Ask most entrepreneurs what their growth strategy is, and they’ll tell you something like: “We’re running ads.” Or “We’re posting on Instagram.”
But here’s the problem — ads and posts are tactics. Strategies are bigger. They’re the blueprint that connects your product to the people who need it, in a way that grows your business today and tomorrow.
So what do “business growth marketing strategies” really mean in 2025? Let’s break it down.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Why Most Businesses Get Stuck
Consider it in the following manner: tactics are the moves, strategy is the game plan.
Nike is putting LeBron James in a commercial? That’s a tactic. Nike’s long-term push to brand themselves as the symbol of performance, aspiration, and lifestyle? That’s the strategy.
Most businesses never make that leap. They boost random posts, throw discounts, or run a few ads to get sales in the short term. But they never ask: how does this fit into the bigger plan?
“Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”
As Sun Tzu put it
The Core of Growth Marketing
Growth marketing isn’t about chasing one viral moment. It’s about setting up systems that keep your customer base, revenue, and brand growing month after month.
At its core, growth marketing comes down to three things:
- Attraction – How do new people find you?
- Conversion – How do you turn attention into actual paying customers?
- Retention – How do you keep them coming back and spending more?
If your “strategy” doesn’t touch all three, it’s not a strategy. It’s a hustle.
What’s Driving Growth in 2025
The marketing world doesn’t stand still. Here’s what’s working right now:
- Video is everywhere. Almost every business is already using it, and even more are jumping in this year. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube aren’t just nice-to-haves anymore — if your brand isn’t showing up there, you’re missing where the audience spends its time.
- Social ads are booming. Global social media ad spending is set to hit $276.7 billion in 2025. Platforms like TikTok are now pulling more ad dollars from younger audiences than Facebook ever did.
- Paid media still matters. Despite the hype around organic, 83% of consumers discover new brands through online ads. That means ads aren’t dead — but they need to be paired with a bigger plan.
- Data is king again. Nearly half of marketers (49%) now use marketing mix modeling to track what’s really working across channels, and another 47% plan to invest more in it. Translation: guessing isn’t enough anymore.
Examples of Marketing Strategies That Work
Look at how major brands play the game:
- Apple – They don’t just sell phones. They build an ecosystem. Once you buy an iPhone, you’re pulled toward AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and iCloud. That’s retention at its best.
- Coca-Cola isn’t just selling a product. They’ve built their brand around a feeling — happiness, family, connection. When you grab a Coke, it’s not really about the drink, it’s about the moment it represents.
- Gymshark went from a garage project to a billion-dollar brand. Their rise wasn’t built on big billboards or TV ads. Even with U.S. flagship stores and women-focused campaigns in 2024, the core of their strategy hasn’t changed — influencers and community. People don’t just buy from Gymshark, they feel like they belong to something bigger.
- Spotify – From AI-powered playlists to their annual “Wrapped” campaign, Spotify keeps people hooked with personalization. That’s why retention is their secret weapon.
Notice the trend? It’s not one ad or one campaign. These are the strategies with different layers that keep attracting, converting, and retaining.
Key Strategies You Can Apply
If you’re building your own growth plan, here are a few approaches worth understanding:
- Content Marketing – Not just posting for the sake of it, but creating valuable content that draws people in. (Think HubSpot’s blog or Red Bull’s extreme sports videos.)
- Influencer & Social Proof – People trust people. Gymshark scaled fast because they worked with fitness creators instead of pouring money into ads.
- Community Building – An owned audience is priceless. Email lists, WhatsApp groups, private communities — they keep you connected even if social platforms change overnight.
- SEO & Organic Growth – Ranking on Google is slow, but powerful. It gives you traffic without paying for every click.
- Paid Ads (Done Right) – Ads scale fast, but only if you know your audience. Spray-and-pray no longer works. Targeting, creative, and funnel matter more than ever.
- Retention & Loyalty Programs – Starbucks Rewards. Amazon Prime. Apple ecosystem. The best brands don’t just sell once — they lock you in.
The Real Meaning of Growth Strategies
Here’s the reality check: a tactic sells once. A strategy builds a machine that keeps selling, even when you’re not working 24/7.
So ask yourself:
👉 Do I know how people are finding me?
👉 Do I have a system that turns them into paying customers?
👉 Do I have a plan to keep them loyal?
If you can’t answer yes, then my friend you don’t have a growth strategy yet.
Final Takeaway
Business growth doesn’t come from chasing trends or boosting random posts. It comes from strategy — a clear plan that attracts, converts, and retains.
“Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”
Jeff Bezos
