We love Small Business.   Small Business is in tune with our modus operandi – make something happen, do it now, make it mean something.   Small Business isn’t hampered by the layers of executive review to launch an effort or react to change. Small Business knows risk by its very existence.   And Small Business is smart enough to see an opportunity and capitalize on it.

Which is why we are great partners.   We won’t waste your time and we’ll work hard to bring you results to fuel your growth.  We’ll look for where we can create the greatest impact with the least effort.   We’ll do it all in small steps, making it easy to retain control and see measurable success.   And if there is little for us to add within the confines of your business, we’ll say so.   Regardless, with our free first consultation, and our on-going guarantee, we’ve removed any risk.

Bringing in a “Consultant” often seems an unappetizing prospect when you’re already working as hard as most Small Businesses do.   But that may be when you most need the new perspective.   We’ve worked with and in dozens of small companies, and we know the issues.   We’ve also been on the inside of both Franchisors and Franchisees.   From smoothing revenue cycles, to implementing technology, from surviving a decline, to managing growth, in Small Business the need is more than a marketing slogan.

Frequently there are new answers to old problems.   Perhaps it is a Pay-Per-Click Internet advertising effort that brings qualified prospects to your door for a few dollars a day.   Or old answers to new problems, like developing a referral network to boost an on-line presence.   Whatever your situation, count on us to bring a fresh viewpoint to the table.

Mid to Large Business

Larger Businesses have access to resources within that smaller companies and start-ups do not.   However, sometimes internal Marketing departments can be as much of a challenge as not having one.   Internal departments naturally are influenced by the multiple dynamics that exist in larger firms.   Whether it be another division’s priority project, office politics, the internal burdened cost, or “corporate standards”, it may mean you’re not getting your needs met by responsive marketing services.  

We can augment a Corporate Marketing group that is too busy, unable to work to your pace or unwilling to try something new. We specialize in small, outsourced projects that get done before the corporate meetings could be scheduled.   And get results that excuse your impatience.   Rogue Marketing is our term for it.

Or perhaps you’re the Executive that would like see your Marketing organization expand its world view, or get some help on a particular project.   An outside source is absolutely best when you want untainted Customer or Employee Surveys.   We excel at helping a business understand itself, see itself as the world does.   Possibly you want to be able to consider some new options, new ideas.   We are a guaranteed fresh perspective.   With our experience forged in Internet time in tech start-ups, we’re ready to bring an urgency to the business as well.

Finally, our greatest potentials together with Large Business, or any business, involves the wider-ranging Brand and Corporate re-birthing when the organization is ready to embrace higher ideals, such as those we espouse in our Guided Tenets.   Participating in that process is Guided Star’s highest purpose.   Whatever your current focus, we look forward to stepping forward together, aligned, to meet and exceed your goals.

Tech Companies

Much of our work has been in the Technology field and our roots in it go back to the dawn of the PC era in 1979.   Our experience includes multiple engagements each within the sectors of Enterprise Software, Security, Hardware/Appliance Sales, Government Sales, Training, and Services.   A specialty that we have particular depth in is Marketing and Sales in Angel and Venture-backed Start-Ups.  

We tend to use “Marketing and Sales” together as a phrase a lot in our discussions, and that’s because we have a unique blend of both of those disciplines.   We’re proud of that dual fluency and think it is one of our differentiators.   The reason it is so important is that Marketing without a very keen eye towards the end game, Sales, often doesn’t mean much.   Image is important, but Marketing also is about easing Revenue Production.  

Our Marketing experience ranges from early Market Definition, Market Planning and Market Differentiation to New Product Introduction and continuing Product Marketing and Product Management.   We personally conceived the PC industry’s first complete Private Label line in 120 days in 1985, generating $3M+ in added profits while increasing availability and reducing inventory.   In Sales, we’ve been responsible for developing those critical first sales, key reference accounts, initial major accounts, as well as delivering $32M quota assignments in $300M organizations.   We’ve deep resources in Sales planning, Distribution Sales, Sales Channel Development, Affiliate and Reseller Programs, New Media Advertising, Lead Generation and Contract Sales Services.

Having the experience in the Tech sector means you don’t have to explain that you live at a different pace, we know.   Our services, whether a complete outsourced effort or a complementary consulting advisor, can help speed your efforts forward to achieve results as quickly as possible.

Investors

Investors are tested more than ever to sort out the real opportunities from the haystack.   Further, once invested, there is often a need to participate in maximizing investment performance.   We think we can help.   We’ve deep experience in dozens of Angel-funded, Venture-backed, Growth, Small and Mid-sized Businesses, and we understand the challenges.

The broad range of experience we bring offers insights into understanding the dilemmas.   Is the business opportunity really sound?   Does the existing organization and plan truly understand where they are?   Is the Marketing and Sales plan realistic?   Is Technology as cool as it sounds?   What forces are defining the future market?   Has there been sufficient market testing and quality assurance?   Can there be improvements?   We’ve helped companies improve their answers to these concerns.

If you are evaluating a significant investment, or have already invested and need to help direct an organization, we can offer an independent and cost-effective additional set of eyes.   There is too much money being lost for too many wrong reasons.   Let us support your investment goals with individualized research and opinion.   That can be a minimal advisory role, a stealth competitive review, or collaborative marketing and sales effort.   With our willingness to advance change, we’re a bona fide Idea Machine for entire new business ventures, too.

If we can improve the security and performance of your venture assets, then we will have realized one of our goals.   With the first conversation free, can you afford not to talk with us?  

Guided Star Consulting offers high-impact Marketing, Sales & Business Consulting services

Guided Star – Be Different, Get Followed

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