5 Questions You Need to Ask Yourself to Build a Strong Marketing Strategy
Marketing strategy.
While some of us love the term (cough *our team* cough) it can make others want to hide under a rock. And we get it.
It sounds difficult and scary…but two things.
1. It’s not so bad when you break down creating a strategy into pieces (we promise)
2. It’s almost always unavoidable if you want to scale and uplevel your business
“How do I build a marketing strategy for my business that actually WORKS?”
We’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve gotten this question, and the honest answer is that it’s a little different for everyone. So, to help you craft a marketing strategy that grows your brand and fills up your calendar with ideal clients you’re excited to work with, we’re going to do a little exercise.
Grab a pen and paper or download my FREE marketing strategy workbook here, so you can work through these questions. And no, we’re not looking for perfection!
1. Who do I WANT to work with? AKA your target audience
This one is reallllyyyy important. Why work with people that are a total mismatch and drive you crazy!? Think through what your dream client would be like.
Would they be a service-based business owner, or do they sell products?
What industry are they in?
How much do they tend to invest in the services you offer?
What kind of problems do they need solved in their business?
What qualities do they have that make you want to work with them?
Get granular!
2. What do I want to accomplish in my business?
Whether you’re trying to make a million bucks a month or $1,000 – get crystal clear on what you want out of your business. Here are some things we hear from fellow entrepreneurs – write these down if they apply to you.
Financial freedom
Location freedom
A flexible schedule
A way to build generational wealth
Praise and attention (no judgment here)
Fulfilling a passion/mission
Knowing what you want to do will help you figure out what you need to do to make it happen. The way you would approach marketing to build a five-figure business versus a seven-figure business are going to be different, even if there’s some overlap.
3. Why am I the best person to work with in my industry?
Let’s face it, the online entrepreneur space can feel crowded. But instead of being overwhelmed by the competition, take a minute to jot down the ways YOU are the best one for that ideal client. Maybe it’s your background or education, maybe it’s your track record, method, or even your personality. Understanding that will help you to craft strategic message that calls attention to that differentiator.
4. Where does my ideal client hang out?
Is your ideal client always scrolling on TikTok or are you more likely to find them flipping through a paper magazine? Put yourself in their shoes and think about their average day. What media do they consume? Where do they spend their time online? There’s also a TON of data out there on where different generations and groups are spending their time consuming content.
Once you’ve determined where they hang out, you then know where you need to be too! This will help you home in on specific communications channels you can hyperfocus on, instead of spreading yourself too thin and trying to be everywhere at once.
5. How will I define success?
Success looks a little different to everyone. There’s the standard “make money” goal for entrepreneurs but get more specific. “I want to make $1 million in revenue” or “I want to sell X membership slots in my group program”. Knowing what success looks like to you will help you not only know when you’ve attained it but will help you work backwards in identifying what tactics and investment you need to spend in order to get there. Pick a timeframe for achieving it; I often build my business goals around each calendar year.
While these are 5 questions you need to be asking to build a strong marketing strategy, they aren’t the only ones! If you haven’t already, grab my free guide with these (and more) questions to help you build your marketing strategy.
P.S. Want an effective strategy that converts but don’t have the time or desire to build out the strategy on your own? Let’s hop on a quick call to talk about how we can create a marketing strategy report and provide fractional CMO support to help your business grow!