Go-to-Market Strategy Consulting: 5 Best Companies (+ 3 actionable tips)

Your go-to-market strategy can guarantee you’re either set up for success or failure.

You wouldn't step into the driver’s seat of a car you knew had a faulty engine. And yet, many B2B companies take this approach and launch a product or service without a solid go-to-market strategy to propel its long-term success.

Why?

The reasons vary, but most come down to not having the in-house time and resources to dedicate to building that engine. If this is you, you’re not alone (and you have more options than you might think you do).

Outsourcing your GTM strategy to a consulting company is high-stakes, with potentially higher consequences if you make the wrong choice. Thankfully, we’ve done some of the work for you. Here are five top go-to-market strategy consulting companies and their key advantages to help you find the ideal partner to set you up for success.

Why Your Go-To-Market Strategy is So Important

Your GTM strategy outlines how you reach and engage with your target audience, launch your products or services, and generate revenue. Without a go-to-market strategy, your business may struggle to gain traction, acquire customers, and scale effectively. If you can’t do the basics well, you can’t focus on the big things (like growth!).

You might be reading this thinking you don’t have the time or resources to build an effective go-to-market strategy. Yet, you see the value in a solid strategy and know it might be key to taking your business to the next level. You need a go-to-marketing strategy consulting company.

What is a Go-To-Market Strategy Consultant?

These experts help businesses develop winning strategies to launch their products or services. They have deep industry knowledge and experience to analyze markets, understand customers, and identify growth opportunities.

Unlike other agencies that work independently and deliver results, GTM consultants work closely with you to create effective pricing, distribution, and marketing plans. With their guidance, companies can optimize their operations, improve sales processes, and boost customer experiences. However, finding the right partner is key.

5 Top Go-to-Market Strategy Consulting Companies (and what makes each so great)

If you’re considering partnering with a GTM Strategy Consulting Company, here are five you should consider.

1. Boston Consulting Group

The Boston-based Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a leading management consulting firm specializing in go-to-market strategy consulting. They help companies develop effective strategies for entering new markets, launching products, and optimizing sales channels.

BCG’s industry knowledge, extensive experience, and proven track record of delivering tailored solutions for sustainable growth make them a popular choice.

BCG is a top-tier consulting firm whose fees reflect its expertise, making them less affordable to small companies or those lacking huge budgets. BCG also focuses heavily on data-driven analytics as the foundation for its insights. This might lead some companies to feel other important factors — like intuition or creativity — are not as evident in their results.

2. Bain & Company

Bain & Company helps companies navigate the complexities of go-to-market strategies by providing tailored solutions to enter new markets, launch products, and optimize sales and marketing channels.

Bain combines deep industry knowledge and analytical rigor with practical implementation support, which sets them apart from competitors. They work closely with clients to understand their unique challenges and deliver actionable strategies that drive growth and enhance customer engagement.

Bain also has a stellar reputation, and their global team works with companies in many countries. While this makes them widely available, their vast client base may make them a poor fit for growing companies that need more help to be walked through the strategy development process.

3. GrowthRocks

Unlike most companies on this list, GrowthRocks is, first and foremost, a go-to-market strategy consulting company. They develop and implement effective strategies to help their customers enter new markets, expand their customer base, and optimize their marketing efforts.

GrowthRocks uses creative “growth hacking” techniques and innovative digital marketing solutions to drive rapid and sustainable business growth. Their unique approach combines strategic thinking, creativity, and advanced marketing tactics to deliver measurable results.

While some see this as an advantage, partnering with a growth hacking company specializing in those practices might not be ideal if you need a more comprehensive strategic approach.

4. Deloitte

Deloitte, a household name and renowned global consulting firm, offers comprehensive go-to-market strategy consulting among its other services. Deloitte assists companies in developing effective strategies to enter new markets.

Key efforts include optimizing their customer marketing efforts and enhancing overall business performance by creating solutions tailored to each client's unique needs.

Deloitte is by far the largest of the five companies listed here, with the broadest service offerings and the biggest team. However, this strength can also be a weakness. The more employees a company has, the higher its turnover rate and the more complicated communications can become.

5. Lean Labs

Last but certainly not least is Lean Labs. Our full-service, remote hybrid growth team offers go-to-market strategy consulting, among other growth-focused services. We combine our growth strategies, user experience, and growth marketing expertise to deliver innovative and results-oriented solutions.

Unlike other big teams, Lean Labs’ smaller size, agility, and iterative approach allow for faster time-to-market (without rushing or cutting corners), continuous improvement, and communication. This makes us a great fit for recently-funded companies or those who want to work closely with their chosen partner.

Lean Labs also offers FREE go-to-market strategy training on our website. Our main goal is to help companies go to market faster, whether you work with us or not.

3 Actionable Tips to Improve Your Go-to-Market Strategy

Whether you decide to work with a GTM strategy consulting partner or go it alone, following these three tips will help you go to market better and faster.

Build Your Brand Equity

Establishing a strong brand identity can help differentiate your business from competitors, build customer trust, and increase customer loyalty. In today’s competitive B2B landscape, multiple companies likely offer similar products or services to yours.

Establishing a strong brand identity highlights what sets your business apart and helps potential customers recognize and remember your brand. The better they remember you, the easier you make it for them to choose you over alternatives.

Building brand equity also helps foster trust and credibility among your target audience. More than B2C companies — where buys are the primary focus — B2B transactions often involve high stakes, longer-term partnerships, and significant investments. When your brand is associated with reliability, expertise, and delivering real value better than your competition, potential customers are more likely to trust your business and feel confident in choosing you as their preferred partner.

Remember, Not All Wins Need To Be Big Wins

Break your go-to-market goals into smaller milestones to contribute to your overall business objectives. B2B companies often have complex, long sales cycles involving multiple touchpoints, decision-makers, and stakeholders.

By breaking down your go-to-market goals into smaller milestones, you can effectively track progress and ensure that you're making steady advancements toward your desired outcomes. This differentiation also empowers you to focus on manageable tasks and create a sense of accomplishment as you achieve these smaller wins along the way.

Even experienced mountain climbers don’t try and scale Mt. Everest in a day. Instead, they focus on climbing to the next base camp, knowing they’re working towards their goal one step at a time. Set your base camp wisely.

Think End Game From the Start

When you're developing your (GTM) strategy, it's essential to keep your long-term business goals in mind. Think of it as making sure all the puzzle pieces fit together. By aligning your GTM tactics with your overall objectives, you're setting yourself up for success in the long run.

Plus, you'll establish consistency and continuity in your GTM strategy, which is like building a strong foundation for your business.

When you align your GTM strategy with your long-term goals, you also give yourself room to grow. You'll be able to adapt, scale, and anticipate future needs. It's like having a roadmap that guides you toward sustainable success. It's the secret sauce to making your business thrive long term.

Go-to-Market With Confidence

You don’t want your business to struggle to gain traction, acquire customers, and scale effectively. A solid GTM strategy is key to helping you do the basics well so you can focus on growth.

If you don’t have the time or resources to build a GTM strategy you’re confident in, consider outsourcing to one of the top consulting companies mentioned above. Whether you choose a full-service provider, a hybrid team, or an individual contributor, ensure they align with your needs and goals.

At Lean Labs, our comprehensive approach and remote collaboration allow us to prioritize building a solid strategy that aligns with your business goals and offers marketing, design, and development services. Get in touch today to learn how we can best partner with you toward your growth goals.