10 Questions C-Suite Executives Should Ask Marketing Every Month
In today’s fast-paced business environment, C-suite executives must stay closely aligned with their marketing teams to ensure that strategies drive results and meet organizational objectives. Regular communication fosters transparency, adaptability, and accountability. Here are ten essential monthly questions executives should ask their marketing department to maintain this alignment and drive growth.
1. Are We Hitting Our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)?
This is the cornerstone question. KPIs—whether related to brand awareness, lead generation, conversion rates, or revenue—are the measurable outcomes that indicate marketing success.
Follow-up Tip: Request a performance breakdown by channel (e.g., social media, email, PPC) to identify high-performing areas and those needing adjustment.
2. How Are Our Campaigns Contributing to Revenue Growth?
Marketing should directly or indirectly impact sales. This question helps uncover which campaigns drive the most ROI and ensures marketing efforts align with business objectives.
Follow-up Tip: Ask for a comparison of Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC) and Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) to ensure campaigns are profitable.
3. What Are Our Top Opportunities and Challenges Right Now?
Markets evolve quickly, and consumer behavior shifts often. This question encourages the team to highlight new trends, emerging platforms, or competitive threats.
Follow-up Tip: Discuss how these opportunities or challenges will be addressed in upcoming strategies.
4. Are We Staying Within Budget?
Understanding where marketing dollars are being spent is crucial. Ensure there’s a balance between experimentation and investing in proven channels.
Follow-up Tip: Ask how budget reallocations are decided if a particular channel underperforms.
5. What Does the Data Tell Us About Our Target Audience?
Marketers gather valuable insights into customer behavior, preferences, and demographics. Ensure these insights are being used to refine campaigns and strategies.
Follow-up Tip: Request examples of how recent campaigns were tailored to these audience insights.
6. How Are We Differentiating Ourselves From Competitors?
Marketing is the front line of differentiation. Ask how your brand stands out in messaging, tone, design, and value proposition compared to competitors.
Follow-up Tip: Inquire about recent competitive analysis or benchmarking efforts.
7. Are There Any Bottlenecks Impacting Results?
Sometimes, internal processes, lack of resources, or external factors can slow progress. Identifying bottlenecks allows executives to allocate support where it’s needed most.
Follow-up Tip: Offer to help remove roadblocks, whether through budget increases, hiring, or cross-departmental collaboration.
8. How Are We Adapting to Industry Trends and Innovations?
The landscape is constantly evolving, from AI-driven marketing to shifting platform algorithms. Marketing teams must stay ahead of the curve to maintain effectiveness.
Follow-up Tip: Ask if there are new tools, platforms, or tactics the team plans to test.
9. What Feedback Are We Receiving From Customers?
Marketing often acts as a bridge between a company and its customers. Customer feedback—positive or negative—can be invaluable for improving products, services, or messaging.
Follow-up Tip: Discuss how feedback is integrated into future strategies or campaigns.
10. What’s One Thing You Recommend We Change or Try?
This open-ended question invites creativity and transparency, empowering the team to suggest bold ideas or improvements.
Follow-up Tip: Encourage a culture of innovation by exploring at least one suggestion each month.
Conclusion
By asking these key questions regularly, C-suite executives ensure their marketing departments remain focused, accountable, and agile. More importantly, it demonstrates leadership’s commitment to collaboration and shared success. A robust, strategic partnership between the executive team and marketing is the foundation for sustainable business growth.
Pro Tip: Consider setting up a monthly dashboard that visualizes key metrics and progress to make these discussions more productive and data-driven.
About Traffic Engine
At Traffic Engine, we create customized marketing strategies that align with your goals, whether you're focused on PPC, customer acquisition, or brand performance. Our team works with you to ensure your marketing is measurable and continually optimized for better results. Let Traffic Engine help you turn data into strategies that drive growth and success for your business.
