What makes a successful modern marketer?

If you’re in marketing and feeling the pressure of jobs that aren’t even related to your core role as a marketing strategist, believe me – you’re far from on your own.

These are challenging, but exciting times for the modern marketer. Marketing departments have never been so important, CMOs never so central to their company’s strategy; and yet the stress on budgets, the demands from every quarter to quantify and improve return on investment, leave many marketers struggling to juggle all the admin, procurement and even IT tasks that daily badger them.

I encounter these problems all the time when talking to potential clients. As someone whose company provides technology and a range of services to help streamline marketing operations, it’s often easier to discern the issues more clearly than people in the thick of it.

Issues such as inertia, which prevents old and inefficient processes from undergoing the overhaul they so badly need; which makes companies stick with poor suppliers, rather than introducing a well-engineered supply chain; which ensures everyday tasks are so pervasive, they eventually eclipse creative strategic thought altogether.

After stepping down as CEO of SP Group in 2009, I founded Inspired Thinking Group to help companies overcome these problems. In our first six years, ITG has grown from a handful of employees to over 350 marketing and creative experts, and our technology forms the operational backbone of some of the world’s most recognised retailers and brands.

I set up this website so I could share my thoughts on what makes a successful modern marketer. I intend to offer insights into the latest marketing developments, provide snippets of news, and throw in the odd comment on good and bad practice when I come across it.

In the meantime, welcome to my new site. Please stay to look around, and feel free to visit regularly.

Until next time…

Simon Ward

About Simon Ward

Simon Ward ITG – Simon is the founder and CEO of pioneering technology-led marketing company, Inspired Thinking Group (ITG). ITG delivers best-in-class marketing software, procurement and studio services to dozens of blue-chip clients, including Audi, M&S, KFC, PUMA and Heineken.

Simon Ward SP Group – Prior to ITG, Simon founded SP Digital in 1998, and in 1999 bought SP Print to form SP Group, creating innovative marketing and point of sale displays for some of the world’s best-known retailers, including M&S, Sainsbury’s, Holland & Barrett and Calvin Klein.