How should marketing decisions be made according to best practices?

Making marketing decisions based on customers using data represents a best practice because it ensures that strategies are aligned with actual consumer behavior and preferences. By relying on data collected from customers, businesses can gain insights into what their target audience truly wants and needs, leading to more effective marketing strategies.

Utilizing customer data can involve analyzing purchasing patterns, feedback, demographics, and engagement levels with previous campaigns. This evidence-based approach allows marketers to tailor their messaging, improve product offerings, and enhance the customer experience, which can ultimately drive greater customer satisfaction and loyalty.

In contrast, making decisions solely based on personal intuition may lead to biases or misjudgments about what customers actually prefer. Following trends can result in strategies that are out of touch with the specific needs of a brand's audience and may not lead to sustainable success. Likewise, relying exclusively on competitors' strategies can limit innovation and may not reflect the unique position or capabilities of a business in its market space.

Thus, utilizing customer data for marketing decisions is essential for making informed, relevant, and effective choices that resonate with the target audience.