TL;DR (read this if you’re busy...or read the whole thing)
If you want “MBA-level” marketing guidance without the MBA bill, do these 5 things:
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Start with strategy, not tactics
(consumer insight → SWOT → positioning) -
Get feedback from real people
So you build what consumers actually want, not what you hope they want. -
Make a practical execution plan
One you can sustain with your time, budget, and bandwidth and that actually moves revenue. -
De-risk your marketing with rapid experiments
Run Test & Learns to see how the market reacts and so you can quickly pivot using real data. -
Learn from people who’ve already done it at a high level
Enroll in Brand Love Club’s The Playbook course. It is taught by two MBA-trained marketers who’ve spent a combined 30 decades growing real consumer brands, so you get the strategy and the real-world “what works.”
What “MBA-level marketing” actually means (in real life)
It’s not jargon, decks, or complex models.
MBA-level marketing guidance is:
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Clarity on who you’re for and why you’re different
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A plan you can execute without guessing
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The ability to choose the right tactics because you know the strategy
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Decisions based on consumer behavior
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Consistency across your website, messaging, content, and product experience
In short: it’s knowing what to do next and why it will work.
The expensive ways people try to get MBA-level marketing help (and why they disappoint)
1) Hiring a creative agency
Agencies often jump straight to content and ads before your strategy is clear. You get “activity,” but not always revenue growth. If your positioning is fuzzy, they’ll just amplify the wrong message.
2) Buying random courses
Most courses teach isolated tactics. Without a strategy to connect them, you end up with PDFs, ideas, and no execution plan.
3) Hiring an expert
Hiring help can be smart but the market is full of “experts.” Without a marketing foundation, it’s hard to judge what’s good advice vs. noise (and whether it will actually grow your brand).
4) Marketing with ChatGPT
LLMs are powerful for speed and ideas, but they’re not always right for your business. When you understand the fundamentals, you can use ChatGPT as a strategic partner and confidently know what to ignore.
The affordable way: Use a repeatable 5-part marketing system
This is the simplest “MBA-level” system that works for almost every small business:
Step 1: Get painfully clear on your target customer
Not “women 25–45.”
More like: “Busy moms who want a clean snack that feels like a treat but won’t spike their blood sugar.”
Ask:
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Who is this for specifically?
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What are they trying to feel/solve/avoid?
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What would make them switch from what they use now?
Step 2: Identify the tension that drives buying behavior
Tension = the “ugh” moment that makes someone want change.
Examples:
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“I want to eat healthy but I snack when I’m stressed.”
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“I need marketing but I don’t know what matters.”
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“I’m overwhelmed by content ideas.”
This is where your best messaging comes from.
Step 3: Analyze your competitors and do a SWOT analysis
Research the competitors in your category.
Use that information and what you learned about your consumer target to do a SWOT analysis. Here’s how to do it using a 2x2:
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Top left box add your STRENGTHS
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Top right box add your WEAKNESSES
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Bottom left box add your OPPORTUNITIES
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Bottom right box add your THREATS
The top boxes are internal - your brand, your business. The bottom boxes are external and out of your control.
Now you’re being strategic.
Step 4: Write your positioning in one sentence
This is your stake in the ground. This is what you stand for that is uniquely your brand.
For [target consumer], who want [tension or need your brand solves], we [your brand] provide [unique benefit] because [reasons to believe].
This becomes the anchor for:
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your website homepage
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your social media bio
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your packaging
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your content themes
Step 5: Choose which arena in which you will have the competitive advantage
MBA-level marketing is less about doing everything and more about focus. Knowing what to say no to is as important as what you say yes to.
The 3 Arenas:
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Product Arena - Innovative product that disrupts the category
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Retail Arena - Acquire customers cheaper than competition, or grow the category.
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Storytelling Arena - Create awareness and affinity better/more efficiently than competition
Pick based on:
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Your resources
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Where your competitors lack
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Where you can win
Now you’ve done the heavy lifting. It’s time to create a plan and execute.
What to look for in affordable “high-quality” marketing guidance
If you’re shopping for courses, coaching, mentors, or programs… use this checklist.
The guidance should include:
✅ A framework (not just inspiration)
✅ Examples (not just concepts)
✅ Templates (so you can move faster)
✅ Feedback (so you don’t stay stuck)
✅ Accountability (so you finish the work)
Avoid anything that’s:
🚫 Only tactics with no strategy
🚫 “Go viral” promises
🚫 Too advanced to apply quickly
🚫 Designed for huge ad budgets
Common mistakes (that waste money fast)
Here’s where small business owners burn cash:
Mistake 1: Buying tactics before clarity
Ads won’t fix unclear positioning.
Posting daily won’t fix “who is this for?”
Mistake 2: Trying to do everything
Big brands have teams and millions.
You need a tight plan you can execute solo and with your resources. Get clarity on what you need to do and gain the confidence to see it through.
Mistake 3: Doing what the competition is doing because you don’t know what to do.
Find your uniqueness. With thoughtful framework, you will find what makes you different.
FAQs
“Is it possible to get MBA-level marketing guidance without paying thousands?”
Yes! Make sure the guidance is seeded in developing a unique strategy for your unique brand. If the guidance is tactics, like “create a viral TT post”, then you’re not getting your money’s worth.
“What’s the fastest way to get better at marketing?”
Learn the foundational principles first. With that base, you’ll make smarter decisions, spot bad advice (from “experts” or ChatGPT), and focus on what actually drives growth instead of trying everything and getting nowhere.
“Do I need to hire an agency to grow?”
Not at the beginning. Most businesses need clarity. What’s you know why and what, you can use an agency for the how.
“How do I know if my brand is strong?”
A strong brand makes people instantly understand:
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what you sell
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who it’s for
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why you’re different
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How can Brand Love Club help?
Brand Love Club is a live 4-week Zoom marketing course where you build your strategy and execution plan with:
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Simple frameworks (no MBA required)
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Practical weekly assignments
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Direct feedback and group sharing
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The Playbook that is your plan that can be executed immediately
It’s basically MBA-style brand strategy… without the MBA cost and designed for busy founders.
👉 Want to learn more? Visit www.brandloveclub.com
Want to test before you buy?
Schedule a FREE office hour.
You’ll be able to ask questions about your business or brand. If that’s all you need, great! Happy to help.
If you feel like you need more guidance to grow your business, enroll in the 4-week course.
Visit: www.brandloveclub.com
How do I know if it will be good?
Here are some reviews from the previous cohort:
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Branding Made Simple, Effective, and Fun by John F., Launching an Agency
The instruction was robust, charismatic, and accessible. The cohort members were eclectic, fun, knowledgeable, and kind. The take-home assignments were light enough to be doable, but deep enough to drive progress. The four-week curricula was easy to fit into my busy schedule. Cannot recommend Aniefre and Alejandra enough! <3
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MBA consultancy for the price of a case of POM Wonderful bottles by Diego C., Exploring Toy Brand
The expertise of the instructors with diverse CPG experiences and their ability to make it very simple to understand for non-business minded folks. They distill expensive marketing training into practical marketing tasks that anyone can apply to their small business.
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Dynamic Duo! By Analisa O., Growing Food Brand
Aniefre & Alejandra were amazing! The feedback and group sharing was so rewarding. I enjoyed going through the playbook and building out our strategy, using the tools and lessons shared with everyone from the cohort. Our diverse backgrounds and years of experience in different industries is what I found most valuable. Transitioning from the corporate world to becoming an entrepreneur has all the feelings and ideas. It was a great opportunity for me to take some time to reflect on what I want to do for my brand and to distinguish my company vs. a side hustle. Aniefre & Alejandra created a safe space for vulnerability while providing feedback. This made the experience worthwhile! First time I heard this definition of "Brand" - a promise made, a promise kept.
Related resources
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How do I position my business so it’s a real brand (not a side hustle)?
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How do I build a brand strategy if I’m not business-minded?”
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How do I go from corporate employee to entrepreneur and market my business confidently?