by Scott MacFarland | Aug 7, 2019 | Business, Management, Marketing, Strategy
For over 30-years I’ve worked for and consulted with businesses where sales and marketing teams don’t exactly work together like a well-oiled machine. However, when I have seen them working on the same page and supporting each other, it’s like an ice-cream sundae with warm chocolate syrup on top. Mmm…mmm. When they are facing in opposite directions, it usually is indicative of missed sales opportunities, poor communication, marketing initiatives that aren’t fully functioning and unproductive work environments. Now, who in the world wants this?
by Scott MacFarland | Jun 28, 2019 | Business, Content, Digital, Marketing, Strategy
Regardless of the business you’re in, your customer is never super-easy to find. And worse, if you don’t have a clear definition of who your customers are, your sales and marketing teams will spend lots of time and money trying to connect with the wrong people who are not likely to buy. Yes, without a clear definition, these teams could be going after different people for different reasons. Yikes. That sounds like a recipe for disaster, right?
by Scott MacFarland | Jan 4, 2019 | Marketing
In marketing circles, the value proposition is often overlooked because of the urgency to produce lead-generation initiatives. After all, sales leaders want qualified leads immediately and will accept nothing less. What’s a marketing team to do?
by Scott MacFarland | Dec 23, 2018 | Marketing
Today, if video is not part of your marketing strategy, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Here are 6 reasons I feel video is one of the most powerful marketing channels to-date. And number 4 just may shock you.
by Scott MacFarland | Oct 13, 2018 | Business, Innovation, Management, Strategy
Yes, your business does need a strategy to innovate. But, there is not one clear path for crafting an innovation strategy. Nor is there a one-size fits all for businesses to start the innovation process.
by Scott MacFarland | Sep 28, 2018 | Business, Innovation, Management, Strategy
Have you ever wondered what business would be like if the industry you’re in suddenly changed overnight? I know this sounds rather nutty, but seriously. What would you do? What typically ushers in sudden change is technology and new ways of thinking about and solving existing customer problems.
by Scott MacFarland | Sep 16, 2018 | Business, Higher-Ed, Management, Strategy
As a career marketer, I’ve always believed that great marketing can overcome pretty much anything the brand or market throws our way. (Lack of demand, lack of funds, poor lead-gen activity, PR challenges, increasing competition, and poor high-school turnout to name a few). Time and time again, I’ve been part of marketing teams that created strategies and executed on them — all designed to overcome business challenges. However, conquering a monumental challenge shouldn’t have to be the norm for marketing teams; there are other ways to attract the students you want and need that do not have the dark cloud of a looming “crisis” overhead.
by Scott MacFarland | Sep 15, 2018 | Analytics, Business, Innovation, Management, Strategy
The strategy first starts in the minds of the business leaders who are trying to solve complex issues and ways to acquire new customers. But there are many missing components commonly overlooked for your strategy to be successful.
by Scott MacFarland | Aug 30, 2018 | Business, Content, Digital, Marketing, Strategy
The word value as it relates to an inquiry or lead for your company is defined in different ways. Many definitions arise, and those definitions vary depending on the professional trying to define it and the hat they wear within your company.
by Scott MacFarland | May 28, 2018 | Content, Digital, Marketing, Social Media, Strategy
First, let me say this is not a new topic. It may, however, be a new twist on it so stay with me. Marketing teams are strategists, constantly maneuvering resources and content to increase conversion opportunities. Simple right? Let’s continue. Much like a Chess match, there are several opportunistic moves to strategically place to get closer to your goal. Each move is performed with tools (or Chess Pieces) that have strengths. However, if you’re not planning ahead with a strategy guiding content and placement… hmm… you will soon be cornered with no place to go. Sounds like Chess and marketing have a lot more in common than people thought.
by Scott MacFarland | May 18, 2018 | Business, Management, Marketing
Project fatigue is disruptive and is like a disease. When unrecognized and untreated, project fatigue will negatively impact your marketing team and their productivity. Fatigue feels like your car is speeding beyond its limit and the wheels are shaking, steering safely is nearly impossible and staying under control is all but lost. Don’t do this to your marketing team.
by Scott MacFarland | May 9, 2018 | Business, Content, Digital, Marketing
Marketers and sales professionals need to pay closer attention to their customers’ needs, wants, and interactions. They are giving us clues to what makes them tick and how they want to be treated. The digital environment, which was the new frontier over 20 years ago, isn’t new any longer. But, it is changing rapidly and we need to keep pace with our customers’ expectations and communication preferences on digital.
by Scott MacFarland | May 3, 2018 | Business, Marketing
As a marketing leader, one of your many critical tasks is to create a clear vision that provides a roadmap for transformation from where the business is now to where it needs to go; all while creating sustainable growth. Simple? Huh…Yeah right. All you have to do is create a self-guiding system that drives all marketing in the correct direction that leads to business goals. Oh c’mon, it’s not that hard; and once you set it up, it’s like being on auto-pilot. Hear me out and let me set the stage to give you an idea of what I am talking about.
by Scott MacFarland | Apr 28, 2018 | Analytics, Business, Digital, Marketing
As marketers, we are trained to create marketing content and initiatives that help attract the prospective customer. We go the extra mile to understand their motivations, pain points, questions, what customer touch points are effective and many other attributes that help create more effective marketing. We call this prospective customer a “persona.” But there’s more to understand – more on that later.
