The barriers

The barriers to effective experimentation are significant but not insurmountable. The report highlights several common challenges:

• Lack of budget: Almost half of the marketers (43%) cite this as a major obstacle.
• Lack of resources, time, and focus: This affects 39% of respondents.
• Ineffective tools or technology: A problem for 25% of marketers.
• Silos between teams: Another issue for 25% of marketers.
• Small scale of experiments: An impediment for 18%.

1. Lack of Budget

Solution: Be Smart and Lean

• Optimise Impactful Areas: Focus experimentation efforts on areas that will make the most significant difference. Prioritise high-impact experiments that can drive noticeable improvements in key metrics.
• Cost-Benefit Analysis: Use data-driven insights to ensure that every experiment is worth the investment. This approach ensures that you get the maximum return on your limited budget.
• Incremental Investments: Start small and scale. Small, successful experiments can build the case for additional budget allocation.

2. Lack of Resources, Time, and Focus

Solution: Work with an Experimentation Specialist

• Leverage Expertise: Partner with external experimentation experts who bring in specialised knowledge and proven strategies. Their insights streamline processes and improve outcomes.
• Efficiency Gains: Experts can set up and run experiments more efficiently, freeing up your internal team to focus on other critical tasks.
• Revenue Justification: The increased revenue and improved metrics driven by successful experiments far exceed the cost, making it a smart investment.

4. Silos Between Teams

Solution: Build a Culture of Experimentation

• Unified Approach: Collaborate with an experimentation specialist to foster a company-wide culture of experimentation. This approach is proven to break down silos and encourages cross-functional collaboration.
• Shared Goals: Establish common goals and KPIs for all teams involved in experimentation, ensuring everyone is working towards the same objectives.
• Regular Communication: Promote regular communication and knowledge sharing between teams to ensure that insights and learnings from experiments are disseminated across the organisation.

5. Small Scale of Experiments

Solution: Scale Efficiently

• Rapid Scaling: Work with a specialist that has a track record of scaling experiments quickly and effectively. The key is streamlining the scaling process and ensuring cost-efficiency.
• Framework Development: Develop a scalable experimentation framework that allows for easy replication of successful experiments across different channels and campaigns.
• Resource Optimisation: Utilise external resources and tools to run larger-scale experiments without overburdening your internal teams.

The Only Source of Knowledge is Experience

As Albert Einstein once said, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” By addressing the common barriers to experimentation with these pragmatic solutions, brands can foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.  Shifting experimentation from a tool into a mindset will ultimately help the 9/10 marketers realise the full potential of experimentation this year.