1-Day SOSTAC® Planning Masterclass with PR Smith

Join Us for an Inspiring 1-Day SOSTAC® Planning Masterclass Integrating AI

Step into a world of strategic marketing brilliance with PR Smith and Lydia McClelland as your guides. During one intensive day you will master the art of asking great questions, making better decisions and creating flawless, crystal-clear marketing strategies using the acclaimed SOSTAC® Methodology while leveraging AI.

What Is PR Smith’s SOSTAC®?

SOSTAC® is a powerful, easy-to-remember planning method voted in the Top 3 business models worldwide by the Chartered Institute of Marketing's Centenary Poll. It simplifies marketing plans including digital strategies that adds a logical information-based approach. It also delivers a reassuring sense of order.

Who Are the Trainers?

PR Smith is a renowned author of six marketing and digital marketing books (translated into seven languages), a TEDx Talker and international speaker. He is the mastermind behind SOSTAC® and hosts a weekly 30-minute LinkedIn chat about AI, Innovation and Ethics.

Lydia McClelland is a Licensed SOSTAC® Trainer. She is also a Chartered Marketer and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and provides training, mentoring, consultancy, and fractional CMO support to SMEs across Northern Ireland and the UK.

Almost two-thirds of 2,000 decision makers in SMEs have no marketing plan, and more than half don’t even have a business plan.

The Marketing Maturity Report, The Marketing Centre (January 2024)

What Will I Gain From This 1-Day SOSTAC® Masterclass?

Whether you're devising a comprehensive marketing plan or developing a digital strategy, SOSTAC® is your ultimate ally. In this highly interactive masterclass, you'll you'll acquire the skills to think, act, and plan more strategically. You will also be learn how to:

• ‍Adapt SOSTAC® to different business and marketing contexts.
• Analyse Your Market by asking great questions to understand your market dynamics in deeper detail.
• Clarify Your Objectives to set clear, achievable goals to drive your business forwards.
• Develop Your Strategy to formulate robust, effective and crystal-clear strategies.
• Use analysis (including AI) to reduce risk and ultimately make better decisions.
• Develop crystal-clear strategies – consider the 9 Key Components.
• Use the Magic Marketing Formula, build Value Propositions & leverage Tactics.
• Build lifetime customer relations & avoid classic mistakes (including AI).
• Calculate budgets to acquire and retain a customer.  
• Think outside the box (with Creative Thinking techniques).

PR Smith also invites all attendees to keep up with AI developments and join his weekly AI chat on LinkedIn. More details will be shared during the Masterclass.

Who Should Attend?

• Marketers (any level): Reacquaint yourself with SOSTAC® and/or empower your teams to become better marketers, making better decisions that boost results.
• Partners / BDMs / Marketers in LLPs (i.e. law firms, accountancy): Build better BD plans to grow your practice areas.
• Venture Capital Investors: Build better marketing plans to help your portfolio companies achieve faster traction.
• Private Equity Investors: Build effective marketing plans for faster transformation and an earlier exit.
• Start-Ups, Disruptors and SMEs (CEOs/Founders): Establish a real solid foundation to making critical decisions to grow your business rapidly.

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“The workshop on SOSTAC® was the single best workshop or seminar I've ever attended”‍

Kevin Browning
Senior Global Brand Manager, LinkedIn

Event Details

When: Thursday 30th January 2025.

Time: Registration at 8:30am for a 9:00am start. Finishes 6:00pm.

Where: Duchess Room - County Hall, Belvedere Road, London SE1 7PB (Download directions).

Reserve Your Seat - Save £50 With Our Early Bird Discount

Don’t miss your chance to join the SOSTAC® Masterclass at a reduced price! Register before midnight on 15th December 2024 and save £50 on the full ticket price of £495 + VAT. Additional discounts are available for group bookings, with full details provided during registration.

What’s Included With Your Early-Bird Ticket:

• Discounted Entry: Attend the 1-Day SOSTAC® Masterclass for just £445 + VAT.
• Exclusive Resource: A copy of the SOSTAC® Guide to Your Perfect Digital Marketing Plan 2025 (AI Edition) (worth £25).
• Comprehensive Materials: A 100+ page SOSTAC® workbook and a 1-Page SOSTAC® Planning Template.
• Refreshments: Enjoy coffee, lunch, and tea throughout the day.
• Expert Training: Gain a career-changing planning skill set from PR Smith and Lydia McClelland.

‍Important details:

- Travel costs are not included and must be covered by attendees.
- For terms and conditions, click here.

Optional Extra: SOSTAC® Certification

Masterclass attendees have the option to become a SOSTAC® Certified Planner by completing an online course and earning instant certification.

• Attendees get 35% off the usual online course fee of £195 + VAT, reducing it to just £125 + VAT.
• A discount code will be issued to attendees during the Masterclass.
• Register for the discounted course during or up to 7 days after the Masterclass using the provided discount code at sostac.org.‍

Why Become a SOSTAC® Certified Planner?

If you choose the option to become a SOSTAC® Certified Planner, you will:

• Achieve Professional Certification – Boost your CV and LinkedIn profile.
• Network with Peers – Connect and network with other SOSTAC® Certified Planners.
• Gain Competitive Advantage – Stand out in the marketing field with recognised certification, showcasing your advanced planning skills to employers, clients and/or your own team.

How Do I Become a SOSTAC® Certified Planner?

This is normally a 20-hour online course, BUT, after completing this 1-day Masterclass delegates only need to spend approximately 4 hours reviewing the short video tutorials and taking the series of quick question quizzes (which prepare you for the assessment). Then take the 1-hour online assessment and get an instant result with a personalised SOSTAC® Certified Planner Certificate. We strongly recommend candidates try to complete it within 7 days after the Masterclass.

‍About VCMO

VCMO helps SMEs and portfolio companies with the high-level marketing leadership needed to grow and succeed across the full business lifecycle. Its roster of highly accredited Fractional Chief Marketing Officers brings the expertise, strategy and execution to transform marketing potential into a competitive advantage that delivers predictable revenue and sustainable growth.