When marketing activity is high but results are hard to measure, the problem may be deeper than the tactics. Marketing alignment helps reveal where positioning, SEO, business development, sales, and the client experience are disconnected so you can make better strategic decisions and improve business growth.

AI is making marketing faster, but it is also exposing where strategy was missing. In this edition of The CMO Marketing Mindset, Julie Fisher looks at why positioning, brand clarity, and leadership still have to come before AI execution.

One year ago I launched The CMO Marketing Mindset with a simple goal: create a space for real conversations about marketing strategy and business growth. Now, 1,059 subscribers later, I'm sharing the biggest lesson from year one, the new direction for the newsletter, and where this next chapter is headed.

Business development still works because relationships still matter. This article explores why referrals remain a powerful growth source and how intentional follow-up, smarter relationship targeting, and better tracking can turn connections into measurable business opportunities.

Fractional CMO services give small and mid-sized businesses access to senior marketing leadership without the cost of a full-time executive. Discover five strategic shifts that can improve small business marketing, strengthen decision-making, reduce wasted spend, and drive more profitable growth.