Let’s face it, marketing is full of buzzwords. You’ve heard them all: “omnichannel,” “AI-driven,” “personalised journeys,” “hyper-growth hacks”, you’ve probably even used a few. But if you’re serious about growth and retention, you need more than the latest jargon. You need fresh thinking, sharp strategy, and, above all, a genuine connection with your customer.
Here’s how we recommend shaking things up:
1. Gather. Listen. Repeat.
Consumer feedback isn’t just a post-campaign checkbox, it’s your growth engine. Find out what your audience actually thinks, wants and feels. Don’t just measure “likes”. Ask why they like. What’s resonating? What’s flopping? Your customers are telling you what matters, all you have to do is listen.
2. Data + Heart = Gold.
We all love a juicy dataset, but here’s the truth - data without the human element is just noise. Sure, track who’s reacting well to your content, monitor engagement metrics, crunch conversion rates (more jargon, sorry!) but don’t let the numbers drown out real human insight. Blend sharp analytics with gut instinct and empathy. That’s where the real magic happens.
3. Don’t chase trends for the sake of it.
Gen AI is dazzling, we get it. But implementing AI (or building an app, or launching a new tool) just because it’s trendy, is a fast track to wasting time and budget. Every innovation should be tied to a genuine customer need. No need? No launch. Simple.
4. Keep AI and Influencers in separate rooms.
They might seem like a match made in heaven but trust us, combining AI-generated content with influencer marketing can come off as inauthentic, or worse, robotic. Influencers thrive on human connection, so let’s not mess with that by automating and de-humanising their voice.
5. The Omnichannel wildcard.
Yes, omnichannel matters but only if your customers actually want to interact with you across every channel. Don’t spread yourself thin just to tick the box. Focus on the platforms where your audience is most engaged and make those experiences seamless.
6. Are websites becoming just a data pool?
With the rise of chat-based ordering (hi, ChatGPT), it’s fair to ask if anyone will even visit your website in the future? Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing’s for sure, SEO is changing. Customers won’t always need a search engine to find you. So, instead of obsessing over keywords, focus on making your brand discoverable wherever your audience hangs out.
The bottom line?
Every growth and retention strategy should answer one question: what’s the real value for my customer? If you’re innovating just to keep up appearances, it will show. But if you’re solving genuine problems, creating delightful, engaging experiences, and listening closely to what your audience is telling you, that’s where the real wins happen.
Want help thinking outside the box (and skipping the BS)? Give us a shout. We can spitball some ideas and run them up various flagpoles. Promise that’s the last jargon you’ll get from us too.