Marketing Strategy + Planning

What Does a Real Marketing Strategy Actually Look Like?

Most businesses have ideas. They post on social media, run the occasional ad, and try to stay consistent — but without a strategy, it’s all noise. At LGX, we help you cut through that. We build marketing plans grounded in your audience, your goals, and your competitive landscape — then we help you execute them. No templates. No guesswork. Just a clear path forward.

See Our Strategy Deliverables ↓

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From Scattered to Strategic

What Is Marketing Strategy + Planning, and Why Does It Matter?

Marketing without a plan is just spending — and most businesses have felt that firsthand. Strategy is what connects your brand to your audience in a way that’s consistent, intentional, and measurable. It answers the questions: Who are we talking to? What do we want them to feel? What actions do we want them to take? And how do we get there without wasting resources on things that don’t move the needle?

At LGX, our Marketing Strategy + Planning deliverables are designed to give you the clarity and structure to market with confidence. Whether you’re launching something new, realigning an existing effort, or just tired of winging it — this is where we start.

What We Build For You

What Marketing Strategy Deliverables Does LGX Offer?

Each deliverable below is scoped, priced, and available individually — or as part of an ongoing growth partnership. Click any deliverable to learn more.

360° Brand & Marketing Strategy SessionCovers: 360° Brand & Marketing Strategy Mapping Session, On-Demand Marketing Power Hour, Marketing & Sales Strategy Partnership

Audience Persona DevelopmentCovers: Audience Persona Development & Strategy, Community Engagement Strategy

Content Framework & PlanningCovers: Content Framework Session, Monthly Social Content Calendar, Monthly Marketing Partnership Retainer

Event Promotion StrategyCovers: Event Promotion Strategy, Event Promotion Strategy Session

Paid Ads StrategyCovers: Paid Ads Strategy Session, Meta/Social Ads Kickoff & Strategy

Our Approach to Strategy

How Does LGX Build a Marketing Strategy?

Every engagement starts the same way: we listen. Before we write a single word of strategy or build a single plan, we need to understand your business, your audience, and your competitive environment. From there, our process typically follows three phases:

Phase 1 — Discovery & Audit

We review what you’re currently doing and where the gaps are. This includes a look at your messaging, your competitive landscape, your audience assumptions, and your past marketing efforts. We’re not just building something new — we’re building something better.

Phase 2 — Strategy Development

We document everything into a clear, prioritized plan. Depending on the deliverable, this might be a full 360° strategy map, a detailed audience persona set, a content calendar framework, or a paid ads approach. Everything is written to be usable — not just impressive-looking.

Phase 3 — Handoff, Training & Execution Support

We don’t just hand you a PDF and disappear. We walk you through the strategy, answer your questions, and — for clients on a retainer — begin executing alongside you. Your plan is only as good as its implementation.

Schedule a 15-Min Discovery Call

Strategy Built for Real Businesses

What Kind of Businesses Need Marketing Strategy + Planning?

The honest answer: most of them. Marketing strategy isn’t just for large organizations with big budgets. It’s for any business that wants to grow deliberately instead of by accident. We work with:

Startups and new businesses that need a foundation before they start spending on marketing
Established businesses that have been “winging it” and are ready to get intentional
Organizations going through a rebrand, launch, or pivot that need a plan to match
Teams that have good instincts but need a documented strategy to align everyone around
Business owners who’ve worked with agencies before and felt like the strategy was missing

Our deepest experience lives in healthcare, home services, legal, financial, nonprofit, restaurant, and e-commerce — but great strategy isn’t industry-specific. If you’re in business and you want to grow, we can help.

See Industries We Serve

Trusted by Organizations Across the Midwest

What Do LGX Clients Say About Working With Us?

“I love working with you guys because you’re smart and you respond.”

Jody Strauch-Lundberg – Out of the Box

    
 
 
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 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. LGX is amazing! If you need someone who knows their stuff and actually cares about their customers, look no further!
  
 
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 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. LGD was an amazing team to work with. Sarah helped me rebrand my business by redesigning a new logo for me and I couldn’t be more happy with the work she did and how easy and efficient the design process was. Highly recommend them! Thank you again LGD.
  
 
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 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The team is super friendly and great to work with.  They nailed our logo with their first round of submissions to us!  We will be using them for all of our future marketing needs!  Thank you Little Guy Design!
  
 
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 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul and Matt were both very easy to work with. Loved the website they built. Thanks guys!
  
 
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 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely Awesome! This is how service should be everywhere.. I've had nothing but help in everything we've needed. Matt & Paul came to my office, taught us everything, set us up, and continue to help with Troubleshooting well after meeting with them. I couldn't be any happier with this company. To anyone in need, Call them! These boys know what they're talking about!!. Thank you againl!! I really appreciate the continuous Help. Matt & Paul: Please let me know if there's anything I could do to help you in return.
  
 
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 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Little guy came into our company to help us with our internet presence last week. They were very enjoyable to talk to and down to earth. If you want someone that is going to be honest and up front look no further.
  
 
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 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Little Guy Design came to our business and brought so much value with their WordPress, SEO, and Social Media training. Paul and Matt literally blew us away with the amount of information we did NOT know. I would highly recommend their service to any company looking to gain that digital marketing edge.
  
 
  
  
 
 
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Strategy Is Just the Starting Point

What Other LGX Deliverables Work Alongside Marketing Strategy?

A great plan needs great execution. Once your strategy is set, these deliverable categories are where we bring it to life:

Content Creation + Creative Development — the assets that execute your strategy
Attention Capture + Audience Engagement — put your strategy in front of the right people
Growth Management + Strategy — long-term SEO and growth retainer for sustained results
Brand Creation + Management + Protection — make sure your brand can support the strategy

View All Deliverable Categories

Your Questions About Marketing Strategy, Answered

What Do People Ask Before Hiring LGX for Marketing Strategy?

What is a marketing strategy and how is it different from marketing tactics?

A marketing strategy is the overarching plan — it defines your audience, your positioning, your messaging, and your goals. Tactics are the specific actions taken to execute that plan, like running a Google Ad or posting on Instagram. Most businesses jump straight to tactics without a strategy, which is why their marketing feels inconsistent and produces unpredictable results. At LGX, strategy always comes first.

How long does it take to build a marketing strategy with LGX?

It depends on the scope. Our On-Demand Marketing Power Hour is a single session designed to unblock a specific challenge or decision. Our 360° Brand & Marketing Strategy Mapping Session is a more comprehensive working session that produces a full strategic roadmap. For clients on a retainer, strategy is an ongoing process that evolves with your business. We can tell you exactly what to expect once we understand your goals.

Do I need a marketing strategy if I'm already running ads or posting on social media?

Yes — and this is actually one of the most common situations we walk into. Businesses that are already active in marketing often discover that they’ve been spending money without a clear plan connecting their efforts. Strategy doesn’t stop your existing marketing; it makes it more effective and more efficient.

What is a 360° Brand & Marketing Strategy Mapping Session?

It’s one of our most popular starting points. In a single working session, our team audits your full marketing ecosystem — your brand, your messaging, your digital presence, your competitive landscape — and hands you a prioritized roadmap of what to fix, what to build, and what to do first. Most clients call it the most valuable hour they’ve spent on their business. It’s available as a standalone deliverable or as part of an ongoing retainer.

What is audience persona development and do I really need it?

Audience personas are detailed profiles of your ideal customers — who they are, what they care about, how they make decisions, and where they spend time. Without them, your marketing is essentially guessing. With them, every piece of content, every ad, and every campaign can be written directly to the people most likely to buy from you. If you’ve ever felt like your marketing isn’t landing, a persona problem is usually part of the reason why.

Can LGX build a marketing strategy for a specific event or product launch?

Yes. Our Event Promotion Strategy deliverable is built specifically for businesses that need to generate attention, registrations, or attendance around a specific moment. Whether it’s a grand opening, a product launch, a fundraiser, or a conference, we build a promotion plan that covers timing, channels, messaging, and execution.

Does LGX help with paid ads strategy or just organic marketing?

Both. Our Paid Ads Strategy deliverables cover Meta/Social Ads and Google Ads — we help you define targeting, budget, creative direction, and campaign structure before a single dollar is spent. If you’re already running ads and not seeing results, our audit process can identify why and build a better approach.

Stop Guessing. Start Growing.

Ready to Build a Marketing Strategy That Actually Gets Executed?

Most marketing strategies sit in a folder and collect digital dust. At LGX, we build them to be used — by your team, by our team, and by every campaign you run. Let’s start with a conversation about where you are and where you want to be.