Your CEO Probably Doesn’t Understand Marketing
That’s OK. It’s Your Job.
Most CEOs don’t get marketing.
They think it’s ads, logos, and social media—something the marketing team does “to support sales.” They want leads now, don’t see the value of brand building, and ask why you can’t just “make it go viral.”
Frustrating? Yes. But it’s not their job to understand marketing. It’s your job to make sure they do.
1. Your CEO Cares About Revenue, Not Impressions
Executives don’t think in click-through rates, engagement metrics, or SEO rankings. They think in pipeline, revenue, and cost efficiency. If your marketing reports are full of vanity metrics, you’re losing their attention.
Don’t just show website traffic—show how it impacts sales.
Don’t just report on leads—show how many turn into customers.
Don’t just talk about brand awareness—tie it to business growth.
Make marketing impossible to ignore by connecting it directly to the bottom line.
2. They Expect Quick Wins (But You Need to Sell the Long Game)
CEOs love short-term results, but the best marketing takes time. SEO, brand positioning, and demand generation don’t happen overnight. Your job is to:
Deliver quick wins without sacrificing strategy.
Set realistic expectations (No, we won’t triple revenue in a month).
Educate leadership on why long-term plays matter (and how competitors are already doing it).
If you don’t frame marketing as a growth driver, they’ll see it as an expense.
3. If You Don’t Lead the Conversation, Someone Else Will
If marketing isn’t speaking CEO language, guess who is? Sales, finance, or an outside consultant. And if those people don’t understand marketing, you’re in trouble.
Be in the room for strategic discussions.
Make sure marketing isn’t an afterthought.
Push back when bad marketing decisions are made.
Marketing doesn’t get a seat at the table—you have to take it.
Final Thought: Own the Education
Your CEO doesn’t need to be a marketing expert. They just need to trust that you are. If you want marketing to be taken seriously, speak their language, prove its value, and don’t wait for permission to lead.
That’s your job.
