Tactics framed as principles are still tactics
Tactics are not universal truths. Learn why marketing principles are often just lucky guesses and why constant testing is the only real rule.
One day some guy tried something and it worked.
He went to tell the world about his discovery.
Instead of talking about it as something small, he made it BIG.
REALLY BIG.
And called it a principle.
A universal truth that you can’t go against.
And business people listened to him. And they wrote books and articles. And “the truth” spread.
You use one CTA because conversion optimization guys told you to.
Then you try adding a second one and it works better than ever.
You start thinking multiple options are the right choice.
Restaurants have menus after all.
You try that - fails completely.
Why?
Because tactics are not first principles.
Best practices are not universal truths.
The only thing that always works is experimenting
Testing out new things.
Old things.
Trending things.
Forgotten things.
That’s the principle.
Like this post? Share with your team. Subscribe for weekly articles on business storytelling, marketing and growth.
And if something works now - doesn’t mean it will work forever
So keep experimenting.
Launch that new ad.
Test the new funnel.
Try a new sales script.
Maybe even revisit some of your old failures. Perhaps new conditions can make them work (I would take this one with a grain of salt for sure, be reasonable)
P.S. Even legit gurus are often just people who got lucky once and then started talking about it endlessly. Don’t fall into the false “big idea” trap. Just test the tactic yourself, or ignore it.