Why Founders Need a GTM Sprint
Most founders don’t have a go-to-market (GTM) problem. They have a positioning and messaging problem.
- They struggle to explain what they do in a way that actually lands.
- Their sales calls drag on because prospects don’t immediately see the value.
- Their content—if they post at all—feels disconnected from their business goals.
- They pour money into ads, SEO, or outbound campaigns, hoping one of them will suddenly take off.
The problem isn’t the marketing tactics—it’s that the market doesn’t understand you. And if they don’t understand you, they won’t buy from you.
Most GTM strategies are built for startups with full marketing teams. But if you’re a founder running lean, you are the GTM team. You don’t have the luxury of waiting six months to refine your messaging, build a content engine, and figure out distribution. You need clarity—fast.
That’s why we built the Column GTM Sprint for Founders. We come in as an external GTM team member to help you define your target audience and set up early marketing processes.
What Is the GTM Sprint for Founders?
The GTM Sprint for Founders is a two-week, high-impact process that helps you land in your target market with clarity and momentum. Unlike traditional go-to-market strategies that take months to finalize, this product marketing sprint is built for speed and execution.
We focus on two core areas:
- Strategy & Positioning – Defining what makes you different, refining your messaging, and crafting a strong point of view (POV) that sets you apart within your target segment.
- Content & Distribution – Applying that positioning to real assets: web copy, SEO content, LinkedIn posts, case studies, and cold email campaigns that test how your message performs in the real world and adjust based on the metrics.
By the end of the sprint, you’ll have a clear, validated GTM foundation—not just a plan sitting in a Google Doc.
How This Compares to Traditional GTM Strategies
| GTM Sprint for Founders | Traditional GTM Strategy |
| Takes 2 weeks | Takes 6+ months |
| Founder-led | Requires a full team |
| Messaging is tested immediately | Messaging is theoretical |
| Includes web copy, case studies, LinkedIn, and cold outreach | Usually just a strategy doc |
| Costs $15K | Costs $20K – $50K |
If you don’t have months to burn figuring out how to explain your business—or the budget for a six-figure GTM motion—this sprint is built for you.
Who This Is For
This GTM Sprint is for B2B founders, consultants, and firm principals who need a clear market position and a strong content engine—but don’t have a marketing team to figure it out for them.
- If you’re an early-stage founder, you need a fast, effective way to clarify your messaging and drive inbound demand.
- If you’re a consultant or fractional executive, you need to position yourself as a category expert so prospects see you as the only logical choice.
This demand generation sprint is built for those who want clarity and execution—without wasting months on strategy decks that never get implemented.
What You’ll Get: The GTM Sprint Breakdown
Most GTM strategies are just that—strategy. A 50-page deck with frameworks, personas, and messaging exercises that never actually get used.
This sprint is different. We don’t just define your positioning and messaging—we apply it immediately. In two weeks, you’ll walk away with clear positioning, tested messaging, and content that drives real demand.
Week 1: Strategy & Positioning
The first week is all about clarity. Through one or two live sessions, we help you define what makes you different, sharpen your messaging, and develop a strong point of view (POV) that sets you apart.
- We refine your core positioning so your audience understands you instantly.
- We craft a messaging framework that aligns across web, content, and sales conversations.
- We test different ICPs and value propositions through live cold email outreach to see what resonates.
Deliverables: A GTM positioning document, messaging playbook, and real-world insights on how your ideal customer profile reacts to your message.
Week 2: Content & Distribution
Now we apply everything. Positioning doesn’t mean anything unless people see it—so we execute across multiple touchpoints:
- We rewrite your web copy to reflect your refined positioning.
- We create four SEO-driven blog posts to establish authority.
- We write twelve LinkedIn posts to drive engagement and visibility.
- We develop two case studies to help you close deals faster.
- We send cold emails to multiple ICPs to test different value propositions in real time.
Deliverables: Updated website copy, SEO blog posts, LinkedIn content, case studies, and cold email insights that validate your GTM approach.
By the end of the sprint, you won’t just have a fancy growth marketing strategy—you’ll have live content and data that prove your messaging works.
How This Compares to Other GTM Programs
Most GTM firms charge $20K–$50K for strategy alone—no content, no execution, no real-world testing. Hiring a fractional CMO is $5-8K/month for six months minimum, and they might still need months to get your messaging right. An in-house product marketing manager would cost you a similar fortune (excluding ramp time).
Managing all of this keeps you away from your product roadmap and delays other marketing efforts. This sprint does in two weeks what others take six months to figure out. You get a refined GTM strategy, tested messaging, and real content assets—all for $15K.
You become free to focus on your product roadmap, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
| GTM Sprint for Founders | Competitor GTM Sprint | Fractional CMO ($8K/month) |
| $15K flat fee | $20K+ (excl. positioning) | $8K/month (ongoing) |
| Takes 2 weeks | Takes 4-6 weeks | Ongoing engagement |
| Strategy + execution | Strategy only | No content, just guidance |
| Includes web copy, case studies, SEO, LinkedIn, and cold outreach | Limited content, no GTM plan (sold separately) | Execution is up to you |
If you want a fast, founder-led GTM strategy that actually gets executed, this is it.
FAQs: Addressing Common Objections
“What if I already have a GTM strategy?”
Most founders think they have a GTM strategy, but if lack compelling messaging, have a slow sales process, or your content isn’t driving inbound leads, something is missing. This sprint sharpens and applies your GTM in real time—so you know exactly what works.
“I don’t have time to create content—how does this work?”
You don’t have to. We handle everything—from web copy and blog posts to LinkedIn content and cold outreach. You provide insights, we execute.
“Can I get help beyond the sprint?”
Yes. After the sprint, we offer ongoing LinkedIn content, SEO support, and messaging refinement to keep you positioned for long-term growth and marketing campaign success.
“How much does it cost?”
Flat $15,000—no hidden fees or retainers. Traditional GTM firms charge $20K+ for strategy alone, but we deliver strategy + execution at a fraction of the cost.
“Is everything virtual?”
Yes. The entire sprint happens over Meet, Slack, and async collaboration. No travel time or day-long workshops.
“How do I know this will work for me?”
We’ve helped founders, consultants, and agency owners clarify their positioning, land better clients, and build content engines that drive sales. See previous results at columncontent.com/work.
How to Get Started
We work with a limited number of founders each month to keep this sprint high-touch and execution-focused.
If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start executing, apply for a GTM Sprint consultation today.
📩 Click here to schedule a call.
In two weeks, your positioning will be sharper, your messaging will be tested, and your content will be live. Let’s get you in the market the right way—fast.
Mo is the founder and CEO of Column, helping leaders shape public opinion through content and research. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
