The Power of Strategic Marketing:

It sounds crazy...but your gut instincts many times are more reliable than your intellect.

Last year, I felt strongly that I should buy shares in Nvidia, particularly given the wake of the AI revolution that swept across the globe, and Nvidia's rising relevance in the graphics chip and AI hardware manufacturing industry.

Sadly, I did not.

In the last week, Nvidia's market value has surged past $3 trillion, knocking off Apple to become the world's second most valuable publicly-listed company.

Wow. One would think I'd have learned after the rapid rise of Amazon...oh, well.

Welcome to The Fab Folio newsletter, your best scoop on marketing, business, and our lives in this digital world! It’s been a very long minute, but that’s a story for another day…for now, thank you for staying subscribed.

Today’s post is about something other than my missed investment opportunities. It's about sharing with CMOs and CEOs (of both large & small businesses) about how to take advantage of the next opportunities.

Nvidia's success story is a testament to the power of strategic marketing. Its remarkable journey from graphics chip manufacturer to AI powerhouse—holds key lessons for businesses of all sizes. Her strategic approach, fueled by GPU technology expertise, has led to ground-breaking advancements in artificial intelligence. As a result, the company's share price has skyrocketed almost 220% in the past year, and more than 7% in the past week, driven by investor confidence in Nvidia's potential as a leading player in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.

Seth Godin, the marketing titan, once wisely said, “Marketing is a contest for people’s attention.”

In today’s fast-paced business environment, capturing and retaining attention is more critical than ever.  Nvidia's meteoric rise in value and attention was not an accident. Here are some strategic marketing actions they took that we can all learn from:

Nvidia’s Strategic Marketing Playbook

1. Identify and Leverage Market Trends

NVIDIA’s early recognition of AI’s potential led them to incorporate machine learning features into their chips. This strategic foresight positioned them as AI leaders.

Lesson: Stay ahead of industry trends, and be willing to pivot for success.

2. Invest in Innovation and R&D

Nvidia’s continuous investment in R&D ensured its products remain at the cutting edge of technology. Its commitment to innovation is evident in its recent explosive growth, with sales reaching $26 billion in the three months to 28 April 2024—more than triple its sales in the same period in 2023.

Lesson: Prioritize innovation & allocate resources to developing new products/improving existing ones.

3. Build Strategic Partnerships

NVIDIA’s strategic partnerships with Google, Amazon, and others have expanded its reach and credibility, opening doors to fresh markets and customer segments.

Lesson: Form strategic alliances for growth. Collaborating with other businesses, even those outside your industry, can expand your market reach and enhance your offerings to generate even more new value.

4. Create a Strong Brand Identity

Nvidia has successfully built a brand synonymous with high performance and innovation. Their consistent branding across all touchpoints reinforces their market position.

Lesson: Develop a cohesive brand identity. Ensure your branding is consistent across all channels, from your website to social media. A strong, recognizable brand builds trust and loyalty.

5. Engage with the Community

Nvidia actively engages with the tech community through events, conferences, and social media.

Jensen Huang, the charismatic CEO of Nvidia, has become a tech rockstar. His ubiquitous presence—  whether in interviews, podcasts, tech conferences or media events—has elevated him to 'pop star' status. In his native Taiwan, fans and customers affectionately refer to his sensational popularity as 'Jensanity'! Read this BBC article below to get the full gist:

Through these engagements, Jensen not only shapes narratives about AI and its possibilities, but also generates excitement for the future of technology. His approach fosters a sense of community and loyalty amongst Nvidia's audiences.

Lesson: Engage with your community & customers. Leverage social media, events, and content marketing to build a strong brand identity and community, leading to increased customer advocacy and brand loyalty.

6. Future-Oriented Approach

NVIDIA’s marketing strategy combines present value with future foresight. While it delivers strong value in the present, it anticipates upcoming trends and is a major shaper of the technological landscape.

They’re not just solving today’s problems; they’re shaping tomorrow’s tech solutions.

A Call to Action for CEOs & CMOs

As the business landscape continues to evolve, CEOs and CMOs must ask themselves:

• What are the current small changes happening in the business stratosphere in my industry?

• How can my firm leverage these changes to generate more attention for our business?

• How can we leverage the changes to create and capture new value?

• What are we doing today that is different?

In summary, from Nvidia's example, the keys to successfully expanding market reach are:

-Staying agile, innovative, and customer-focused.

-Embracing technology, forming partnerships, and building engaging communities.

Remember, inertia won’t cut it.

The world is changing too fast and markets are being disrupted too frequently for your business to keep doing the same old things, the same old way.

Till next week…

Keep learning and adapting,

Patricia.

Join the Conversation

As a CEO, CMO, Head of Marketing, or small business owner, how are you leading your enterprise to get ready for the future through marketing? What challenges are you encountering as you influence this change?

Share your thoughts and experiences with us.

Patricia F. Agha is the author of The Fab Folio Newsletter, thefabfolio.blog, and founder of Blu Mobility, a business resource and strategic solutions platform that helps entrepreneurs and small business owners transform their enterprise outcomes by gaining access to amazing technology tools, market insights, and business learning resources.