Create a 2017 Marketing Plan Even If You Don’t Want To

2017 will be here before you know it, so now is the time to prepare your small business for the coming year by creating your 2017 marketing plan.

It’s so tempting to stick with the same old marketing plan that you’ve been using with the hopes that it will work better next year. But that’s not a smart move. Now is the time to update your marketing strategy for the upcoming year.

Here are a few ideas to help you create your 2017 marketing plan:

Review last year’s plan

See what worked and what didn’t work. Not all your great plans for 2016 turned out as you expected. If you can look at what didn’t work and understand what went wrong, you won’t make those same mistakes again.

Reviewing your marketing plan will give you concrete evidence that supports continuing or changes your marketing strategy. This one of the most important things you should think about when creating or updating your marketing plan for 2017.

Include new technology

Since technology is here to stay, your marketing tactics should include ways to use technology.

To increase your profits in 2017, use technology in new ways to deliver content and services. Are you using a mobile app to reach your audience? Do you have a strong online presence? Are you using the correct social media platforms?

Increase spending on ads

Advertising can be expensive, but you can measure ROI (return on investment) advertising online and with other platforms. Include advertising in your 2017 strategy. Plan your ad placement smartly and you’ll see positive results.

Include new products and services

Are you adding new products or services in 2017? Don’t use the same marketing tactics on new products or services that you are using on existing products and services. You want your customers excited about your latest offerings. This necessitates a change in marketing emphasis.

Sure, last year’s marketing plan worked fairly well for your business, but why not aim for better results in 2017 by creating an updated marketing plan?

8 Elements to Include in Your 2017 New Business/Marketing Plan

You’ve decided to start working on your new business/marketing plan for 2017. Now where do you start?

Here’s a basic outline that you can follow to create a great new business/marketing plan for your business.

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary should be written last but always comes first. This portion is a concise summary of your plan.

The Team

In this section, you should define the new business and marketing environment at your business. Who is on your team and what do they do? How did you grow this year and how are you planning on growing next year? Do you need to hire new employees to achieve these goals?

Performance

By analyzing this past year, you can better forecast the year ahead. Where will your new opportunities come from?

The Marketplace

Who are your competitors? What kind of trends are you seeing in your industry?

Revenue Goals

This is where you crunch the numbers. Look at your business from last year. Where did it come from? Did your new customers come to you or were you more proactive in your prospecting? How many new customers will you need in 2017 to meet your goals?

Meeting Those Goals

This element is where you need to know who your ideal customer is and use this information to put together a targeted list of prospects.

New Business Tools

What new tools do you need to meet your goals? Is it a new CRM? Or maybe this year you redesign your website. Plan for these new tools to make 2017 an easier and more productive year.

Marketing

Is your business’ marketing message strong enough to differentiate you from your competition? Is your messaging strong? What events should you attend? Speak at? Or should you create your own event?

A new business/marketing plan can seem like a lot of work, but the time you invest in planning for your business’ future will pay off with a good year ahead. When you know where you’re going, it’s easier to get there!

It’s Time to Start Thinking About Your 2017 Business Plan

I know you already have an overwhelming to-do list, but as a small business owner, you need to start thinking about your new business and marketing plan for 2017.

Here are a couple of great reasons why you need a plan:

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     -It’s a great way to measure your success. Your annual plan sets expectations for you and your employees because you all contribute to your company’s success.

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     - You learn a lot. Writing the plan for next year give you the opportunity to reflect on the past year and accurately set projections for the coming year.

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     - It clarifies what you do at your business. Some employees may not know all that is being done in your company. If they are involved in the new business and marketing plan, they will learn what your goals are and see the path you are laying out to achieve those goals. 

How to Create a Simple Marketing Plan

You do have a marketing plan in place, don’t you? If you don’t, here are some tips that will help you easily create a marketing plan.

Target Market

You first must determine who your ideal client is. Do some simple research to find out more about your target market. What do they like/dislike? What are their pain points? What do they want/need?

Your Products and Services

Your next step is to figure out what products and/or services you can offer to your target market to solve their problems and address their pain points. What will differentiate you from your competition? What is your pricing strategy?

Geographical Features of Your Target Market

Where are your potential customers located? Where will you position yourself so they can find you? How will you channel your marketing message to them? Will you write a blog, write articles for trade journals/magazines, hold seminars and webinars or speak to certain groups?

Your Unique Selling Proposition

Develop your unique selling proposition. This proposition states your promise and sets you apart from your competition.

How Can Your Customers Purchase Your Product or Service

Next, determine how your potential customers can purchase your product or service. How are you going to get the information your prospective clients need to make their purchasing decisions?

Have a Budget

Establish your marketing budget for the year. And stick to it! You really do have to spend money to make money. Spend what you are comfortable spending. As your business grows, you’ll want to invest more into your marketing to continue growing your business.

If you need help creating or implementing a market plan, contact Blue Dog Marketing. We’re here to help you grow your business. 

Create a 2015 Marketing Plan Even If You Don't Want To

2015 will be here before you know it, so now is the time to prepare your company for the coming year by creating your 2015 marketing plan.

It’s so tempting to stick with the same old marketing plan that you’ve been using, with hopes that it will work better next year. But that’s not a wise move. Now is the time to update your marketing strategy for the upcoming year.

Here are a few ideas to assist you in creating your marketing plan:

Review Last Year’s Plan

See what worked and what didn't work. Not all your great plans for 2014 turned out as you expected. If you can look at what didn’t work and understand what went wrong, you won’t make those same mistakes again.

Reviewing your marketing plan will give you concrete evidence that supports continuing or changing your marketing strategy. This is one of the most important things you should think about when creating or updating your marketing plan for 2015.

Include New Technology

Since technology is here to stay, your marketing tactics should include ways to use technology.

To increase your profits in the new year, use technology in new ways to deliver your content and services. Are you using a mobile app to reach your audience? Do you have a strong online presence?

Increase Spending on Ads

Advertising can be expensive, but you can measure ROI advertising online and with other emerging platforms. Include advertising in your 2015 marketing strategy. Plan your ad placement smartly and you’ll see positive results.  

Include New Products and Services

Are you adding new products or services this coming year? Do not use the same marketing tactics on new products or services that you are using on existing products and services. You want your customers excited about your latest offerings. This necessitates a change in marketing emphasis.

Sure, last year's marketing plan worked fairly well for you, but why not aim for better results in 2015 by creating an updated marketing plan?

Create An Effective Marketing Plan

The success of your business depends on your marketing plan. A good marketing plan outlines how a business will go about attracting prospects, converting them into customers and retaining customers.

To have a successful marketing plan, you should incorporate the following:

Analyze the market

You cannot make assumptions about the market. You must conduct a thorough analysis of the prevailing market, your strengths and weaknesses and the existing competition. Get to know your target customers and what their pain points are. This analysis helps you determine your marketing objectives and product positioning.

Create your marketing messages and determine marketing methods

You have to come up with creative and compelling messages that address the needs of your target market. Use a variety of online and offline marketing tools to convey the messages.

Plan and monitor the budget

Determine what your marketing budget for the year is and how exactly you will spend it. Base your budget on your goals. Monitor it so you stay on track.

Evaluate and review your marketing plan

Determine your metrics for success. Measure your results and compare them with expected success. This will help you to know if any corrections or modifications are required to make your plan more successful.