Photo of Michael Blachly

With more than 20 years of experience managing corporate marketing, business development and communications initiatives, Michael Blachly brings strategic leadership and a versatile skill set to every consulting engagement at Gray Reed Advisory Services. He guides clients through the process of making impactful changes and enhancing their capabilities in a wide range of areas, including sales development, marketing/branding, marketing technology and strategies for creative production, research, public relations and event planning.

As the head of marketing for the Gray Reed law firm since 2008, Michael knows first-hand how to help a business overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth over time. He provides strategic direction on the firm’s marketing and business development initiatives and leads a team responsible for strategy execution and day-to-day support for 150+ attorneys. Michael also provides one-on-one sales coaching on a variety of business development matters, including personal branding, target market analysis, sales pipeline management and client proposal strategy.

Before joining the Gray Reed law firm, Michael directed marketing and communications for the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, Cornerstone Credit Union League and his political consulting firm, Hamby & Blachly.

Michael graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in journalism and from the SMU Cox School of Business Graduate Marketing Program. He is also a TeamSight Certified Consultant.

As a business owner, sales professional or marketer, you know successful business development efforts drive sales and growth. You’re also aware of the challenges in creating and managing a structured business development program.

The success of a business development program is defined by how well potential customers are organized, tracked and engaged. Using tools like

Marketers know that a customer’s purchase process begins long before they hit ‘checkout’ or sign on the dotted line. Consumers go through three main stages in the buyer’s journey before committing to your offering.  Understanding what happens at each stage provides insights into your customers’ motivations and purchasing habits, allowing you to influence their behaviors at every point.
Continue Reading The Buyer’s Journey: How Consumers Make Decisions in 3 Steps

If I asked you to tell me Nike’s slogan, you’d say “Just Do It” without hesitation. If I asked you for Coke’s logo colors, you’d quickly answer, “red.” And, if I showed you a photo of Tony the Tiger, you’d immediately associate it with Frosted Flakes.

The power of brand recognition can’t be overstated. But