Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) fuel much of the economy, but growth is never automatic. With limited budgets, lean teams, and rising customer expectations, many owners find themselves stuck between keeping the lights on and scaling up. So what actually works? After 30 years advising entrepreneurs, I can tell you this: the most effective revenue […]

In today’s marketplace, it’s no longer enough to have a superior product. Competitors can copy your features, undercut your prices, or outspend you in ads. What they can’t replicate is the trust your audience places in your brand. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), brand positioning is the bridge between being just another option and becoming […]

Everyone is arguing about the new logo. Wrong fight. Cracker Barrel didn’t swap a logo because it was bored. It moved because sales were soft, traffic was thinning, and the brand felt tired. In fact, in Q3 of its fiscal 2025 (February through early May), comparable-store retail sales dropped 3.8% while restaurant comps only rose […]

Another CEO steps down at Target. Another promise of reinvention. But retail doesn’t hand out mercy. You either adapt or you end up next to Toys “R” Us, Circuit City, and Kmart in the business graveyard. Target isn’t gone yet, but the warning signs are clear. What Went Wrong at Target Target’s problem isn’t complicated. […]

Stop Calling It Sales, It’s Marketing, Dammit There’s a dangerous misconception floating around like a greasy sales flyer stuck to your windshield: that marketing and sales are the same thing. They’re not. Never were. Never will be. And if your agency or your cousin Jimmy’s “media company” tells you otherwise, run. Marketing is not the […]

This isn’t just another blog series. It’s your wake-up call. A blueprint. A behind-the-scenes guide to understanding what real marketing looks like, not the fluff, not the overpromised SEO packages or half-baked ad campaigns. At Gizoom Consulting, we don’t sell gimmicks. We build custom strategies that fit your business like a tailored suit, then help you […]

Interview by Paul Conant,  Founder of Gizoom Consulting Let’s be honest, rebuilding your name after climbing the corporate ladder isn’t easy. But for some people, adversity doesn’t define them, it sharpens them. That’s the case with Ryan Kooistra, a former leader at PG&E and Southwest Gas, who left the utility world behind to launch Monarch […]

Some revolutions start with riots. This one? It started with toilet paper. When the world shut down in 2020, people scrambled—not just for Clorox wipes and pantry pasta—but for some sense of normalcy. And now here we are, five years later, standing in checkout lines again, sipping overpriced iced lattes, and still pretending to understand […]

For small businesses in Scottsdale, standing out in local search results is more competitive than ever. Standard SEO tactics might help you get found but advanced SEO strategies can help you dominate your niche. In this guide, we’ll break down powerful local SEO techniques that blend technical SEO and content systems, so you can attract […]

In today’s competitive landscape, Scottsdale business owners know that growth doesn’t happen by accident. It requires a well-thought-out roadmap, a clear, actionable plan that aligns your marketing goals with your business objectives. That’s exactly what a strategic marketing blueprint delivers. If you’re an ambitious small or medium-sized business in Scottsdale, AZ, this guide will show […]

Let’s play a quick game. Imagine you open a business in the middle of the desert. You’ve got the best product. Your prices are great. You even hung a giant banner outside that says, “We’re open!” Now imagine nobody drives by. Ever. That’s what running a business without online visibility feels like. You’re open, but […]

AI can get you answers. But what if you’re asking the wrong questions? Most business owners I talk to are solving the wrong problems. They’re not clueless. In fact, most of them are sharp, experienced, and wildly capable. But when growth stalls or systems start breaking down, they go into reactive mode and throw fixes […]

Let me tell you a story. Not too long ago, I walked into a dental practice that had all the right tools: top-tier equipment, a polished front desk, and a doctor with hands steadier than a neurosurgeon on Red Bull. But despite all that, the waiting room was empty. Phones barely rang. The energy was […]

They didn’t start out boring. In fact, they were bold — maybe even a little reckless. They launched with fire in their belly and a point to prove. One restaurant owner built a brand around the idea of “honest plates for dirty hands.” A construction company promised “we show up or you don’t pay.” And […]

Why Do Most Startups Fail? Here’s the Brutal Truth.  Imagine this: You’ve poured your heart, soul, and savings into launching a business. The idea is solid. The product works. You’ve even had a few customers tell you how much they love what you’ve built. Yet… six months later, you’re struggling to stay afloat.  Sound familiar?  […]

You built something incredible. So why does growth feel like a trap?  That’s the question keeping countless founders and CEOs up at night. You started your business with passion, purpose, and vision. You were the spark behind the product, the strategist behind the brand, the rainmaker who made it all work. But now, as things […]

Let’s get something straight: most businesses don’t die because of their competitors. They die from within. They grow fast, hit a ceiling, and suddenly — nothing works like it used to. The team’s overwhelmed. Margins vanish. The founder’s carrying everything on their back. It’s not sabotage. It’s not the market. It’s something far more dangerous: what […]

When you’re thinking about selling your business, there’s one question on your mind: What’s it worth? But here’s the harsh truth: What your business makes today isn’t as important as what it’s capable of tomorrow. If you’re only focused on immediate valuation, you’re leaving money on the table. Buyers aren’t just looking at your revenue today — […]

(A candid letter to the overworked founder, the stuck CEO, and the ambitious startup.) Let’s talk about that thing that keeps entrepreneurs up at night: growth. Not the cute kind of growth with a hockey stick graph and balloons. I’m talking about the gritty, real-deal scaling up. The kind where you either break through or […]

By Paul Conant, Strategic Marketing Consultant & Founder of Gizoom Consulting Let’s get real: most business owners know they need marketing… but don’t have a clue if it’s actually working. Sound familiar? According to a February 2025 study by DISQO and AdExchanger, only 27% of advertisers are extremely or very confident in their measurement accuracy. […]