2023: State of Go-to-Market Strategies

About this report

Data collection: January 25th - August 9th, 2023

Respondents: 200 sales, marketing, and product management professionals

Crafting an effective go-to-market (GTM) strategy can make or break the success of a product or new line of business. Determining the correct product positioning, building customer profiles and assessing the competitive landscape are critical components to identifying the correct path to market. What is the state of current go-to-market strategies and are organizations making any strategic shifts in 2023?

One minute insights:

  • box iconMost respondents describe their organization’s go-to-market strategy as mainly product-led
  • Graph circle iconProduct features and benefits is the most common reason cited for adopting current go-to-market strategies
  • Award distinction iconCurrent industry competition is the biggest challenge reported
  • Zig Zag Arrow Up iconMany predict increased personalization and data-driven decision making in the future

Supported by dedicated GTM teams, most organizations are targeting business customers with a combination of product-led and direct sales

Most (62%) respondents describe their organization’s go-to-market strategy as mainly product-led.

Broadly, my organization's go-to-market strategy can be described as:

Broadly, my organization's go-to-market strategy can be described as:

n = 200

More specifically, which of the following best describes your organization’s go-to-market strategy to reach potential customers?

More specifically, which of the following best describes your organization’s go-to-market strategy to reach potential customers?

n = 200

Note: May not add up to 100% due to rounding

Other response: “Half of our revenue is PLG, the other half is SLG”

Most respondents (86%) classify their organization as either B2B (48%) or both B2B and B2C (38%).

Is your organization B2B or B2C?

Is your organization B2B or B2C?

n = 200

Note: May not add up to 100% due to rounding

Does your organization have a dedicated go-to-market team or role?

Does your organization have a dedicated go-to-market team or role?

83% of respondents report that their organization has a dedicated go-to-market team or role.

n = 200

Who does this team or role report to?

Who does this team or role report to?

Of those that have a dedicated go-to-market team or role, 46% report to marketing, and 30% report to sales.

Other response: “RM”

n = 166

Note: May not add up to 100% due to rounding

Question only shown to those who answered “Yes” to the question “Does your organization have a dedicated go-to-market team or role?”

Despite general satisfaction with go-to-market effectiveness, many organizations will be making adjustments and hiring roles to support strategy changes

How effective has your organization’s go-to-market strategy been in driving revenue and/or achieving business objectives?

How effective has your organization’s go-to-market strategy been in driving revenue and/or achieving business objectives?

85% of respondents report their organization’s go-to-market strategy has been very (30%) or somewhat (55%) effective at driving revenue and/or achieving business objectives.

n = 200

Note: May not add up to 100% due to rounding

Respondents most commonly selected product features and benefits (61%) and customer industry (60%) as the factors that influenced their organization’s decision to adopt its current go-to-market strategy.

What factors influenced your organization’s decision to adopt its current go-to-market strategy? Select all that apply.

What factors influenced your organization’s decision to adopt its current go-to-market strategy? Select all that apply.

Available technology resources 39% | Available personnel resources 38% | Other 0%

n = 200

More than half (58%) report their organization plans to make minor adjustments to their go-to-market strategy (47%), or adopt a brand new strategy (11%) this year. 39% say they will continue using the same strategy.

This year, does your organization plan to:

This year, does your organization plan to:

n = 200

53% of respondents who plan to make minor adjustment, or adopt a new brand strategy this year (n=116) say they will be hiring new roles to support their GTM strategy change.

Will you be hiring any new roles in order to support this strategy change?

Will you be hiring any new roles in order to support this strategy change?

Note: May not add up to 100% due to rounding

n = 116

Question only shown to those who answered the question “This year, does your organization plan to:” with “Make minor adjustments to the same go-to-market strategy” or “Adopt a brand new go-to-market strategy”.

Clarifying value proposition (63%) is the most commonly selected go-to-market strategy change, followed by adjust pricing strategy (57%), and identify/adjust target market (56%).

In what ways will your organization’s go-to-market strategy change? Select all that apply.

In what ways will your organization’s go-to-market strategy change? Select all that apply.

Other 0%

n = 116

Question only shown to those who answered the question “This year, does your organization plan to:” with “Make minor adjustments to the same go-to-market strategy” or “Adopt a brand new go-to-market strategy”.

Industry competition is a challenge for most organizations, but many predict a more buyer centric future

Competition in our industry (51%), determining product-market fit (43%) and strategy complexity (43%), were the most commonly reported go-to-market challenges.

What are the biggest challenges your organization is currently facing with its go-to-market strategy? Select all that apply.

What are the biggest challenges your organization is currently facing with its go-to-market strategy? Select all that apply.

Measuring success 28% | Internal stakeholder misalignment 23% | Other 1%

Other: “Prospect confusion”, “Very long sales cycle with targeted customers”

n = 200

Personalization and customization (39%) is the most commonly selected trend in go-to-market strategies right now, followed by data-driven decision making (21%).

What is the biggest trend in go-to-market strategies right now?

What is the biggest trend in go-to-market strategies right now?

Note: May not add up to 100% due to rounding

Other 0%

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Question: How do you believe go-to-market strategies will continue to evolve in the next 2-3 years?

Get disrupted with Chat GPT and other AI solutions. I think ABM and personalization/customization is the way to go and whoever masters it and delivers /executes it best will win.

Marketing C Suite, Software industry

Become more personalized, more product led vs 1-to-1 sales led.

Product Management VP, Finance, Banking & Insurance industry

More buyer led, more personalisation and more channel driven.

Sales VP, Software industry
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Respondent Breakdown

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