Creating a marketing plan for your small business will help you create effective deliverables that perfectly represent your mission and get people in the door.

How to Develop a Business Marketing Plan There’s a lot that goes into planning your marketing.  You have to look at your company, look at potential prospects, look at your competitors and look at your future growth. Here’s an idea of how to get started:

1. Research

The first step to any effective marketing plan is to conduct research and assess your situation in regards to: Staff, Budget, Resources  

Staff

Know the current capabilities of your staff and how a marketing specialist will fit into your  plan. 

Budget

Create a budget ahead of time so you know your financial limits and what you can afford.

Resources

Know what you have available or within your reach. You can acquire resources online.

Now Brainstorm...

Ask yourself questions about your business to determine who you are, what you’re doing well and where you could improve.

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can help guide your decision making when seeking opportunities.

Learn Your Audience

Knowing your customers is essential. Do some digging and figure out what preferences your audience has.

Look at Competitors

Your competitors have the same target audience as you. Take note of what they’re doing and see what works and what doesn’t. This can give you a good idea of where to take your own marketing.

2. Create Goals

Examples of goals include: – Build an online presence – Increase brand awareness – Generate leads – Engage with potential clients Make sure your goals are realistic to what you can do with your budget and resources.

3. Plan Your Strategy

Your strategy can include: – Blog Content – Email Blasts – Newsletters – Print Deliverables (brochures, posters, business cards, etc.) – Search Engine Optimization  – Social Media Posts – Social Media Ads

Put Your Marketing Plan into Action

An effective marketing strategy needs time, effort and consistency. Whether you’re trying to establish your brand or gain new customers, it’s important to stay active online. This includes constantly posting on your chosen channels and making regular updates.