Why do so many great GovCon companies struggle to stand out?

In this episode, Chelsea is joined by Kris Brinker, Co-founder of Ocean 5 Strategies, to talk about why branding, messaging, and content strategy matter more than ever, especially for companies graduating from 8(a) or hitting a growth plateau.

We unpack how established firms can evolve their image, align internal culture with external messaging, and create trust with buyers across the procurement process.

On this episode, we found out:

• The biggest messaging mistakes in GovCon
• Why branding isn’t just about logos, it’s about building trust
• Content strategies that align with the sales cycle
• Why your website is more important than you think
• How to measure ROI when sales cycles take 12+ months

Timestamps:

[00:00] – Baby updates and Chelsea’s big May

[02:41] – Meet Kris Brinker & Ocean 5 Strategies

[07:40] – Brand isn’t colors, it’s what people believe about your company

[14:33] – Addressing different audiences: procurement, partners, and staff

[19:45] – Involving technical staff in messaging strategy

[22:40] – What to do after 8(a) graduation or sudden growth

[28:35] – Content creation with strategic alignment

[34:09] – Why your website is your most valuable asset

[35:19] – Measuring marketing ROI in government sales

[47:31] – Next steps, sharing, and content release planning

🎧 Listen now on:

🔹 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/govcon-unscripted/id1766384482

🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NL0kFAvmgECLTJpUZYNHy

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New to GovCon? Here's a guide for you:

https://share.hsforms.com/288nO18bsRCCmdJZL66pClwbzmvx

Links and Resources:

Chelsea’s LinkedIn Profile

Kris Brinker's LinkedIn profile

Ocean 5 Strategies Website