Introduction
In an increasingly competitive business environment, it is essential to find effective methods to differentiate and strategically position yourself in the market. One of the most powerful and structured methodologies to achieve this is the 7 Strata methodology. This methodology allows you to evaluate and optimize your business strategy through a seven key layers approach, helping you to improve your business alignment and achieve sustained growth.
In this article, we will explore how to apply the 7 Strata methodology in your company, what each layer means and how you can use it to improve your market positioning, differentiate yourself from the competition and achieve business success. In addition, we will see how ClickPanda can help you implement some of these strategies effectively.
Table of Contents
What is the 7 Strata methodology?
The 7 Strata methodology is a strategic approach developed by HubSpot, which divides marketing and business strategies into seven key layers. Each layer represents a fundamental aspect that must be considered to achieve business success and, in particular, in digital marketing.
This methodology helps companies identify the areas they need to focus on to gain a competitive advantage, improve their market positioning and achieve a more complete and effective customer experience.
The 7 Strata: Explanation of each layer
Vision and Mission:
Vision: This layer refers to the vision of the company, the long-term objective that defines the purpose and direction of your business. Having a clear vision will help you guide all actions and strategies towards a common goal.
Mission: Your mission defines what you do, how you do it and why you do it. A well-defined mission is essential for your company to stay focused and aligned with your customers' interests. Example: ClickPanda's mission is to help businesses grow and stand out online through affordable and efficient web solutions.
Value Offering:
In this layer, we define what problem your company solves and how it does it better than anyone else. The value proposition is what makes your company unique and why customers should choose you over the competition. Example: ClickPanda offers hosting, domain and website creation services that allow businesses to get online quickly, easily and inexpensively.
Positioning:
Positioning refers to how you want your brand to be perceived by your target audience. What image do you want customers to have of you? What differentiates you from your competitors? Example: ClickPanda is positioned as an accessible, fast and affordable solution for SMEs and entrepreneurs who need a reliable online presence.
Marketing:
This layer focuses on how you will reach your audience. It includes all the marketing activities that will help you attract, convert and retain your customers. Common strategies: Digital advertising, content marketing, email marketing, SEO, among others. Example: ClickPanda uses digital marketing campaigns to attract customers and offer them high quality hosting solutions.
Customer Experience:
This is about creating a consistent and positive experience across all your customers' interactions with your brand, from first contact to post-sales. The customer experience should be seamless, personalized and consistent across all touch points. Example: ClickPanda ensures that your customers have a positive experience through high-quality customer support and an easy-to-use platform.
Capabilities:
Capabilities are the resources, skills and technology your company needs to carry out its strategy. In this layer, you evaluate whether you have the necessary tools and capabilities to deliver what you promise. Example: ClickPanda uses the best hosting technologies and management tools to ensure that its customers get fast and reliable service.
Culture and Values:
This layer is critical, as the corporate culture and values your company upholds will influence how everything else is carried out. The culture and values must align with the company's mission and vision. Example: ClickPanda values accessibility, reliability and customer support, which is reflected in all of their interactions with customers and how they operate internally.
How to apply the 7 Strata methodology in your company:
- Step 1:
Analyze your current situation: Evaluate how each of the layers of the methodology is in your business. Is your mission aligned with your value proposition? How clear is your positioning proposition? - Step 2:
Identify areas for improvement: Based on the analysis, identify areas that need to be improved. For example, how can you improve the customer experience or adjust your marketing strategy? - Step 3:
Implement strategic changes: Once you identify areas for improvement, implement strategic changes at each layer. This could mean improving technology, adjusting your communication or changing your marketing approach. - Step 4:
Evaluate the results: Measure the results of the changes you have implemented. Have you achieved a better positioning? Are customers more satisfied? Have sales increased?
Real-life success story: HubSpot and its own methodology 7 Strata
One of the best examples of the impact of the 7 Strata methodology is HubSpota global CRM, marketing and sales software company that has revolutionized inbound marketing.
HubSpot applied its own 7-layer methodology to grow from a Boston startup to a multi-billion dollar public company. How did they do it?
Clear Vision and MissionHis vision has always been to transform the way businesses engage, interact and delight customers. His mission was to democratize digital marketing for all sizes of business.
Powerful value propositionThey created an all-in-one platform that solves the biggest marketing, sales and service pains, ideal for companies without technical teams.
PositioningThey positioned themselves as pioneers of the inbound marketingThe company was radically different from those who engaged in aggressive and cold marketing.
Effective marketingThey generated high quality educational content, such as blogs, ebooks and free courses that positioned their brand as an expert.
Customer experienceEvery step of the customer journey with HubSpot is personalized, friendly and measured, which translates into very high satisfaction and loyalty rates.
Strong internal capabilitiesThey invested in technology, talent and infrastructure to scale without losing quality.
Culture and values alignedThey fostered a culture of "Smarketing" (Sales + Marketing), focused on the customer, transparency and continuous improvement.
ResultThanks to this structured application of the 7 Strata, HubSpot achieved a growth rate of more than 30% per year for more than a decade, attracting millions of users and positioning itself as one of the most admired companies in the technology sector.
ClickPanda offers you the tools and support to optimize every layer of your business strategy - get started today!
Conclusion:
The 7 Strata methodology is a comprehensive and effective approach to improve every aspect of your business and achieve business success. By applying this methodology, you can optimize your marketing, positioning, customer experience and much more. With ClickPanda's help, you can implement these strategies effectively and watch your business grow and differentiate itself from the competition.
