It’s Time to Get Integrated… if you’re not already!

The CMO Council released their Marketing Outlook ’09, a detailed report from 650 companies on their marketing budgets, strategies, and headcounts for the upcoming year. We have reviewed its highlights and found some interesting trends emerging in light of the current economy.

The good news is that marketing budgets are holding firm, and CMOs are not expecting big cuts in headcounts. Further, the report found that in light of the recession, marketing organizations are refocused on supporting sales and “owning the customer experience.” Demand generation is of the highest priority.

That being said, what we found most interesting in the report is the call for more integration between sales and marketing. This concept is near and dear to the small to mid-size company, and seems to have now reached the larger organizations. This is encouraging.

For years now, Go-To-Market Strategies has championed the tight integration of sales and marketing. In fact, we founded our company on that very principle. We know that keeping sales and marketing groups aligned and mapped to a clear sales process ensures an effective and efficient execution of strategy. And that means more sales and more revenue.

How do you know if your sales and marketing groups are integrated enough in your own company? Check out these articles and start mapping out your own integration points:

• What Is Your Sales Process?
• Three Fundamental Changes to Sales and Marketing You MUST Make… And NOW!
• Successful Prospecting Integrates Sales AND Marketing
• Sales and Marketing Results, Who’s Keeping Score?

Remember, the integration of sales and marketing is a necessity for the smaller company who has less budget to work with and must maximize all of their resources all the time. It is also a must-do for larger companies, especially those who need to drive business and sales opportunities during an economic crisis.

We think its time for you to get integrated, too.