What do you do if your boss is not understanding your marketing ideas?

You have some brilliant marketing ideas that you want to implement, but your boss is not on board. Maybe they don't see the value, the potential, or the urgency of your proposals. Maybe they have a different vision, a limited budget, or a rigid mindset. Whatever the reason, you feel frustrated, demotivated, and unheard. How can you overcome this challenge and persuade your boss to understand and support your marketing ideas? Here are some tips to help you communicate effectively, build trust, and achieve your goals.

1 Know your audience

Before you present your marketing ideas to your boss, do some research on their preferences, expectations, and concerns. What are their goals and priorities? What are their pain points and challenges? What are their preferred communication styles and channels? How do they like to receive and process information? By knowing your audience, you can tailor your message, tone, and format to suit their needs and preferences. You can also anticipate and address any objections or questions they might have.

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Doug Walker

B2B Executive Marketing Consultant for Healthcare and Other Tech Companies | Branding, Go-to-Market, Messaging, & Content | Making complex things simple to engage, convert, and sell
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This is fine advice to know your audience. But some bosses just don't get it and never will. I hate to stereotype, but if your boss is a current or former sales leader, you have a steep hill to climb. They tend to demand new marketing activities without understanding how they work or realistic expectations for results. And everyone thinks they understand marketing better than marketers. So you might be challenged if, say, the CTO or CFO has your boss's ear and outrank you. I've worked for great bosses and some less-great. And others posting here offer some fantastic advice. But if you find that you're doing everything right and still dread every work day because of a boss who doesn't listen or respect you, move on.

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2 Show the value

Your boss is more likely to understand and appreciate your marketing ideas if you can show how they add value to the organization, the customers, and the bottom line. Use data, evidence, and examples to demonstrate the benefits, outcomes, and impact of your ideas. How will they help achieve the organizational goals and objectives? How will they solve a problem, meet a need, or create an opportunity for the customers? How will they increase revenue, reduce costs, or improve efficiency? Be specific, realistic, and quantifiable.

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Priyanshi Soni

Research Analyst @High Beam Global
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I will present my idea with clear explanations of their potential benefits, such as increased sales, brand visibility,customer retention and customer engagement. I will emphasize data and examples to illustrate how my idea can align with business goals and can deliver tangible value.

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3 Seek feedback

Don't assume that your boss will automatically agree with your marketing ideas or that you have all the answers. Seek feedback from your boss and other stakeholders who might be affected by or involved in your ideas. Ask open-ended questions, listen actively, and acknowledge different perspectives. Be open to constructive criticism, suggestions, and alternatives. Show that you value their input and that you are willing to learn and improve. Feedback can help you refine your ideas, avoid pitfalls, and gain support.

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4 Build rapport

One of the key factors that influence how your boss perceives your marketing ideas is the level of trust and rapport you have with them. If you have a good relationship with your boss, they are more likely to respect your expertise, listen to your opinions, and give you the benefit of the doubt. To build rapport with your boss, show genuine interest in them as a person, not just as a manager. Express appreciation and recognition for their work and achievements. Be respectful, honest, and reliable. Communicate regularly and effectively.

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5 Be flexible

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your boss might not understand or approve your marketing ideas. Don't take it personally or give up easily. Be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances, priorities, and expectations. Be ready to compromise, negotiate, or revise your ideas if necessary. Be prepared to test, experiment, or pilot your ideas before implementing them fully. Be willing to learn from failures and successes. Be patient and persistent until you find a solution that works for both you and your boss.

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S.Huei F.

🎯 Multilingual Chartered Marketer in Tech | 🚀 Scaling Regional Growth with Agile Innovation | 🤖 Next-Gen AI & Low Code/No Code SaaS Integration | ✍🏻️ Cutting-Edge Marketing Insights & Tech Trends |
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Present Visual Prototypes: Use tools like Figma or InVision to create interactive prototypes of your marketing campaigns. When your boss can visualize your ideas, they are more likely to understand and approve them. For instance, I once created an interactive prototype for a new website design using Figma. This allowed my boss to see the potential impact and led to their approval. Provide Case Studies: Share success stories and case studies from similar industries to support your ideas. Tools like HubSpot or Hootsuite provide access to a wealth of industry-specific case studies that you can leverage to show how a competitor's marketing strategy had boosted their sales, which convinced my boss to explore a similar approach.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if your boss is not understanding your marketing ideas?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Know your audience

2 Show the value

3 Seek feedback

4 Build rapport

5 Be flexible

6 Here’s what else to consider

Marketing

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What do you do if your boss is not understanding your marketing ideas?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Know your audience

2 Show the value

3 Seek feedback

4 Build rapport

5 Be flexible

6 Here’s what else to consider

Marketing

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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