Tools, technologies or resources you’ll need – for example, a new website, an email service provider, or a new piece of software.The media you’ll use (for example, email, social, print, telemarketing, trade shows, publicity, etc.).The top three campaigns you’ll run to generate leads, nurture customers, close, and/or market to existing customers.You’ll need to set your budget too, so the more planning you do now, the better. You don’t need to list every campaign - just outline your major promotional plans for the year. Plans for launching any new distribution channels and driving revenue through existing channels.Your plan for managing current customers.Top priority markets, industries or customer segments if you have a list of key prospects, include them.Whether you’ll need to develop new compensation plans, or hire and train new personnel.The number of sales reps you’ll need and the markets they’ll target.If you need to do anything to strengthen your product line and better support your positioning, address those issues in your plan. Outline any plans for your products & services Your brand strategy defines what you stand for and how you’ll communicate with the market.Your positioning strategy defines how you’ll differentiate your offering from those of your competitors.Strategic goals - for example, you may want to expand into a new market with a new distribution channel, or you may need to reposition your brand to reflect a change in your business.Įmphasize your positioning in the marketplace.Quantitative (numeric) goals such as total revenue, profit, number of customers, units sold, and breakdowns by product or channel as needed.Set your annual goalsĭesign your plan to achieve the goals that you define: You’ll also outline your major marketing campaigns for the year since they’ll be in your budget. Since your plan should address your budget and all of your strategies and tactics, you’ll need to review your brand strategy, pricing strategy and distribution channels beforehand. Marketing Plan and Budget Key Concepts & Steps Before you begin Without one, you may be traveling in the right direction, but it’s incredibly difficult to stay on course – and that can drastically limit your success. You probably don’t have a positioning or brand strategy you’re missing out on distribution channels or partnerships your campaigns are ineffective and you may not invest in customer retention.Ī plan is a compass.
You take a similar approach with the strategies that should drive a marketing plan. Things change so quickly – why spend the time? You have a budget, but the numbers are haphazard. You could be more ambitious with your revenue goals if your company were willing to try new things, but each year you stick with the tried-and-true. Budgets are based on last year’s numbers. You include general revenue goals, general sales strategies, and basic campaigns you stick with proven techniques. Instead, you develop a basic plan that’s based on last year’s version. You’re incredibly busy, so it’s difficult to invest the time in a detailed marketing plan. When it’s done, your team focuses on executing the plan and measuring your progress all year long.Īs a result, you’ve been able to hit your goals, grow your business, and enjoy the journey. You recognize that the time you invest to create a solid plan is perhaps the best time you’ll invest all year – it helps you work through new strategies, issues, ideas, and numbers. Your marketing plan is a detailed roadmap to meet your goals. Even a simple plan is better than none, but when you invest more effort upfront, you’ll have a better roadmap toward your goals. It’s also a great opportunity to focus on the future, generate new ideas, and inspire your team. It takes time to develop a good marketing plan and budget, but it’s important because it ties all of your activities to tangible goals. Note: You can create a detailed marketing plan using our guided, online template in our marketing planning and management app. Detailed goals by product, distribution channel &/or customer segment.A good marketing plan typically includes: Writing a marketing plan is a time-consuming exercise, but it forces you to think through your strategies and relevant tactics. This explains why so many marketers are tactically focused – they’re figuring out how to spend a defined budget, instead of thinking about goals and strategies. Some statistics have shown that up to 85% of small- to mid-size companies operate from a budget only - without a written plan to accompany it. Your marketing plan and budget keeps your entire team focused on specific goals – it’s a critical resource for your entire company. A marketing plan is a detailed roadmap that outlines your marketing strategies, tactics, costs and projected results over a period of time.