to building a new world society and the extent to which his ideals and goals have shaped that effort."  If Kennedy were alive today, I wonder what words he would use to describe the time we share and the world we live READ MORE ›

By |Strategy|
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How CRM customisation affects your B2B sales and marketing success

When you make a sale, the details of that sale can be used to create more sales opportunities. You want to know who the buyer is and what they need, so you can upsell and cross sell. You want to know why they needed your product or service so you can sell to others like them. And you want to know how they found you so you can reach others in the same way. On the other hand, you also want to know the how’s and why’s of prospects that leak, so you can adjust your approach READ MORE ›

By |Tactics|
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The cool winds of change won’t stop blowing any time soon

Well, who'd have picked that? Growth was certain. In January 2020, the International Monitory Fund (IMF) expected global demand to rise from the 2.9% we saw in 2019 to 3.3% in 2021 and 3.4% in 2022. Globalisation was still accepted to be obviously good in most advanced economies. Certainly, the US was heading into a period of uncharacteristic insularity, and the UK was busy extracting itself from Europe. But those shifts were already 'priced in', and there was a strong chance that the US would strike a trade deal with China in early 2020. Fast forward ten READ MORE ›

By |Strategy|
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What can we learn about sales and marketing from legendary sportsman Captain Blood?

For those of you who know me beyond my business pursuits, you will know that – like 100,000 other Australians – one of my passions is Australian Rules Football (to my American friends: no, this is not rugby) and one club in particular: The mighty Tigers – the Richmond football club. In our history, we’ve produced many great champions but probably the greatest of all is the legendary Captain Blood himself, Jack Dyer. Dyer was renowned for being one of the toughest men ever to play the game. Why Captain Blood, you ask? Well, I answer you READ MORE ›

By |Sales|
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An outsourced design specialist dumbs down design: 5 tips for making your DIY design better

Let’s start by saying that design is definitely not something you want to go halves on. It’s a vital part of marketing and great design requires professional work. But we also need to be realistic. Even though professional design is ideal, we all know it’s not always possible. When it comes to a quick social post or maybe a last-minute PowerPoint presentation, if you don’t have an internal designer or outsourced design service (or time enough to find one), a DIY job can sometimes be enough. With tools like Canva at our fingertips, more and more people READ MORE ›

By |Tactics|
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From good to great: Five ways to boost your email marketing efforts

A lot of work goes into your email marketing, so you want to make sure you get a return on effort (and investment) by having it reach as many of your prospects as possible. But think about your own inbox – how many emails do you get a day? How many do you delete without even opening? When you think about how little you spend considering each message in your inbox, it’ll give you a good idea of just how little time and opportunity you have to catch your audience’s attention. That’s not to say you shouldn’t READ MORE ›

By |Tactics|
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How do you sell to the C-Suite? You don’t

  It’s a question that comes up a lot, and sometimes we even ask ourselves: How should you approach the c-suite? How do you get the attention and time of that elusive senior person who you need to get onside early and who, ultimately, can approve your deal? Often, the answer is: you don’t. And you shouldn’t. Let me show you why. Before we sell, we solve – so who is having the problem? Often the person who can approve the deal is not the person who actually has the problem that the deal is going to READ MORE ›

By |Strategy|
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