Why You Should Always Have a Marketing Strategy Before Spending a Dollar
Marketing can feel overwhelming.
One agency tells you that you need SEO.
Another swears by ads.
Someone else says social media is the answer.
So you sign up for a monthly subscription, lock in a contract, and hope for the best.
That’s where most marketing goes wrong.
Before you invest in any form of marketing, you need a clear strategy, not a subscription.
Marketing Without a Plan Is Just Guessing
Jumping straight into marketing without a strategy is like starting a road trip without a map.
You might move fast…
But you have no idea if you’re going in the right direction.
Without a strategy, businesses often:
Spend money on the wrong channels
Chase tactics instead of goals
Get stuck in long-term subscriptions that don’t deliver
Can’t tell what’s working (or what isn’t)
A strategy gives your marketing purpose and direction.
A Strategy Session Forces the Right Questions
A proper marketing strategy session isn’t about selling you services, it’s about clarity.
It helps answer questions like:
Who are we actually trying to reach?
What problem do we solve better than anyone else?
Where does our audience spend their time?
What does success look like in 3, 6, or 12 months?
When these answers are clear, marketing decisions become much easier, and far less risky.
Not Every Business Needs Everything
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is thinking they need all the marketing channels.
In reality:
Some businesses thrive on SEO
Others rely heavily on referrals and brand trust
Some need short-term leads from paid ads
Others need long-term visibility and authority
A strategy helps you identify:
What to focus on now
What to ignore for later
Where your money will have the biggest impact
This prevents wasted spend and shiny-object syndrome.
Subscriptions Should Support the Strategy, Not Replace It
Marketing subscriptions can be useful… when they’re built on a plan.
The problem starts when businesses:
Commit before understanding their goals
Lock into contracts without benchmarks
Pay monthly without knowing what success looks like
A strategy ensures that:
Every service has a purpose
Every dollar spent has a goal
Performance can be measured properly
Subscriptions should serve your strategy, not become the strategy.
Planning Saves Money (Even If It Feels Like an Extra Step)
Some business owners skip strategy because they see it as an added cost.
In reality, strategy saves money by:
Avoiding unnecessary services
Reducing trial-and-error spending
Preventing long-term commitments that don’t work
Creating realistic expectations from the start
A few hours of planning can save months, or even years, of wasted marketing spend.
Strategy Creates Confidence and Alignment
When your marketing is built on a clear plan:
Decisions feel easier
Teams and agencies stay aligned
Results are easier to track
You know why you’re doing what you’re doing
Instead of hoping marketing works, you start managing it.
Final Thought
Marketing works best when it’s intentional.
Before you sign up for subscriptions, commit to campaigns, or invest serious money, take the time to step back and plan.
A marketing strategy session isn’t a delay.
It’s the foundation that makes everything else work.