Ditch the Budget Merry-Go-Round: 4 Steps to Revenue-Aligned Marketing

Ditch the Budget Merry-Go-Round: 4 Steps to Revenue-Aligned Marketing

If end-of-year sales results against the 2024 marketing budget were lackluster, it may be time to shift thinking on budget planning. For decades, a rule-of-thumb for setting marketing budgets has reliably been a simplistic percentage-of-previous-sales formula. We’re...
Let it snow, but don’t let a frozen marketing budget derail 2025 goals

Let it snow, but don’t let a frozen marketing budget derail 2025 goals

6 ways to optimize marketing ROI during economic uncertainty Depending on whom one asks, anywhere from 30 to 35 percent of North American firms plan to increase marketing budgets for 2025 – apparently the lowest number to do so of any region in the world. Why the...
Can the “universal branch” please everyone?

Can the “universal branch” please everyone?

The grand opening of a new bank branch we attended last week proves it’s possible. Similar to the illustration, the branch featured a wonderful, open-space “Universal Branch” design demonstrating the “branch of the future” we’ve written about, and the intersection of...
Your line in the sand: Drawing (and owning) your territory enhances competitive advantage

Your line in the sand: Drawing (and owning) your territory enhances competitive advantage

Without a doubt, a retail or other customer-facing enterprise can pin a significant portion of its success to location. Whether a grocery store, bank branch or family medical practice, WHERE one is situated is a major factor in business success. Once location is...
Don’t be a super-hero: 5 tips to delegate your way to successfully compete while effectively managing your business

Don’t be a super-hero: 5 tips to delegate your way to successfully compete while effectively managing your business

Successful competition involves breaking through inevitable barriers – – and some of the most challenging barriers might be you or your key leaders! As a business enterprise grows, owners must make some critical choices to continue that growth. Some would...
“D cubed” is the equation to yield continuous improvement in account generation and banking relationships

“D cubed” is the equation to yield continuous improvement in account generation and banking relationships

It may not be the most glamours activity in the banking world, but for community banks to effectively compete against larger counterparts, some rote processes must be involved.  The following 3 steps of a continuous improvement sales process, though, may yield...