Why We Think Strategy is the Most Important Thing

Children’s author Dr. Seuss taught us a lesson in tolerance with this famous quote. But the same goes for businesses. Even if your business is small, you probably still want to be taken seriously. An essential way to do so is to strategize and have written out goals and mile markers.

It is that important. And according to Forbes, business plans — which should always include a marketing plan — are essential.

What’s with all this strategy?

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”

It’s very important in marketing to be consistent with both your brand and your communication. That’s why checking in on Facebook or blogging on rare occasion doesn’t work. Consumers probably aren’t going to pay much attention to your brand if you almost never have any interesting content — or, conversely, if you bombard them with content. And data shows that consistency in content marketing works: according to HubSpot, companies that blog 15 times or more a month see five times the increase of traffic on their website.

That’s why, as Dr. Seuss tells us, mindfulness of how (and how frequently) you’re presenting your business is important.

Why you can’t just wing it

“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So…get on your way!”

While it’s becoming increasingly clear to many businesses that social media is an essential part of operations, social media is a good example of part of a marketing strategy that is left lacking actual strategy. Businesses that do not have a well thought out approach as to how to use social media are pretty likely to be hearing crickets on the other end — so to speak.

However, the potential for greatness is there.

Dr. Seuss can teach us another business lesson here — that good ideas that work take preparation and brainstorming.

For example: if you own a boutique clothing store, you probably want to have content on the days where things begin to thaw out — for a Pinterest board of spring outfits or a blog post/email newsletter on the season’s offerings. Why? Because people will be looking for what to wear and how to wear it when the season comes.

Your dose of marketing reality: if you own a business, large or small, not having a marketing strategy won’t do at all.