The Marketing Flywheel
Digital marketing is not a collection of random tactics — it is an integrated system where every piece amplifies every other piece. Understanding this system before diving into individual channels is what separates strategists from technicians.
The Five Stages of the Marketing Flywheel
1. ATTRACT → SEO, Content, Social Media, Paid Ads
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2. ENGAGE → Website, Landing Pages, Lead Magnets
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3. CONVERT → Email Sequences, Retargeting, Sales Pages
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4. DELIGHT → Onboarding, Support, Community
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5. ADVOCATE → Referrals, Reviews, User-Generated Content
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Stage 1: Attract — Drive targeted strangers to your ecosystem through organic search (SEO), content marketing, social media, and paid advertising. The goal is visibility with the right audience.
Stage 2: Engage — Convert visitors into leads. Your website, landing pages, and lead magnets (free ebooks, checklists, webinars) capture email addresses and begin the relationship.
Stage 3: Convert — Turn leads into customers through email nurture sequences, retargeting ads, sales pages, and personalized offers. This is where revenue happens.
Stage 4: Delight — Exceed customer expectations with onboarding, support, and community. Happy customers stay longer and spend more.
Stage 5: Advocate — Delighted customers become your marketing team — leaving reviews, referring friends, and creating content about your brand. This feeds back into Stage 1.
Why Most Marketers Fail
Most people focus on one channel — they learn Facebook Ads or SEO in isolation. When that single channel underperforms, they have nothing to fall back on. The system approach means:
- SEO drives free traffic that reduces your dependence on paid ads
- Content marketing builds trust that makes your ads convert better
- Email marketing nurtures leads that are not ready to buy today
- Analytics reveals which channels deserve more budget
- AI tools accelerate content creation across every channel
Your Marketing Stack for 2026
| Category | Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Website | WordPress | Your home base on the internet |
| SEO | Ubersuggest / Ahrefs | Keyword research and tracking |
| Mailchimp / ConvertKit | List building and automation | |
| Analytics | Google Analytics 4 | Traffic and conversion tracking |
| Ads | Google Ads + Meta Ads | Paid traffic acquisition |
| Social | Buffer / Later | Social media scheduling |
| AI | ChatGPT / Claude | Content creation and strategy |
| Design | Canva | Visual content creation |
This course builds every piece of this system. By the end, all these tools will work together as a single machine driving growth for your business.