84% of CMOs Are Failing at Strategy And Your Brand Is Next

84% of CMOs Are Failing at Strategy And Your Brand Is Next

I just read the most terrifying statistic of 2025: 84% of CMOs report difficulty developing and executing a marketing strategy.

Let that sink in for a second.

Eight out of ten marketing leaders at major corporations can't figure out how to market their own businesses.

But here's what's even more terrifying: only 15% of CMOs plan beyond three years.

Translation: The people running marketing for billion-dollar companies are winging it just as much as you are.


The Numbers That Should Scare Every Business Owner

While CMOs are panicking, here's what's actually happening in the market:

🚨 Consumer behaviour is shifting faster than ever:

  • 41% of Gen Z uses social media as their first information source (not Google)
  • 42% of consumers are delaying major purchases (up from 28% last year)
  • 76% of social media users say content influenced their buying decisions

🚨 The competition is investing heavily:

  • 71% of marketers plan to invest $10+ million in AI over the next three years
  • Social media ad market is growing 12% this year
  • Digital video ad spend is increasing 14% to $72.4 billion

🚨 Meanwhile, you're probably:

  • Using the same brand strategy from 2022
  • Posting inconsistently on social media
  • Hoping your word-of-mouth referrals keep coming
  • Competing with businesses that have million-dollar marketing budgets

How's that working out for you?


The Brand Strategy Gap That's Killing Professional Services

Here's the brutal truth: if CMOs with unlimited budgets and massive teams can't figure out marketing strategy, what makes you think your DIY approach is going to work?

But here's the opportunity: while everyone else is chasing tactics, you can win with strategy.

The businesses that will dominate the next three years? They're the ones that:

  • Build brands that work across all channels (social, video, AI, whatever comes next)
  • Create consistent experiences that build trust over time
  • Position themselves strategically instead of reactively
  • Invest in foundation, not just tactics


The 3 Brand Moves That Beat Million-Dollar Marketing Budgets

1. Own Your Position Before Someone Else Does
While competitors are copying each other, claim the position that makes you the obvious choice. Not the cheapest, not the most popular - the most logical.

2. Build for Multiple Touchpoints
With 41% of Gen Z starting research on social media, your brand needs to work everywhere. Same message, same quality, same professional presence across every platform.

3. Create Content That Sells Without Selling
76% of people are influenced by social content. But they're not influenced by sales pitches - they're influenced by valuable, consistent, expert content that builds trust.


The Reality Check Your Business Needs

Ask yourself honestly:

  • If a potential client saw your brand across 5 different touchpoints, would they get a consistent impression of your expertise?
  • Are you positioned for where your industry is going, or where it's been?
  • When someone compares you to competitors, is your difference immediately obvious?

If you hesitated on any of these, you're not ready for what's coming.


The Walking Conversation That Changed My Perspective

Ian and I were discussing these statistics during our evening walk yesterday (yes, still committed to those fitness goals!), and he made this observation:

"It's like everyone's trying to win a game where the rules keep changing, but nobody's built a foundation that works regardless of the rules."

Exactly.

Your brand is your foundation. Get that right, and you can adapt to any platform, any algorithm, any trend.

Get it wrong, and you're just another business owner wondering why your marketing isn't working.


The Bottom Line

→ 84% of CMOs are struggling with marketing strategy.
→ Consumers are changing how they research and buy.
→ Competition is investing millions in new tactics.

And you're still using the same brand approach from three years ago.

The businesses that survive the next three years won't be the ones with the biggest budgets. They'll be the ones with the clearest brands and the most strategic positioning.

Which one are you going to be?


What's your biggest marketing challenge right now? Are you focused on tactics or strategy? Hit reply and let me know - I'm genuinely curious about what's keeping professional services owners up at night.


Ready to build a brand foundation that works regardless of what marketing trends come next?

Let's talk about creating a strategy that beats million-dollar budgets →