What is a Marketing Plan?

A marketing plan is a written document that details the necessary actions to achieve one or more marketing objectives. It can be for a product or service, a brand, or a product line. It can cover one year (referred to as an annual marketing plan), or cover up to 5 years.

A marketing plan may be part of an overall business plan. Solid marketing strategy is the foundation of a well-written marketing plan. While a marketing plan contains a list of actions, a marketing plan without a sound strategic foundation is of little use.

In most organizations, "strategic planning" is an annual process, typically covering just the year ahead. Occasionally, a few organizations may look at a practical plan which stretches three or more years ahead.

To be most effective, the plan has to be formalized, usually in written form, as a formal `marketing plan'. The essence of the process is that it moves from the general to the specific; from the overall objectives of the organization down to the individual action plan for a part of one marketing programme. It is also an interactive process, so that the draft output of each stage is checked to see what impact it has on the earlier stages - and is amended accordingly. Read more here.

Articles

2008-11-03 10:16

SCORE: Marketing for new businesses

QUESTION: I am a relatively new business owner and have a limited advertising budget. Can you suggest ways for me to market my business without breaking the bank? — Sheldon M., Naples ANSWER: Sheldon, the first step in developing a marketing plan is to identify who is your target customer....
2008-11-03 10:13

Why My First Business Succeeded (Part V - Marketing)

I had employees now. I had a busboy (my father), a cook (my mother), a hostess (my sister), a host (my brother) and a waiter (myself). But I had no customers. I asked my investors (who were also my busboy, my cook and my parents) to buy a massive flashing neon sign to put on the front lawn,...
2008-11-03 10:11

A Time To Market

A time to market your to-do list isn't complete without this key practice--and neither is your business.   Marketing is such an important part of your business that it must be practiced daily, much like a habit, in order to really get the attention and momentum it deserves. That...
2008-02-28 10:10

How to Create a Marketing Plan

Firms that are successful in marketing invariably start with a marketing plan. Large companies have plans with hundreds of pages; small companies can get by with a half-dozen sheets. Put your marketing plan in a three-ring binder. Refer to it at least quarterly, but better yet...
2008-02-28 10:03

How to Write a Marketing Plan

In recent years, libraries of all types have found it necessary to compete for both money and clients as major changes have occurred. Corporate librarians have realized that they must show management why they are useful and how they contribute to the bottom line. Public libraries face stiff...

Activities

2008-02-28 10:11

The World’s Shortest Marketing Plan

Have your students complete a marketing plan based on Guy Kawasaki's "World's Shortest Marketingn Plan.  Find it here.

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The Ingredients of a Marketing Plan

Every how-to book on the market has a different take on the essential elements of a marketing plan. Those geared toward the big corporate crowd communicate in a language few human beings understand. However, the words you use are much less important than how seriously you approach the...

Economic Crises Call for Better Marketing Plans

As I write this, uncertainty crashes all around us like a violent hurricane. Now is the time to bolster your sales and marketing plans and get ready for disaster business planning. Lehman Brothers went under, Merrill Lynch (MER Quote - Cramer on MER - Stock Picks) was picked up in a fire sale by...

Economic Crises Call for Better Marketing Plans

As I write this, uncertainty crashes all around us like a violent hurricane. Now is the time to bolster your sales and marketing plans and get ready for disaster business planning. Lehman Brothers went under, Merrill Lynch (MER Quote - Cramer on MER - Stock Picks) was picked up in a fire sale by...

Sample Marketing Plan

Sample Marketing Plan from MoreBusiness.com

Marketing Plan Outline

Here is an outline for a marketing plan

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