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Ditch the Complexity: A ‘Good Enough’ Digital Marketing Roadmap

by Natalie Henley

Ditch the Complexity: A ‘Good Enough’ Digital Marketing Roadmap

Creating a digital marketing strategy can feel like writing a novel. It’s time-consuming, mentally exhausting, and let’s be honest — the second you finish, the digital world has already changed. The solution? A streamlined, “good enough” strategy that’s flexible, practical, and doesn’t leave you buried under a mountain of planning docs.

Let’s talk about why a simpler approach works and how to build a solid plan without losing your mind.

Why “Good Enough” Planning Works

Here’s the thing — most detailed strategies don’t survive first contact with reality. Platforms change, your audience changes, your business changes. A “good enough” plan gives you:

  • Direction without rigidity — No need to rewrite the plan every time something shifts.
  • Faster execution — Less planning, more doing.
  • Flexibility to adapt — When you need to pivot, it’s no big deal.

Think of it like an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) for your marketing. What’s the least you need to do to hit your goals? You can always expand later.

When to Go with “Good Enough”

This approach is your best friend if:

  • You need a quick course correction, but a total overhaul isn’t realistic.
  • You’re new to digital marketing and want to test ideas before committing.
  • You’ve got metrics that need immediate improvement.
  • Your current strategy is a hot mess, and you need clarity.
  • You’d rather let results guide your next moves.

Sound familiar? Then let’s break this down into a simple, one-day action plan.

Step-by-Step: Your “Good Enough” Digital Marketing Strategy

1. Choose a Timeframe

Pick a short window, like 3-6 months. Anything over two years? It might make sense to dial that back.

2. Set Clear Goals

No fluff. Think specific, short-term goals — max of 5.

Example:

  • Good Goal: Increase email sign-ups by 20% in 3 months.
  • Bad Goal: “Grow the email list.” (Too vague.)

3. Define Your Audience

You don’t need a novel-length persona. Stick to 2-3 key groups with a quick description.

Example:

  • Foodies, 35-50, who care about sustainable brands.
  • Parents, 25-40, looking for budget-friendly solutions.

4. Nail Down Your Metrics

Focus on a few core metrics. If needed, add sub-metrics to give context.

Example Plan Outline:

  • Goal: Boost Product A sales by 15%.
  • Timeframe: 4 months.
  • Audience: Tech-savvy professionals, 30-45.
  • Metrics: Product A sales, website traffic to Product A page, email open rates.

5. Quick Brainstorm

Got a team? Do this:

  1. Solo Ideas: Everyone lists ideas for 20 minutes.
  2. Share & Build: Discuss and expand on each other’s ideas.
  3. Prioritize: Rank by effort, complexity, and budget.

Flying Solo?

  • Reach out to a strategist or agency for a quick consult.
  • Attend a webinar or conference for fresh ideas.
  • Start with one goal and one audience. You don’t have to tackle it all.

6. Finalize Your Plan

Boil it down to 2-3 pages with:

  • Goals
  • Audiences
  • Metrics
  • Top Tactics

Simple, clear, done.

Tools to Keep It Simple

Want to jumpstart your plan even faster? Try our Digital Strategy Planner CustomGPT to generate a roadmap draft in minutes.

How to Use It:

  1. Go to the Digital Strategy Planner GPT:
    Digital Strategy Planner by Natalie Henley
  2. Input the Following Info:
    • Company Name and Industry
    • Top Business Goals for 6-12 Months (e.g., increase sales, brand awareness)
    • Target Audience (personas, demographics, or segments)
    • Current Marketing Channels (social media, email, SEO, etc.)
    • Specific Challenges or Opportunities (low traffic, poor conversions)
    • Areas to Explore Further (SEO, paid ads, competitors)

Let the GPT do the heavy lifting to give you a solid starting point.

Get the Free Strategy Template

Need an easy-to-fill, ready-to-go template? Use our ‘Good Enough’ Strategy Template to simplify your planning process even more.

Why Flexibility Matters

Overplanning kills momentum. Digital marketing evolves too fast for rigid, year-long strategies. Instead, work in 3-6 month bursts. Adapt, analyze, and tweak as you go.

Tools to Keep it Simple:
Use AI-based tools for quick roadmaps, idea generation, and budget planning. They save time and keep things organized.

Ready to Simplify?

Ditch the overwhelm. A “good enough” strategy helps you stay focused and nimble. Start small, keep it flexible, and adjust as needed.

You got this!