All roads lead to the ICP

Had some interesting conversations in the past few weeks with a few GTM leaders. Different companies, different conversations, different needs but all were struggling with setting up marketing for success, the role of marketing, how to structure the team, what OKRs to set and what talent is needed.

What I love about marketing is in amongst all the shiny new things (RIP Second Life, SlideShare, Sribd, Twitter, Clubhouse. Hello AI!), the basics never change. All roads always lead to the need to define the Ideal Customer Profile and, more importantly, agree this across all the GTM functions.

With the ICP in place and the business OKRs mapped out, only then can we start to think about the marketing strategies and tactics. Digital? Events? ABM? Field marketing? Partner Marketing? SDR/BDRs etc. (I know, if only life were that simple).

Always, always get the fundamentals right first!

On a separate, but related, note I did a little sketch in thinking this through to myself, took a photo and asked ChatGPT to provide a clearer, more professional graphic. I think we’ll all agree AI hashtag#NailedIt 🤣

AI: 10x the content, 1/10 the meaning (Source : Jeff Allen)

Purpose is just fluffy marketing talk that doesn't impact the bottom line?

"Purpose is just fluffy marketing talk that doesn't impact the bottom line."

This is a very common misconception in the business world.

If you're an aspiring marketing leader, I urge you not to dismiss the power of purpose in driving growth. Always remember: Purpose and profitability are intrinsically linked.

As Dominic Rodgers from Frog Capital recently said on an episode of the always excellent Unicorny podcast (pithily summarised by Dom Hawes!), "The more you scale your purpose, the more you scale, and the more you scale, the more you scale your purpose."

This symbiotic relationship between purpose and growth isn't just feel-good rhetoric. It's a powerful driver of business success. Here's why:

🧲 Talent Magnet: Purpose attracts top talent, fueling innovation and growth.
🎯 Focus Driver: It keeps your team aligned on what truly matters to customers.
🔗 Brand Builder: Purpose creates deeper connections with your audience.
💡 Innovation Catalyst: It inspires creative solutions to real-world problems.
📈 Long-Term Value: Purpose-driven companies often outperform their peers.

But here's the kicker: Your purpose must be authentic and deeply rooted in your business model. It's not what you'd like it to be. It's about clearly articulating why your business exists and the value it brings to customers. Which is why I've loved getting involved with LettsSafari (building rewilding parks to tackle climate change) and LettsArt (empowering any artist to manage, distribute and sell their art directly, all for free) - two very purpose-driven ventures.

As marketers, our job is to communicate this purpose effectively. It's not a veneer or an afterthought - it should be at the core of everything we do.

So, let's challenge ourselves: How can we better align our marketing efforts with our company's true purpose? And how can we demonstrate the tangible impact of purpose-driven marketing on our bottom line?

Share your thoughts! How has purpose impacted your marketing strategy or business growth? 🚀💬

#PurposeDrivenMarketing #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy