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Strategy Grounded in How Maine Actually Thinks
Maine is not a national average.
And if your marketing strategy is built on national assumptions, you may be missing the mark.
The Maine Insights Lab exists to help Maine organizations make smarter decisions using real attitudinal data about Maine audiences, paired with practical strategic guidance. Developed by the team at Sutherland Weston, it’s built on more than two decades of helping Maine organizations connect with the people who live and work here.
We don’t chase hype or marketing fads. We focus on clear strategy that reflects how Mainers actually evaluate value and make decisions.
Why the Maine Insights Lab Exists
Over the years, we’ve watched Maine businesses invest real money in tactics that made sense on paper but didn’t quite land.
The problem usually isn’t effort.
It’s assumption.
Our Mindsets of Maine research shows that Maine consumers and stakeholders approach decisions differently than national data would suggest. Independence matters. Value matters. Local credibility carries weight. Messaging that works in Boston or Denver can feel off-key here.
The Maine Insights Lab was built to reduce guesswork.
We combine:
- Proprietary attitudinal research about Maine audiences
- Ongoing interpretation of trends through a Maine lens
- Strategic facilitation to help leadership teams align around clear rationale
The goal is simple:
Fewer disconnected tactics.
More confident decisions.
Marketing your whole team can stand behind.
How the Maine Insights Lab Works
The Lab operates in three practical layers. You can engage at the level that makes sense for your organization.
1. Ongoing Insight
Every other week, we publish a short perspective grounded in Maine audience behavior and current market conditions.
These aren’t marketing tips. They’re decision frameworks designed to help you look at your audience, your messaging, and your priorities with a clearer lens.
2. Proprietary Research
The Mindsets of Maine research was the inspiration for and now forms the foundation of the Lab.
Through the dashboard and monthly focus reports, you can explore:
- How different Maine mindset segments approach decisions
- What motivates trust and loyalty
- Where resistance tends to show up
- How economic and cultural context influences behavior
We don’t just share charts. We translate what they mean for real-world marketing and leadership decisions.
3. Applied Strategy
When insight needs to turn into action, we step in.
This may look like:
- A messaging reset grounded in mindset data
- A leadership workshop to align around audience priorities
- A focused Insight Sprint to clarify strategy before you invest further
The goal is simple: Create clear rationale before you commit time and budget.
Who It’s For
The Maine Insights Lab is built for:
- CEOs and leadership teams making high-stakes decisions
- Senior marketers expected to deliver results with limited margin for error
- Organizations that want clear rationale before committing budget
- Teams that are tired of disconnected tactics
If you want strategy that reflects how Maine audiences actually think, this is for you.
What Makes This Different
Most research tells you what happened.
The Maine Insights Lab helps you understand why Maine audiences make decisions the way they do — and how that should shape your strategy.
When your approach reflects mindset, not assumption:
- Messaging resonates
- Budgets work harder
- Conversations shift from opinion to rationale
- Sales conversations feel grounded
Insight isn’t something to admire. It’s something to use.
Start Where You Are
You don’t have to change everything.
You can:
- Explore the research
- Subscribe for ongoing perspective
- Book a focused Insight Sprint
- Schedule a strategic conversation
Better understanding leads to better decisions.