Marketing is the backbone of business strategy: EBI Business Improvement Specialists

Business strategy defines a company’s overall vision, objectives, and competitive advantage. It also answers big questions.

Questions such as: Why does our business exist? Where are we going? What value do we provide a customer over others? How do we create and keep customers?

At the same time, marketing strategy focuses on how to select the targeted group of customers a business aims to reach, while brand positioning defines how the company wants to be perceived by that group, highlighting its unique value compared to the competition.

Competitive advantage is at the centre of both; it’s the unique edge that lets a company deliver greater value to customers, whether through lower prices, superior products, or specialised services, leading to market share gains and profitability.

Yet, far too many businesses still treat marketing as an afterthought—just flashy adverts, catchy slogans, or social media posts. That’s a huge mistake. Marketing is more than a tool of communication, it’s the backbone of your business strategy. Without it, your strategy is like driving without a map—lost and directionless.

Only customers can deliver cash into a business. Your business is nothing without customers. Marketing is the only way to truly understand, attract, and keep those customers. It’s not about pushing products—it’s about creating real value, solving problems, and ensuring your brand stays relevant in an overcrowded, competitive market. How can you have a solid business strategy if you don’t know what your customers want? If you’re not continuously engaging with them, learning their needs, and delivering solutions, you’re just guessing. Guesswork in today’s market is a recipe for failure.

Marketing shapes your brand, guides your messaging, and drives growth. Without it, your business strategy is just a disconnected series of tactics that won’t deliver results. If you want to succeed, you need to make marketing the engine of your strategy. Build your business around your customers, not just your products. When marketing (understanding and delivering value to customers) leads the way, your business doesn’t just survive—it thrives.
So does your bottom line.