There’s loads of buzz words around marketing, aren’t there? Like funnels, thought leadership, and big data. And then there’s a word I use a lot. Strategy. But what does that mean? What does a marketing strategist do? And how can it help your business?
Many businesses work with marketing strategists to bring structure and direction to their marketing. A marketing strategist is someone who helps businesses plan and prioritise their marketing so it supports real business goals.
Forget about the other buzz words. Firstly, let me explain what strategy is and how it helps businesses raise their game.
In the dictionary, strategy is defined as ‘a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.’ We’re all familiar with that aren’t we? But how does it apply in marketing terms? It’s simple…a marketing strategy works towards achieving a business’s long and short-term goals. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
What do marketing strategists do?
Through a process of analysis, understanding your business and objectives, a marketing strategist creates (and implements) a plan that’s going to make your marketing worthwhile and get results. Here are some of the areas a marketing strategy looks at:
Your objectives
Does your business have some goals? Perhaps you want to sell more of a product or service. Maybe you have something new you’d like to launch. Maybe you’d like to grow your business with existing clients. If you haven’t sat down and worked out what your goals are, then a marketing strategy will focus on these first and foremost. Because if we don’t know what you’re aiming for, what’s the point of your marketing?
Analysis
This is the bit where a marketing strategist will look at what’s going on in the wider world that may affect your business and marketing. They’ll look at what’s going on inside your business and with your industry and competitors too. It all helps form a picture of what could help achieve your goals and what could hinder them. It’s a way of pre-empting and planning ahead too. A marketing strategist will also look at what marketing you’ve been doing and what your online presence is like.
People, people, people
And then there’s the people who are going to buy from you. Work with you. Or use your services. A marketing strategist will have a good look at who these people are and why they’re likely to buy from you. They get to know their demographics, their geographics and all sorts of other information…but the main thing we want to understand is what are their pain points and why do they need to work with you or use your products and services?
Recommendations
So what does a marketing strategist do with all this information? This is where experienced marketing strategists turn insights into practical marketing actions.They pull it all together and make recommendations of tactics you can use to make your marketing work towards your goals. It’ll include things like social media content and email marketing. And it might even include more traditional methods, such as direct emails and advertising.
A time scaled plan
Whatever your marketing strategist suggests, it’s great if this information is provided in an easy to digest plan of action. If you work with me, I provide a critical path to get projects moving along. And because it’s planned with your budget, ability and capacity in mind, it feels far less overwhelming than before.
What marketing strategists bring to your business
So there you have it. These are the things that a marketing strategist will do for you and your business.
Would you like to feel that your marketing is in control and working towards your business and even life goals? If so, please get in touch.
Need a marketing strategist for your business?
If your marketing feels a bit “let’s give this a go and see what happens”, a marketing strategist can help you step back, look at the bigger picture, and create a plan that actually supports your business goals.
If you’d like a sounding board for your marketing strategy, take a look at how I work with businesses.
Marketing strategist FAQs
A marketing strategist is someone who helps a business plan and prioritise its marketing activity so it supports the wider business goals. Marketing strategists analyse the market, identify opportunities, understand customer behaviour, and recommend the most effective marketing actions to take.
The definition of a marketing strategist is a professional who develops and guides a company’s marketing strategy. Marketing strategists look at business goals, target audiences, competitors, and market conditions to create a clear marketing direction and plan.
Marketing strategists help businesses step back from day-to-day marketing tasks and look at the bigger picture. They review what’s currently happening, identify opportunities for growth, and recommend practical marketing actions that support the business’s goals.
A business strategist focuses on the overall direction and growth of a company. They look at the wider business model, competitive positioning, revenue opportunities, and long-term goals to help guide strategic decisions.
While a business strategist focuses on the whole organisation, marketing strategists concentrate specifically on how marketing supports business growth, customer acquisition, and brand positioning.
Many businesses bring in a marketing strategist when their marketing feels busy but isn’t clearly supporting their business goals. A marketing strategist helps you step back, look at the bigger picture, and decide where your time and budget should be focused.
Working with a marketing strategist can help you prioritise the right marketing activities, avoid wasting effort on things that don’t support your goals, and create a plan that fits the stage your business is at.
