Practical Marketing Content: The Strategy Famous Entrepreneurs Use to Win

Why Practical Marketing Content Wins

In the noisy digital marketplace, inspiration is everywhere, but true value is rare. Ads bombard us, campaigns chase clicks, and countless brands shout for attention. But here’s the truth: customers aren’t looking for noise—they’re looking for practical marketing content that actually helps them. They want content that solves problems, answers questions, and saves time.

This isn’t just theory—it’s one of the six proven principles in Jonah Berger’s STEPPS framework for contagious marketing. The Practical strategy shows us that content spreads when it is useful. People love to share tips, tricks, and advice that make life easier, and they are more likely to engage with a brand that helps them accomplish their goals.

The world’s most famous entrepreneurs have always understood this. Elon Musk doesn’t just market Tesla with futuristic visions—he breaks down complex technology into practical updates the public can grasp. Sara Blakely built Spanx by solving a relatable, everyday frustration. Gary Vaynerchuk didn’t grow his empire on hype—he grew it by relentlessly giving entrepreneurs actionable advice they could use in management and business.

Practical marketing content is leadership in action. It embodies the best leadership principles: serving others first, creating clarity in the chaos, and equipping people with tools they can use right now.

Practical Marketing Content Begins with Audience Goals

Every great piece of practical content begins with one essential question: What is my audience trying to accomplish?

This is where too many brands stumble. They obsess over features and forget that customers buy outcomes, not products. A treadmill isn’t valuable until it becomes the pathway to someone’s weight loss goal. Accounting software isn’t exciting until it becomes the solution to saving hours every week. Leadership advice isn’t relevant until it translates into a stronger, more inspired team.

Management and business leaders who excel at gaining traction start with empathy. They place themselves in the customer’s shoes and identify the jobs, frustrations, and decisions their audience faces daily. Famous entrepreneurs from Steve Jobs to Oprah Winfrey succeeded by focusing not on what they sold, but on the progress their customers wanted to make.

👉 If you want to create content that spreads, start by obsessing over your audience’s goals.

Delivering Practical Information People Can Apply Immediately

Once you’ve identified your audience’s goals, the next step is clear: provide practical information they can apply right away.

Customers crave utility. They want answers that cut through the noise, remove barriers, and help them succeed faster. This is why “how-to” articles, guides, checklists, and tutorials dominate Google searches. People don’t just want to be inspired—they want steps.

In the realm of management and business, this might look like:

• A startup founder sharing a detailed checklist for raising venture capital.

• A CEO publishing a playbook for leading teams through economic uncertainty.

• A retail entrepreneur offering a practical pricing calculator for small businesses.

Practical marketing content works because it builds trust. Every time you help your audience succeed—even in a small way—you make it more likely they’ll return, engage, and ultimately buy.

As a leadership principle, this is about servant leadership: giving people tools, not just slogans.

How Famous Entrepreneurs Present Practical Content

The way you present content is just as important as the information itself. The most famous entrepreneurs tailor their delivery to meet their audience where they already spend time.

Gary Vaynerchuk transformed long-form speeches into short, actionable clips for Instagram and TikTok. Elon Musk uses Twitter to simplify complex technical updates into shareable bites. Marie Forleo produces video lessons that feel like conversations with a mentor.

Different audiences consume content in different ways. That’s why practical content should be offered in multiple formats: long-form blogs for readers, instructional videos for visual learners, podcasts for commuters, and quick Reels or carousels for those scrolling on their phones.

This isn’t just marketing—it’s applying leadership principles to communication. Great leaders adapt to their audience, making sure the message lands in the format most accessible to them.

Why Practical Marketing Content Builds Trust, Authority, and Growth

Flashy campaigns may get attention, but practical marketing content builds credibility. When your brand consistently helps people solve real problems, you transform from a seller into a trusted advisor.

Jeff Bezos understood this with Amazon’s early shareholder letters—he used them not only to explain financials, but to teach principles of customer obsession that entrepreneurs in management and business still study today. Oprah Winfrey built her empire by blending inspiration with practical advice people could apply in their daily lives, making her one of the most trusted voices in the world.

The lesson is clear: authority comes from utility. If you want people to see your business as essential, show them that you’re indispensable by helping them achieve results.

Action Plan: How to Apply the Practical Strategy

Based on the framework in Jonah Berger’s STEPPS model and the tasks from the presentation, here’s an action plan entrepreneurs and business managers can follow to implement the Practical strategy today:

1. Define Audience Goals

Spend time identifying what your target market is trying to achieve. Conduct surveys, interviews, or even informal conversations to uncover the daily goals, problems, and FAQs that matter most to them.

2. Provide Practical Information They Can Apply

Create content that directly helps your audience solve those problems. Focus on step-by-step instructions, useful facts, or frameworks that guide decision-making. Think of it as a toolkit: the more useful, the more valuable.

3. Choose the Right Formats for Delivery

Match your audience’s habits. Write how-to guides and blogs for search traffic. Create webinars and instructional videos for deeper engagement. Use multi-image social posts, Reels, or podcasts for snackable, shareable content.

4. Keep it Simple and Actionable

Practical content only works if it’s easy to understand and apply. Strip out jargon. Break down complex topics into simple, clear steps. Your audience should feel empowered, not overwhelmed.

5. Measure and Refine

Track which formats and topics drive the most engagement and conversions. Refine your content based on feedback and performance. Practical marketing content is iterative—your goal is to keep learning what works best for your audience.

Conclusion: Practical Content is Leadership in Action

At the end of the day, practical marketing content isn’t just a tactic—it’s a philosophy. It reflects the mindset of the most famous entrepreneurs and embodies timeless leadership principles. By focusing on your audience’s goals, delivering practical steps they can apply, and presenting it in accessible ways, you transform marketing from noise into necessity.

As Matthew 5:16 reminds us: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Practical content is your light. Let it shine. Lead with service. Empower your market. And watch your business not just grow—but thrive.

📚 References

Baines, P., Fill, C. and Page, K. (2013) Essentials of Marketing. 2nd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Berger, J. (2013) Contagious: Why Things Catch On. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Grant, R.M. (2019) Contemporary Strategy Analysis. 10th edn. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Johnson, G., Scholes, K. and Whittington, R. (2020) Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases. 12th edn. Harlow: Pearson Education.

Kotler, P. and Keller, K.L. (2016) Marketing Management. 15th edn. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.

Pulizzi, J. (2014) Epic Content Marketing. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.