Get Who To By vs 4C – Which Framework Fits Your Brief Best
You need to pick a marketing framework. You can go with Get Who To By—fast, action-focused, no fluff. Or you can choose 4C—customer-centric, strategic, the chill cousin of 4Ps. Both work, but they work differently. This guide breaks down when to use Get Who To By vs 4C—not theory, actual frameworks that strategists use when they need to get shit done.
The TL;DR
Get Who To By is fast and action-focused. Define who, what, and how—done. 4C is customer-centric and strategic. Focus on Customer, Cost, Convenience, Communication. Use Get Who To By when you need speed and clarity. Use 4C when you need customer insight and strategic depth. Get Who To By is about getting to action. 4C is about understanding customers.
What is Get Who To By Framework?
Get Who To By is a fast, no-fluff way to turn strategy into action. Define who you're talking to, what you want them to do, and how you'll make them do it. That's it. No corporate jargon, no endless workshops. Just three questions: Who? What? How?
The upside: it's fast. You can fill it out in 10 minutes and have a clear action plan. It forces clarity. When you have to answer "who" and "what" and "how," you can't hide behind vague strategy speak. It works well for teams that need to move fast. The downside: it can feel too simple for complex problems. It might not dig deep enough into customer psychology. But if you need to get from strategy to action without drowning in process, it works.
What is 4C Framework?
The 4C Model is like the chill cousin of the 4Ps. Instead of focusing just on the business side (Product, Price, Place, Promotion), it flips the script and puts the customer right at the center. Customer, Cost, Convenience, Communication. It's about seeing things from their perspective, not yours.
The upside: it creates customer-centric thinking. When you focus on Customer needs, Cost from their perspective, Convenience they want, and Communication they actually hear, you build better strategies. It works well for brands that need to understand their audience deeply. The downside: it can feel abstract if you're not used to customer thinking. It might not give you the action steps you need. But if you want to build strategies that actually resonate with people, 4C works.
Key Differences
Get Who To By Framework
- •Speed-focused: Fast, action-oriented approach
- •Clarity: Forces clear answers to who, what, how
- •Practical: Gets you from strategy to action quickly
- •Simple: No complex models or frameworks to learn
4C Framework
- •Customer-focused: Puts customer at the center
- •Strategic: Deep thinking about customer perspective
- •Insight-driven: Helps understand customer needs
- •Comprehensive: Covers customer, cost, convenience, communication
When to Use Get Who To By Framework
Get Who To By works when you need speed and clarity. Here's when it makes sense.
Fast-Paced Projects
If you're working on tight deadlines, Get Who To By gets you moving fast. "Who are we talking to? What do we want them to do? How do we make them do it?" Three questions, clear answers, action plan. Speed creates momentum. If you need to get from brief to execution without drowning in process, Get Who To By works.
Clear Objectives
If you have a clear objective and just need to figure out how to get there, Get Who To By cuts through the noise. "We need to increase sign-ups by 20%." Who? New users. What? Sign up. How? Email campaign with discount. Clarity creates action. If you want to skip the strategy theater and get to work, Get Who To By works.
Small Teams
If you're working with a small team that needs to move fast, Get Who To By keeps everyone aligned without endless meetings. Everyone knows who, what, and how. Alignment creates efficiency. If you want to avoid the "strategy workshop" trap, Get Who To By works.
Action-Oriented Culture
If your team values action over process, Get Who To By fits that culture. No frameworks to learn, no models to master. Just three questions and go. Action creates results. If you want to build a culture of getting shit done, Get Who To By works.
When to Use 4C Framework
4C works when you need customer insight and strategic depth. Here's when it makes sense.
Customer-Centric Strategy
If you need to build strategies that actually resonate with customers, 4C forces you to think from their perspective. Customer needs, Cost from their view, Convenience they want, Communication they hear. Customer thinking creates better strategies. If you want to build brands people actually care about, 4C works.
Complex Market Understanding
If you're entering a new market or need to understand customer behavior deeply, 4C helps you see the full picture. What do customers actually want? What are they willing to pay? How do they want to buy? What messages do they hear? Understanding creates insight. If you want to build strategies based on real customer behavior, 4C works.
Strategic Planning
If you're doing annual planning or long-term strategy, 4C gives you a framework to think through customer needs systematically. It's not just about what you want to sell—it's about what customers want to buy. Strategy creates direction. If you want to build plans that actually work, 4C works.
Brand Positioning
If you need to position your brand in a way that resonates with customers, 4C helps you think through how customers see you. What do they value? What are they willing to pay? How do they want to interact? What messages cut through? Positioning creates relevance. If you want to build brands customers actually choose, 4C works.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Get Who To By Framework | 4C Framework |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast—can fill out in 10 minutes | Slower—requires deeper thinking |
| Focus | Action and clarity | Customer understanding |
| Best For | Fast-paced projects and clear objectives | Strategic planning and customer insight |
| Complexity | Simple—three questions | Moderate—four dimensions to consider |
| Output | Action plan | Strategic insight |
Decision Framework: Which Should You Choose?
Use this framework to decide which marketing framework fits your brief.
Choose Get Who To By If:
- ✓You need to move fast and get to action quickly
- ✓You have clear objectives and just need execution clarity
- ✓You're working with small teams that value speed
- ✓You want to avoid endless strategy workshops
- ✓You need a simple framework that everyone can use
Choose 4C If:
- ✓You need deep customer insight and understanding
- ✓You're doing strategic planning or market analysis
- ✓You want to build customer-centric strategies
- ✓You need to understand customer behavior and preferences
- ✓You're positioning a brand in a competitive market
Learn More About These Frameworks
More Framework Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Get Who To By and 4C frameworks?
Get Who To By is fast and action-focused. It answers three questions: who, what, how. 4C is customer-centric and strategic. It focuses on Customer, Cost, Convenience, Communication. Get Who To By gets you to action quickly. 4C gets you to customer insight. Both work, but Get Who To By is about speed, while 4C is about depth.
When should you use Get Who To By framework?
Use Get Who To By when you need speed and clarity. It works well for fast-paced projects, clear objectives, small teams, and action-oriented cultures. If you need to get from brief to execution without drowning in process, Get Who To By works.
When should you use 4C framework?
Use 4C when you need customer insight and strategic depth. It works well for customer-centric strategy, complex market understanding, strategic planning, and brand positioning. If you want to build strategies that actually resonate with customers, 4C works.
Can you combine Get Who To By and 4C?
Sure, but don't overcomplicate it. You can use 4C to understand customers deeply, then use Get Who To By to turn that insight into action. For example: use 4C to understand what customers want, then use Get Who To By to define who you're targeting, what you want them to do, and how you'll make them do it. But keep it clear. If you mix them too much, you risk creating confusion.
Which framework gets better results?
It depends on what you need. Get Who To By gets you to action faster. 4C gets you to better customer understanding. If you need speed, Get Who To By wins. If you need depth, 4C wins. The best framework is the one that fits your brief, not the one that sounds smartest in a strategy meeting.
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