Mark | GCMO

The One Page CMO Strategy Template

The One Page CMO Strategy Template

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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)

The One Page CMO Strategy Template

Let’s get one thing straight: marketing isn’t a mystical art practiced by hoodie-wearing wizards whispering to the algorithm gods. It’s not a vibe. It’s not a “let’s just go viral” strategy. It’s math. It’s systems. It’s psychology. And yes, it’s a little bit of flair—but mostly, it’s math wearing a really good blazer.

So if your current marketing plan is built on hope, hashtags, and a Canva subscription, buckle up. We’re about to replace your fairy dust with frameworks that actually work.

The Big Lie: “Let’s Just Get More Awareness”

Ah yes, the classic. When in doubt, someone in the room says, “We just need more awareness.” That’s like saying your car won’t start because it needs more… car. It’s vague, it’s lazy, and it’s a great way to burn budget faster than a crypto startup in 2022.

Here’s the truth bomb:

“If your funnel leaks like a colander, pouring more people into the top just makes a bigger mess.”

Before you chase awareness, fix your conversion. Before you fix conversion, understand your customer. Before you understand your customer, stop assuming they care about your brand as much as you do. (Spoiler: they don’t.)

Framework Time: The 3M Model (Message, Math, Momentum)

Let’s break down a simple, no-BS framework I use with clients who are tired of marketing that looks good but performs like a soggy sandwich.

1. Message: Say Something That Matters

If your messaging sounds like it was written by ChatGPT on NyQuil, it’s time for a rewrite. Your message should:

  • Speak directly to a pain point (not a feature list)
  • Be so clear your mom could explain it at brunch
  • Make your audience feel seen, not sold to

Example: Slack didn’t say “cloud-based asynchronous communication platform.” They said, “Be less busy.” Boom. Tattoo that on your brand’s forehead.

2. Math: Know Your Numbers or Die Trying

Marketing without metrics is just expensive guessing. You need to know:

  • Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
  • Lifetime Value (LTV)
  • Conversion rates at every stage of the funnel
  • Churn rate (aka how fast people ghost you)

If you don’t know these numbers, you’re not a marketer—you’re a magician with a credit card. And not the good kind.

3. Momentum: Build Systems, Not Campaigns

Campaigns are cute. Systems scale. If your marketing dies every time a campaign ends, you don’t have a strategy—you have a seasonal hobby.

Build momentum by:

  • Automating nurture sequences
  • Creating evergreen content that compounds
  • Using retargeting to stay top of mind (without being creepy)
  • Testing and iterating like your job depends on it—because it does

Case Study: The SaaS That Stopped the Bleeding

I worked with a mid-stage SaaS company that was spending $100K/month on paid ads and couldn’t figure out why growth was flatlining harder than a 2008 MySpace profile.

We ran a funnel audit and found:

  • Landing page conversion rate: 0.7%
  • Trial-to-paid conversion: 3%
  • Churn rate: 12% monthly (yikes)

They didn’t need more traffic. They needed a funnel that didn’t suck.

We rewrote the messaging, simplified the onboarding, and added a 3-email win-back sequence. Within 90 days:

  • Landing page conversion hit 2.4%
  • Trial-to-paid jumped to 7%
  • Churn dropped to 6%

Same ad spend. Triple the ROI. No unicorns harmed in the process.

Stop Worshipping the Algorithm

Look, I get it. The algorithm is the new weather—everyone talks about it, nobody controls it. But if your entire strategy is “let’s post more and hope the algorithm likes us,” you’re not a marketer. You’re a digital street performer.

Instead, focus on:

  • Owning your audience (email > followers)
  • Creating content that solves problems, not just trends
  • Building community, not just reach

And for the love of all that is holy, stop saying “we need to go viral.” That’s not a strategy—it’s a symptom of not having one.

The TL;DR (Too Lazy; Didn’t Revenue)

  • Marketing isn’t magic—it’s math with a good haircut
  • Fix your funnel before you feed it
  • Use the 3M Model: Message, Math, Momentum
  • Stop chasing awareness and start chasing effectiveness
  • Build systems, not one-hit wonders

If you want to stop guessing and start growing, ditch the glitter and grab a calculator. Or better yet, hire someone who knows how to use one without crying.

Ready to Market Like You Mean It?

If this hit you harder than your Q2 numbers, good. That means you’re ready