Mark | GCMO

CORE STRATEGY & POSITIONING

CORE STRATEGY & POSITIONING

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by

Mark Gabrielli
in

Marketing Isn’t Magic—It’s Math (With Better Fonts)

Marketing Isn’t Magic—It’s Math (With Better Fonts)

CORE STRATEGY & POSITIONING

Let’s get one thing straight: marketing isn’t a mystical art practiced by hoodie-wearing wizards in open-plan offices. It’s not about “going viral,” manifesting brand vibes, or praying to the algorithm gods. Marketing is math. It’s strategy. It’s psychology. And yes, it’s occasionally a well-placed meme. But mostly? It’s math—just with better fonts and a sassier attitude.

The Myth of the Marketing Unicorn

Somewhere along the way, we started believing that great marketing is about finding a unicorn—a magical campaign that explodes overnight, gets 10 million views, and makes your CFO cry tears of joy. Spoiler alert: unicorns aren’t real. And if your strategy depends on one, you’re not a marketer—you’re a gambler with a Canva subscription.

Instead of chasing mythical beasts, let’s talk about what actually works: frameworks, data, and a little thing I like to call “not being boring.”

The Revenue-First Framework (Because Likes Don’t Pay Rent)

Here’s a simple truth bomb for your next all-hands meeting:

“If your marketing isn’t moving revenue, it’s just expensive decoration.”

So let’s build a framework that actually drives business. I call it the R.O.A.R. model. Why? Because it’s loud, effective, and it scares the competition.

R.O.A.R. = Revenue, Objectives, Audience, Results

  • Revenue: Start here. What’s the number you need to hit? Work backward from revenue, not forward from “cool idea.”
  • Objectives: Define clear, measurable goals. “Build awareness” is not a goal. “Increase qualified leads by 30% in Q3” is.
  • Audience: Know them better than they know themselves. What keeps them up at night? What makes them click? What makes them buy?
  • Results: Track everything. If you can’t measure it, you can’t optimize it. And if you can’t optimize it, you’re just guessing in a nicer font.

Use this model to gut-check every campaign. If it doesn’t align with R.O.A.R., it doesn’t go live. Period.

Case Study: The SaaS Startup That Stopped Chasing Clicks

Let me tell you about a SaaS company I worked with. They were spending $50K/month on paid ads and getting… drumroll… 3 demo requests. That’s not a funnel—that’s a leaky garden hose.

We applied the R.O.A.R. model. We ditched the vanity metrics, rewrote the messaging to speak directly to CFOs (their actual buyers), and focused on one conversion goal: booked demos. Within 60 days, demo requests jumped 400%. Revenue followed. CFO cried. True story.

Marketing Math: The Only Formula You Need

Here’s a little equation I like to tattoo on the inside of every marketer’s eyelids:

Traffic x Conversion Rate x Average Deal Size = Revenue

That’s it. That’s the game. You want more revenue? You either:

  • Get more traffic
  • Convert more of that traffic
  • Sell bigger deals

Everything else is noise. Or worse—LinkedIn thought leadership.

Stop Worshipping the Algorithm

Look, I get it. The algorithm is the mysterious deity we all pretend to understand. But here’s the truth: if your content sucks, no algorithm can save you. And if your content is great, it’ll find its way—because people share what’s useful, funny, or makes them look smart in front of their boss.

So stop trying to “hack” the algorithm. Start trying to be worth someone’s time. That’s the real growth hack.

5 Marketing Moves That Actually Work (And Don’t Require a Ring Light)

  • 1. Build a content engine, not a content calendar. Stop scheduling fluff. Start creating assets that drive traffic and leads for months, not minutes.
  • 2. Interview your customers. Not for testimonials—for insights. What made them buy? What almost stopped them? That’s your messaging goldmine.
  • 3. Create a “conversion lab.” Test landing pages, CTAs, and offers like a mad scientist with a caffeine addiction.
  • 4. Align with sales weekly. If marketing and sales aren’t besties, your funnel is broken. Fix it over tacos.
  • 5. Kill your darlings. That campaign you love but doesn’t convert? Let it go. You’re not running a museum of creative regrets.

The Big Idea: Marketing Is a Business Function, Not a Vibe

Marketing isn’t here to make things pretty. It’s here to make things profitable. If your CEO doesn’t see marketing as a revenue engine, you’ve got two options: change their mind or change your job.

So stop chasing trends. Start chasing truth. Build systems. Test relentlessly. And for the love of all that is holy, stop using the word “virality” like it’s a KPI.

Final Word: Be the CMO Who Brings the Receipts

Marketing isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about being the one with the numbers, the strategy, and the guts to say, “No, we’re not doing that TikTok dance.”

So go forth. Build campaigns that convert. Create content that compels. And remember: the best marketers don’t just make noise—they make money.</