--- title: Don't let people get turned off by strategy description: Strategic goals should digital marketing goals. 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[Download now](https://www.missiondrive.io/guides-and-tools) ###### Keep up to date with all of our latest blogs, events, webinars and new content [Subscribe](https://www.missiondrive.io/en/blogs#Newsletter-sign-up) ![ A conceptual image featuring a set of train tracks branching in multiple directions, with some sections incomplete or broken. The tracks emerge from a colourful stack of blocks at the bottom, symbolising a foundation or starting point. The scattered and disorganised tracks illustrate the challenges of having no clear strategy or direction.](https://www.missiondrive.io/hs-fs/hubfs/pexels-googledeepmind-17485633.jpg?width=300&name=pexels-googledeepmind-17485633.jpg) [Simon Bullmore](https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/author/simon-bullmore)10/1/2025 23:02 PM1 min read # Don't let people get turned off by strategy [Previous](https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/you-need-domain-knowledge-to-know-if-gen-ai-is-performing-badly-0) [Next](https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/how-to-get-cited-by-ai-answers-what-peer-reviewed-research-says) Why do you think talking about "strategy" turns people off? I suspect that for many, the word "strategy" feels synonymous with the worst aspects of management consultancy - expensive, generic, and often useless twaddle.  No wonder the mere mention of it can be a turnoff. But here's the thing: dismissing strategy as useless filth can lead to costly - and sometimes fatal - missteps. Good strategy is a compass. An inspiring guide. An adequately resourced vehicle that delivers success. Bad strategy is, well, the opposite of all that. We need a strategy in marketing - especially in digital marketing. Too often, we don't have one. As a digital marketer, I’ve often struggled with limited resources. I’ve yet to meet a digital marketer who hasn’t. This resource scarcity is often the result of an unclear digital marketing strategy - one that lacks buy-in from stakeholders across the business. That's why it's up to those leading digital marketing efforts to ensure strategy isn’t seen as a dirty word.  Instead, it should be actively discussed, thoughtfully developed, and diligently executed. A good strategy clears the path ahead and ensures the journey is well-provisioned. Why does this matter? Because strategy is what keeps us on course when things go wrong - when digital marketing campaigns fall flat, when results don’t materialise, and when the road gets rough. If you’re a digital marketer operating without a strategy, now is the time to change that. And if you find others dismissing your efforts or you notice gaps in your organisation’s business approach, don’t give up. Take a deep breath, do the work, and craft a plan of your own.  We can only control what we are responsible for, so make sure you know where you’re going before you set off. ![avatar](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/a02d4d979773954384fd0540d5ec91c7) #### [Simon Bullmore](https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/author/simon-bullmore) Simon helps our clients develop effective growth strategies and data literacy programmes. With a background in business psychology, Simon has worked in data, business development and training for over 17 years. This includes leading the learning programme at the Tim Berners-Lee founded Open Data Institute, and the launch of Harvard Business School's first European office. [mailto:simonb@missiondrive.io](mailto:simonb@missiondrive.io) ## RELATED ARTICLES ![widescreen background_whiteongrey ](https://www.missiondrive.io/hs-fs/hubfs/widescreen%20background_whiteongrey%20.png?width=300&name=widescreen%20background_whiteongrey%20.png) ![Mission Drive Logo - white](https://www.missiondrive.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Mission%20Drive%20Logo%20-%20white.png?width=100&height=41&name=Mission%20Drive%20Logo%20-%20white.png) Helping business leaders, innovation teams, L&D & HR engage effectively with their audiences about data. 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Strategy spells out how we plan to deliver against them, in the face of challenges and competition.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Simon Bullmore" }, "dateModified" : "January 10, 2025 2 PM", "datePublished" : "January 10, 2025 2 PM", "headline" : "Don't let people get turned off by strategy", "image" : "https://missiondrive.io/hubfs/pexels-googledeepmind-17485633.jpg", "inLanguage" : "en", "keywords" : "[AI, Technology, Data Ethics, Little Missions, Creative content]", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "Don't let people get turned off by strategy", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3064814/LOGOTYPE_positive-100-2.jpg" }, "name" : "Mission Drive" }, "text" : "Why do you think talking about \"strategy\" turns people off? I suspect that for many, the word \"strategy\" feels synonymous with the worst aspects of management consultancy - expensive, generic, and often useless twaddle. No wonder the mere mention of it can be a turnoff. But here's the thing: dismissing strategy as useless filth can lead to costly - and sometimes fatal - missteps. Good strategy is a compass. An inspiring guide. An adequately resourced vehicle that delivers success. Bad strategy is, well, the opposite of all that. We need a strategy in marketing - especially in digital marketing. Too often, we don't have one. As a digital marketer, I’ve often struggled with limited resources. I’ve yet to meet a digital marketer who hasn’t. This resource scarcity is often the result of an unclear digital marketing strategy - one that lacks buy-in from stakeholders across the business. That's why it's up to those leading digital marketing efforts to ensure strategy isn’t seen as a dirty word. Instead, it should be actively discussed, thoughtfully developed, and diligently executed. A good strategy clears the path ahead and ensures the journey is well-provisioned. Why does this matter? Because strategy is what keeps us on course when things go wrong - when digital marketing campaigns fall flat, when results don’t materialise, and when the road gets rough. If you’re a digital marketer operating without a strategy, now is the time to change that. And if you find others dismissing your efforts or you notice gaps in your organisation’s business approach, don’t give up. Take a deep breath, do the work, and craft a plan of your own. We can only control what we are responsible for, so make sure you know where you’re going before you set off.", "url" : "https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/you-need-domain-knowledge-to-know-if-gen-ai-is-performing-badly-0-0", "wordCount" : "364" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Simon Bullmore", "url" : "https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/author/simon-bullmore" }, "dateModified" : "2025-01-10T14:23:56.436Z", "datePublished" : "2025-01-10T14:23:56.000Z", "headline" : "Don't let people get turned off by strategy", "image" : [ "https://www.missiondrive.io/hubfs/pexels-googledeepmind-17485633.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/you-need-domain-knowledge-to-know-if-gen-ai-is-performing-badly-0-0", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.missiondrive.io/hubfs/LOGOTYPE_positive-100-2.jpg" }, "name" : "Mission Drive Marketing LTD" } } ```