Marketing is a key factor in business success and with that a marketing plan is essential. No matter what business your in, a strong marketing message coupled with a powerful action plan will bring better results in your advertising.

The plan doesn’t have to be overly complex, but it should encompass your marketing strategies and give you a blueprint to follow.

Here are the elements needed for a solid marketing plan:

Target market

Price

Strategy

Purpose/Goals

Results Expected

Marketing Materials

Offers/CTA

Follow-up

Steps To Take/Action Plan

Let’s go through each element and elaborate further. Most of it is pretty self-explanatory unless you’re brand new to marketing.

Target marketing is just what it means, the market your business will conquer. What is your niche? Who are you’re clients? How can they be reached? These are questions you must answer before deciding on your target market.

Price is what you’ll charge for your product or service. Strategy is figuring out what methods are needed to get the word out to your customers/clients. Will it be mailings? Public speaking?  Writing books? Once you figure out your strategy then you put it into a game plan to follow through.

                                      

Your purpose is the exact goal or goals you want to accomplish from your marketing. An example would be to get 20 new customers that average $300 per purchase. The results expected category is just that. What specific results are expected from your marketing strategy, i.e. building a list, credibility and so forth.

Marketing materials will be how you communicate with your target market. Will it be via sales letters, postcards, press releases, radio, TV and so forth. Also included will be the budget you have set for your marketing plan.

Offers and CTA (call to action) is the irresistible offer you will employ to entice prospects to buy, sign up to your list, visit your store etc. The follow-up segment is to communicate with prospective and current clients. Keep the lines of communication open to acquire new customers, gain referrals and keep the income stream flowing with back end sales.

The steps to take is the real power of the marketing plan. Nothing happens without movement. A marketing plan cannot be implemented without taking action to make it happen. This is where you compile the steps to take, in the order needed, to make the plan a success.

                

Follow this basic system and create an effective marketing plan for your business.