Your startup is growing, but marketing isn't keeping pace?
Do you feel that you execute a lot but without a clear direction?
The time has come, then, to talk seriously about strategic marketing for startups.
In this article we tell you:
- What exactly is strategic marketing (without buzzwords).
- What a real strategy includes.
- And how to know if your startup already needs it.
Spoiler: if you're improvising every term, you need to.
What is strategic marketing for startups?
The strategic marketing is the plan that defines what you are going to do, why you do it y how it contributes to business growth.
It's not just about campaigning, it's about having a clear map to get to your growth objectives.
It is the opposite of reactive marketing:
- It does not launch loose tactics without direction.
- Prioritise what is important over what is urgent.
- Give focus, judgement and method to your decisions.
What does a marketing strategy for startups include?
A well thought-out strategy should cover these pillars:
1. Clear value proposition
What problem you solve, for whom and why you should be chosen. This is also where you define the product-market fit.
2. Segmentation and buyer persona
Identify who is your ideal customer and how to communicate with it.
3. Conversion funnel
From awareness to conversion and retention: which channels to use, with which messages and how to measure it all.
4. KPIs and measurement
Define the key indicators: CAC, LTV, MRR, conversion rate... without metricsThere is no strategy.
5. Timetable of prioritised actions
No "trying everything at once": clear focus and roadmap by quarters or sprints.
6. Channels and budget
Where you are going to be, how much you can invest and how to adjust according to actual results.
When do you need to activate strategic marketing?
If your startup meets any of these points, it's time to get serious about strategy:
✅ You have a product and first customers, but you want to scale up.
You're investing in marketing, but you don't know if it's working.
You have a team (internal or external), but everyone goes at their own pace.
You want to attract investment and you need solid metrics.
You feel you are putting out fires rather than building for the future.
What if you still can't sign a CMO?
Good news: you don't need a full-time CMO to activate a strategy.
Today there are models such as the Fractional CMOwhich allows you to have senior strategic direction without compromising your structure or burn rate.
At Lebowski, for example, we work with startups that are already in the growth phase and need management + execution in flexible mode.
Strategic marketing is not something you can keep putting off if you are already growing.
Because the more you grow without focus, the harder it is to correct later.
A good strategy doesn't slow you down. It accelerates you.
Is your startup ready to do things smart?