A marketing plan is just what it sounds like: a plan for your marketing.
Every company, regardless of size, should map out their efforts to attract new customers and retain existing ones.
Otherwise you run the risk of wasting a lot of time and money on marketing that won’t work.
The plan itself can take any form, from an outline scribbled on a notepad to a 20-page PowerPoint presentation with colorful graphics.
The point is to know where you’re going and why before you gas up the car and hit the road.
To get started, think about these five questions:
- What are you trying to accomplish and why?
- Who are your target customers?
- What makes your business stand out?
- What is your marketing budget (be realistic)?
- How do you plan to reach your target customers (mobile, website, email, flyers)?
Your marketing plan will take shape as you answer these questions.
But don’t feel as if what you decide now is set in stone. Your marketing plan should evolve and grow as your business does.