Uncomplicated Marketing
"Marketing Uncomplicate - It" is your ultimate podcast destination for entrepreneurs and industry experts supporting small businesses. Join us as we explore the world of marketing, especially for businesses just launching or facing challenges. Hosted by Sacha Awwa, this podcast serves as a beacon for the resilience of entrepreneurs and business owners navigating their industries. Our guests share hard-fought battles, invaluable lessons, and innovative strategies that have reshaped businesses. With a blend of humor and insightful wisdom, we challenge conventional approaches and offer out-of-the-box marketing strategies. Tune in for behind-the-scenes insights into the entrepreneurial journey, filled with laughter and transformative discussions. Welcome to "Marketing Uncomplicate - It," where we simplify marketing for your success.
Uncomplicated Marketing
#65 - Why Bad Implementations Kill Good Tech — and How to Fix It
From Strategy to Execution — Rob Smith on Unlocking Digital Transformation
In this episode, I sit down with Rob Smith — founder of Fractional Digital, strategic advisor, and fractional CMO — to unpack what digital transformation really means for mid-sized businesses and manufacturers. With a career spanning 3M, global marketing ops, and building four companies of his own, Rob has seen firsthand how companies waste millions chasing tools without a strategy.
We cover:
- Why transformation fails when tech is bought before process and people are aligned
- The “two-in-a-box” method to end the sales vs. marketing blame game
- How Ella, his SaaS platform, helps fractional CMOs compress 8 weeks of work into hours
- Why there’s no bad technology, only bad implementation
- The financial upside of fixing operations before scaling growth
- How to align global tech stacks while staying agile in local markets
🎯 Key Takeaways:
- Digital transformation is about people → process → technology (in that order)
- Most companies don’t need more tools — they need to connect the ones they already have
- Profitability gains often come from the middle of the P&L, not the top line
- Embedding marketing and sales under shared KPIs unlocks growth
- AI should be seen as augmented intelligence — a thought partner, not a replacement
This episode is for leaders navigating tech overload, founders scaling without burning cash, and marketers who want to connect strategy with execution for real business outcomes.
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