9 strategy questions for a crystal-clear brand strategy ⋅ EV #010

1. Who are we here to serve?
   These are people your project exists for. Be specific.
2. What are the changes we aim to make?
   This is your mission and the problem you solve.
3. Who is impacted by these changes? Is it an upgrade or downgrade or…? 
   These are your primary audiences (supporters beyond people you serve who you want to attract) and potential opposition.
4. A. Who has done something like this before us? Who is doing it now?
   B. With whom from these organisations would we like to work together?
   C. Which of them can be chosen instead of us by people we want to serve?
   After researching these questions, you’ll know:
   A. the level of public awareness and how much content you need to produce to educate people about your importance
   B. the partnerships opportunities
   C. potential competition.
5. If someone asks us for something, to WHAT ONE REQUEST will we reply, “Yes! We are here to help!”?
   It is your offer and brand promise.
6. Why would anyone voluntarily choose to be part of our journey?
   The answer shapes your story in relation to community and contribution incentives.
7. Who can amplify our impact, and who can block it? Why would they do it?
   It allows you to estimate the amount of press and influencer outreach and the intensity of collaborative marketing campaigns, and how much emotion your narrative should evoke through visuals and words.
8. If we call to action, what action is it? Who should act on it? What is the impact of them not acting on it — impact on us and on the world?
   It will give you a sky-level picture of sustainability and growth, your business model and your marketing goals, all the way down to the practical choices such as user flows on your website.
9. Are we sailing in calm waters or waiting for a big wave to ride? What is that big wave? When will it come?
   This question surfaces the urgency that may influence your narrative. It will also reveal trends that you may choose to follow or ignore, timelines and the ideal launch date.

Some of these questions are advised by Seth Godin in his new book Strategy, which I listed as No.1 in my recommendation list of the 11 best books on marketing for first-time founders:

11 books on design-it-yourself and marketing for first-time founders ⋅ EV #012

This week I’m at Berlin Blockchain Week, and I brought a giveaway for developers. It’s a list of 11 books on DIY (design-it-yourself) and marketing for first-time founders who want to turn their idea into a go-to-market-ready product and give it a brand that wins the hearts and minds of

Embrace VarietyIra Nezhynska

Thank you for building a better future.

Yours,
Ira