What drives a good business and marketing strategy — A powerful game plan or a consistent one?

While you ponder this question, let’s talk tennis. There are usually two primary types of players in tennis: a power player and a consistent player.

A power player is usually known for their aggressive, forceful shot making. They can slam a forehand to the baseline, send a blazing serve across the net and smash an overhead like nobody’s business. A consistent player on the other hand has a calmer style of play, relentless in their efforts to chase down a ball, cover the court and get the ball back.

The key to winning in tennis is to keep the ball in play because if the ball doesn’t come back the point is over. So while the aggressive, explosive player can deliver a lot of power which aids in closing out a point, the consistent player has an advantage because their strength is keeping the ball in motion.

Business is a lot like a tennis game. The only way to win is to create a strategy and to stay consistent, tweaking as you go. There are a lot of power players in business. Maybe you’ve seem some of them. They come out of the fence with incredible force. They’re aggressive and grand in all that they do, but the key is are they consistent? A powerful game is great to have, but it must be backed up with a consistent plan and approach. If you don’t have the power, opt for consistency.

I was reading an article recently about a business owner who developed a really simple marketing strategy using social media. She didn’t develop a major campaign or anything overly exciting. Instead she chose one main medium to focus on, put a plan together and worked it each day. By sticking with her plan and staying consistent in her execution she was able to achieve great results over a relatively short amount of time.

Don’t get frustrated if you feel you’re lacking a certain level of power in your business. A large part of the results you obtain will depend on your ability to remain constant. Develop a strategy and be diligent in following it through and you’ll see the benefits.