How To Develop A Standard Marketing Plan In 5 Simple Steps

Steps To Writing An Effective Marketing Plan

• Business Executive Summary: this is what summarizes everything about your business, the business name, logo, colour, its location/headquarters, those involved in the business, its mission statement, goal, achievement (if there are any), vision, value, contact, etc. it should be concise and creative.

• Business Mission/Initiative: you outline the mission, vision and value of your marketing plan. You should revisit the business’s values, vision, and mission and relate them to your marketing plan. The big-picture which should be in the business plan should not be here, only a fracture of these elements as they relate to marketing should be included here. The business initiative of a marketing plan helps you to outline and segment the various goals of your project and how they should be measured in your marketing plan. 
• Identify and Evaluate Your Target Customers: identify, evaluate and analyze your target buyer personas; this is a fictional representation of your ideal buyers, whether you are selling to other businesses – B2B or to customers – B2C. Market research is required to be carried out for precision. These will include their age, location, title, pain points, spending habits, challenges, income etc. the idea is to help you create an effective and efficient marketing plan. 
• Research Your Market and Competitors: every business has one or two competitors; either direct or indirect competitors – other businesses interested in the same target customers. These competitors are those sharing the same market population with you, offering almost the same service, solution, product, good and even prices as you. When researching your market and competitors, you should focus on their market value, position, market share, offerings, and pricing and see if there is any gap you can hang on to.

• Conduct Your Business SWOT Analysis: your marketing plan is not complete without an informed evaluation of your business’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats – SWOT Analysis. This is a careful analysis and evaluation which will largely base on the outcome of the steps above.

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chidiogo-akaelu

Chidiogo Shalom Akaelu holds a degree in English and Literary Studies, from the University of Nigeria. She is a freelance writer, editor and founder of Loana Press, a budding online publishing outlet.

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