Upbeat

LinkedIn is still relevant. It's not easy, but it's worth it. Let's be bold about LinkedIn's potential. Creating demand and capturing demand is what LinkedIn is all about. Founders should leverage LinkedIn to be domain experts and build authority. But it's hard. It's not easy to stay relevant and keep posting. Here are some ways to keep posting and capture demand: Content Calendar 1. Plan: Schedule your posts in advance. 2. Variety: Mix up content types - articles, videos, and infographics. 3. Consistency: Post regularly to stay on your audience's radar. Engage Actively → Respond: Reply to comments and messages promptly. → Connect: Reach out to new connections weekly. → Share: Post insights and updates from your industry. Social Selling → Research: Identify potential leads and their interests. → Interact: Engage with their content before pitching. → Value: Offer solutions, not just products. LinkedIn isn't saturated; it's a goldmine for those who know how to use it. Who connects with people that visited their profile? Who asks questions or starts a conversation with them? Who tries to figure out if the person visited your profile because they are interested or just looking around?

I am prone to confusion. ↳ I sometimes feel like I'm living in a to-do list. ↳ I constantly juggle tasks, even when I should be relaxing. ↳ As an entrepreneur, I expend too much energy on pleasing customers. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I know many entrepreneurs feel the same way. And perhaps, this is the price we pay for success. But I've learned to live with it: ↳ I've learned to laugh at the absurdity of my to-do list. ↳ I force myself to remember why I started in the first place. ↳ I've learned to prioritize what truly matters. And most importantly: I've been able to pass on all my experience and skills to stay customer-centric and sane. Balancing business and life is about remembering your purpose and keeping customers happy. Remember why you do it. Even when the to-do list seems never-ending.

I used to think one size fits all. ↳ I believed every customer needed the same level of support. ↳ I thought automation could handle everything. ↳ I ignored the nuances of different customer needs. A common mistake for beginners: If you have a strategy, it must be rigid and unchanging. But many companies stick to this belief for years. After analyzing various GTM strategies, I found new rules to follow: 1) No Touch: Perfect for high deal volume and low ACV. 2) Low Touch: Great for scaling efficiently with minimal human support. 3) Medium Touch: Ideal for balancing automation and personal interaction. 4) High Touch: Necessary for complex sales and in-depth onboarding. 5) Dedicated Touch: Best for high-value clients needing extensive customization. → Misaligned GTM strategies waste resources and lose clients. → Well-aligned GTM strategies drive growth and efficiency. It's not as simple as it sounds. But getting it right can make your business thrive. Share this post to help others optimize their GTM strategies.

Wist je dat de koffie die je drinkt of de chocolade die je eet een verhaal vertelt? Het gaat niet alleen om de smaak—maar om de reis die het maakt, van boon of blad, van de boer tot op jouw tafel. Dat verhaal mooi en helder vertellen, dát is wat ik graag doe als illustrator en grafisch ontwerper. Ik heb ervoor gekozen om me te richten op koffie-, thee- en cacao merken omdat deze producten niet alleen ontzettend lekker zijn, maar vaak ook een verhaal hebben dat draait om duurzaamheid en eerlijke handel. En dat verhaal verdient het om op een sterke en mooie manier verteld te worden. 🌍 Waarom dit voor mij belangrijk is Ik geloof dat de keuzes die we elke dag maken—zoals welke producten we kopen—een positieve impact kunnen hebben. Maar om mensen te helpen bewuster te kiezen, moeten we die verhalen op een manier vertellen die raakt en inspireert. Bijvoorbeeld met een eenvoudige infographic die laat zien waar een product vandaan komt, wie het maakt en hoe het de planeet helpt. Dáár help ik merken mee. 🎨 Wat ik doe Illustratieve branding: Ik ontwerp branding die de waarden van jouw merk rondom duurzaamheid en eerlijkheid laat zien. Zo zorg je ervoor dat jouw merk opvalt in de markt en mensen raakt. Infographics: Ik leg de reis van je product uit—van boerderij tot verpakking—met visuals die mensen helpen bewuste keuzes te maken. Campagnes: Ik werk samen met merken en NGO’s aan campagnes die duurzaamheid en eerlijke productie promoten. Hier haal ik veel energie uit! ✨ Klaar om jouw verhaal te vertellen? Of je nu een koffiebrander, theeproducent of chocolatier bent—of gewoon iemand die bewust bezig is met de wereld om ons heen—ik help je graag om jouw verhaal visueel tot leven te brengen. Zin om samen te sparren? Laten we digitaal een koffie doen! #illustratievebranding #branding #visualstorytelling #koffie #thee #chocolade #illustratie #impact

A king in a circus is just a clown. You can hire the best people, BUT If your vision is weak Your product doesn't fit the market Or your clients aren't feeling it. They'll become clowns. Get your affairs in order. Hire the right people at the right time. Ps. Want to know what your team should look like? Do your Go-To-Market strategy first. This will give you enough information on what job you need to do and what help you would need.

I often get asked, "Whom should I hire first?" "What kind of marketer?" " Or do I need more sales? So easy to make a mistake and unfortunately this comes with huge costs. It's a crucial question that can make or break your scaling journey. 😰 Hire too soon, strain your budget. Hire too late, and growth stalls. And not considering personality fit? That's a recipe for team friction! 🎯 To navigate this, I've created a carousel decision tree – your go-to guide for hiring at each startup phase. ✅ From a Market Research Analyst in the Idea Phase to a Marketing Generalist when budgets are tight, it’s all mapped out. But that's not all! 🧠 We've also paired each role with MBTI profiles. Because skills matter, but personality is key! Think ISTJs thriving in data-driven roles or ENFPs shining in creative positions. 🔗 Swipe through the carousel to explore the journey from idea to scale-up, roles to hire, and the personalities that might naturally excel. Remember, this is your compass, not a map. True North is hiring the right people at the right time. That's the key to successful scaling! 👥🚀💡 --- 𝘌𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴? Follow me, hit the 🔔 Douwe Wester You'll get notified on my next post.

Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies can improve win rates by up to 29% and increase the likelihood of meeting sales quotas by 84%. Yeah, GTM strategy is crucial. It’s more than a plan—it’s your blueprint for growth. Done right, it reduces risks and boosts your chances of success. Companies with aligned sales and marketing teams, a key part of a GTM strategy, are 67% more likely to close leads. For scaleups, leveraging a GTM strategy optimizes sales processes and builds operational efficiency, leading to more predictable revenue growth. Startups that focus on early customer interactions and product-market fit through a GTM approach see an acceleration in growth once they hit their stride. It’s all about making choices—the cornerstone of success. THE BLUEPRINT: ☑ Pipeline Analysis ➜ Focus on the 20% of customers that generate 80% of your revenue. ➜ Measure your pipeline velocity and funnel metrics. ☑ Market Segmentation ➜ Segment your market to pinpoint the highest potential customer base. ☑ Customer & Buyer Research ➜ Deeply understand your customers’ needs and behavior. ☑ Undeniable Offer ➜ Craft a value proposition that customers can’t resist. ☑ Buying Journey Mapping ➜ Identify the steps your buyers take and tailor your approach to each stage. ☑ Channels ➜ Select the most effective direct and indirect channels to distribute your product. ☑ Revenue Programs ➜ Design revenue programs that incentivize customers and maximize returns. ☑ Marketing Plan, Budget, and Team ➜ Build a marketing plan, allocate your budget, and align your team to execute. ☑ OKRs, KPIs, Metrics ➜ Set clear objectives, track key metrics, and measure your success. ☑ Team Architecture & Alignment ➜ Ensure your team is structured and working in harmony for effective execution. Master the art of a GTM strategy. Transform your market approach. Boost your success. If you’re the kind of person who gets things done, comment 'the works' or 🤘. Or DM me—let’s work.

What is a fractional CMO? A fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) is a part-time executive who provides high-level marketing expertise without the full-time cost. This is a strategic option for businesses that need leadership in marketing but can't justify a full-time CMO. 1. Mentorship and Coaching A fractional CMO does more than just oversee marketing. They actively mentor and coach your team, helping them grow professionally and sharpen their skills. Think of it as having a seasoned expert sharing proven strategies with your team. 2. Cost-Effective Expertise Hiring a full-time CMO can be expensive. With a fractional CMO, you gain industry experience without the hefty price tag, minimizing rookie mistakes that could harm your brand. You get top-tier leadership while safeguarding your budget. 3. Alignment with Business Goals A fractional CMO ensures your marketing strategy aligns with your business goals. They bring innovation to the table, keeping your company competitive and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and engagement. TL;DR: - Fractional CMOs mentor and coach your team. - They provide cost-effective marketing leadership. - They ensure alignment with your business goals. A fractional CMO isn’t just a temporary fix. They’re a strategic asset, driving sustainable growth and creating a resilient framework for your organization. Need marketing leadership without breaking the bank? Reach out to explore how a fractional CMO can help your business thrive.

SEO could be important SEA could be important ABM could be important Outreach could be important LinkedIn ads could be important Facebook ads could be important LinkedIn content could be important Email sequences could be important ..... But it is not a great idea to trust a single channel agency to help with your overall customer acquisition strategy. That's a narrow path to walk. SEO-only agency lives and breathes SEO. A Google Ads expert thinks in clicks and conversions. LinkedIn ad specialists see the world through professional networking lenses. Expertise? Undeniable. But holistic? Hardly. First: ↳ Understand your pipeline ↳ Understand your market ↳ Talk to customers and prospects ↳ Map their problems, needs, desires ↳ Map their buyers journey ↳ Map how to reach them ↳ Revamp your offer Make a plan. If SEO is the way to go. Go for it. Get advice, and direction to fulfil your strategy. Complement it with Google ads and optimize your funnel. If LinkedIn the same recipe. Get specialists. Remember, in a world as interconnected as ours, a well-rounded perspective isn't just beneficial—it's essential. Don't confine your strategy to a single viewpoint. Embrace diversity in expertise, and watch your marketing flourish.

Got a fresh idea or strategy for your business? Here’s what happens when the excitement fades: • Turning those fresh ideas into sustainable processes. • Sticking with them long enough to see results. • Adjusting when the novelty wears off, and the real work begins. Success in scaling comes from the commitment to see each idea through, even when it gets tough. What’s one tactic you’re ready to commit to long term? Let’s hear it in the comments!