10 Planning Tips to Prevent a Wasted Marketing Investment

When it comes to marketing, the most successful companies view it as an investment, not an expense. Why? Because when marketing is implemented efficiently (with a plan, driven by goals and with quantifiable metrics established), profound ROI isn’t just possible, it’s almost a given.

If you’re a business owner or marketing professional, you know that achieving a positive return on investment is a must. These 3 not-so-little letters may haunt your dreams if you’re not doing a great job creating it, or, may be the reason your company is enjoying tremendous growth and the perks associated with it. But it takes money to make money and the thought of spending without a guaranteed outcome can make even the most confident people skeptical.

Successful companies are able see the forest through the trees and devote a budget to marketing and advertising. It’s that simple. Have there been successful companies who forged the path to success totally grassroots guerilla style? Perhaps yes, however the majority of companies you likely admire (B2B, B2C, local, national or global) have actual, dedicated and growing marketing budgets.

So for marketing success in 2016, you first must commit to making an actual marketing investment. That means money, but if you’re not working with a marketing agency, it also means time. Once you’ve made the commitment, and the subsequent investment, it’s even more critical to not waste a penny of that budget or a moment of your time. A marketing plan prevents both.

Here are 10 marketing plan must-haves and must-dos to maximize your opportunity for marketing ROI:

1. Analyze your audience
2. Revise your SEO keywords and phrases
3. Create an editorial calendar for your blogs
4. Align your sales and marketing strategies
5. Perform a monthly review of your metrics and KPIs
6. Update your website
7. Incorporate Call-to-Actions
8. Complete a comprehensive SEO evaluation of your website
9. Document your sales process
10. Complete your marketing calendar for the year