It happens quite often in startup culture. Brainstorming sessions happen, and countless bright ideas are conceptualized and developed. Too much of a good thing is never bad, right? Well, not quite.
The problem with bringing together many brilliant minds (which is usually how startups are founded) is that sometimes it can be difficult to stay on task, to see the big picture, because of all of the new ideas constantly popping up.
It’s a common occurrence, so if this situation sounds familiar, don’t despair. Startup culture is fun, exciting, and bursting with creativity — but it requires strength to stay on course. We’ve gathered some tips on how to keep bright ideas organized and help keep a startup’s marketing strategy on its course.
Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen
In many brainstorming sessions or meetings, it seems everyone has an idea that should be heard. And while there is much benefit to the gathering of minds, this can often serve up more confusion than anything else. Often, the original plan for a marketing campaign is quickly dropped and forgotten in favor of a new idea.
While there is an argument for using fresh ideas, it’s important to stay the course when it comes to marketing. Perhaps an all-hands meeting isn’t the best way to finalize strategy. Perhaps it’s better for a larger group to have an initial brainstorming session, put forward the best ideas to a deciding group, and let that deciding group execute the campaign.
The term “too many cooks in the kitchen” refers to ideas getting muddled due to too many differing opinions. Reduce this clutter in order to have a better definition of the path forward.
Ask What the End Goal Is
What is the end game of the business, or the specific marketing campaign? This should always be kept in the back of your mind when evaluating new, fresh ideas. And if there is not a defined end goal, then that should be the first step taken.
When a new idea is presented, ask how it helps bring the brand closer to its end goal. For example, let’s say an employee has put forth the idea to run a social media contest to promote the brand. How does this fit into the overall strategy? Or, does it only distract from the overall campaign?
Most brilliant ideas will have some sort of benefit from implementation. However, it’s important, particularly for startups as they gain traction, to stay consistent, and to stay on task.
Results take time. Constantly changing tactics or inserting new ideas can muddle the picture on whether or not a brand is successful. Instead, let a campaign breathe and perform for a few weeks before making more changes based on its performance.
Managing a startup full of big thinkers can be challenging, and everyone deserves to have their voice be heard. If it helps, keep a running list of ideas that perhaps won’t work immediately but may have a place in future plans. Don’t automatically drop an original idea for one that seems more “exciting” — and always keep the end goal in mind.
Finding success as a startup can be challenging, but by keeping at it, staying consistent, and avoiding distractions, startups can be successful. It just sometimes takes a bit of time, energy, and investment. Patience pays off!
Ronn Torossian is the CEO and Founder of 5WPR.
Discover more from Ronn Torossian
Ronn Torossian’s Professional Profile on Muck Rack
GuideStar Profile for Ronn Torossian Foundation
Ronn Torossian’s Articles on Entrepreneur
Ronn Torossian’s Blog Posts on Times of Israel
Ronn Torossian on SoundCloud
