In this episode, I dive deep into what a marketing strategy actually is and how to build one that works for your business. I'm breaking down the roadmap that takes you from where you are now (Point A) to where you want to be (Point B), and why having this documented is crucial for consistency and team communication. This isn't about creating a document to collect digital dust – it's about building a strategic foundation that saves you time, money, and energy while keeping everything intentional.

Key Takeaways:

• Your marketing strategy is your roadmap that bridges the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, requiring a clear audit of your current state and defined vision for your goals
• Strategy prevents reactive marketing by giving you clear boundaries, intentional activities, and the ability to troubleshoot when something isn't working instead of just throwing tactics at the wall
• There's a difference between ideal and realistic strategy – it's okay to build your dream marketing plan in phases based on your current budget and capacity constraints
• Content strategy is how you talk within your marketing channels – your marketing strategy defines what you're doing, while content strategy determines how you're positioning and messaging within those channels
• Documentation is essential for consistency and delegation – keeping strategy in your head makes it nearly impossible to stay consistent or effectively communicate with team members

Timestamps:

[00:40] - Introduction to building detailed marketing strategy

[01:20] - What a marketing strategy actually is and why it matters

[02:20] - Understanding Point A (current state) and Point B (goals) in your strategy

[03:10] - Breaking down the components: goals, vision, marketing channels, and tactics

[04:20] - The difference between marketing channels and marketing tactics

[04:30] - Content strategy: messaging, positioning, and content pillars

[05:00] - Action plans: one-off projects vs. ongoing optimization

[05:40] - Why documented strategy prevents inconsistency and team confusion

[06:20] - Setting clear boundaries and staying motivated with intentional marketing

[07:30] - How strategy helps you troubleshoot and problem-solve marketing issues

[08:40] - Why intentionality saves time, money, and energy in marketing

[09:20] - Starting with goals: how business objectives drive marketing decisions

[10:10] - Competitor analysis: finding gaps and differentiation opportunities

[11:50] - Connecting offers and services to sales funnel development

[12:30] - Balancing marketing channels with budget and time capacity

[13:10] - Building ideal vs. realistic marketing strategy in phases

[14:10] - Content strategy: pillars, categories, and target market relevance

[15:30] - Scheduling and repurposing content across channels

[16:50] - Free strategy workbook and course resources

Referenced Links:

• ⁠⁠Free Strategy Plan Workbook⁠⁠ - High-level marketing strategy creation guide that's perfect for DIYing!

• ⁠⁠Marketing for Success- The Course⁠⁠ - (PROMO CODE: PODCAST) $357 self-paced marketing course with ongoing Slack community support (best for service-based businesses, adaptable for e-commerce)

• ⁠⁠Work With Me⁠⁠ - One-off strategy calls and ongoing consulting options

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Have questions or topics you'd love to hear about? I want to hear from you! This isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. There are millions of ways to grow a business, and I'm here to help you find what works best for you.

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ashleydreager.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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