WARC Multiplier: Brand x Performance: The Growth Engine Scaleups Need
Many scaleups double down on performance marketing because it feels measurable and immediate. But new WARC research shows that over-investing in performance can actually reduce ROI by 20–50%.
Read moreThink bold. Lead Different: The CEO Mindset for becoming No. 1 in your sector
If you want to lead a company to success—real success—you can’t think like everyone else. You can’t play it safe. You can’t follow the same strategies as your competitors and expect different results. The path to being number one in your sector requires a different mindset, a different level of boldness, and a willingness to embrace what others shy away from: uncertainty, risk, and failure.
Read moreIs Your Portfolio Maximising Growth Opportunities Through Paid Advertising?
Paid media isn’t just a line item on the budget, it’s a lever for customer acquisition, market capture, and brand building. But if you’re only being shown Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), Return On Ad Spend (ROAS), and Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL) numbers, you might be missing half the picture.
Read moreHow to Build Predictable Revenue with Paid Advertising: A Strategic Approach
Predictable revenue doesn’t come from throwing money at paid ads and hoping for the best. It comes from a structured, data-driven approach—testing, refining, and aligning every element of your campaigns with your broader business strategy.
Read moreDo You Need a Fractional CMO? The Startup & Scaleup Growth Dilemma
As a startup or scaleup founder, you’re constantly making decisions about where to invest your time, energy, and budget. You know that marketing is crucial for growth, but hiring a full-time Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) might feel like a big commitment—financially and operationally. That’s where a Fractional CMO comes in.
Read moreSuccessful Marketing Campaigns start with Strategy not Ideas
We often hear about the need for big ideas - clever campaigns that grab attention and can move the dial exponentially with regard to market share. These can be a game-changer for Startups and Scaleups, but although the ideas may seem whacky or off the wall and random, in order to deliver on your business and marketing objectives, they need to be built from strong strategic foundations.
Read moreHelping Letterbox Cocktails define their Brand Strategy and develop a new brand identity
When we initially sat down for the brand strategy session, it was clear they had a brilliant product—bar-quality cocktails delivered directly to your door—but they needed clarity on their brand strategy, positioning, and identity. Our goal was to help them define a compelling brand story, sharpen their positioning in the market, and create a distinctive visual language to set them up for long-term growth.
Read moreAre you Too Successful To Play?
There’s a well-known study by Donald MacKinnon, a psychologist who spent years exploring what makes certain people more creative than others. One of his key findings? Creativity isn’t a fixed trait. It’s a state. A way of being. A willingness to play.
Read moreThe Multiplier Effect: Brand vs. Performance marketing - why scaleups can't afford to choose one over the other
Too many scaleups treat brand and performance marketing as separate - chasing short-term results at the expense of long-term value. But, new WARC research proves that over-investing in performance can reduce ROI by up to 50%, while businesses that balance brand with performance see ROI increase by as much as 90%. For founders and CEOs under pressure to deliver sustainable growth, this article explains why brand and performance must work together as one system, and how to rebalance your strategy for efficiency, resilience, and stronger valuations.
Read moreThink marketing is just fluff and fun? Think again. It's time to talk money.
Think marketing is just fluff and fun? Think again. Marketing isn’t just about catchy ads and creative campaigns – it’s a critical driver of revenue and growth.
Read moreThe power of a strong brand: Insights from The Business Show London
At the recent Business Show in London, OSER caught people's attention. Whether it was the buzz around our stand, our sponsorship of the investor pitch competition, or my talk on brand strategy, one thing was clear: a strong brand is one of the most valuable assets a business can have.
Read moreHow to create a customer journey that converts
In today’s competitive landscape, businesses must focus on creating seamless, customer-centric experiences to drive conversions and long-term loyalty. During my recent webinar with Enterprise Nation and Vodafone Business, “How to Build a Customer Journey That Converts,” we explored actionable strategies and insights that SMEs can leverage to map out effective customer journeys from awareness to conversion.
Read moreHow Far Should Brands Push the Boundaries of Change?
Minimalism in design is like "a little black dress." This analogy caught my attention—it’s simple, timeless, and universally appealing. But as I reflected on this, it struck me that many brands today are stripping back so much that they risk losing their essence entirely.
Read moreHow to create Christmas advertising campaigns that cut through and drive sales
The festive season is one of the most competitive times of the year for advertisers. To stand out and drive sales, your campaigns need to combine creativity, strategic targeting, and the holiday spirit.
Read moreKey 5 Pain Points of Scaleup Businesses and How to Solve Them with Brand & Marketing
Scaling a business is an exciting phase, but it comes with its own unique challenges. Often, scaleups face hurdles that can hinder growth and impact long-term success if not addressed effectively. Brand and marketing strategies play a critical role in overcoming these pain points. Here are the top five challenges scaleup businesses face and actionable solutions to tackle them using brand and marketing.
Read moreHow to Supercharge Your Business Growth with Expert Brand and Marketing Strategies
Growing a business is no small feat, and navigating the complexities of branding and marketing can often feel overwhelming. At OSER, we specialise in helping businesses like yours unlock their full potential with tailored strategies that deliver results. Explore actionable insights and services that can drive your growth, attract customers, and build a brand that stands out in competitive markets. Whether you’re a startup founder or a scale-up leader, these strategies are designed with you in mind.
Read moreAddressing Private Equity Pain Points: How OSER Consultancy Can Drive Portfolio Growth
Private Equity firms operate in a high-stakes environment where every decision directly impacts returns on investment. As they navigate complex deal cycles, portfolio management, and scaling challenges, several recurring pain points often surface. With OSER's expertise in strategy and creativity, we are uniquely positioned to solve these challenges and unlock growth opportunities for PE firms and their portfolio companies.
Read moreNot Getting the Conversion You Want? Why Creativity Matters in Digital Advertising.
In the fast-paced world of digital advertising, numbers take centre stage. Conversion rates, click-through rates, ROI - metrics are crucial. But what do you do when numbers stall? It's time to question whether creativity has been left behind. Are you doing enough to capture attention, tell compelling stories, and spark genuine engagement?
Read moreDeepSeek R1: The AI Revolution That’s Changing Everything
A new AI powerhouse has emerged: DeepSeek R1, a Chinese AI model, is shaking up the industry with cutting-edge performance at a fraction of the cost—just $2.19 per 1M tokens compared to ChatGPT’s $10. It’s already #1 on the U.S. App Store and rattling markets worldwide. What does this mean for marketing?
Read moreThe Art of Problem Solving - How to Ask Smarter Questions
In business and life, the ability to solve problems effectively is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. Yet, many people jump straight into solutions without first properly defining the problem. The secret to better problem-solving isn’t just thinking harder—it’s asking smarter questions.
Read moreApplying Einstein’s Razor to your business: the power of simplification
In a world where companies constantly overcomplicate their strategies, products, and processes, applying Einstein’s Razor can be a game-changer. Explore how simplifying without oversimplifying can help you scale smarter, communicate more effectively, and make better decisions.
Read moreSocial Media is now Social Search: What this means for Founders & CEOs looking to grow
Social media is no longer just a place for broadcasting updates or building community. It’s become a search engine. Whether someone is looking for a marketing agency, a niche product, a productivity tip, or real stories from business leaders – they're searching inside TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and even Twitter/X instead of heading straight to Google.
Read moreOpen AI GPT-4o's New Image Generator: What It Means for Copyright, Creativity and the Future of Digital Marketing
OpenAI’s new GPT-4o image generator has landed, and it’s nothing short of wild. You can now generate hyper-detailed, fast-loading images simply by typing what you want to see. But with great power comes great…questions.
Read moreThe 7 Key Metrics You Need to Scale Sustainably and Attract Investors
Growth is exciting but sustainable; smart growth is what separates startups that scale from those that stall. Knowing your metrics is non-negotiable if you’re looking to raise investment or unlock your next growth phase.
Read moreWhy Marketing and Sales Need to Talk
Investing in a strong alignment between marketing and sales isn’t just a best practice, it’s a competitive advantage. When both teams are on the same page, the customer wins, and so does your business.
Read moreSlide into a more creative outlook: taking inspiration from Louboutin 'Pool' at Paris Fashion Week.
In the world of fashion and business, few names shine as brightly as Louboutin. The iconic brand, known for its red-soled shoes, has made a lasting impression on the industry. Its success goes beyond mere style, showing how creativity can drive business growth and set a brand apart in a crowded market.
Read moreBest AI tools for Scale-ups to help with their brand and marketing.
AI tools have become highly valuable for brand building and marketing, especially for scale-ups. They can automate, personalise, and scale marketing activities. We'll look at some essential AI tools and how they can be leveraged.
Read moreKey challenges sclaeups face and how to solve them with brand and marketing.
Scaleups face numerous pain points as they seek to establish themselves, grow, and compete in a crowded market. I will take you through the key challenges we see and how to overcome them through brand and marketing solutions.
Read moreWhy Brand Strategy is Crucial for Business Success
A brand strategy is essential because it provides a clear direction for your business to grow and evolve in a competitive market. It goes beyond design assets (like logos and colours) to define your brand’s core identity, purpose, messaging, and the overall experience you want to deliver to customers. While design assets visually represent your brand, the brand strategy ensures that everything from messaging to customer interactions aligns with your long-term goals.
Read moreWhen was the last time you tried out your consumer sales journey?
When was the last time you mystery-shopped your own business? Your digital touchpoints are your modern storefront. In today's digital-first world, every click, scroll, and interaction shapes perceptions and influences decisions.
Read moreWhy a one-stop shop approach to marketing services drives growth and ROI for Scaleups
Discover how a One-Stop shop approach to agency partnerships can streamline your marketing efforts, ensuring consistent messaging, evoke more creativity and create a holistic strategy that maximises ROI - -all while saving you time and headache
Read moreDon't underestimate the power of design and storytelling in Investor Pitch Decks
When it comes to pitching to investors, first impressions count more than ever. Research shows that investors spend an average of just 3 minutes and 44 seconds reviewing a pitch deck. In that brief moment, your deck needs to captivate, engage, and clearly communicate the value of your business. This is where the power of design and storytelling comes in.
Read moreBarbie: A Brand and Marketing Masterclass for Startups & Scale-ups
My recent visit to the Barbie Exhibition at the Design Museum in Kensington got me thinking about Barbie's evolution from a simple doll to a global brand. Barbie's journey highlights crucial lessons for startups and scale-ups eager to carve out their own niche in a competitive marketplace.
Read moreAI in Marketing: Are you losing the human touch?
The future of marketing lies in this synergy between AI-powered insights and human creativity. By embracing both, you can create campaigns that are not only highly targeted but also genuinely resonate with your audiences.
Read moreBeing brave: the art of brand v performance marketing
If you’re a Founder or CEO looking to grow your company and gain a competitive edge, it’s not enough to focus solely on performance marketing
Read moreOSER X talk at The Business Show London
In today’s competitive landscape, standing out is more challenging and crucial than ever. One of the most powerful tools for driving growth and differentiation is brand strategy. It’s the often-overlooked discipline that can fundamentally change the trajectory of your business, allowing you to attract loyal customers, gain market share, and, for investors, ultimately achieve a meaningful return on investment.
Read moreDaring by Design: The OSER Philosophy
At OSER, we believe growth isn’t just something you aim for - it’s something you engineer. Through bold thinking, deep experience, and the smart integration of AI, we help businesses cut through the noise, solve real problems, and scale with purpose.
Read moreMarketing growth strategies to propel Your startup's business growth
As a startup founder, you understand the importance of growth for your business. But in a competitive market, how do you ensure that your start-up stands out and achieves sustainable growth? The answer lies in implementing effective marketing growth strategies.
Read moreMy top tips for an effective MarTech implementation
Implementing MarTech effectively requires careful planning and execution. As the ex-COO of NGX, I have a proven track record in scaling businesses and optimising MarTech strategies. Here are some of my best practices to ensure successful MarTech implementation and scaling for your e-commerce business.
Read moreUnleashing the power of a well-designed pitch deck: insights on how to captivate startup investors
Statistically, only about 1 percent of pitch decks attract investors and land investment money. Of course, part of this equation is finding the right investors, whom your idea will resonate with, but even when you've found them, expect that your pitch deck will get less than three minutes of their time.
Read moreIs brand important for growth?
This week I did a Keynote exploring the question: Is Brand Important for Growth? I thought it might be useful to share some of the key points in a blog post, so here it is.
Read moreOSER x The Business Show London 2024: Brand Strategy to Drive Business Growth
Join OSER at the UK's leading business event to learn how effective brand strategy fuels growth. Don’t miss our Founder, Laura Derbyshire’s session on driving sustainable success through branding. We’re also offering £10K in brand services as part of the £100K Launchpad competition!
Read more5 Mistakes brands make when targeting Gen Z
Targeting Gen Z? You need to look beyond surface-level trends, assumptions and personal biases. Otherwise, you risk creating a disconnect between your brand’s marketing strategy and the authentic interests of Gen-Z consumers.
Read moreHow to choose the right MarTech for scaling an e-commerce business
With the ever-expanding digital toolbox at our disposal, it can be quite bewildering to determine which marketing technology (MarTech) tools best suit your business. However, by harnessing the right MarTech stack, you can fine-tune your e-commerce operations, simplify processes, and drive your business towards profitable growth.
Read moreWe've shaped the virtual world, is it shaping ours?
Showcasing a cross-section of companies from different industries, all of which are blending our realities with the virtual for the better. From art to charity to biology, these brands work in many ways to improve the world around us or, at the very least, entertain us
Read moreWhy a fractional CMO is the best idea for VC startup portfolio growth
The pay-as-you-go model for marketing strategy is a smarter way to inject some highly experienced and quality thinking into your startup portfolio, without the huge price tag, strain on resource to find the right people, or commitment to full-time hires.
Read moreWhat is the metaverse and are we living in it?
The metaverse hype is dead. When Mark Zuckerberg first announced Facebook would be renamed to Meta in October 2021, interest in virtual worlds skyrocketed. Now, in 2024, it’s safe to say that interest in ‘the metaverse’ has been entirely eclipsed by AI.
Read moreThe power of Generative AI: unlocking creativity and efficiency
In today's digital age, the possibilities seem endless when it comes to leveraging technology to enhance our lives. One such technological advancement that has been gaining significant attention is generative AI
Read moreThe rise of AI in startups: A look into the growing trend of VC backing
Artificial Intelligence has rapidly emerged as a disruptive force, transforming industries and revolutionising the way businesses operate. This transformative technology has not only captured the attention of entrepreneurs and innovators but has also become a hotbed for VC investor backing.
Read moreWhat makes a good investor pitch deck?
Over the last 3 years, I have reviewed more than 100 startup pitch decks from seed to Series A and anything from HealthTech to Audio apps. Here are my insights on 3 key indicators of a strong pitch deck
Read moreDefensibility for scaleups: why building your brand is important
In today's competitive business landscape, Founders and CEOs face numerous challenges. One critical aspect that can set them apart from the competition and ensure long-term success is building a strong brand. Branding goes beyond just creating a logo or tagline; it encompasses the perception, reputation, and recognition of a company in the market - it is crucial for its survival and growth.
Read moreFuelling innovation and growth: the crucial role of creativity in business
Creativity is the ability to think and act in ways that are original, imaginative, and innovative. It involves connecting seemingly unrelated ideas, thinking outside the box, and finding new solutions to problems. It is the spark that ignites the fires of innovation and fuels growth in businesses.
Read moreThe power of agile leadership and marketing in startup growth
In the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of startups, having an agile leadership and marketing team is crucial for sustainable growth and success. Startups face numerous challenges and uncertainties along their journey, and the ability to adapt quickly and make informed decisions can make all the difference
Read moreMastering the art of persuasion: a pitch deck fit for Sequoia
As an entrepreneur, mastering the art of persuasion is crucial for securing investment in your startup. One of the most effective tools in your arsenal is the investor pitch deck. To get it on point, you need the knowledge and insight to create a persuasive and compelling investor pitch deck that will captivate potential investors and propel your startup to success.
Read more