Stop wasting time: Make your strategy work SMART

Let’s be real, if you haven’t taken a moment to think about your strategy, you’re probably spinning your wheels.

A great strategy isn’t just about working hard; it’s about working SMART.

Being SMART means being specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-based, but most importantly, it means having a clear goal to aim for.

Ready, Set, RUN.

Imagine you’re about to take an exciting road trip. You head to the car rental place, eager to hit the road. The attendant asks, “What kind of car do you need? A sports car? A minivan? A dune buggy?”

Wait… How do you know which car to pick if you don’t know where you’re going?
You grab the first car you see and zoom onto the motorway. But… do you go north or south? Do you need to stop for petrol? Grab a snack? Will you need to take a break?

With no plan, you’re making random decisions on the fly. It’s stressful, overwhelming, and one wrong turn could send you miles off course.

The smarter approach

Take a step back. Let’s say you’re in London, and your goal is to reach Edinburgh.

This time, you step into the car rental place with a plan. Since it’s just you and a friend, you choose a comfortable yet fuel-efficient car that will get you there smoothly, with ample space for Haribo and a massive bag of Maltesers.

Now, every decision, route, stops, and even the playlist becomes easier because you know exactly where you’re headed.

Oh no, there’s a roadblock

The M1 is closed at Sheffield (not surprising, honestly).

If you didn’t have a clear goal, this would be a major crisis. But because you know you’re heading to Edinburgh, you can adjust your route. Maybe you take a scenic detour. Maybe you swap the car for a train or even a quick flight if time is tight. Whatever the case, you keep moving forward with confidence you’re going to get there.

You might need to adjust your timeframes or how much Haribo is required, but you’re still on track to hit the goal.

The magic of a solid strategy

When you have a clear strategy, everything becomes easier: Problems get solved faster. You make decisions with confidence. You track what’s working (and what’s not). You stay flexible without feeling lost.

Taking time to plan before you hit the road doesn’t slow you down, it sets you up for success. Plus, once you arrive, you can reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and how to make the next journey even smoother.

Maybe a fancier rental car next time? Less Roger Sanchez and more Vengaboys? (pro tip: you can never have enough Vengaboys).

Marketing is a journey, not a sprint.

You’re building a brand, and that takes time. If you keep changing your destination, you’ll end up making scattered, ineffective decisions along the way. Instead, focus on your vision, mission, and the right tests to get you where you want to go.

There are endless marketing tactics that have worked for others, but will they work for you? The only way to know is to define your goal and test, test, test until you find what clicks.

Take expert advice

Sophie Struckmeyer explained perfectly:

“I remember going to rent a car, and we aimed for electric, but as it turns out, the region we were going to had nearly no EV chargers, so the attendant convinced us to change at the last minute, and it was absolutely the right call. We wouldn’t have known without their help.

It’s that kind of specific knowledge – of a region, or an industry – that is so valuable and shouldn’t be underestimated”

Do you need expert marketing advice? We can help.