Stop Over planning: A Simple Loop for Faster Optimization

When the market changes fast, you don’t need a huge plan to adapt. You need a simple way to pick a goal, remove roadblocks, and try new ideas. The faster you can move, the better the chances you have to stay competitive in an ever-changing marketplace. 

Pick One Clear Goal

Choose a single outcome for the next few weeks. Write it so anyone can understand it.

• “Increase booked test drives by 25% in 60 days.”

• “Lower cost per finance lead by 20% this quarter.”

Post it where everyone can see it (Slack, dashboard, weekly doc). One goal keeps teams focused.

Find the Friction

Look at the customer journey and list what makes it hard for shoppers to move forward. 

Common Issues and Simple Fixes

• Ads (acquisition):

  • Problem: wrong location targeting, same ad running too long, slow landing pages.

  • Fix: tighten geo-targeting, refresh ads, improve page speed.

• Website (on-site):

  • Problem: long forms, confusing buttons, no easy way to book.

  • Fix: shorter forms, clear “Book Test Drive” button, calendar picker at the top of key pages.

• Follow-up (CRM):

  • Problem: late replies, generic emails, no text messages.

  • Fix: reply within 5 minutes, personalize by vehicle and/or segmentation, add SMS opt-in and reminders.

Borrow Simple, Proven Ideas

You don’t have to invent from scratch. Grab ideas that already work inside and outside your company and industry.

• Ads: use inventory feeds so search ads match what’s on the lot; test retail media near your stores.

• Website: one-click calendar booking, a payment estimator near the top of the page, recent reviews.

• Follow-up: text + email sequence tied to the exact car they viewed, price-drop alerts, “Reply 1 to confirm your test drive.”

  
  

Pick 2-3 ideas you can try within the next few weeks without a heavy lift. Start small and work your way up. As you continue to repeat this cycle, you will become more efficient and understand what to do/not to do.

Test the New Idea vs. the Old Way

Make the rules clear before you start:

• What number are you trying to improve? (e.g., booked test drives)

• By how much? (e.g., +20%)

• How long will you run it? (usually 2-4 weeks)

  
  

Run the new experience in one place (or audience) and keep the old experience in another. This is your control. At the end, pick the winner based on KPIs and customer feedback if possible. If the new way wins, make it the default and move to the next improvement. Keep building on your previous learnings to make sharper and faster decisions.

Digital strategy isn’t always a big document; it can be a simple cycle. Pick one measurable goal. Remove the biggest friction, test a better idea against the current path, and keep the winner. Repeat the loop to keep improving week after week. Share the results in one dashboard so everyone can see progress and align on the next move.