marketing activities

The ChatGPT Marketing Activities Priorities Playoff

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I had a little fun today.

I took an old ChatGPT prompt that uses a playoff format to choose a micro-offer name and modified it to choose and prioritize a list of marketing activities for the uninitiated. Here’s the prompt:

You are tasked with deciding on the single most effective first step in marketing a local business.

You will use a “playoff” method to find the best name for this article.

Strictly follow these steps:

Step 1: Create a list of 32 distinct activities that a person could take to begin marketing their local business. Each activity should be judged on how it sets up the rest of the activities in a logical order for a successful marketing plan.

Step 2: The Playoff Rounds Round of 32: Pair the 32 activity into 16 matchups (pairs). Compare each pair and choose a winner based on: How much “bang for your buck” it provides and how high its priority would be in relationship to all the other 31 activities.

Round of 16: Take the 16 winners from the first round and pair them into 8 matchups. Compare each pair, select a winner, and explain your reasoning.

Quarterfinals: Take the 8 remaining activities and form 4 matchups. Again, compare each pair, choose winners, and provide reasoning.

Semifinals: Compare the 4 remaining activities in 2 matchups. Select the best name from each pair with reasoning.

Final Round: Compare the final 2 activities. Choose the overall best name based on how well it represents the article’s goals, its catchiness, and other factors. Provide a detailed explanation for why this name stands out as the best.

Step 3: The Final Output at the end of this playoff process, present: The complete list of the original 32 activities, ranked from most essential, highest priority to worst, in order. A detailed explanation for why the final name was selected as the best out of all 32.

And here’s what it spit out:

Step 1: Initial List of 32 Marketing Activities for a Local Business

  1. Define Target Audience
  2. Create Google My Business Profile
  3. Set Up a Basic Website
  4. Optimize Website for Local SEO
  5. Claim Social Media Handles
  6. Research Competitors’ Marketing Strategies
  7. Post First Social Media Update
  8. Identify Core Products/Services to Promote
  9. Engage with Local Influencers
  10. Develop Brand Identity (Logo, Colors)
  11. Gather Initial Customer Testimonials
  12. List Business on Local Directories
  13. Set Up an Email Newsletter
  14. Plan and Host a Community Event
  15. Run a Facebook Ad for Brand Awareness
  16. Offer a Grand Opening Promotion
  17. Join Local Business Networking Group
  18. Collect Emails from Initial Customers
  19. Encourage Online Reviews on Google
  20. Launch a Referral Program
  21. Participate in Local Events as a Vendor
  22. Create a Simple Brochure or Flyer
  23. Define Brand’s Unique Selling Proposition
  24. Write a Blog Post About Your Business
  25. Create Google Ads Campaign for Local Customers
  26. Develop an Opening Press Release
  27. Offer a Limited-Time Discount
  28. Post Regular Updates on Social Media
  29. Identify Nearby Businesses for Cross-Promotion
  30. Collect Customer Feedback and Use for Marketing
  31. Develop a Content Calendar for Marketing
  32. Define Marketing Budget and Goals

Step 2: The Playoff Rounds

Round of 32: Matchups and Winners

  1. Define Target Audience vs. Develop Brand Identity
  2. Winner: Define Target Audience – Knowing who you’re targeting sets a foundation for all other activities.
  3. Create Google My Business Profile vs. Claim Social Media Handles
  4. Winner: Create Google My Business Profile – Essential for local visibility and credibility.
  5. Set Up a Basic Website vs. Identify Core Products/Services to Promote
  6. Winner: Set Up a Basic Website – A website provides a centralized platform for your business.
  7. Optimize Website for Local SEO vs. Gather Initial Customer Testimonials
  8. Winner: Optimize Website for Local SEO – Vital for ensuring local customers can find your business online.
  9. Research Competitors’ Marketing Strategies vs. Encourage Online Reviews on Google
  10. Winner: Encourage Online Reviews on Google – Reviews build credibility and influence buying decisions.
  11. Post First Social Media Update vs. Set Up an Email Newsletter
  12. Winner: Post First Social Media Update – This provides an immediate, low-cost way to connect with potential customers.
  13. Run a Facebook Ad for Brand Awareness vs. List Business on Local Directories
  14. Winner: List Business on Local Directories – Essential for search visibility, especially for local searches.
  15. Join Local Business Networking Group vs. Offer a Grand Opening Promotion
  16. Winner: Offer a Grand Opening Promotion – Effective for attracting customers right away.
  17. Collect Emails from Initial Customers vs. Create a Simple Brochure or Flyer
  18. Winner: Collect Emails from Initial Customers – A direct line to customers is more valuable than one-time print materials.
  19. Develop an Opening Press Release vs. Participate in Local Events as a Vendor
  20. Winner: Participate in Local Events as a Vendor – Direct local engagement can drive significant brand awareness.
  21. Launch a Referral Program vs. Define Brand’s Unique Selling Proposition
  22. Winner: Define Brand’s Unique Selling Proposition – This clarifies what sets the business apart, which is critical before any promotions.
  23. Write a Blog Post About Your Business vs. Define Marketing Budget and Goals
  24. Winner: Define Marketing Budget and Goals – Essential for any sustainable marketing effort.
  25. Create Google Ads Campaign for Local Customers vs. Offer a Limited-Time Discount
  26. Winner: Create Google Ads Campaign for Local Customers – More targeted and scalable than a one-time discount.
  27. Encourage Online Reviews on Google vs. Post Regular Updates on Social Media
  28. Winner: Encourage Online Reviews on Google – Reviews carry more weight than regular posts.
  29. Identify Nearby Businesses for Cross-Promotion vs. Develop a Content Calendar for Marketing
  30. Winner: Identify Nearby Businesses for Cross-Promotion – Helps build local relationships and can drive new business.
  31. Collect Customer Feedback and Use for Marketing vs. Plan and Host a Community Event
  32. Winner: Plan and Host a Community Event – Great for community visibility and engagement.

Round of 16: Matchups and Winners

  1. Define Target Audience vs. Create Google My Business Profile
  2. Winner: Define Target Audience – Directs all subsequent marketing decisions.
  3. Set Up a Basic Website vs. Optimize Website for Local SEO
  4. Winner: Set Up a Basic Website – Foundational before SEO efforts.
  5. Encourage Online Reviews on Google vs. Post First Social Media Update
  6. Winner: Encourage Online Reviews on Google – Online reviews are high-impact for local business trust.
  7. List Business on Local Directories vs. Offer a Grand Opening Promotion
  8. Winner: List Business on Local Directories – Boosts discoverability, especially in search engines.
  9. Collect Emails from Initial Customers vs. Participate in Local Events as a Vendor
  10. Winner: Collect Emails from Initial Customers – Long-term engagement potential.
  11. Define Brand’s Unique Selling Proposition vs. Define Marketing Budget and Goals
  12. Winner: Define Brand’s Unique Selling Proposition – Helps shape all communication.
  13. Create Google Ads Campaign for Local Customers vs. Encourage Online Reviews on Google
  14. Winner: Create Google Ads Campaign for Local Customers – Direct way to attract new customers.
  15. Identify Nearby Businesses for Cross-Promotion vs. Plan and Host a Community Event
  16. Winner: Identify Nearby Businesses for Cross-Promotion – Cross-promotions can be mutually beneficial.

Quarterfinals

  1. Define Target Audience vs. Set Up a Basic Website
  2. Winner: Define Target Audience
  3. Encourage Online Reviews on Google vs. List Business on Local Directories
  4. Winner: List Business on Local Directories
  5. Collect Emails from Initial Customers vs. Define Brand’s Unique Selling Proposition
  6. Winner: Define Brand’s Unique Selling Proposition
  7. Create Google Ads Campaign for Local Customers vs. Identify Nearby Businesses for Cross-Promotion
  8. Winner: Create Google Ads Campaign for Local Customers

Semifinals

  1. Define Target Audience vs. List Business on Local Directories
  2. Winner: Define Target Audience
  3. Define Brand’s Unique Selling Proposition vs. Create Google Ads Campaign for Local Customers
  4. Winner: Define Brand’s Unique Selling Proposition

Final Round

Define Target Audience vs. Define Brand’s Unique Selling Proposition

Winner: Define Target Audience

Step 3: Final Output

Ranked List of 32 Activities

  1. Define Target Audience
  2. Define Brand’s Unique Selling Proposition
  3. Set Up a Basic Website
  4. List Business on Local Directories
  5. Encourage Online Reviews on Google
  6. Create Google My Business Profile
  7. Create Google Ads Campaign for Local Customers
  8. Collect Emails from Initial Customers
  9. Optimize Website for Local SEO
  10. Identify Nearby Businesses for Cross-Promotion
  11. Claim Social Media Handles
  12. Offer a Grand Opening Promotion
  13. Participate in Local Events as a Vendor
  14. Post First Social Media Update
  15. Develop Brand Identity
  16. Define Marketing Budget and Goals
  17. Plan and Host a Community Event
  18. Join Local Business Networking Group
  19. Research Competitors’ Marketing Strategies
  20. Run a Facebook Ad for Brand Awareness
  21. Develop an Opening Press Release
  22. Collect Customer Feedback for Marketing
  23. Identify Core Products/Services to Promote
  24. Launch a Referral Program
  25. Write a Blog Post About Your Business
  26. Set Up an Email Newsletter
  27. Develop a Content Calendar
  28. Create a Simple Brochure or Flyer
  29. Gather Initial Customer Testimonials
  30. Post Regular Updates on Social Media
  31. Offer a Limited-Time Discount
  32. Encourage Customer Engagement

Final Title Selection and Justification: This title was selected as it emphasizes a foundational step that informs every other marketing activity, creating a clear guide for new business owners. It’s both actionable and valuable for readers, setting the stage for a logical and effective marketing journey.

********** End ChatGPT output

Did you see the first one? You can argue about the order of a lot of the rest of it but you can’t think of many things more important that deciding who you’re targeting. What do you think? Does this align with your marketing activities priority list?

Anybody who is interested in a deeper dive, contact us here at Tenon SEM.
We do one-on-one marketing consulting and full service.

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