{"id":108,"date":"2025-05-23T22:03:51","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T22:03:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/?p=108"},"modified":"2026-03-12T21:34:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T19:34:18","slug":"why-most-business-strategies-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/why-most-business-strategies-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Most Business Strategies Fail (and How to Build One That Wins)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\/* ============================================================\n ALL RULES SCOPED TO .uilc-b3 \u2014 zero bleed to WP theme\n ============================================================ *\/\n\n.uilc-b3 {\n --b3-ink: #070D1A;\n --b3-mid: #0F1A2E;\n --b3-soft: #3A4257;\n --b3-paper: #F5F3EE;\n --b3-white: #ffffff;\n --b3-sg: #1E4D38;\n --b3-sm: #2D6A4F;\n --b3-sl: #52A882;\n --b3-sp: #EAF0EC;\n --b3-smoke: #6B7A8D;\n --b3-rule: rgba(7, 13, 26, 0.1);\n --b3-fh: 'Cormorant Garamond', Georgia, serif;\n --b3-fb: 'Syne', 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;\n --b3-fm: 'DM Mono', 'Courier New', monospace;\n\n font-family: var(--b3-fb);\n font-size: 16px;\n line-height: 1.7;\n color: var(--b3-soft);\n width: 100%;\n max-width: 860px;\n margin: 0 auto;\n padding: 52px 5% 90px;\n box-sizing: border-box;\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Meta \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.uilc-b3 .b3-meta {\n display: flex;\n gap: 14px;\n align-items: center;\n flex-wrap: wrap;\n margin-bottom: 28px;\n padding-bottom: 20px;\n border-bottom: 1px solid var(--b3-rule);\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-cat {\n background: var(--b3-ink);\n color: var(--b3-sl);\n padding: 4px 12px;\n border-radius: 3px;\n font-family: var(--b3-fm);\n font-size: 10px;\n letter-spacing: 0.1em;\n text-transform: uppercase;\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-author {\n font-family: var(--b3-fm);\n font-size: 12px;\n letter-spacing: 0.08em;\n text-transform: uppercase;\n color: var(--b3-sm);\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-date {\n font-family: var(--b3-fm);\n font-size: 11px;\n color: var(--b3-smoke);\n letter-spacing: 0.05em;\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-read {\n font-family: var(--b3-fm);\n font-size: 10px;\n color: var(--b3-smoke);\n letter-spacing: 0.08em;\n margin-left: auto;\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Headline \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.uilc-b3 .b3-h1 {\n font-family: var(--b3-fh);\n font-size: clamp(2.2rem, 5vw, 4rem);\n font-weight: 300;\n line-height: 1.06;\n color: var(--b3-ink);\n margin: 0 0 20px;\n letter-spacing: -0.03em;\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-h1 em { font-style: italic; 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}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-check-list li::before {\n content: '\u25ce';\n color: var(--b3-sl);\n font-size: 10px;\n flex-shrink: 0;\n margin-top: 4px;\n font-family: var(--b3-fm);\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Blockquote \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.uilc-b3 blockquote {\n border-left: 4px solid var(--b3-sl);\n padding: 24px 28px;\n margin: 34px 0;\n font-size: 17.5px;\n line-height: 1.7;\n color: var(--b3-soft);\n font-style: italic;\n background: var(--b3-paper);\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Highlight box \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.uilc-b3 .b3-hbox {\n background: var(--b3-sp);\n border: 1px solid rgba(30,77,56,0.18);\n border-radius: 3px;\n padding: 26px 30px;\n margin: 32px 0;\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-hbox h4 { margin-top: 0; color: var(--b3-sg); }\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 CTA box \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.uilc-b3 .b3-cta {\n background: var(--b3-ink);\n color: var(--b3-white);\n padding: 44px 36px;\n margin: 56px 0;\n border-radius: 3px;\n text-align: center;\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-cta h3 {\n color: var(--b3-sl);\n margin-top: 0;\n font-family: var(--b3-fh);\n font-size: clamp(1.5rem, 2.5vw, 2.1rem);\n font-weight: 300;\n margin-bottom: 12px;\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-cta p {\n color: rgba(255,255,255,0.6);\n margin-bottom: 24px;\n font-size: 15.5px;\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-cta-btn {\n display: inline-flex;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 9px;\n background: var(--b3-sl);\n color: #fff !important;\n text-decoration: none !important;\n border: none !important;\n font-family: var(--b3-fm);\n font-size: 10px;\n letter-spacing: 0.18em;\n text-transform: uppercase;\n padding: 15px 28px;\n border-radius: 3px;\n transition: all 0.22s;\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-cta-btn:hover {\n background: var(--b3-sm) !important;\n transform: translateY(-2px);\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Footer \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.uilc-b3 .b3-footer {\n margin-top: 60px;\n padding-top: 32px;\n border-top: 2px solid var(--b3-rule);\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-tags {\n display: flex;\n flex-wrap: wrap;\n gap: 8px;\n margin-top: 16px;\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-tag {\n background: var(--b3-sp);\n color: var(--b3-sg) !important;\n padding: 7px 14px;\n border-radius: 20px;\n font-family: var(--b3-fm);\n font-size: 10px;\n letter-spacing: 0.05em;\n text-decoration: none !important;\n border: none !important;\n transition: all 0.18s;\n}\n.uilc-b3 .b3-tag:hover {\n background: var(--b3-sg) !important;\n color: #fff !important;\n}\n\n.uilc-b3 hr {\n border: none;\n border-top: 1px solid var(--b3-rule);\n margin: 38px 0;\n}\n\n@media (max-width: 768px) {\n .uilc-b3 { padding: 32px 5% 56px; }\n .uilc-b3 .b3-h1 { font-size: 1.9rem; }\n .uilc-b3 .b3-banner { flex-direction: column; gap: 12px; padding: 22px 20px; }\n .uilc-b3 .b3-banner .b3-big { font-size: 2.8rem; }\n .uilc-b3 .b3-cta { padding: 28px 18px; }\n .uilc-b3 .b3-share { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; }\n .uilc-b3 .b3-meta .b3-read { margin-left: 0; }\n .uilc-b3 .b3-fail { flex-direction: column; gap: 8px; }\n .uilc-b3 .b3-fail-num { width: auto; text-align: left; }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uilc-b3\">\n\n \n <div class=\"b3-meta\">\n <span class=\"b3-cat\">Business Strategy<\/span>\n <span class=\"b3-author\">Refiloe Mokgalaka<\/span>\n <span class=\"b3-date\">23 May 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"b3-read\">10 min read<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <h1 class=\"b3-h1\">Why Most Business Strategies Fail <em>(and How to Build One That Wins)<\/em><\/h1>\n <p class=\"b3-subtitle\">Despite the hours in strategy workshops and polished PowerPoint decks, most strategies never deliver the results they promise. Research consistently finds that between 60% and 90% of strategies fail to achieve their intended objectives. The problem isn’t strategy itself \u2014 it’s how strategies are conceived, communicated, and executed.<\/p>\n\n \n <div class=\"b3-banner\">\n <div class=\"b3-big\">60\u201390%<\/div>\n <div class=\"b3-banner-text\">\n <p>of all business strategies <strong>fail to achieve their intended objectives<\/strong> \u2014 not because strategy is irrelevant, but because it becomes a document instead of a discipline.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <div class=\"b3-share\">\n <span class=\"b3-share-label\">Share:<\/span>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/why-most-business-strategies-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins\/\" class=\"b3-sbtn b3-tw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">𝕏 Twitter<\/a>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/why-most-business-strategies-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins\/\" class=\"b3-sbtn b3-li\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in LinkedIn<\/a>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/why-most-business-strategies-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins\/\" class=\"b3-sbtn b3-fb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">f Facebook<\/a>\n <a href=\"mailto:?subject=Why Business Strategies Fail&body=https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/why-most-business-strategies-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins\/\" class=\"b3-sbtn b3-em\">\u2709 Email<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <h2>Part I: Why Most Strategies Fail<\/h2>\n\n <div class=\"b3-fail\">\n <div class=\"b3-fail-num\">1<\/div>\n <div class=\"b3-fail-body\">\n <h4>Lack of Strategic Clarity<\/h4>\n <p>A common reason for failure is the <strong>absence of a clear, coherent strategy<\/strong>. Many organisations confuse mission statements, visions, and objectives with strategy. Strategy is fundamentally about <strong>making choices<\/strong> \u2014 where to play, how to win, and how to allocate resources. When leadership can’t articulate the strategy in a single, understandable sentence, teams cannot align and execute it. <strong>Ambiguity breeds inaction.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"b3-fail\">\n <div class=\"b3-fail-num\">2<\/div>\n <div class=\"b3-fail-body\">\n <h4>Misalignment Between Strategy and Execution<\/h4>\n <p>A good strategy is worthless if it doesn’t inform <strong>day-to-day decisions, processes, and resource allocation<\/strong>. Too many strategies are developed in isolation from operational realities. When frontline teams don’t see how their work contributes to strategic goals, execution stalls. Closing this “strategy-to-operations chasm” requires ensuring that every level of the organisation understands the strategy \u2014 and has the tools and autonomy to act on it.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"b3-fail\">\n <div class=\"b3-fail-num\">3<\/div>\n <div class=\"b3-fail-body\">\n <h4>Failure to Adapt<\/h4>\n <p>Most strategies are designed for a stable world that no longer exists. <strong>Markets shift rapidly<\/strong>, technologies evolve, and competitive threats emerge overnight. When there’s no mechanism to <strong>review, adapt, or pivot<\/strong>, a strategy quickly becomes a relic. Organisations that fail to build strategic agility into their planning are often blindsided by change.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"b3-fail\">\n <div class=\"b3-fail-num\">4<\/div>\n <div class=\"b3-fail-body\">\n <h4>Lack of Ownership and Buy-In<\/h4>\n <p>Even the most well-designed strategy will fail if people don’t <strong>believe in it<\/strong> or <strong>understand how it applies to them<\/strong>. Strategies often fail because they’re developed by a small group of executives and handed down as directives. Ownership must be distributed. Frontline staff, middle managers, and cross-functional teams need to see themselves in the strategy. Without emotional and practical commitment from across the business, strategy remains theoretical.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"b3-fail\">\n <div class=\"b3-fail-num\">5<\/div>\n <div class=\"b3-fail-body\">\n <h4>Over-Reliance on Best Practices or Imitation<\/h4>\n <p>It’s tempting to copy what’s worked for competitors. But <strong>strategy is context-specific<\/strong>. What works for one organisation may not work for another due to differences in culture, capabilities, and timing. Following industry “best practices” blindly leads to <strong>generic strategies that fail to differentiate<\/strong>. Winning strategies emerge from deep insight into the organisation’s unique position.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"b3-cta\">\n <h3>Is Your Strategy Built to Succeed?<\/h3>\n <p>Our Strategic Growth practice helps organisations build strategies that are clear, execution-ready, and adaptive to change.<\/p>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting-info\/complimentary-strategy-session\" class=\"b3-cta-btn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Book Free Strategy Session \u2192<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <h2>Part II: How to Build a Strategy That Wins<\/h2>\n\n <p>A winning strategy is more than a plan \u2014 it’s a <strong>framework for decision-making<\/strong> that guides consistent, aligned action. Here’s a practical approach to developing and executing effective strategies:<\/p>\n\n <ul class=\"b3-win-list\">\n <li class=\"b3-win-item\">\n <span class=\"b3-win-n\">01<\/span>\n <div class=\"b3-win-body\">\n <h4>Start with Insight, Not Assumption<\/h4>\n <p>Build a deep understanding of the business environment \u2014 customer needs, internal capabilities, competitive dynamics, and potential disruptors. Data, feedback, and frontline intelligence should inform strategic direction. Avoid confirmation bias and seek out uncomfortable truths.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <li class=\"b3-win-item\">\n <span class=\"b3-win-n\">02<\/span>\n <div class=\"b3-win-body\">\n <h4>Define the Strategic Problem Clearly<\/h4>\n <p>Before building a strategy, define what you are trying to solve. Growth? Declining margins? Market entry? Digital disruption? Framing the right problem ensures the solution is relevant. Strategic ambiguity is dangerous \u2014 clarity is a prerequisite for effective action.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <li class=\"b3-win-item\">\n <span class=\"b3-win-n\">03<\/span>\n <div class=\"b3-win-body\">\n <h4>Make Focused, Deliberate Choices<\/h4>\n <p>Good strategy is about choosing what <em>not<\/em> to do as much as what to pursue. Define where you will play, how you will win, and what capabilities you must excel in. These choices form the backbone of differentiation and focus.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <li class=\"b3-win-item\">\n <span class=\"b3-win-n\">04<\/span>\n <div class=\"b3-win-body\">\n <h4>Align Structure, Culture, and Capabilities<\/h4>\n <p>Strategy execution depends on more than a well-defined plan. Are roles and processes designed to support the strategy? Do behaviours and mindsets reinforce strategic priorities? Do you have the skills and systems to deliver? Without this alignment, strategy remains aspirational.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <li class=\"b3-win-item\">\n <span class=\"b3-win-n\">05<\/span>\n <div class=\"b3-win-body\">\n <h4>Build a Cadence of Strategic Execution<\/h4>\n <p>Implement a rhythm of accountability and adaptation \u2014 quarterly reviews of key initiatives, real-time dashboards, feedback loops from customers and teams, and regular course corrections. Use tools like OKRs, strategy maps, and agile sprints to keep progress visible and responsive.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n\n \n <h2>Part III: Checklist for a Winning Strategy<\/h2>\n\n <p>Before launching your next strategic plan, run through this checklist honestly. If you can’t confidently answer “yes” to each point, revisit the foundation before you execute.<\/p>\n\n <div class=\"b3-check\">\n <h4>\u25c6 Your Pre-Launch Strategy Checklist<\/h4>\n <ul class=\"b3-check-list\">\n <li>The strategy is based on real-time insights and validated data<\/li>\n <li>Everyone from the C-suite to the frontline can summarise it simply<\/li>\n <li>Choices and trade-offs are clearly defined \u2014 including what we won’t do<\/li>\n <li>People, processes, and systems are aligned to enable execution<\/li>\n <li>A feedback mechanism exists to adapt the strategy when needed<\/li>\n <li>Ownership is distributed \u2014 not just held at the executive level<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n\n <h2>Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n <p>In today’s complex and fast-changing business landscape, <strong>strategy is not a one-off exercise \u2014 it’s a continuous leadership discipline.<\/strong> It requires clarity, focus, alignment, and adaptability.<\/p>\n\n <p>The organisations that thrive are those that treat strategy not as a document, but as a <strong>living framework<\/strong> that guides decisions and actions at every level of the business.<\/p>\n\n <blockquote>\n A winning strategy is clear. It’s understood. It’s acted on. And most importantly \u2014 it evolves.\n <\/blockquote>\n\n <div class=\"b3-cta\">\n <h3>Ready to Build a Strategy That Wins?<\/h3>\n <p>At Upscale Insightslock Consulting, we help organisations develop strategies that are clear, execution-ready, and built to adapt. Let’s build yours.<\/p>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting-info\/complimentary-strategy-session\" class=\"b3-cta-btn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Schedule Your Free Strategy Session \u2192<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <div class=\"b3-footer\">\n <h4 style=\"margin-bottom:14px;color:#1E4D38\">Related Resources<\/h4>\n <p style=\"margin-bottom:9px\">\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/strategic-growth\/\">Strategic Growth Advisory<\/a><\/p>\n <p style=\"margin-bottom:9px\">\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/change-transformation\/\">Change & Transformation Practice<\/a><\/p>\n <p style=\"margin-bottom:9px\">\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/operational-excellence\/\">Operational Excellence Practice<\/a><\/p>\n <p style=\"margin-bottom:9px\">\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/our-approach\/\">Our Proven Methodology<\/a><\/p>\n <div class=\"b3-tags\">\n <a href=\"#\" class=\"b3-tag\">#Business Strategy<\/a>\n <a href=\"#\" class=\"b3-tag\">#Strategic Planning<\/a>\n <a href=\"#\" class=\"b3-tag\">#Execution<\/a>\n <a href=\"#\" class=\"b3-tag\">#Leadership<\/a>\n <a href=\"#\" class=\"b3-tag\">#Organisational Alignment<\/a>\n <a href=\"#\" class=\"b3-tag\">#Growth<\/a>\n <a href=\"#\" class=\"b3-tag\">#Agility<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <hr>\n\n \n <div class=\"b3-share\">\n <span class=\"b3-share-label\">Share this article:<\/span>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/why-most-business-strategies-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins\/\" class=\"b3-sbtn b3-tw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">𝕏 Twitter<\/a>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/why-most-business-strategies-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins\/\" class=\"b3-sbtn b3-li\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in LinkedIn<\/a>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/why-most-business-strategies-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins\/\" class=\"b3-sbtn b3-fb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">f Facebook<\/a>\n <a href=\"mailto:?subject=Why Business Strategies Fail&body=https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/why-most-business-strategies-fail-and-how-to-build-one-that-wins\/\" class=\"b3-sbtn b3-em\">\u2709 Email<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Business Strategy Refiloe Mokgalaka 23 May 2025 10 min read Why Most Business Strategies Fail (and How to Build One That Wins) Despite the hours in strategy workshops and polished PowerPoint decks, most strategies never deliver the results they promise. Research consistently finds that between 60% and 90% of strategies fail to achieve their intended…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"hide","_kad_post_layout":"fullwidth","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogging"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1034,"href":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108\/revisions\/1034"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscaleinsightslockconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}