Insights from Christine Slocumb, the President of Clarity Quest Marketing on Growing Your Business during a Pandemic

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times? 

Christine Slocumb: We are well. My husband is a healthcare worker, so these are stressful times for him. The rest of my family can work and school from home. I had COVID in March 2020, and I’m finally fully recovering!

Tell us about you, your career, how you founded Clarity Quest Marketing.

Christine Slocumb: I founded Clarity Quest Marketing in 2001. Next year will be our agency’s 20th anniversary. Given 92% of agencies fail within 5 years, I’m very proud of this accomplishment. I founded the agency to help leaders and companies realize their dreams, whether to grow or be acquired.  

How does Clarity Quest Marketing innovate? 

Christine Slocumb: Marketing changes every day, and we work hard to learn new programs and techniques. In the last 5 to 8 years, marketing has become a combination of data-driven analytics merged with creativity. It’s rewarding how small and midmarket companies and startups can compete with global enterprises if they have the right marketing tech stack. 

How the coronavirus pandemic affects your business, and how are you coping?

Christine Slocumb: We’re actually going to grow by 65% this year. We specialize in healthcare tech and biotech marketing, so the coronavirus has brought us more business. Plus, companies are shifting their trade show budgets into digital marketing, which is also positive for our agency. Great marketing works no matter the environment or business outlook. 

Did you have to make difficult choices, and what are the lessons learned?

Christine Slocumb: We have to choose how much work to bring on and how fast to grow. We’ve doubled our team’s size this year, and it can be tough to maintain a corporate culture, especially when we are all working remotely from home.  

How do you deal with stress and anxiety, how do you project yourself and Clarity Quest Marketing in the future?

Christine Slocumb: I’m a big believer in not micromanaging and letting folks do what they do best. Business owners or leaders cannot do everything. Find your expert lane and stick to it! 

Who are your competitors? And how do you plan to stay in the game?

Christine Slocumb: We compete with other marketing agencies that specialize in healthcare tech and life sciences. Many people are starting agencies in the U.S., so we have far more competitors than just a few years ago. We plan to stay in the game by offering amazing services, building relationships, and communicating through best-in-class content. Our search rankings are our best sales channel!

Your final thoughts?

Christine Slocumb: Opportunities can present themselves at odd times. Use disruption to attack problems creatively. And don’t feel guilty if your business is booming during the pandemic. You have set yourself up for success! 

Your Website?

 https://www.clarityqst.com/