Develop a marketing plan

♠ Posted by Unknown in Online Marketing at 23:32

The marketing plan is an essential part of your business plan as a whole. Bankers and lenders will want to see how you plan to make money. When you create a business or decide to launch new products or an innovative idea to market, your marketing plan will help you:

• assess customer needs and create a product or service that suits them;
• to know the characteristics of your product or service to your target audience (potential clients);
• establish distribution channels;
• to define the most effective ways to promote you;
• accurately identify the best advertising media.

You can buy software to help you prepare your marketing plan. You can also use the tools you already own, such as word processing or spreadsheet software. Some specialized software contains examples of plans, scenarios marketing and automatic calculations.

Remember styles, markets and objectives change, and your plan must evolve accordingly. So it is wise to review your marketing plan and regularly update in due form.

Before preparing your marketing plan

Market research

Before you develop your marketing plan, you must first make a study of the potential market for your product or service. Press statements of your marketing plan by the findings of market research. Learn how to search.

The study guide and market analysis

Learn how to market research can help your business thrive and learn to perform a variety of market research activities.

Research methods used in market research

Learn how to use common research methods to market research for your business.

Develop a questionnaire

A survey questionnaire properly trained can help you gather market research data.

Types of survey questions

Examine the different kinds of closed and open-ended questions that can be used in investigations.


Sections of a marketing plan

Summary - "What is my overall plan? »

Your summary should contain the main points of your marketing plan. Although it is written that last, the summary should be placed at the beginning of the plan. The summary is usually the first thing a potential investor or lender will read. Tweak it to get closer to perfection. The summary must:

• resume outline of each section;
• be intere

Introduce yourself - "Who am I and what are my values? »

Describe who you are and what your business. Specify your goals and explain what prompted you to start a business or to make changes. For example:

• provide the name, address and business telephone number, and the name of owners or partners;

• presenting the vision, beliefs and your company's mission statement (these elements should be in line with your target market);

• specify the values and basic objectives of your company and its owners.

Describe your product or service - "What is the need when replying? »

Explain in detail how your product or service is unique and superior to the competition. Be prepared to substantiate your statements.

Identify your target market - "Who is my customer? »

Search for determining the age group, gender, lifestyle, and other demographic characteristics of people who have expressed an interest in your product or service. Avoid trying to sell to everyone. Provide statistics and analysis that show the reader that there is a demand for your product or service.
You can define your customers by demographic characteristics, such as:

• age, usually presented in slices;
• marital status;
• place of residence;
• the size and description of the household;
• income;
• education level, usually to last level completed
• employment;
• interest and buying used;
• cultural background or ethnicity.

For example, a clothing manufacturer may consider a number of target markets: toddlers, athletes, grandparents, teenagers and tourists. A test market research with the most likely target groups or those who buy for them as parents for toddlers, can help you separate real target markets from unlikely.

Once you have defined your target customers, determine their needs and preferences.

• Which of their problems can you solve?
• What are their needs and expectations with respect to this product or service?
• What kind of things do they want?
• What do they spend their money?
• Where do they shop?
• How do they make their decisions on spending?

To create the profile of your customers and understand their needs, you will need to do market research.

Conduct market research

Learn about market research, how it can improve your decisions in terms of business and how to conduct a market research campaign.

Know your competitors - "Who else could woo my customers? »

Most companies face competition at every stage of their life cycle. Competition can be positive; the trick is to get to know your competitors and know what you are doing better than them. You can compare your own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (sometimes called a SWOT analysis) with those of your competitors. Make sure your customers know why they should focus your business to the detriment of all others.

Set your distribution channels - "How will I deliver my products to my customers? »

Usually, customers will from store to store to find the products they are looking for or go to one place to get some services, such as a massage or a haircut. More and more people shop online. Where do customers find your products? Set your distribution channels, including who are the intermediaries and the cost of the process. For example, you could decide:

• to offer your product or service through a retailer, wholesaler or a professional sales agent;
• to offer your product or service through kiosks in schools, offices, public places or on the occasion of events;
• you go to the home or workplace of your customers;
• taking orders listed in a catalog or on the Internet.
• to sell online only.

Group your marketing activities - "How will I be able to reach my customers? »

Make a budget for each type of media you want to use, and determine the precise time you plan to devote to each one. Here are some suggestions:

• advertising (online advertising, television, radio, print publications, online publications, websites, billboards, business cards);
• advertising information (posters, stationery, branding, testimonials, recommendations);
• list layout (business directories, telephone directories, online listings, association listings)
• sponsorship (research, community events, local charities, sports);
• networking (request feedback from current and potential customers, and other industry players. Go to the front of the public through online social media. Advise on blogs or in public meetings. Make knowledge with industry players at business events);
• promotions (mailings, samples, premiums, coupons, sales, cardstock)
• internal marketing (employee discounts, sales incentives, incentives offered to customers, that is to say the name of a possible customer submitted by one person).
• Public Relations and Media Relations

Learn how to market your business.


Make a plan to meet the challenges - "How will I cope with the unexpected? »

All aspects surrounding the operation of a business require preparation. If you are prepared, you will come to meet the challenges and sometimes even avoid them. Think about the potential challenges and record in writing what you can do to avoid them or take them when they happen.

Here are some challenges in marketing than you might expect:

• new regulations for packaging, labeling and claims;
• trends and buyer preferences;
• environmental issues associated with your business;
• bad opinion or perception of your company;
• changes in the economy;
• new competitor.
• Regulation on the marketing, advertising and sales

For a business, it is essential to attract new customers. However, there are rules to follow.

Indicate your pricing strategy - "What price should I ask? »

The pricing is another aspect of marketing that requires special attention. Prices too high can make you lose customers; prices too low may suggest that your product or service is poor and below standard. Some companies deliberately set very high prices for their customers to feel they get a better product or service. Others set slightly higher than average prices for them to provide outstanding customer service.

Plan where you will be in five years - "What are my long-term goals? »

Your long-term goal is to remain a small business or be it to expand to target the world market or launching into franchising, you must indicate clearly in your plan. Determine the steps you will take to grow your business and how you adapt your marketing activities to achieve these objectives.

• Planning for business growth

The time has come for the expansion of your business, but many elements must first and foremost be considered.

Set a date for review - "When will I see my plan? »

Decide how often you want to review your marketing plan. You will probably want to update it at least once a year or more often as needed.


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