Business expansion into a new market or territory is an exciting time for any business. However, lots of companies approach new markets without a properly structured approach. Invariably this is the result of thinking that you can repeat whatever you did in your home market that has resulted in success - a mistake that often leads to failure.

Business expansion into a new market or territory is an exciting time for any business. However, lots of companies approach new markets without a properly structured approach. Invariably this is the result of thinking that you can repeat whatever you did in your home market that has resulted in success - a mistake that often leads to failure.

A playbook for business expansion into new markets

Pre-pandemic, most people went to the office to work, whether permanent employees, consultants or business partners. Irrespective of having a meeting or a full day of data processing, most work was transacted in person. Today that balance of work has shifted. Now, instead of the assumption that people meet in person unless told otherwise, now the assumption is that they will join a video call unless told otherwise. 

Pre-pandemic, most people went to the office to work, whether permanent employees, consultants or business partners. Irrespective of having a meeting or a full day of data processing, most work was transacted in person. Today that balance of work has shifted. Now, instead of the assumption that people meet in person unless told otherwise, now the assumption is that they will join a video call unless told otherwise.

Supporting businesses in their new way of working

Why have a Fractional CMO when you could employ a marketing director? Isn’t it the same thing? Not exactly. For some, a Fractional CMO works alongside an employed marketing director, offering an outside perspective. For others, a Fractional CMO provides a better fit than a full-time marketing director, delivering different benefits that suit some businesses and organisations more than others.Find out more about gigCMO’s services.

Why have a Fractional CMO when you could employ a marketing director? Isn’t it the same thing? Not exactly. For some, a Fractional CMO works alongside an employed marketing director, offering an <a href="../../marketing-opinions/do-you-know-who-your-most-significant-competitor-is" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">outside perspective</a>. For others, a Fractional CMO provides a better fit than a full-time marketing director, delivering different benefits that suit some businesses and organisations more than others.<a href="../../about-us" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Find out more about gigCMO’s services.</a>

What is a fractional CMO?

With great power comes great responsibility, so goes the saying, but it also tends to come with an awful lot of yes men/women. Whether you're the CEO of a large conglomerate or the founder of a flourishing scale-up, everyone needs someone they can rely upon to give an honest opinion about the matters of the day. In short, every CEO needs a counterweight. 

With great power comes great responsibility, so goes the saying, but it also tends to come with an awful lot of yes men/women. Whether you're the CEO of a large conglomerate or the founder of a flourishing <a href="../../marketing-opinions/rewiring-your-thinking-from-start-up-to-scale-up" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">scale-up</a>, everyone needs someone they can rely upon to give an honest opinion about the matters of the day. In short, every CEO needs a counterweight.

Every CEO needs a counterweight

The way we think about business growth, development, marketing strategy, and competitors also needs to shift for CEOs. It's no longer about looking at your industry and thinking about where you rank amongst the known leaders; it's about looking at the global picture - across sectors - and understanding where the opportunities are. 

The way we think about business growth, development, marketing strategy, and competitors also needs to shift for CEOs. It's no longer about looking at your industry and thinking about where you rank amongst the known leaders; it's about looking at the global picture - across sectors - and understanding where the opportunities are.

Do you know who your most significant competitor is?

Any CEO or business founder will know that your team constitutes the biggest line item on your profit and loss (P&amp;L), but your team is also one of the most valuable parts of your organisation. So, when it comes to recruitment, you need to get it right. That means getting the best person for the job and the best person for your working environment.   In this podcast, gigCMO will uncover the needs of your business from the perspective of marketing today. 

Any CEO or business founder will know that your team constitutes the biggest line item on your profit and loss (P&amp;L), but your team is also one of the most valuable parts of your organisation. So, when it comes to recruitment, you need to get it right. That means getting the best person for the job and the best person for your working environment.   In this podcast, gigCMO will uncover the needs of your business from the perspective of marketing today.

Making your business more attractive to new talent

Going from start-up to scale-up requires a change of thinking. So how do you make sure your business is amongst the unicorns of the scale-up world and not just another flash in the pan? 

Going from start-up to scale-up requires a change of thinking. So how do you make sure your business is amongst the unicorns of the scale-up world and not just another flash in the pan?

Rewiring Your Thinking from Start-up to Scale-up

We talk a lot about the 'brand' - brand value, purpose-driven brands, brand essence, brand values, and brand character in marketing. The brand is an essential part of a company's long-term success and will be some of the most valuable intellectual property (IP) the company may ever create. But for startups, it's arguably not the immediate priority - your mission is. However, the two are often confused, especially in the early stages of building a company.

We talk a lot about the 'brand' - brand value, purpose-driven brands, brand essence, brand values, and brand character in marketing. The brand is an essential part of a company's long-term success and will be some of the most valuable intellectual property (IP) the company may ever create. But for startups, it's arguably not the immediate priority - your mission is. However, the two are often confused, especially in the early stages of building a company.

What’s the difference between your mission and your brand positioning?

While deeper research can be done into understanding your target market, we have found that in B2B businesses, there are essentially three personas that can be typically identified in the sales process. Each of these personas needs to be considered in strategic discussions, with their role, challenges, and influence taken into consideration. 

While deeper research can be done into <a rel="noreferrer noopener">understanding your target market</a>, we have found that in B2B businesses, there are essentially three personas that can be typically identified in the sales process. Each of these personas needs to be considered in strategic discussions, with their role, challenges, and influence taken into consideration.

Customer Personas: Do You Know Whom You’re Talking to?

Events are a big part of many businesses. Whether it’s a conference that a team member is speaking at or an exhibition where you have a stand or even a webinar, they can be great for brand awareness. However, given the investment requires both time and money, CEOs need to make sure that it is executed to the same standard as other business-building initiatives. That requires a playbook.

Events are a big part of many businesses. Whether it’s a conference that a team member is speaking at or an exhibition where you have a stand or even a webinar, they can be great for brand awareness. However, given the investment requires both time and money, CEOs need to make sure that it is executed to the same standard as other business-building initiatives. That requires a playbook.

How to Make Business Events Profitable

gigCMO is a business growth consultancy in the UK, the US, Europe, India and China.Our team of experienced, international, and talented fractional Chief Marketing Officers and CEO Whisperers are available to drive your business and global growth forward with pragmatic advice.gigCMO  solves all of the hassles of bringing in an injection of commercially driven, customer-focused, c-suite marketing expertise when you need it, where you need it and only for as long as you need it We have four engagement models: CMO RoundTable CMO Expertise on Demand CEO Whisperer CMO Whisperer  for developing up and coming talent

We look at Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung's archetypes in personality and psychology and show how using them as a guide can help you define the essence of your brand and connect with customers and potential customers on a deeper level.

We look at Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung's archetypes in personality and psychology and show how using them as a guide can help you define the essence of your brand and connect with customers and potential customers on a deeper level.

Why Do CEOs & Founders Need to Know About Archetypes?

Post-pandemic, we're getting our heads back in gear. Businesses don't just want to survive; they want to thrive, and the key to that is a customer focus. 

Post-pandemic, we're getting our heads back in gear. Businesses don't just want to survive; they want to thrive, and the key to that is a customer focus.

Customer Focus Is The Difference Between Surviving and Thriving

Keeping a brand relevant is both the challenge and the privilege of successful businesses. If you’re successful enough to stay in the game for any period, then the odds are you will need to put in the work to keep the customer experience positive and your brand relevant.

Keeping a brand relevant is both the challenge and the privilege of successful businesses.   If you’re successful enough to stay in the game for any period, then the odds are you will need to put in the work to keep the customer experience positive and your brand relevant.

How to Keep Your Brand Relevant

With 12½ trillion hours spent online last year, and new records for social media use, the data available to businesses about consumer behaviour is growing.  Following a new Digital 2022 Global Overview Report, there is plenty for business leaders and marketing experts to digest and consider when updating their marketing strategy in line with business objectives.  The report is extensive, although it makes for interesting and recommended reading for CEOs and business leaders, giving you an insight into the behaviour of your customers to maximise opportunities. Here, we have pulled out some of our observations to help you plan for the upcoming financial year.

With 12½ trillion hours spent online last year, and new records for social media use, the data available to businesses about <a href="https://gigcmo.com/marketing-opinions/customer-behaviour-has-changed-so-it-s-time-your-business-learned-something-new" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">consumer behaviour</a> is growing.    Following a new <a href="https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-global-overview-report" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Digital 2022 Global Overview Report</a>, there is plenty for business leaders and <a href="https://gigcmo.com/fractional-cmo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">marketing experts</a> to digest and consider when updating their marketing strategy in line with business objectives.    The report is extensive, although it makes for interesting and recommended reading for CEOs and business leaders, giving you an insight into the behaviour of your customers to maximise opportunities. Here, we have pulled out some of our observations to help you plan for the upcoming financial year.

How Does the Latest Data in Digital Trends Affect Your Marketing Strategy?

We are in the business of listening. There’s nothing more exciting than having a conversation with someone passionate about their business, learning their story, where they came from, where they want to go, and sometimes, what challenges they’re facing in the interim as well. Through listening to CEOs, we build relationships, and, over time, we occasionally find that there’s an appropriate way for our Fractional CMOs to provide strategic support through our on-demand or roundtable services. Maybe you have a marketing department, and maybe you don’t. Maybe you have a CMO, maybe you don’t; the people who come to us tend to be business owners at mid-size businesses, SMEs and scale-ups. While we do work with large enterprises, most of these have the bench strength that means they don’t need our support- the exception being the need for an outside perspective on particular challenges. 

We are in the business of listening. There’s nothing more exciting than having a conversation with someone passionate about their business, learning their story, where they came from, where they want to go, and sometimes, what challenges they’re facing in the interim as well. Through listening to CEOs, we build relationships, and, over time, we occasionally find that there’s an appropriate way for our <a href="https://gigcmo.com/fractional-cmo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fractional CMOs</a> to provide strategic support through our <a href="https://gigcmo.com/talent-on-demand" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on-demand</a> or <a href="https://gigcmo.com/gig-cmo-round-table" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">roundtable services</a>. Maybe you have a marketing department, and maybe you don’t. Maybe you have a CMO, maybe you don’t; the people who come to us tend to be business owners at mid-size businesses, SMEs and scale-ups. While we do work with large enterprises, most of these have the bench strength that means they don’t need our support- the exception being the need for an outside perspective on particular challenges.

How to Tell If Your Marketing Department Needs a Fractional CMO

Certain things in business and marketing are not that different from one company to the next. The mechanics of marketing, the fundamentals of business- these do not vary enormously. We collectively talk at length about best practices.  However, there's a big difference between following a template and knowing what you're doing. In this article, we look at some of the tools that are readily available to you and what a marketing expert really brings to the table.

Certain things in business and marketing are not that different from one company to the next. The mechanics of marketing, the fundamentals of business- these do not vary enormously. We collectively talk at length about best practices.    However, there's a big difference between following a template and knowing what you're doing. In this article, we look at some of the tools that are readily available to you and what a marketing expert really brings to the table.

Being a Marketing Expert Takes More Than Planning Templates

Your CMO is central to business growth, but how do you hire the right one? Business is competitive, so how can you give your firm a competitive advantage that is difficult to beat? You need the best people for the job. Finding the right person for the job combines informed hiring processes, rigorous candidate assessment and clear strategic business objectives.  It all begins at the top, but sometimes even leaders need support, which is why a CEO whisperer could be the key. 

Your CMO is central to business growth, but how do you hire the right one? Business is competitive, so how can you give your firm a competitive advantage that is difficult to beat? You need the best people for the job. Finding the right person for the job combines informed hiring processes, rigorous candidate assessment and clear strategic business objectives.  It all begins at the top, but sometimes even leaders need support, which is why a <a href="https://gigcmo.com/ceo-whisperer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CEO whisperer</a> could be the key.

How to Hire the Right CMO to Grow Your Business

The year 2022 brings its own unique challenges and opportunities for companies of any shape and size. Is your business keeping up with the best Marketing Strategy? Lockdowns, delays, and other global events are complicating matters on the market and pose a challenge for your business. So, how do you ensure that your strategies are aligned with current trends? One of the ways is to bring in a commercially driven and battle-tested marketing leader to help your company thrive in this demanding and unpredictable period. Learn more on how we can help your business grow by listening to this podcast below.

The year 2022 brings its own unique challenges and opportunities for companies of any shape and size. Is your business keeping up with the best Marketing Strategy? Lockdowns, delays, and other global events are complicating matters on the market and pose a challenge for your business. So, how do you ensure that your strategies are aligned with current trends? One of the ways is to bring in a commercially driven and battle-tested marketing leader to help your company thrive in this demanding and unpredictable period. Learn more on how we can help your business grow by listening to this podcast below.

What Will Influence Marketing Strategy in 2022

Every business leader is scanning the horizon for opportunities as well as risks. Being anxious is normal for every leader - however, having a robust strategy and a good team in place will ensure you will get a good night's sleep.Learn more on how we can help your business grow by listening to this podcast below.

Every business leader is scanning the horizon for opportunities as well as risks. Being anxious is normal for every leader - however, having a robust strategy and a good team in place will ensure you will get a good night's sleep. Learn more on how we can help your business grow by listening to this podcast below.

Have You Ever Been Anxious About Business Strategy and Survival?

One of the most difficult challenges for businesses is keeping their teams, particularly their marketing departments, up to date. Working with the right marketing expert who provides you with the proper guidance and mentorship in achieving the best for your organization is one of the effective ways to stay up with your marketing needs. Our Fractional CMOs provide new opportunities for troubleshooting and crisis management that will assist you in meeting a specific goal. As marketing experts with years of collective experience in brand leadership positions, our team has a track record of assisting businesses in various and changing environments. Learn more on how we can help your business grow by listening to this episode!

One of the most difficult challenges for businesses is keeping their teams, particularly their marketing departments, up to date. Working with the right marketing expert who provides you with the proper guidance and mentorship in achieving the best for your organization is one of the effective ways to stay up with your marketing needs. Our Fractional CMOs provide new opportunities for troubleshooting and crisis management that will assist you in meeting a specific goal. As marketing experts with years of collective experience in brand leadership positions, our team has a track record of assisting businesses in various and changing environments. Learn more on how we can help your business grow by listening to this episode!

How to Create a Dynamic Marketing Department

gigCMO is a business growth consultancy in the UK, the US, Europe, India and China. Our team of experienced, international, and talented fractional Chief Marketing Officers and CEO Whisperers are available to drive your business and global growth forward with pragmatic advice. gigCMO solves all of the hassles of bringing in an injection of commercially driven, customer-focused, c-suite marketing expertise when you need it, where you need it and only for as long as you need it We have four engagement models: CMO RoundTable CMO Expertise on Demand CEO Whisperer CMO Whisperer for developing up and coming talent

Things You Should Know to Make Your Business Grow

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