You’ve heard the term before, maybe in a fancy meeting or while scrolling through LinkedIn: “Creative Strategist.”

Sounds cool, right?

Like someone who wears vintage glasses, carries a notebook filled with brilliant ideas, and drinks artisanal coffee.

And yes, I’ll admit, the coffee part is true. But what does a creative strategist actually do?

More importantly, how can one help your brand not only survive but thrive in this chaotic business world?

If you ask 10 strategists to describe their process, you'll get 10 different answers.

So let me break down mine, does it make sense? You be the judge.

1. Market Research: Sherlock Holmes, but cooler.

Before I even think about throwing out my big, fat, bold creative ideas, I put on my detective hat and dig into the market.

This isn’t just Googling your competitors or asking ChatGPT (though, to be fair, that does happen too).

Market research is about figuring out:

• Who your audience is (beyond “people who buy stuff”).

• What your competitors are doing (and where they’re falling short).

• What gaps exist in the market (which you can totally own, by the way).

It’s like being a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, but instead of solving crimes, I’m uncovering opportunities that will make your brand stand out.

Sure, I might not get my own Netflix special, but this step sets the foundation for everything else I do.

2. Positioning: Making your brand a name everyone knows (For all the right reasons).

Now that we’ve got the market figured out, it’s time to find your brand’s voice, its identity, and its swagger.

Positioning is about making sure your brand is known for something, and trust me, you want to be known for the right thing.

Maybe you sell eco-friendly shoes, or maybe your product helps mechanics see better in the dark. Either way, I help you figure out what unique angle will grab the attention of your ideal audience.

We carve out a spot in the market where your brand can shine like a beacon of awesomeness.

And if you’re thinking, “but my product is boring,” don’t worry. With the right positioning, even a dull product can become the next big thing. (Look at Liquid Death, is it just water? Yes. Is it selling like crazy, you bet!)

Positioning sets the foundation for everything else. And takes you from being "just another brand", to the brand everyone’s talking about.

3. Creative Output: Where Strategy Meets Art

Once we’ve cracked the code on who your brand is and what it stands for, it’s time to make it all look pretty - and by “pretty,” I mean converting.

This is where websites, ads, and landing pages come into play.

Think of this phase as the grand reveal. It's the scene where Draper and Peggy turn the cardboard poster over and reveal the genius creative they've been cooking for the amazed client.

All that research and positioning gets translated into actual marketing materials that resonate with your audience. Whether it’s:

• A sleek website that doesn’t make people want to hit the back button.

• Ads that stop people mid-scroll because they speak directly to their needs, or…

• Landing pages that convince people to hit that big “buy now” button without hesitation.

I take your brand’s new personality and wrap it in creative packaging that looks good and performs even better.

How it all comes together (And how people like me can help you)

Being a creative strategist isn’t just about making things look cool (though I do that too).

It’s about crafting a story that resonates with your audience and moves them to act. It’s about making sure your brand feels authentic, different, and unforgettable in a sea of copycats.

A (good) creative strategist is a one-person creative powerhouse (yes, I'm hyping the position up a bit here).

It's a measurable discipline that aims at one thing - getting you results.

A (good) creative strategist works directly with brand founders, CEOs, and CMOs and helps you scale by:

• Setting the right 'growth oriented' goals

• Deep diving into what makes your brand tick

• Understanding what gets your audience warm and ready to buy

• And lastly - creating an easy to understand (and execute) strategy that gets results

The difference between winging it and winning it (I came up with that one myself).

I’ve seen too many brands just wing it when it comes to their marketing.

They slap a few ads together, maybe throw in a meme or two, throw a whole bunch of s#it against the wall, and hope something sticks.

But winging it only gets you so far. Real growth? That comes from having a clear strategy, a story your audience cares about, and creative that actually delivers.

That’s where (yes, a good) creative strategist comes in. Helping brands that are stuck in “meh” territory get to “wow” territory, with a plan that makes sense and creative that sticks.

Stop winging it!

In conclusion: Yes, if you're looking to scale - you need a creative strategist.

The short answer is: yes, you probably do.

Whether you’re a growing brand that’s struggling to cut through the noise or you’re looking to scale faster, a creative strategist will help you get there with a clear roadmap.

This is the fork in the road:

You could continue struggling without a clear strategy, waste time and resources, lose momentum and fall behind (without being over-dramatic).

Or you can stop f*cking around and create a focused creative roadmap that helps you scale your brand and create long term success.

The choice is completely yours.

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P.S. If you want to stop spinning your wheels, find your unique voice in the market, and actually start seeing results, reach out. The artisanal coffee's on me.