Vision vs. Strategy
We are fortunate to read many strategy documents, especially those related to marketing, as part of my daily job, which is basically to – among other things – determine if those deliverables are performing the mission for which they are intended. Many of these open with a high-level statement, often characterised as the “marketing strategy.” This is often not actually what is represented or intended, however. Here’s why:
- You mean “vision” when you state “strategy”: Here’s the definition of strategy: “a long-term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal or set of goals or objectives.” A one-paragraph statement about the future, whether it’s yours or your customers, is not a strategy – it’s a vision.
- A marketing strategy is hard to get right. There are many moving parts that span (at a high level):
- the who – who are the target prospects, customers, partners or influencers, and are they segmented for proper targeting?
- the why – why are they primary (or secondary or tertiary) targets? What value or revenue do they represent?
- the when – what is the priority for each target type (which could include the “where” of geography)?
- How are the products, services, solutions, campaigns, etc., intended for each target?
…and these must relate back to the business strategy that presumably has been created and that drives the company as a whole (yes, I have read marketing strategies that were created absent an overall business strategy, which makes them somewhat…risky). The business strategy should aim toward goals that deliver on the overall vision and it should do so via the values of the provider and the value proposition(s) inherent in its offerings.
Certainly, strategy and strategic direction can and should relate to the overall vision, but they’re not interchangeable. Using them that way can reduce credibility with senior executives. A strategy document that identifies clearly and provides links among these elements, both in terms of relevance and timing, will be hard-pressed to be effective.
