TL;DR: The Key Takeaways
The Fix: You need to map the customer journey first, then build a “Marketing Stack” that automates the handoffs.
The Problem: Most businesses confuse “Activity” (posting, emailing) with “Strategy.”
The Definition: Random Acts of Marketing (RAM) are isolated tactics executed without a unified goal or data connection.
The Cost: RAM leads to team burnout, wasted budget, and “Frankenstein” tech stacks that don’t talk to each other.
You Don’t Have a Strategy. You Have a To-Do List.
Most small businesses think they have a marketing strategy. What they actually have is a pile of tools, duct tape, and wishful thinking.
It usually looks like this: “We need to be on TikTok! Let’s send a newsletter! We need a new CRM! Why isn’t anyone buying?”
That is not strategy. That is Random Acts of Marketing (RAM).
If you are stuck in that cycle, you aren’t failing because you’re lazy. You are failing because the system is broken. In my 20+ years of fixing this for brands like Nike and startups alike, I’ve found that “more effort” rarely fixes a broken system.
What is “Random Acts of Marketing”?
Random Acts of Marketing occur when a business executes tactics based on trends, panic, or “gut feeling” rather than a cohesive plan. It is characterized by high effort, high burnout, and low visibility into actual results.
The Difference Between RAM and Strategy
Are you guilty of this? Check the comparison below.
| Random Acts of Marketing (RAM) | True Marketing Strategy |
| “I feel like we should post…” | “The data shows we need to…” |
| Disconnected tools (Frankenstein) | Integrated flow (HubSpot/Salesforce) |
| “Get more likes/views””Drive qualified leads” | Drive qualified leads” |
How to Build a Stack That Doesn’t Suck
The solution to RAM is never “buy another tool.” The solution is Simplification – make it EASY.
Here is the 3-step process I use with my consulting clients.
1. Map the Customer Journey First Before you buy a single piece of software, draw the path on a whiteboard. How does a stranger become a lead? How does a lead become a sale? If a tool doesn’t help that specific line, cut it.
2. Automate the Boring Stuff Your team should not be manually copying emails from a spreadsheet to your CRM. That is a waste of human brainpower. I recommend using tools like Zapier or Make to handle the data transfer so your humans can do the creative work.
3. Measure “Sanity Metrics,” Not Vanity Metrics I don’t care how many likes your reel got. I care how many people clicked the link in your bio and booked a call. Stop reporting on noise. Start reporting on signal.
The Bottom Line
If you feel like you are working harder than ever but revenue is flat, you are likely suffering from RAM.
Stop doing more.
Stop. Breathe. And build a system that connects the dots.