Realising the need for a marketing strategist can stem from various challenges and observations within a business’s operational or strategic framework. The decision to engage a marketing strategist often comes when businesses encounter specific problems or seek to enhance certain aspects of their marketing efforts.
In the Bauhaus spirit, where form follows function and every line, colour, and shape holds purpose, we approach the art of identifying indicators signaling the necessity for a marketing strategist. Through the lens of a Bauhaus artist, it is understood that simplicity and rationality guides the art on the canvas of our business endeavours.
Here are several key indicators that suggest the need for a marketing strategist:
Stagnant or Declining Sales
A clear sign that marketing strategies may not be working effectively is when a business notices that sales are plateauing or decreasing, despite having a viable product or service.
Just like a Bauhaus artist understand the lack of direction on the palette As artists can be seen as a vivid spectator of ideas, yet without a cohesive direction, the vision becomes muddled. A marketing strategist, can discern and align these hues, ensuring that each stroke contributes to a harmonious composition.
Low Return on Marketing Investments
If the current marketing efforts are not yielding a satisfactory return on investment (ROI), it may indicate that the strategies employed are not effective or well-targeted.
The Composition is Not Resonating: The Bauhaus taught us the importance of structures and systems in creating resonance with the observer. If the business message is not connecting, if the geometry of the communication fails to engage, it is indicative of the absence of a strategic underpinning. A strategist can recalibrate this approach, ensuring the message not only resonates and also endures.
Lack of Clear Marketing Strategy
A business might realize it lacks a cohesive, strategic marketing plan. This means there’s no clear roadmap or set of objectives guiding their marketing efforts, making it challenging to achieve specific goals.
The Texture of the Medium is Monotonous: In the quest for innovation, a monotonous medium signals the need for rejuvenation. A marketing strategist brings the texture of diversity in tactics and channels, enriching the tapestry of the reach with variegated techniques that capture and captivate.
Difficulty in Differentiating from Competitors
If a business feels lost in a saturated market and is struggling to differentiate itself effectively from competitors, a marketing strategist can help clarify unique value propositions.
The Foreground is Overshadowing the Background – At times, the focus narrows too much on the immediate, obscuring the vast potential lying in our peripheral vision. A strategist guides a gaze towards a holistic view, ensuring that both the foreground and the background contribute to a balanced and impactful artwork.
Poor Online Presence or Digital Marketing Performance
In an increasingly digital world, struggling with online visibility or digital marketing effectiveness is a common reason for turning to a marketing strategist.
The Canvas Remains Unseen in the Gallery – The greatest of artworks can remain unnoticed without the right placement in the gallery. Similarly, no matter the strength of the product or service, without strategic positioning and promotion, it remains unseen by the target audience. A marketing strategist ensures the work is seen and engaging for the right audience.
Limited Internal Resources or Expertise
Companies, especially small to medium-sized ones, may not have the bandwidth or expertise in-house to develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy.
Resource and Expertise Constraints in Compact Frameworks – Small to medium enterprises may find themselves constrained by limited internal capabilities or expertise, hindering their ability to craft and implement a holistic marketing strategy within the Bauhaus ethos of functionality and simplicity.
Ineffective Target Market Engagement
Problems with engaging the target market effectively can signal a misalignment between the marketing message and the audience’s needs or expectations.
Disconnect in Audience Engagement – Inefficacies in reaching and resonating with the intended audience may indicate a discord between the marketing narrative and the audience’s anticipations or necessities, a challenge against the Bauhaus principle of form following function in communication.
Objective Perspective and Innovative Ideas
Often, businesses seek a marketing strategist to gain an outsider’s perspective, bringing in fresh ideas and innovative solutions to challenging problems.
The Critics and Patrons are Speaking – Feedback, be it from the critics or the patrons, contains valuable insights. At a crossroad, unable to decipher the critiques or to enact upon the praises, a strategist can interpret these signals, guiding businesses towards refinement and excellence.
When businesses experience these or similar challenges, it may be time to consider working with a marketing strategist. A strategist can provide a comprehensive analysis of the current state of marketing efforts, identify areas for improvement, and develop a plan to achieve the desired business outcomes. This strategic guidance can be invaluable for companies looking to navigate complex markets, differentiate themselves from competitors, and achieve sustainable growth.
In true Bauhaus tradition, where every artistic endeavour is an opportunity to fuse beauty with utility, the indicators for a marketing strategist reveal themselves as essential components to enhance current communications to enable a flow of form that follows function.