Marketing as War

You know that I am building the Punni Panda studio. It may seem very slow, because I need to learn not only all the necessary tools for creating graphics, animation, and games, but also marketing. Ideally, I would love to open my own office, a large building, hire a team of developers, and create a whole interactive park by the ocean. To achieve this, my goal is to be interesting and useful to my audience in their daily lives.

Business Growth Takes Time

Overall, my pace is normal if we consider that a business can operate for 3 to 7 years at zero profit. This means making small sales or surviving on investments before becoming profitable.

Ukraine vs USA Business Mindset

The business environment in Ukraine, where I am currently based, and in the United States is very different, and this becomes especially noticeable when working with clients.

The Ukrainian market is focused on fast earnings without building a strong foundation, while the US usually looks at long term перспективы. Because of this, business owners make very different decisions.

A Ukrainian business owner often wants a 20-year-old candidate who does not ask unnecessary questions, agrees to low pay, and can handle the workload of two people using a few tools.

A US business owner usually looks at a person’s mindset, their motivation, and their interest in the business rather than just their tools. They care about whether the person understands the idea and can organize themselves. They are willing to train someone if they see potential. In Ukraine, unconventional thinking is often seen as too risky. Business owners here do not want to pay for risk, but would rather spend that money on luxury items.

Honest Perspective

Is this critical? Yes. But this is my most honest and grounded assessment.

Rethinking “Marketing Warfare”

I bought this book in 2023, and at first I really did not like it. “What bold authors,” I thought. They said that only the top of the market wins because it has more resources. But what about startups?

In 2026, before selling the book, I decided to give it another try. This time I managed to see the authors’ ideas very differently. They were true professionals of the 20th century.

After spending a year working on my website and launching something that did not pay off, while also not spending much money except about 20 dollars, I realized that I was repeating the same mistakes described in the book “Marketing Warfare” by Al Ries and Jack Trout.

Key Marketing Lessons

Diversification Is a Bad Idea

“Do not put all your eggs in one basket,” investors say. However, you should not mix everything together either.

You may be creating something big and gaining fans, but then you start jumping from one topic to another. Just like me. One day you draw fan art, then you say anime is disappointing, then you draw anime again, then you talk about marketing.

Every time your mood becomes unstable and you show it to your audience, they do not want to engage with you.

Your personal topics should stay private, while your positioning should always stay consistent. People remember who you are and what your product is.

Product Line Strategy Matters

Your product line should follow a clear hierarchy. Otherwise, you either attack yourself intentionally or make a strategic mistake.

When you have many products, it may seem like you are doubling your profit. In reality, part of your audience becomes irritated by constant changes, and you have to spend extra budget attracting new people and explaining what is happening.

People do not want to struggle to understand your product types and differences. The simpler your system is, the better it is for your customer.

What This Means for My Project

I will share more about how this book influenced my work in an upcoming video guide. For now, I can say one thing for sure: my main project is Witch’s Pie, a magical action story.