A Strategic Blueprint isn’t just theory—it delivers real, measurable results. However, developing an effective blueprint requires more than internal discussions and assumptions. Often, companies are too close to their own challenges to see blind spots or uncover new opportunities. An objective, outsider perspective brings fresh insights, identifies inefficiencies, and ensures strategic plans are built on data [...]
In today’s fast-paced B2B manufacturing landscape, businesses that fail to develop a well-informed strategy risk stagnation or even obsolescence. A successful strategy is not based on guesswork or tradition; it is built on deep insights that illuminate market dynamics, customer behaviors, and competitive landscapes. Insight-driven strategy development empowers organizations to make informed decisions that align with [...]
When people consider working with a business today, they look for several things. They want to be sure the company is capable, that it’s affordable, that it’s experienced, but more than anything else, they want it to be authentic. Authenticity is important for prospective customers to develop trust in a company. They need to trust that [...]
Running a business literally has its ups and downs, as in how revenues and other critical figures can fluctuate from month to month. That’s why you’ll often hear owners sigh and happily report, “We’re doing just fine where we are.” If you’ve been saying things like that, don’t get too comfortable. As any kid with a [...]
A famous man quoted the Russian proverb, “Doveryai no Proveryai.” Translated it means trust but verify. Experience has taught me that’s a sound piece of advice for business leaders, too. I say that after dealing with countless business owners who have said “I trust my gut” when making important decisions about marketing or other strategies. What [...]
I’m always fascinated by company leaders who cannot grasp the value someone with a different perspective can bring to them. It reminds me of that homespun wisdom that it’s impossible to read the label from inside a jam jar. Put another way, unless a CEO or other company leader has managed to become 100 percent [...]
It happens frequently, and it always puzzles me. During an initial conversation with a CEO or company owner, I’ll ask how well their marketing is working. And they’ll reply with something like “I guess okay” or “it seems to be” or “I’m not sure” or even just a shrug. These are companies that invest significant sums [...]
In my last column, I described a variety of effective ways for building trust among those who don’t know you. Once you’ve started the process, how do you maintain and grow that trust? A recent experience with a prospective service provider helped me think about the steps I take to strengthen trust among my customers and [...]
There was a time when cold calling was the mainstay of the sales process. Successful salespeople were those who had the courage to pick up the phone and call prospects, knowing that nine out of ten would reject them outright. Cold calling no longer works for a variety of reasons. For one, people rarely answer calls [...]
I’m not sure why sales and marketing have developed a relationship just as contentious as IU and Purdue. They’re equally important functions that serve the same organizations, and each offers expertise that could benefit the other. But put them in the same arena -- even if that arena is just an average conference room -- and [...]
