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Marketing Consulting
for Complex B2B Markets

Strategy, Data and Experience for Sustainable Market Success

B2B markets are complex, internationally connected, and highly competitive. In this environment, strategic marketing consulting becomes a critical success factor: it enables clear positioning, measurable results and sustainable growth. As a specialized B2B marketing consultancy, we analyze markets, competitors and target groups with precision—developing data-driven strategies that increase reach, visibility and impact.

Our focus lies on the challenges of international markets: How can new customer segments be unlocked, differentiated positioning established, and marketing and sales activities aligned more efficiently? With methods such as market and competitive analyses, marketing audits and go-to-market strategies, we provide decision-making foundations that secure tangible competitive advantages.

Whether for global corporations or leading mid-sized companies, we combine strategic marketing consulting with operational implementation strength. This includes data-based forecasts, practical recommendations and the development of tailored programs for lead generation, internationalization and marketing controlling. In this way, we ensure that your marketing investments deliver real impact—in KPIs, in reputation and in the market.

B2B marketing agency

Your contact for marketing consulting

Get non-binding advice now: we analyze your goals and show you concrete opportunities. Secure your personal initial consultation – easily by choosing a suitable appointment.

Schedule a meeting

Steffen Ruess

Steffen Ruess

Managing Partner
Ruess Group

References

Success stories
Marketing consulting

The photo shows the international campaign for the Recaro print ads, the campaign motifs designed by Ruess Group GmbH.
Recaro International Product Launch

To support the launch of an entirely new generation of aircraft seats in various flight classes, Recaro ran an international print campaign highlighting the many features designed to ensure significantly enhanced comfort and safety.

International Marketing
Schubert / Packaging Machines

Full-service international marketing for over 50 years.

All cases
All cases
Holistic thinking. Creating impact

Our Ruess Market Impact Framework

With the Ruess Market Impact Framework, we have developed our own model that helps companies in the B2B sector base their marketing decisions on a sound and measurable foundation. This framework is the core of our strategic marketing consulting: it combines market and competitor analyses, target group insights, positioning and go-to-market strategies in a structured process.

What makes it special: the framework is practical and tailored to complex B2B markets. It systematically shows which measures in communication and sales generate the greatest impact – whether in lead generation, international marketing or marketing controlling. This gives our clients clarity about opportunities and risks, efficiency in budget management and confidence in decision-making.

Our marketing consulting therefore goes far beyond isolated analyses. The Ruess Market Impact Framework makes connections visible, prioritizes fields of action and creates transparency regarding the impact of all measures. Decision-makers receive a tool that not only provides strategic orientation but also makes success measurable in KPIs, reach and market share.

Marketing consulting that opens new perspectives

From analysis to growth –
your future in focus

As a specialized B2B marketing consultancy, we support companies from the initial analysis through to sustainable growth. Our approach is holistic: we assess markets and competitors, define clear positioning and develop strategies that generate international impact. From go-to-market strategy to lead generation and lead management all the way to marketing controlling, you receive solutions that directly support your objectives and make results measurable.

At the center is our Ruess Market Impact Framework, which structures all areas of performance and makes them transparent for decision-makers. This ensures that investments in marketing and communication achieve the desired impact – whether in reach and visibility, reputation or sales success.

Our marketing consulting goes far beyond theoretical concepts. We combine strategic depth with operational implementation strength: from efficiently structuring complex marketing processes to opening up new target groups and scaling internationally. The result: greater efficiency, greater impact and sustainable growth – nationally and internationally.

Our services

  • 1. Analysis & Foundation – creating strategic clarity

    • Market and competitor analysis
    • Ongoing market and competitor monitoring including reporting (with our Competition Radar framework)
    • Trend monitoring and reporting (with our Trend Radar framework)
    • Research and pre-qualification of potential customers
    • Marketing audit (inventory and benchmarking) (with our Marketing Fitness Check framework)

    Benefit: We create orientation, identify opportunities at an early stage and provide decision-making foundations based on hard facts.

    Marketing audit

  • 2. Positioning & Portfolio – sharpening brands in the competitive environment

    • Product positioning
    • Corporate positioning and transfer into communication (with our Messaging House framework)
    • Portfolio structure and product nomenclature (with our Portfolio Navigator framework)
    • Impulses for new product and service segments

    Benefit: Clear differentiation and consistency in brand presence – internally and externally. Customers, markets and stakeholders understand at a glance what the brand stands for.

  • 3. Growth & Sales Strategies – opening markets

    • Go-to-market strategy (market entry, launch, expansion) (with our Market Entry Sprint framework)
    • Growth strategy (growth in existing markets, tapping into new markets and target groups, international expansion) (with our Growth Strategy Lab framework)
    • Start-up consulting (scaling, investor readiness, market access)
    • International marketing strategies / global roll-out
    • Consulting on the selection and evaluation of international trade fairs as well as trade fair marketing

    Benefit: Orientation for expansion, new target groups and sustainable growth – nationally and internationally.

  • 4. Efficiency, Processes & Integration – optimizing structures

    • Strategy for the interplay between communication and sales
    • Efficiency in marketing (organization, interfaces, use of resources) (with our Efficiency & Impact Check framework)
    • Budget optimization and ROI management
    • Lead generation and lead management (strategic concept)

    Benefit: Greater effectiveness through optimal use of resources, precise targeting and intelligent alignment of sales and communication.

  • 5. Martech & Data – using technologies, increasing efficiency

    • Selection, evaluation and implementation of marketing technologies (CRM, CDP, automation, data warehouse)
    • Integration of existing systems and tools
    • Building data flows for lead generation (with our Lead Engine Setup framework), lead management and customer journeys
    • Use of AI-supported processes to increase efficiency

    Benefit: You receive a modern, integrated marketing technology landscape that increases efficiency, automates processes and enables data-driven work across all channels.

    Digitalagentur

  • 6. Marketing Controlling – measuring impact, optimizing budgets

    • Marketing controlling and definition of relevant KPIs
    • Setup of dashboards for management and teams
    • Ongoing performance measurement across campaigns and channels

    Benefit: You gain full transparency regarding the impact of your marketing activities, can optimize budgets in a targeted way and demonstrate success with clear KPIs.

    Marketing controlling

Standardized in approach, individual in execution

Our consulting products – your success packages

Marketing consulting is often abstract. We have translated our services into clearly structured programs that address specific goals – from market analysis to lead generation. Each program combines proven methods with individual customization.

  • 1. Market Entry Sprint

    Faster into new markets.
    Enter new markets – faster, more reliably and with less risk. We analyze market potential, evaluate competitors and develop the optimal go-to-market strategy. You receive clear recommendations for action and a robust setup for market entry.

  • 2. Positioning Framework

    Positioning that lasts.
    Whether for a company or a product – the right positioning determines visibility and relevance. With our framework, we structure markets, identify differentiation potential and develop messaging that convinces in the competitive environment.

  • 3. Portfolio Navigator

    Clarity in your portfolio.
    More structure and overview: we categorize products and services, provide impulses for new segments and refine naming. This creates a structure that convinces sales, marketing and customers alike.

  • 4. Lead Acceleration Program

    More leads. More sales.
    From strategy to implementation: we develop programs for lead generation and lead management – precisely tailored to your target groups. With data-driven precision and clear reporting, you sustainably increase your sales pipeline.

  • 5. Growth Strategy Program

    Growth with system.
    Unlock targeted growth – with new markets, target groups or business models. Together with you, we develop a future-proof strategy that leverages opportunities, reduces risks and increases market success systematically.

  • 6. Efficiency & Impact Check

    Lower costs, higher impact.
    Marketing budgets are under more scrutiny than ever. With our audit, we show which measures truly work, where budgets can be used more efficiently and how you can measurably increase the impact of your marketing.

  • 7. MarTech & Data Hub

    Technology as a growth driver.
    We advise on CRM, marketing automation, customer data platforms (CDP) and analytics tools. This creates the foundation for your digital transformation and data-driven marketing, clear dashboards and greater efficiency.

  • 8. Trend & Market Radar

    “Keeping an eye on trends. Seizing opportunities.”
    Markets are changing rapidly. We continuously monitor trends, competitors and specialist markets – and provide clear reports with recommendations for action. This ensures you always stay one step ahead.

  • 9. Trade Fair & Event Strategy

    More impact at trade fairs.
    Trade fairs remain central touchpoints in B2B. We advise on selection, budgeting and positioning – and link trade fair activities with PR, digital and lead management for maximum impact.

Consulting with execution power

Why us

We combine the analytical precision of a marketing consultancy with the implementation strength of an agency. For marketing decision-makers, this means clear strategies, fast rollout and results that become visible in dashboards. Our teams work in an integrated way across analysis, positioning, go-to-market, lead generation and performance marketing – with AI-supported processes, a clean data foundation (CRM/CDP) and experience in international B2B markets.

  • Senior sparring: Direct access to highly experienced consultants; decision-making at eye level instead of slide handovers.
  • International B2B focus: From mechanical engineering to construction/tech – we know target groups, trade media, trade fairs and the specifics of multilingual rollouts.
  • Data & AI that work: Clean tracking, analytics, automation; scoring models and reporting that deliver clear KPIs for marketing goals.
  • From analysis to impact: Programs such as Marketing Fitness Check, Competitor Radar or Lead Engine Setup deliver tangible results instead of vague recommendations.
  • Efficiency & relief: One partner, fewer interfaces, shorter time-to-market – with transparent budgets and clear accountability.
  • Measurable impact: With our Ruess Market Impact Framework, we document KPIs transparently and make marketing success traceable – from reach and visibility to leads and market share.

We are owner-managed, independent and stand for reliability. For decision-makers, this means a sparring partner who understands complex challenges, solves them pragmatically and delivers international impact.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions
about marketing consulting

  • Strategic marketing consulting means supporting companies in developing a clear marketing strategy – from market and competitor analysis to target group insights, positioning and go-to-market planning. Unlike pure advertising activities, it focuses on long-term direction and sustainable impact.

  • Especially in B2B marketing, markets are complex, buying decisions are often lengthy and many target groups are difficult to reach. Specialized B2B marketing consulting helps identify relevant channels, map the customer journey, generate leads and use budgets efficiently. This makes marketing measurably more successful.

  • A marketing consultancy focuses on analysis, strategy and optimization of the entire marketing mix. Advertising agencies often concentrate more on creative campaigns and individual measures. At Ruess Group, we combine both: the strategic depth of a marketing consultancy and the creative implementation power of a full-service agency.

  • Our portfolio ranges from market and competitor analyses, product and corporate positioning to go-to-market strategies, growth strategies and international marketing, as well as lead generation, marketing controlling and martech consulting (including CDP, data warehouse, marketing automation).

  • Costs depend on scope, objectives and international deployment. A marketing audit or competitor analysis is possible starting in the low five-figure range, while complex international strategies require correspondingly larger budgets. What matters: we work transparently, with clear proposals and traceable results.

  • The process includes analysis (market, competition, target groups), definition of goals and KPIs, development of the marketing strategy and derivation of concrete measures. With our Ruess Market Impact Framework, we combine strategy, creativity, data and controlling. This results in solutions that are measurably effective and scalable internationally.

  • Our clients are primarily international corporations, export-oriented mid-sized companies and innovative B2B businesses from industries such as mechanical engineering, construction, medical technology, automotive or IT. Typical contacts are marketing directors, communications managers and business development managers.

  • Yes. Online marketing is a central component of every marketing strategy today. We provide consulting in SEO, SEA, social media, international trade media planning and performance marketing. A key focus is lead generation and lead management for demanding professional target groups.

  • Artificial intelligence is already an integral part of modern marketing consulting. We use AI tools for market and trend analyses, customer insights, content creation and marketing controlling. This increases speed, precision and efficiency – and makes international campaigns even more effective.

  • Because we combine consulting with execution. We don't just develop strategies; we accompany their implementation in PR, content, digital and performance marketing. Our clients benefit from integrated teams, international experience, data-driven precision and creative excellence – for marketing consulting that delivers real impact.

Get in touch

What challenging goals and tasks are you facing? I will be happy to support you with my expertise as a marketing consultant.

Schedule a meeting

Steffen Ruess

Steffen Ruess

Managing Partner
Ruess Group