Brilliant French author Antoine de Sainte-Exupery said: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” We couldn’t agree more and that is why we would like to empower you with four steps to a killer marketing plan for you to start working on today!
1:Decide on your goal
If you don’t know the destination, how will you get there? It is vital to decide what your business wants to achieve with your marketing so that you can take the right steps to achieve your goal.
So, if your business need is to increase sales by 40 percent, your marketing goals could be:
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To turn a certain number of leads into customers, increase website traffic by a defined percentage
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Add a specific number of followers on social media
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Attract a defined percent more footfall into your shop
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Increase brand awareness with a new customer demographic.
The secret is to make these goals specific and measurable. Then you can check at the end whether your plan has worked.
2: Define your target audience
Even if you have a great product or service, you have to target your marketing towards those people who need and want what you are offering the most.
Find out who your most valuable customer is, what they like, how they think and where they get their information because this will determine what form of marketing communications they might be receptive to. Ask these questions:
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How much does your customer earn?
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Where do they live?
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Where do they work?
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Are they male or female? What age?
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What is their level of education?
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What are their values?
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What are their hobbies?
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Can you identify common trends?
3: Recruit your team
To drive your marketing plan forward, you will need a diverse team of experts who can bring it to life.
You may need a press officer, web designer, social media manager, telemarketer, strategic marketing consultant, graphic designer, videographer and copywriter. Most SMEs cannot support a team of this size, that’s when a brilliant PR and marketing agency can help.
4: Decide how you will communicate your offer
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When
Determine when you will communicate with your target audience – promotions should be scheduled throughout the year, taking advantage of seasonal pressure points and opportunities.
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What
Decide what message you are telling your customer about your product or service.
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How
Press releases
Events
Telemarketing
Print advertising
Leaflets
Direct mail
Brochures
Bespoke gifts
Outdoor advertising
Social media
Web tutorials
E-books
Podcasts
Webinars
And more!
So if your destination is looking murky and you’re in need of some clarity, get in touch hello@spirusmarketing.com 01638741830.