Entrepreneurs: Ditch Your Marketing Plan and Focus on Your Game Plan
Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: you're working to get your idea out there, so you sit down to write a marketing plan… because that is what responsible business owners are supposed to do. But what starts out as a valiant effort to lay out …
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Popular Questions
Why should entrepreneurs ditch a traditional marketing plan and focus on a game plan?
A marketing plan can become a rigid list of tactics, while a game plan keeps attention on the business outcome and the actions required to reach it. Entrepreneurs should define a clear target, identify the highest-impact activities, and adjust their approach as results and market conditions change. This keeps marketing connected to execution instead of turning it into paperwork.
What is the difference between a marketing plan and a game plan for entrepreneurs?
A marketing plan usually outlines channels, campaigns, schedules, and budgets. An entrepreneur’s game plan combines those activities with specific goals, daily priorities, decision rules, and measurable results. Use the game-plan approach by choosing one primary objective, assigning actions to it, and reviewing progress regularly.
How can entrepreneurs create a game plan without abandoning marketing?
Start by selecting the audience, offer, and business result that matter most right now. Then choose only the marketing activities that directly support that result, such as consistent outreach, useful content, follow-up, or referral conversations. Track conversations, leads, conversions, and revenue so you can keep what works and remove distractions.
What should entrepreneurs prioritize when they focus on their game plan instead of a marketing plan?
Prioritize activities that create meaningful business movement, including reaching qualified prospects, improving the offer, following up, and serving existing customers well. Set a small number of weekly commitments and complete them before adding new tactics or platforms. At the end of each week, compare the actions taken with the results produced and revise the next set of priorities.