What Is A GTM Strategy?
What Is A GTM Strategy?
What Is A GTM Strategy?
GTM is often associated with new startups and product launches, especially those targeting
channel partners. Indirect channels often become a part of a product vendor’s go-to-market plan.
But GTM can also be used to describe the specific steps a company needs to take in order to
guide customer interactions for established products.
A GTM strategy is an action plan that specifies how a company will reach target customers and
achieve competitive advantage. The purpose of a GTM strategy is to provide a blueprint for
delivering a product or service to the end customer, taking into account such factors as pricing
and distribution.
A GTM strategy is somewhat similar to a business plan, although the latter is broader in scope
and considers such factors as funding.
And it’s similar to a marketing strategy, although a marketing strategy focuses on how a
company can reach an identified market over time and deliver against its overall value
proposition.
The GTM Strategy is focused on how the organization will put offerings into the market to reach
market penetration, revenue and profitability expectations. This charter is a superset of a
marketing strategy as it impacts all functions within an organization with the goal of preparing
the entire company for market success.
Your GTM strategy brings together all of the key elements that drive your business: sales,
marketing, distribution, pricing, brand development, competitive analysis, and consumer
insights.
It provides a strategic action plan that clarifies how to reach your target customers and better
compete in your marketplace.
Another key point to stress is that the GTM strategy is not an event, i.e., a product launch. The
GTM strategy is focused on the entire product lifecycle—from concept to grave.
A successful GTM strategy requires translating a product vision into messaging that will
resonate with the target audience. This takes coordination between cross-functional teams —
since messaging, training, and pricing all need to tie closely to the fixed timeline for launch.