No Plan, No Progress: Why Businesses Struggle Without a Clear Strategy
No Plan, No Progress: Why Businesses Struggle Without a Clear Strategy
Every business owner has a vision, an idea of where they want to be. However, without a structured plan, that vision can feel like a distant dream rather than an achievable reality. It’s a common struggle: moments of clarity followed by periods of uncertainty and bursts of motivation that fizzle out without direction. The result? Inconsistent branding, scattered efforts, and a business that feels stuck in place. We asked the driving force behind redhotblue, Jody Euler, to discuss the negative impact of having ‘no plan’ and how businesses can take control of their future.
After 27 years in business, can you tell when a business lacks a clear marketing plan?
Absolutely, the giveaway sign is when all their marketing looks completely different. There’s no consistent imagery, there are a million different fonts, the language is all over the shop, and the personality of the brand is unclear. Marketing is just as much about the little things as it is about the big stuff.
Why do you think some people avoid, or struggle to start, marketing their business?
It could be because they’re new to business, burned by past marketing agencies, or believe they’re doing well and don’t see the point of marketing. Some get overwhelmed by conflicting advice, while others feel they can do it themselves, but never actually start. There’s a great quote - “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
If people do start their own marketing, where do they tend to get stuck?
When businesses constantly shift their messaging, chasing trends or copying competitors, they lose their way and confuse their audience. Others may opt for cheap marketing but then see no results and have to start again, which costs more in the long run and causes confusion with their audience.
How does a lack of planning affect business owners?
Without a clear plan, it’s stop-start, leaving them wondering why nothing changes. It gets exhausting, and they feel like they’re failing; when really, marketing just keeps getting pushed down the list. It also opens the door for competitors to step in.
Why do some businesses seem to be able to wing it?
Winging it might work for a short time, maybe they got lucky with consistent messaging on social media or did some of their own research, but it won’t last. Without a comprehensive understanding of marketing, things start to fall apart. You need to be able to navigate and adapt your marketing to suit different audiences and platforms: the ability to understand and effectively communicate with a person reading the newspaper is very different from a person on social media.
What is the first step that someone who is stuck with their marketing should take?
Firstly, you need to seek help from experts, people who know more than you. Just like you’d trust a mechanic with your car instead of fixing it yourself, working with the right professional in marketing ensures consistency, clarity, and better results.
What does redhotblue do when a business comes to you feeling lost?
We conduct a think tank session. It’s hard to explain the benefits until you experience it. There are no pre-written questions, no forms - just a pen, paper, and a curious conversation. I focus on really understanding the person and what gets them energised, because when people feel motivated, they’re more likely to keep going. The best feedback I get is, “I haven’t felt this excited about my business in a long time”.