Last week I wrote an article about two girls with iPhones, and how they demonstrate the changing landscape of marketing. In my opinion it shows how the movement is changing toward a future of Strategic Marketing because it’s no longer a black and white marketplace.
Instead, you need to combine Creative and Strategic Thinking, and create something that will connect with the customers you desire. This is by no means an easy thing to achieve, and one thing the previous article didn’t provide was a solution.
Now, I’m not saying I can solve this in a single Blog Post, because the truth is I can’t. It goes much deeper than this, although you will find out more in my Free Ebook ‘What Is Strategic Marketing: The Ultimate Balancing Act’.
What I will try to do is create three ideas to help every business take a new idea and turn it into something that works in the modern day. It’s all about asking the right questions, and tailoring things around your true needs. I don’t care whether you’re B2B, or B2C, or some kind of hybrid; these three simple ideas will get your ideas on the right track.
Welcome To The World Of Strategic Marketing
- Always Question The Idea
- Does It Help Your Customer
- Get Creative, Buddy
Always Question The Idea
I speak to people all the time with great ideas, and often they really are great. They’re fun, or amusing, or very clever indeed; but I always find myself asking why?
The thing about Strategic Marketing, is that’s it’s a very rational process. You always have to ask yourself questions:
– Why Are we doing this?
– Will this actually help us?
– What will this achieve?
A great idea is great, but it only becomes relevant if it works. For example, I think the idea of being transporting myself from my bed to the shower without moving is a fantastic idea. Until I manage to alter Physics though, well, it remains nothing but that.
Does It Help Your Customer
In the same manner of questioning the idea, you must ask about it’s true purpose. The future of marketing is all about engagement, as this is what modern day people crave.
Whether they’re buying pens or computers, they want to make the process as fun as possible. The previous article I wrote on this discusses how technology has brought people closer and more open to interactive experiences. Does your idea engage your customer, or can it be manipulated somehow to really involve your audience?
It doesn’t matter what business you’re in, there are ways to engage with the people you desire. For example, you could easily go to a trade show and set up a stall and stand there with leaflets. Or you could go the extra mile and create an experience where people can relax, engage, and generally find out about who you are.
So, does it? Does your idea help your customer? If not get brainstorming and find a way to make this happen.
Get Creative, Buddy
Earlier I said Strategic Marketing is rational, but that’s the past. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a very rational process that requires a lot of probing, but the future of Strategic Marketing requires a creative pinch at each and every step.
If you come up with a great idea that will help your brand and help your customer, dig a little further and discover a way to make it truly memorable.
– Make it colourful!
– Incorporate technology!
– Create something that makes people go WOW!
Creativity + Strategy = 21st Century Success. This is something I go on about a great deal, but it’s because I truly believe it.
There you have it ladies and gents, that is how you can alter your outlook to embrace Strategic Marketing. By no means does the hard work end here. There are many more things to ask and many more things to consider. I cover a wider variety of these things in my Free Ebook ‘What Is Strategic Marketing: The Ultimate Balancing Act’, but I feel these three tips will set you on your way.
What do you think?
Are you a Strategic Marketer who thinks I’m crazy?
Say it how it is below…
Turndog Millionaire – @turndog_million
