Marketing Without a Plan? Here's Why You Need a Strategy Now

Kristina Stubblefield: [00:00:00] Have you ever felt like you're pouring time and money into marketing, but not seeing the results you need? Or, maybe business is booming right now, but you're not sure how to keep the momentum going. Whether you're struggling to get leads or want to maintain your success, there's one thing that can make all the difference.

A strategy.

 Welcome to Simplified Solutions, your go to resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking practical advice, innovative strategies, and simple solutions for business, marketing, and technology. I'm your host, Kristina Stubblefield. If you're eager to take your business to greater heights, then you're in the right place.

We're here to help you unleash your business's untapped potential, boost your visibility, and maximize your investments. Let's dive into the world of Simplified Solutions. Stay tuned, [00:01:00] and let's simplify success together.

Here's the thing. I've been doing this for years, and one of the most common mistakes I see businesses make is jumping into marketing without a strategy, and I'm here to tell you it's not just small businesses.

I have seen this go on for medium businesses as well as nonprofits and organizations. They're either scrambling when things get slow. Or trying to piece together tactics on the fly. Trust me, whether you're just starting out, trying to grow, or even thriving, you need a strategy. If you don't, you're likely wasting time, money, and energy.

Today, I'm going to break down why having a strategy is essential, how it can help both struggling and successful [00:02:00] businesses and share how you can build one that works for you. Are you ready? Let's get started. 

First, let's talk about something I've seen over and over again. Many businesses Only turn to marketing when they're desperate. Maybe sales have slowed down or they need more leads or they're like, okay, now it's time to market. This is a reactive approach. And while it's understandable, it's also risky. Your marketing out of urgency. Without a plan, and often throwing tactics together in hopes something will work.

What happens next? You're left scrambling to patch things up when you could have avoided the situation with a clear strategy in place. Here's what a proactive approach looks [00:03:00] like. Even if your business is thriving right now, having a strategy ensures you stay ahead. A solid plan means that you're not just marketing when you need sales, but you're consistently keeping your brand top of mind, staying visible in search, and keeping your online presence fresh.

This is what helps you maintain momentum. Stay competitive and keep growing in the longterm. 

Now I want to dive into why a strategy is so crucial. No matter where your business is at, there are a few key elements to this. First clarity on goals. The first thing I ask my clients when they come to me. What are you trying to achieve? It's not just about getting more customers. Are you trying to build brand awareness, drive [00:04:00] leads, increase sales? A strategy helps you focus on those goals and align your efforts with what matters most to your business. 

The next one, understanding your audience. So, This is another huge piece of the puzzle is knowing exactly who you're trying to reach without a strategy, businesses often waste time marketing to people who aren't their ideal customers. With a plan, you know who you're targeting and what messaging will resonate with them. 

The next one, efficient use of resources. If you don't have a plan, you might spend money on ads that don't deliver or spend hours posting on social media without seeing results. A strategy helps you optimize your marketing budget and ensures that you're [00:05:00] spending time and money on the right activities.

The next one, tracking and adjusting. When you have a strategy in place, it's easy to track what's working and what isn't.

It's not about setting it and forgetting it. You need to be able to adjust your approach as you see results come in. This is how you avoid wasting money and missing opportunities.

Without a strategy, businesses often tell me they feel like they're spinning their wheels. They're doing a lot of marketing, but nothing seems to stick. That's because they're jumping from one thing to another without a roadmap. Now, here's a big misconception I hear all the time. 

Now here's a misconception I hear all the time. I didn't know I needed a strategist. Or, I didn't know I needed a plan. Another common one. How much does [00:06:00] working with a strategist cost? Well here's the truth. How much is it costing you not to have a strategy? When you don't have an expert helping you, you could be throwing money down the drain with ineffective marketing campaigns.

But it's not just about money. It's also about the time and energy you're spending on marketing that isn't bringing in results. As a business owners, we all know that time is money.

I recently had a client who came to me wanting to run digital ads, but when I dug deeper, I found out that they had no strategy in place, no consistent social media plan and their website wasn't optimized for leads. As a matter of fact, some of the links and pages were not working. If we had just jumped into running ads.

They would have wasted money because their foundation wasn't there. [00:07:00] So instead, we worked on getting the basics right first. Creating a strategy, getting their online presence in order, and then launching a campaign. Now, they're seeing a return on their ad spend because we took the time and laid the groundwork.

And here's something really important to understand. Strategy isn't just for businesses that are struggling. If things are going great for you, that's fantastic. But how are you ensuring that you stay visible?

How are you staying top of mind for your audience or top of search results? A strategy helps you maintain and build on that success. It's not just about fixing problems. It's about keeping your momentum going and growing in the future. The digital landscape is always changing. Social media [00:08:00] platforms update their algorithms.

New competitors enter the market. Consumer behavior shifts. Without a proactive strategy, You might get left behind, but with a plan, you're always a step ahead. 

So what makes our approach different? When you work with us, we don't just hand you a marketing plan and say, good luck. We actually sit down with you in a strategy session, whether in person or by zoom to understand where your business is.

What your goals are and what's already working or not working for you. We call this creating a roadmap for your next three, six, or even 12 months. But here's the best part. You're in control. 

You can take that road map and implement it yourself. Take that information and put it into practice [00:09:00] or you can choose to have us help you with maybe one or two pieces or even work with you as your full service marketing partner. We're here as much or as little as you need. Our goal is to help you maximize your marketing dollars by giving you a plan that works.

If you're listening to this and thinking, I need a strategy, then let's talk. Whether you're just getting started, trying to grow or looking to maintain your success. Having a solid strategy is the key to making the most of your marketing budget. If you want, you can visit my website to schedule a strategy session with me, and we'll work together to create a roadmap for your business.

Looking to just have a conversation first? Schedule a discovery call with [00:10:00] me. Remember, a good strategy saves you time, money, and energy in the long run. So don't wait until you're desperate for leads or sales. Let's get proactive about growing your business. 

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Until next [00:11:00] time, remember, there are always simplified solutions for your business.