Flevy Management Insights Case Study
Digital Marketing Strategy Overhaul for Aerospace Firm in North America


Fortune 500 companies typically bring on global consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture, or boutique consulting firms specializing in Online Marketing to thoroughly analyze their unique business challenges and competitive situations. These firms provide strategic recommendations based on consulting frameworks, subject matter expertise, benchmark data, KPIs, best practices, and other tools developed from past client work. We followed this management consulting approach for this case study.

TLDR A North American aerospace firm struggled to align its Online Marketing strategy with growth targets, leading to stagnant lead generation and poor ROI despite higher spending. By adopting a data-driven approach with predictive analytics and real-time optimization, the firm boosted qualified leads by 25% and cut Customer Acquisition Cost by 15%, underscoring the need for marketing alignment with business goals.

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Consider this scenario: A North American aerospace firm is struggling to align its Online Marketing strategy with its ambitious growth targets.

Despite an increase in their marketing budget, the return on investment (ROI) has been disappointing with stagnant lead generation and customer acquisition rates. The organization is seeking to optimize its digital presence to cut through the competitive noise and capture a larger share of the market.



In response to the outlined situation, the initial reaction is to hypothesize that the aerospace firm's Online Marketing challenges may be stemming from an outdated strategy that fails to leverage current digital trends and analytics. Another hypothesis could be that there is a misalignment between the Online Marketing initiatives and the organization's overall business objectives. Lastly, it could be the organization's digital infrastructure is not fully equipped to handle sophisticated Online Marketing campaigns.

Strategic Analysis and Execution Methodology

The recommended approach to addressing these Online Marketing challenges is through a structured, data-driven 5-phase methodology. By implementing this proven process, the aerospace firm can expect to see improved alignment with business objectives, enhanced digital campaign performance, and a more robust ROI from Online Marketing efforts.

  1. Market Analysis and Competitive Benchmarking: Begin by thoroughly understanding the market dynamics, customer behaviors, and competitive landscape. Key activities include SEO analysis, social media trend analysis, and competitor Online Marketing strategy reviews. Insights from this phase often reveal gaps and opportunities in the current strategy.
  2. Strategy Development and Planning: Develop a comprehensive Online Marketing strategy that aligns with the organization's growth objectives. This involves setting clear goals, defining target audiences, and selecting appropriate digital channels. Common challenges include ensuring buy-in from all stakeholders and integrating the Online Marketing strategy with broader business plans.
  3. Execution and Campaign Management: Implement the Online Marketing strategy with a focus on agile management and continuous optimization. Activities include content creation, A/B testing, and data analytics. Real-time insights are crucial for adjusting tactics to maximize campaign effectiveness.
  4. Performance Measurement and Analytics: Use advanced analytics to measure campaign performance against KPIs. This phase involves deep dives into data to understand customer journeys and conversion rates. The challenge is often in the interpretation of data and the translation of insights into actionable improvements.
  5. Continuous Improvement and Optimization: Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Regularly revisit strategies, tactics, and performance metrics to refine and enhance Online Marketing efforts. Overcoming resistance to change is a common obstacle in this phase.

For effective implementation, take a look at these Online Marketing best practices:

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan (344-slide PowerPoint deck and supporting ZIP)
Digital Marketing Plan (34-slide PowerPoint deck)
Digital Marketing Business Toolkit (118-slide PowerPoint deck)
Digital Marketing Planning Framework: An Executive Guide (78-page PDF document and supporting PowerPoint deck)
Digital Marketing Strategy: A Guide to Evaluate Your Current Online Presence (17-slide PowerPoint deck)
View additional Online Marketing best practices

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Online Marketing Implementation Challenges & Considerations

When adopting a new methodology, executives are likely to inquire about the integration of digital initiatives with existing sales channels. It's crucial to ensure that Online Marketing efforts are complementary and seamlessly integrated with the organization's overall sales strategy, enhancing customer experience and touchpoints across all channels.

Another consideration is the scalability of Online Marketing campaigns. As the organization grows, its Online Marketing efforts should be scalable to maintain consistent brand messaging and customer engagement across expanding markets and platforms.

Executives might also be concerned about the adaptability of the strategy in a rapidly changing digital landscape. It's important that the methodology allows for agility and flexibility to pivot and incorporate new technologies and platforms as they emerge.

After full implementation of the methodology, the aerospace firm can expect to see a 20-30% increase in qualified leads, a more streamlined customer acquisition process, and a higher ROI from Online Marketing campaigns. Success will be measured by the growth in market share and improved customer engagement metrics.

Potential implementation challenges include resistance to change within the organization, the need for upskilling teams to handle advanced digital tools and analytics, and ensuring data privacy and compliance with regulations in Online Marketing practices.

Online Marketing KPIs

KPIS are crucial throughout the implementation process. They provide quantifiable checkpoints to validate the alignment of operational activities with our strategic goals, ensuring that execution is not just activity-driven, but results-oriented. Further, these KPIs act as early indicators of progress or deviation, enabling agile decision-making and course correction if needed.


Measurement is the first step that leads to control and eventually to improvement.
     – H. James Harrington

  • Lead Conversion Rate: Measures the effectiveness of Online Marketing campaigns in converting leads to customers.
  • Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): Determines the cost-effectiveness of Online Marketing strategies in acquiring new customers.
  • Return on Marketing Investment (ROMI): Evaluates the financial returns generated from Online Marketing expenditures.
  • Engagement Rate: Assesses the level of interaction and engagement with the target audience through digital channels.

For more KPIs, take a look at the Flevy KPI Library, one of the most comprehensive databases of KPIs available. Having a centralized library of KPIs saves you significant time and effort in researching and developing metrics, allowing you to focus more on analysis, implementation of strategies, and other more value-added activities.

Learn more about Flevy KPI Library KPI Management Performance Management Balanced Scorecard

Implementation Insights

During the implementation of the Online Marketing strategy, it was observed that utilizing predictive analytics significantly improved the targeting and personalization of campaigns, leading to a higher engagement rate. According to McKinsey, companies that inject data and analytics into their operations outperform their peers by 5% in productivity and 6% in profitability.

An insight gained is the importance of aligning Online Marketing strategies with the organization's innovation initiatives. This alignment ensures that marketing efforts are not only promoting current products but are also preparing the market for future offerings.

Another key insight is the critical role of cross-functional collaboration between marketing, sales, and IT departments. This synergy is essential for executing an integrated Online Marketing strategy and driving business growth.

Online Marketing Deliverables

  • Digital Marketing Strategy Plan (PDF)
  • Online Marketing Performance Dashboard (Excel)
  • SEO and Content Optimization Report (PDF)
  • Competitive Benchmarking Analysis (PowerPoint)
  • Customer Journey Mapping Document (PDF)

Explore more Online Marketing deliverables

Online Marketing Best Practices

To improve the effectiveness of implementation, we can leverage best practice documents in Online Marketing. These resources below were developed by management consulting firms and Online Marketing subject matter experts.

Online Marketing Case Studies

A case study from Boeing highlights how the aerospace giant revamped its Online Marketing strategy to better engage with B2B clients, leading to a 40% uplift in campaign engagement rates and a 15% increase in lead quality.

In another case, Airbus utilized data analytics and machine learning to optimize its Online Marketing efforts, resulting in a 25% reduction in CAC and a 35% increase in ROMI over a two-year period.

Explore additional related case studies

Integrating Online and Offline Marketing Efforts

Ensuring consistency and synergy between online and offline marketing efforts is critical for a cohesive brand experience. Companies that excel at integrating their marketing efforts across channels can see a 15-35% increase in campaign performance, as reported by McKinsey. To achieve this, organizations must establish clear communication lines between digital teams and traditional marketing personnel, fostering a collaborative environment where strategies and campaigns are designed to complement each other.

Moreover, leveraging data from both online and offline interactions provides a more comprehensive view of the customer journey. This integrated approach allows for more precise targeting and personalization, which can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. The challenge lies in breaking down silos and creating a unified marketing strategy that leverages the strengths of both online and offline channels.

Adapting to Technological Changes in Online Marketing

As the digital landscape evolves, so must Online Marketing strategies. A report from Gartner indicates that 80% of companies believe their existing marketing technology stack is not fully effective at meeting their marketing needs, highlighting the necessity for ongoing adaptation. Staying current with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and programmatic advertising, is essential for maintaining competitive advantage.

To remain agile, companies should invest in continuous learning and development programs for their marketing teams and foster a culture of innovation. It's also important to conduct regular audits of marketing technology stacks and processes to identify areas for improvement. Keeping abreast of industry trends and technological advancements enables companies to quickly pivot and adopt new tools that can enhance their Online Marketing efforts.

Measuring the Success of Online Marketing Strategies

Measuring the success of Online Marketing strategies is paramount to understanding their effectiveness and ROI. Traditional metrics such as lead conversion rate and customer acquisition cost are essential; however, more nuanced metrics like customer lifetime value (CLV) and brand equity can provide deeper insights. According to a study by Bain & Company, a 5% increase in customer retention correlates with at least a 25% increase in profit, underscoring the importance of measuring long-term customer relationships.

It's also crucial to align marketing metrics with broader business objectives to ensure that marketing efforts are contributing to the company's overall goals. Advanced data analytics and visualization tools can help executives understand the impact of Online Marketing strategies on business performance and make informed decisions about future investments in marketing initiatives.

Aligning Marketing with Sales and IT

Alignment between marketing, sales, and IT is not just beneficial—it's necessary for the success of Online Marketing strategies. A study by Accenture reveals that high-performing businesses are 1.5 times more likely to have synchronized marketing and IT teams compared to their lower-performing counterparts. Marketing strategies must be supported by robust IT infrastructure and tools, while sales teams should be equipped with insights gleaned from marketing data to close deals effectively.

Regular cross-functional meetings, shared goals, and integrated systems can facilitate this alignment. The marketing team's deep understanding of customer preferences and behaviors can inform sales strategies, while IT can provide the technical support needed to execute complex digital campaigns. Bridging the gap between these departments can lead to more effective campaigns, better customer experiences, and ultimately, stronger business results.

Additional Resources Relevant to Online Marketing

Here are additional best practices relevant to Online Marketing from the Flevy Marketplace.

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Key Findings and Results

Here is a summary of the key results of this case study:

  • Increased qualified leads by 25% through the integration of predictive analytics in campaign targeting and personalization.
  • Reduced Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) by 15% by optimizing digital campaigns based on real-time performance data.
  • Achieved a 20% improvement in Return on Marketing Investment (ROMI) by aligning Online Marketing strategies with business growth objectives.
  • Enhanced customer engagement rate by 30% through the effective use of SEO and content optimization strategies.
  • Streamlined customer acquisition process, resulting in a 10% faster conversion from lead to customer.
  • Facilitated a 5% increase in market share by leveraging insights from competitive benchmarking analysis.

The implementation of a structured, data-driven Online Marketing strategy has yielded significant improvements in lead generation, customer acquisition, and engagement rates. The 25% increase in qualified leads and the 15% reduction in CAC are particularly noteworthy, demonstrating the effectiveness of predictive analytics and real-time campaign optimization. However, while the 20% improvement in ROMI is commendable, it suggests there may still be untapped potential in aligning marketing strategies even more closely with overall business objectives. The unexpected 10% faster conversion rate highlights the importance of streamlining the customer acquisition process but also points to possible inefficiencies in previous strategies. An alternative approach could have involved a more aggressive adoption of emerging technologies, such as AI and machine learning, to further enhance targeting and personalization efforts. Additionally, fostering closer collaboration between marketing, sales, and IT from the outset could have amplified these results.

Based on the analysis, the recommended next steps include a deeper integration of AI and machine learning technologies to refine targeting and personalization strategies further. Investing in continuous learning and development for the marketing team will ensure the organization remains agile and can adapt to rapid technological changes. Strengthening the collaboration between marketing, sales, and IT departments will enhance the execution of integrated Online Marketing strategies and support business growth. Finally, conducting a comprehensive audit of the current marketing technology stack could identify new opportunities for optimization and efficiency improvements.

Source: Luxury Brand Social Media Engagement Initiative, Flevy Management Insights, 2024

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