Winging it is for birds, not brands.
Picture this: You're at a casino, a pile of chips in your hand. You saunter to the roulette table, blindfold yourself, and then throw all your chips down, cross your finger, and pray you hit it big. Sounds a little foolish, right?
That's precisely what you do if you're diving into the marketing arena with no strategy. Seriously, stop. Now.
Why We're All About That Strategy Life
Here at Storyteller Wordsmith, we're not about to serve you some half-baked, lukewarm marketing scheme.
Oh, hell no!
We start with strategy, NOT products. Why? Because winging it is for seagulls fighting over a bag of chips, not for brands seeking to make a splash.
Let's Dance with the Elephants in the Room 🐘
I mean, strategy makes the world go ‘round, right? So why do so many founders and businesses throw caution to the wind when it comes to marketing? We’ve heard a lot of reasons. Here are just a few of the ones we loathe:
"Marketing strategy? Ain't nobody got time for that." – Yeah, and I bet nobody’s got time for profit either, right?
"Throw enough stuff at the wall, something will stick." – It’s not spaghetti. We’re talking about your bloody livelihood!
"It's all too complex." – Wolf in sheep's clothing, my friend; it's simpler than your IKEA flat-pack furniture.
Ask yourself this: Would you rather spend a bit more upfront on products with staying power or keep coughing up cash for one-shot wonders requiring constant change? Taking the time to iron out a strategy upfront can keep you from a series of marketing campaigns that crash and burn.
So, when should you develop a marketing strategy?
Yesterday….
Truth is, if you don’t have one, you’re already late to the game. Here's the deal: The digital age waits for no one. Trends move at the speed of a teenager on TikTok, but there are definitely certain times in your business lifecycle when it makes sense to stop, scan the battlefield, and plan your next move.
At the Crack of Dawn, When Your Business Hatchling Breaks Its Shell
Also known as right from the get-go. When your business is just a hatchling, fresh out of the shell, that's when you need to start. Before you've even picked out the office coffee machine or decided on the font for your logo. A solid marketing strategy helps you define who you are, who needs to know, and how (and what) you’ll scream it from the virtual rooftops.
When You’ve Hit a Wall Faster Than a Misguided Pigeon
Hit a sales plateau? Marketing efforts fizzling out like a bad fireworks display? That's a neon sign blinking: "Time for a strategy overhaul!"
Don't just sit there and lament. Use this as an opportunity to reassess, reinvigorate, and relaunch your efforts with a precision that would make a Navy SEAL team nod in respect.
Before Every Major Campaign, Like a General Prepping for Battle
Launching a new product? Rolling out a service update? Hell, releasing an absolute fire blog post?
Don't wing it.
Every major move should be backed by a strategy as detailed as a heist plan in an Ocean's Eleven movie. Know every angle and anticipate every outcome. Then go in, guns blazing.
Seasonally, Because Not Even Your Marketing Strategy Likes to Wear Winter Coats in July
Markets change. People change. Shoot, Google's algorithm changes more often than some people change their sheets. Reviewing your strategy seasonally keeps you on your toes, ready to pivot. Keep your strategy fresh, relevant, and dressed for the occasion.
We’re a little unorthodox around here and like to do this based on the moon's phases, but you could go basic and reassess quarterly. Either way, seasonal audits are a great time to pull out the ‘ole data analytics and do a deep dive into what’s working and what’s not.
When the Competition Starts Sniffing Around Your Turf
Notice the competition starting to look over your fence more often? It's not because they admire your lawn. A fresh marketing strategy can be the moat that keeps those pesky competitors at bay, or better yet, turns their audience into your audience. Who's the king of the castle now?
So, there it is, no sugar-coating, no beating around the bush. The time to develop a marketing strategy is not "someday" or "eventually." It's a critical, foundational piece of your business’ success puzzle, and it's time to implement it. Stop playing marketing roulette with your business. Get strategic, get serious, and for the love of all things profitable, start now.
✨ Ready to become the Michelangelo of marketing strategies?
Roll up those sleeves, and let’s break it down:
Define Your Goals
Look, pal, without a destination, you're just a rudderless ship, aimless as a tumbleweed in the desert wind. What's the goal here? Brand recognition? Sales? Crippling your competition with fear? Fine-tune your goals until they're as sharp as a cat's claws. And make them bold. "Shoot for the moon; if you miss, at least you're amongst the stars."
Know Thy Audience
Sure, their demographic data makes them look like a sweet old granny named Ethel, but they're not. They're real, complicated people. Their lives aren't all knitting patterns and hard candies. They've got personal trials, secret desires, and a questionable amount of reality TV consumption. So dive deeper. Understand what makes them tick, what grinds their gears, and what they're secretly googling at 3 AM.
Craft Your Message
Your brand story shouldn't need a decoder ring or a CliffNotes version. Focus on telling your hero’s story (aka your client) and communicating what you do clearly and concisely. Drop the jargon and have a conversation with your audience.
Pick Your Poison
Whether you're into the heavy lifting of SEO, the suave moves of content marketing, or the consistent chatter of social media – pick what works for you, not what’s hot on the biz blog du jour. This isn’t about playing Simon Says with the so-called 'gurus.' It’s about what’s the best conduit for your message.
Set Your Scoreboard
If you're not measuring your efforts, how will you know what’s working? By getting in touch with your spiritual side? Nope. Set your metrics: website traffic, conversion rates, social shares, those delightful cha-chings on your sales dashboard. You're not just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. You're in the game to win. And if you’re not keeping score, have you really even played?
Adapt and Conquer
A good strategy should help you limit the amount of pivot you’ll need in your business but also allows for flexibility and agility. So stay alert and be ready to change course when necessary. Pivot, reposition, adapt and conquer.
And that’s the meat and potatoes of it, folks. No shortcuts, no excuses. Get yourself a marketing strategy that does the heavy lifting for you.
Don't just stand there gawking; get to strategizing. Your business will thank you with more zeroes in your bank account – and I’m not talking about the ones before the decimal. Let's cut through the crap and make your marketing as formidable as a Norse god on a caffeine binge. Onward!
Look, guys – we know there's a lot of noise out there—a lot of half-promises, shiny baubles, and quick fixes. Let's cut the crap and build a marketing strategy that's as unique as your business. After all, your brand isn't some basic off-the-rack job; it deserves a tailor-made strategy that fits like a glove. If you’re ready for a marketing agency that takes that approach, then book a call, and let’s get talking.
