Expertise

Smarter marketing in leaner times: How CMOs can do more with less
The pressure is real. Economic uncertainty is squeezing marketing budgets from all sides—tariffs, shrinking media deals and leaner agency rosters are becoming the norm. Yet CMOs are still expected to achieve the same, if not better, outcomes with fewer resources and less time. But what if constraints sparked smarter strategies, not smaller ambitions? Today’s marketing climate is a call to innovate. To do more with less, not by cutting corners, but by recalibrating how we create, produce and work with our client partners.

Virtual production: boosting efficiency without sacrificing quality

When tariffs make physical shoots costly, it’s time to rethink how you bring your brand to life. Our virtual production studio—the largest in New England—can eliminate the need for location shoots, reduce material waste and sidestep unpredictable variables like weather delays.

“Virtual production gives our client partners more control, better quality and faster turnaround—without the unpredictability of traditional shoots. It’s how we deliver premium content while maximizing timelines and budgets,” said (add)ventures Founder + CEO Steve Rosa.

Virtual production lets you shoot in multiple locations without ever leaving the studio—and adapt scenes in real time. The result? Hollywood-level content without the travel and material costs. It’s not just more efficient, it’s more imaginative.

Film crew sets up a camera while a woman in athletic wear observes on set with a digital outdoor backdrop and stage lighting.

Strategic partners, not just vendors

In leaner times, the value of partnerships matters more than ever. We align on goals, immerse ourselves in your challenges and think beyond our deliverables. It’s not about fulfilling a contract; it’s about fueling your brand’s momentum and building a lasting partnership.

We immerse ourselves in your brand, align on your goals and advocate for your success at every step. We think and act like an extension of your team—anticipating needs, offering insights and evolving with you. The best partnerships are built over years—for example, some of our best client partners have been with us for more than a decade. When your world shifts, we pivot with you. That’s what true strategic partnership looks like.

AI-first marketing: fast, focused and flexible

From content generation and SEO, to campaign insights and automated translations, our AI-first approach supercharges efficiency without compromising creativity. Think faster time-to-market and smarter optimization across channels. AI isn’t just a tool—it’s our starting point with our “HumanKind of AI” approach. Which is our philosophy to strategically combine human expertise with artificial intelligence to create impactful, personalized solutions tailored to your needs. By harnessing AI, we empower our team to focus on ideation, creation and delivering outcomes that matter to you.

“Think of AI as our creative sous chef. It helps for more of the tedious tasks so our experts can focus on the best strategy and creative,” said Rosa.

In uncertain times, speed and agility are critical—but so is authenticity. With AI-first marketing, we deliver all three.

Whether you’re streamlining your agency roster or scaling for growth, we bring strategy + creative to deliver results. Virtual production, AI and a true strategic partnership aren’t just cost-saving moves. They’re transformational ones. So, let’s rethink what’s possible—and do more with less, together.

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Smarter marketing in leaner times: How CMOs can do more with less

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