Tips for Writing a Basic Marketing Plan

Tips for Writing a Basic Marketing Plan

Do you have a current marketing plan for your small business? Or do you keep putting it off because it seems overwhelming or you’re not sure where to start?

Creating a marketing plan is the best way to keep yourself on track to grow your business and obtain new customers. A marketing plan is also a great way to help you manage your time and energy by directing your day-to-day marketing activities.

A marketing plan doesn’t have to be daunting or time consuming to create. And a simple, easy to follow plan will help you stay more focused.

Here are five tips for creating your marketing plan:

Who is your ideal customer?

Determine who your ideal customer is. Identify who you want to attract to your business is essential to a successful marketing plan. Think about your current customers. Why do they need you? The more specific you can be, the easier it will be to create the right message and strategies to reach them.

Your goals

What are your goals? Again, be specific. How do you want to reach your prospective customers? Once you’ve reached them, what do you want them to do? You need to include a “call to action” in each contact with prospective customers. A “call to action” is the action you want them to take, such as signing up for your newsletter, visiting your website, or registering for a special offer.

Your prospective customers must get to know and trust you before they will do business with you. Think about the step they will take to trust you and become your customer.

How will you reach them?

Now you know who to target and what you want them to do, how will you find them? Are they on social media? What activities do your potential customers participate in?

Plan your budget

Your marketing dollars should be wisely spent. Determine how you will spend them. Social media, emails, newsletters, blogging and a website are some examples of where you can budget your marketing dollars.

Create a strategy

Plan your strategy. What is your message to potential customers? What are their pain points and how do you solve them? Why should they work with you and how will they benefit? Use the answers to these questions to formulate your strategy. Create an elevator pitch, business cards and website around these questions. Include calls to action in all your messages.

Track your responses. If you’re not getting the response you want, it might be time to re-evaluate what you’re doing.

Decide on 6-8 avenues to focus your marketing efforts on so you have an ongoing plan to continually reach your prospective customers.

Still need help writing your marketing plan? Give Blue Dog Marketing a call. We’d be happy to help you grow your business.