Canadian Business Growth Accelerator Assessment
Comprehensive Assessment & Action Checklist for Sales, Marketing & Digital Design
Introduction
Welcome to your Canadian Business Growth Accelerator toolkit! This comprehensive resource is designed specifically for Canadian businesses looking to optimize their sales, marketing, and digital design strategies for maximum growth.
According to Statistics Canada (2023), businesses that integrate these three critical functions are 3.4 times more likely to achieve their annual growth targets. Yet, many Canadian businesses struggle to align these areas effectively. This assessment and checklist will help you identify opportunities and create an actionable roadmap for growth.
HOW TO USE THIS TOOLKIT
Complete the self-assessment in each section
Use your scores to identify your priority areas
Implement the recommended actions from the checklist
Track your progress using the provided templates
Re-assess quarterly to measure improvement
PART 1: BUSINESS GROWTH SELF-ASSESSMENT
Instructions
Rate your business on a scale from 1-5 for each statement: 1 = Strongly Disagree 2 = Disagree 3 = Neutral 4 = Agree 5 = Strongly Agree
SALES ASSESSMENT
Statement
Score (1-5)
We have a clearly defined sales process that every team member understands
Our sales cycle is optimized and consistently produces results
We have established sales metrics that we track regularly
Our sales team has access to effective sales enablement materials
We have an efficient CRM system that supports our sales process
We regularly analyze our sales data to improve conversions
Our sales forecasting is accurate and reliable
Our sales and marketing teams work collaboratively with shared goals
We have effective systems for lead qualification
We have a process for gathering and implementing customer feedback
SALES SUBTOTAL: ___ / 50
INDUSTRY BENCHMARK: According to the Canadian Professional Sales Association (2023), top-performing Canadian SMBs score an average of 42/50 in this section.
MARKETING ASSESSMENT
Statement
Score (1-5)
We have clearly defined buyer personas for our target audience
Our marketing strategy is documented and actively implemented
We consistently create valuable content that addresses customer pain points
Our digital marketing efforts generate measurable ROI
We effectively leverage social media to engage our target audience
Our email marketing campaigns have above-industry open and click rates
We have a system for generating and nurturing leads
Our website traffic shows consistent growth
We have a process for testing and optimizing marketing initiatives
We effectively communicate our unique value proposition
MARKETING SUBTOTAL: ___ / 50
INDUSTRY BENCHMARK: The Business Development Bank of Canada reports that high-growth Canadian businesses score an average of 40/50 in marketing effectiveness.
DIGITAL DESIGN ASSESSMENT
Statement
Score (1-5)
Our website design is modern, professional, and reflects our brand
Our website is fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices
Our user experience (UX) is intuitive and conversion-focused
Our visual brand elements are consistent across all platforms
Our digital assets effectively communicate our value proposition
We regularly update our website with fresh, relevant content
Our website loading speed meets current standards
Our digital presence effectively showcases our products/services
We have a consistent visual identity across all marketing materials
Our digital design supports accessibility standards
DIGITAL DESIGN SUBTOTAL: ___ / 50
INDUSTRY BENCHMARK: According to Adobe's Canadian Digital Experience Report (2023), successful Canadian businesses score an average of 38/50 in this section.
INTEGRATION ASSESSMENT
Statement
Score (1-5)
Our sales, marketing, and design teams regularly collaborate
We have integrated technologies that support all three functions
Our customer journey is seamless across all touchpoints
Our messaging is consistent across sales, marketing, and digital platforms
We have shared KPIs across departments
Our customer data is accessible to all relevant teams
Our digital design supports both sales and marketing objectives
We regularly review performance metrics across all three areas
Our team members understand how all three functions contribute to growth
We have a culture that encourages cross-functional innovation
INTEGRATION SUBTOTAL: ___ / 50
INDUSTRY BENCHMARK: Statistics Canada reports that only 34% of Canadian SMBs score above 35/50 in cross-functional integration.
PART 2: ACTION CHECKLIST
SALES ACTION ITEMS
IMMEDIATE WINS (1-30 days)
[ ] Document your current sales process from lead to close
[ ] Set up basic sales tracking in a spreadsheet or CRM
[ ] Create a simple one-page sales script for your core offering
[ ] Analyze your top 3 won deals and top 3 lost deals for patterns
[ ] Schedule regular sales pipeline review meetings
SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS (1-3 months)
[ ] Implement or optimize a CRM system appropriate for your business size
[ ] Develop sales enablement materials (one-pagers, presentations, case studies)
[ ] Create a formal lead qualification framework (BANT, CHAMP, etc.)
[ ] Establish key sales metrics and reporting cadence
[ ] Develop a referral program for existing customers
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES (3-6 months)
[ ] Create a formal sales training program for your team
[ ] Implement sales and marketing alignment procedures
[ ] Develop an account-based strategy for key prospects
[ ] Create a formal customer success program to drive retention and upselling
[ ] Establish predictable revenue forecasting models
CANADIAN INSIGHT: According to the Canadian Professional Sales Association, 67% of Canadian B2B buyers complete more than half of their purchasing decision before engaging with a sales representative. Well-documented sales processes reduce this decision-making period by an average of 29%.
MARKETING ACTION ITEMS
IMMEDIATE WINS (1-30 days)
[ ] Audit your current marketing channels for performance
[ ] Create or refine your core messaging and value proposition
[ ] Set up Google Analytics 4 if not already implemented
[ ] Optimize your Google Business Profile with complete information
[ ] Develop a content calendar for the next 30 days
SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS (1-3 months)
[ ] Develop detailed buyer personas for your target audience
[ ] Create a formal marketing strategy document
[ ] Implement an email marketing nurture sequence
[ ] Optimize your website for search engines (SEO)
[ ] Develop a social media strategy aligned with Canadian usage patterns
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES (3-6 months)
[ ] Develop a comprehensive content marketing strategy
[ ] Implement marketing automation for lead nurturing
[ ] Create industry-specific lead magnets for each buyer persona
[ ] Establish marketing ROI tracking systems
[ ] Develop partnerships with complementary Canadian businesses
CANADIAN INSIGHT: The Canada Digital Adoption Program offers grants of up to $15,000 to small businesses implementing new digital marketing technologies. BDC reports that Canadian businesses leveraging digital marketing grow their revenue 5X faster than those relying on traditional marketing alone.
DIGITAL DESIGN ACTION ITEMS
IMMEDIATE WINS (1-30 days)
[ ] Ensure your website is mobile-responsive
[ ] Optimize website loading speed
[ ] Add clear calls-to-action on high-traffic pages
[ ] Update outdated visual elements
[ ] Ensure consistent branding across all digital platforms
SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS (1-3 months)
[ ] Conduct user experience testing and implement improvements
[ ] Create or update your brand style guide
[ ] Optimize your website navigation and structure
[ ] Create templates for commonly used marketing materials
[ ] Implement accessibility improvements on your website
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES (3-6 months)
[ ] Redesign your website with conversion optimization in mind
[ ] Develop interactive content or tools valuable to your audience
[ ] Create a customer portal or resource center
[ ] Implement advanced analytics for user behavior tracking
[ ] Develop a comprehensive digital asset management system
CANADIAN INSIGHT: Adobe's Canadian Digital Experience Report reveals that Canadian consumers are 37% more likely to purchase from businesses whose digital presence feels "authentically Canadian" while maintaining professional design standards.
INTEGRATION ACTION ITEMS
IMMEDIATE WINS (1-30 days)
[ ] Hold a cross-functional meeting with sales, marketing, and design teams
[ ] Create a shared document of current goals for each department
[ ] Identify disconnects in the customer journey
[ ] Establish a common language for discussing leads and customers
[ ] Set up a shared communication channel for quick collaboration
SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS (1-3 months)
[ ] Implement regular cross-functional meetings
[ ] Create shared dashboards for key metrics
[ ] Develop integrated customer journey maps
[ ] Align sales and marketing content creation processes
[ ] Establish service level agreements between departments
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES (3-6 months)
[ ] Implement integrated technology solutions connecting all functions
[ ] Develop cross-functional KPIs tied to business growth
[ ] Create a feedback loop for continuous improvement
[ ] Establish cross-training programs between departments
[ ] Develop integrated reporting for executive leadership
CANADIAN INSIGHT: Statistics Canada reports that Canadian businesses with strong integration between sales, marketing, and digital design teams are 2.3x more likely to exceed their annual growth targets compared to those with siloed approaches.
PART 3: IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP
PRIORITY IDENTIFICATION MATRIX
Use your assessment scores to identify your priority areas:
Function
Score
Canadian SMB Average
Priority Level (High/Medium/Low)
Sales
36/50
Marketing
32/50
Digital Design
30/50
Integration
27/50
How to prioritize:
High Priority: Scores more than 20% below average
Medium Priority: Scores within 20% of average
Low Priority: Scores more than 20% above average
90-DAY ACTION PLAN TEMPLATE
Week
Sales Actions
Marketing Actions
Digital Design Actions
Integration Actions
1-2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9-10
11-12
CANADIAN BUSINESS RESOURCES
FUNDING & SUPPORT
Canada Business Network: Government services for entrepreneurs (canadabusiness.ca)
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Financing and advisory services (bdc.ca)
Canada Digital Adoption Program: Grants for digital transformation (ic.gc.ca/eic/site/152.nsf/eng/home)
Export Development Canada: Support for businesses looking to export (edc.ca)
Futurpreneur Canada: Support for young entrepreneurs (futurpreneur.ca)
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Canadian Marketing Association: Resources and networking (thecma.ca)
Canadian Professional Sales Association: Sales training and research (cpsa.com)
Digital Marketing Association of Canada: Best practices and education (dmac.ca)
Canadian Federation of Independent Business: Advocacy and resources (cfib-fcei.ca)
Retail Council of Canada: Resources for retail businesses (retailcouncil.org)
TECHNOLOGY & TOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR CANADIAN BUSINESSES
Canadian-Compliant CRM Systems: Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM
Marketing Automation: ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, Keap
E-commerce Platforms: Shopify (Canadian-based), Lightspeed (Canadian-based)
Website Analytics: Google Analytics 4, Hotjar
Design Tools: Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Figma
NEXT STEPS
Now that you've completed your assessment and identified your priority areas, it's time to take action. Here's how to proceed:
Schedule your free consultation with Intero: Our experts will help interpret your results and provide personalized recommendations.
Create your implementation plan: Using this toolkit as a guide, determine which actions to prioritize in the next 30-90 days.
Begin with quick wins: Start with the immediate actions that will deliver the fastest results.
Measure and adapt: Track your progress using the templates provided and adjust your strategy as needed.
Consider professional support: For areas where you need specialized expertise, Intero offers tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes.
Contact us today at info@interosolutions.ca to schedule your free consultation and discover how Intero can help accelerate your business growth!
© 2025 Intero Solutions. All rights reserved. This assessment tool is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.
