No matter how small your business is, you need to have a marketing plan. Even if you’re not actively pursuing new customers, you need to plan in case opportunities arise. And if you’re looking to grow your business, having a solid marketing plan is essential.
So what goes into a good marketing plan? Let’s take a look.
How to create a marketing plan
Marketing is constantly evolving. What worked for you in 2021 may not work for you in 2022. It can be a daunting prospect, but it’s also exciting. You have the opportunity to try new things and see what works best for your business. Here are some steps to consider when mapping out your plan.
- Conduct a situation analysis.
- Define your target audience.
- Write SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goals.
- Analyze your tactics.
- Set your budget.
Set goals
Regardless of your business’s success, you can always improve your marketing results by setting specific goals and planning your strategy accordingly. Every year, it’s important to sit down and assess your current situation, identify what you’d like to achieve, and create a plan of action. Here are some examples of marketing goals:
- Identify how much traffic you need to achieve your goals
- Set quarterly benchmarks
- Identify your leads goal
- Identify how many MQLs (marketing qualified leads) you need
- Determine how many sales you need to hit your revenue goals
Determine your budget
If you’re like most business owners, you probably find marketing to be one of the more confusing aspects of running your business. And if you’re not careful, it can also be one of the more expensive aspects. So, how do you set a marketing budget that’s effective and doesn’t break the bank? Here are a few tips to get started.
- Outline your sales funnel
- Determine your operational costs
- Look at the big picture and see what areas to focus on first
- Check out your competition to see where they are focusing their efforts
- After your marketing plan, determine what areas to focus on first
Get Started with NorthCoastNow!
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