When you own a small or medium-sized business, the mission statement and overall plan will look very different from that of a large business or corporation. But as many differences, as there are, there are also similarities. One thing that businesses of all sizes can benefit from a robust marketing plan.
A good marketing plan is meant to help you figure out what it is your customers want and need, and how you can best reach them and inform them of your products and services. If you’re new to the idea of a marketing plan and are feeling unsure of where to start, then this blog can act as a basic guide for you to follow.
Look at What Your Company is All About
The best place to start is by taking a look at your company and determining what it’s really about. What sort of services and products do you offer, what makes your products and services unique, how does the company stand-out in a competitive field? It’s also important that you are very clear on who your target market is since you will be crafting a message for them specifically.
What Do You Want to Achieve with Your Marketing Plan?
Now it’s time to outline what you hope to achieve with your marketing plan. What is the purpose of it? Are you looking to expand your customer base, are you trying to reach out to a new market segment, are you introducing a new product or service? There are all kinds of goals you could have.
Ensure You Use All Types of Marketing Tools and Mediums
Now that you’ve figured out where your company stands, what makes it unique, who your clients are, and what you are hoping to achieve, it’s time to examine the different types of marketing techniques that you can use. Ideally, you want to put together a plan that is robust and diverse, meaning you use a large variety of methods. This can help guarantee the best results. It goes back to the famous saying of “not putting all your eggs in one basket”. Diversification is your best bet.
Offline Marketing Techniques
As far as offline marketing techniques go, this is the more traditional or classic way to market. This includes things like newspaper ads, radio and/or television commercials, magazine ads, corporate videos, flyers, brochures, etc. Just make sure whichever ones you use you ensure they are professional looking and reflect your brand.
Take, for example, corporate video production. The last thing you want to do is throw something together yourself that neither hits the mark nor looks professional. Instead, hire on the services of a professional corporate video production company, such as Beverly Boy Productions, that has the experience, tools, and knowledge.
Online Marketing Techniques
Your online efforts will be just as important, and again, diversification is key. Use things like blog posts, a website, social networks, e-newsletters, and more to get your message out.
Tracking and Consistency Should Also be a Priority
So while all of these steps are essentials in building an effective marketing plan, keep in mind that you will also need to track the results and be consistent in your efforts in order to get real results.
