Episode 138 - How to Build a Growth Engine - The 6 Box Model

In this episode, we introduce "The 6 Box Model", our framework for building a growth engine that connects marketing, sales, and customer retention in a way that’s simple, structured, and practical. Too often, growth strategies are presented as complex diagrams or a maze of disconnected activities. We’ve distilled our experience into six clear boxes that help business leaders understand where their efforts should be focused, how those areas interconnect, and what “good” looks like when it comes to managing growth.

We discuss each of the six boxes:  inbound, outbound, referrals, lead nurturing, pipeline management, and customer retention,  and how they create a closed-loop system for sustainable growth. Along the way, we share examples from our own client work, draw on lessons learned, and highlight the importance of data integrity, prioritisation, and simplicity in decision-making.

You can listen to the full episode here 

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Key Topics Discussed:

• The 6 Box Model as a practical framework for managing business growth.
  
• Inbound, outbound, and referral strategies for bringing new opportunities into your ecosystem.
• The role of lead nurturing in keeping prospects engaged over time.
  
• Pipeline management as both an art and a science.
  
• Customer retention as the final, and most valuable, stage of the cycle.
  
• Why simplicity beats complexity when it comes to growth frameworks.

Who Is This Episode For:

This episode is aimed at business owners, directors, and senior managers of SMEs, as well as those in sales, marketing, and client success roles who are looking for a clear way to connect their day-to-day activities to long-term business growth.

Quotes to Remember

“The genius is in the simplicity.”

“Pipeline management is an art and a science.”

“You need something to hang all these thoughts together in a framework.”

Actionable Takeaways:

1. Map your work sources; track whether clients come via inbound, outbound, or referrals, and use that insight to shape strategy.
2. Prioritise ruthlessly: you can’t do everything at once; focus where the biggest growth opportunities lie for your business.
3. Invest in lead nurturing: move beyond one-off campaigns and create consistent, valuable touchpoints with prospects.
4. Tighten pipeline discipline: review your sales process, metrics, and follow-up routines to reduce leakage.
5. Think retention, not just acquisition; develop processes to keep existing customers happy and turn them into advocates.
   

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