Who is it for?
The customers you serve best and most profitably. Saying no to the rest is part of the strategy.
Business strategy in plain words
Strategy is deciding what you will do, for whom, and what you will not do. It fits on one page. With it, every website, ad and post has a job. Without it, you are guessing with your budget.
- 1 pageis enough for a strategy
- 9 blocksin a business model canvas
- 3 goalsa year, not thirty
Fill a business model canvas
The business model canvas puts a whole business on one page, in nine blocks. Here are ten notes about Bluewater Kayak Tours, a small tour company on Krk. Put each one where it belongs. Tap a note, then tap its block.
0 of 10 notes placed
Tap a note to pick it up. Tap a block on its own to see what it means.
Three questions every strategy answers
If you can answer these in a sentence each, you already have the core of a strategy.
Why you?
The problem you solve and why you solve it better, faster or more personally than anyone else.
How will you know?
A few numbers you check every month, so you can see what works and stop what does not.
The basics in plain words
Learn these eight and you can write a strategy that fits on one page. Hover or tap any item to see the details.
- Nine blocks
- From partners to revenue
- Try it above
- The customers you serve best
- Described in their own words
- One main segment to start
- The problem you solve
- What makes you different
- Said in one sentence
- Cheapest, fastest, best or most specialised
- Pick one
- Say it everywhere
- Based on value, not only costs
- Packages make choosing easy
- Reviewed once a year
- Three goals a year
- A number and a date for each
- Checked every month
- Google, social, referrals, partners
- Fewer, done well
- Measured one by one
- What worked and what did not
- Drop what does not pay
- Set the next three goals
A one-page plan in five steps
An afternoon of thinking that saves a year of guessing.
- Step 1
Pick your customer
The group you serve best and most profitably. Write down who they are and what they need.
- Step 2
Write one sentence
We help this customer do this, unlike the usual alternative, because of this.
- Step 3
Fill the canvas
All nine blocks, one or two notes each. Gaps show you what to work on.
- Step 4
Set three goals
Each with a number and a date, such as 40 bookings a month by June.
- Step 5
Check every month
Fifteen minutes with your numbers. Keep what works and change what does not.
Four strategy mistakes
- Trying to serve everyoneA message for everyone speaks to no one.
- Competing only on priceSomeone will always be cheaper.
- Too many goalsThree you reach beat ten you forget.
- A plan nobody readsKeep it on one page and look at it monthly.
Questions about business strategy
What is a business model canvas?
A one-page template with nine blocks that describe how a business works: who it serves, what it offers, how it reaches customers, what it costs and how it earns. It was created by Alexander Osterwalder and is used by startups and large companies alike.
Does a small business need a strategy?
Yes, but a short one. A single page with your customer, your one sentence and three goals is enough to make better decisions about your website, ads and time.
How often should I update my strategy?
Review it properly once a year, and check your numbers every month. Change it sooner if something big happens, such as a new competitor or a new service.
What is the difference between a strategy and a marketing plan?
The strategy decides what you offer and to whom. The marketing plan decides how you reach those people: which channels, messages and budget.
Can you help us with our strategy?
Yes. We work through your customers, offer and goals with you and turn them into a plan for your website and marketing. See business consulting and digital strategy.
Want a second opinion on your plan?
Tell us about your business and your goals. We come back with what we would focus on first, and why.