Posts Tagged ‘Marketing plans’
GAS Up Your Business Marketing Plans
Most companies have business marketing plans whether they are committed to writing or not. Yet from my experience, many of these plans are not delivering the success based upon the resources invested.
Marketing plans should be aligned to the overall strategic plan. These plans should work together with the sales plans. All efforts should be directed to increasing sales and ultimately growing the company.
To help the marketing plan move forward, maybe it needs new fuel or G.A.S.
Do you have specific marketingGoals that are consistently being monitored and measured? Many businesses employ the Spray and Pray marketing Plan. Spray it on the wall and pray it sticks. Every marketing activity should be tied to specific goals that are also aligned to the strategic plan.
What I know is that if you are a small business owner and
- Belong to at least one chamber
- Belong to at least one service organization
- Belong to at least one professional association
- Belong to at least one formal networking group
you have invested a minimum of $30,000 in marketing. This investment does not include your website, any purchased media advertisements, trade shows, etc. For every marketing activity, you should have a goal and the results from that goal.
What are the attitudes specific to marketing? Do you believe that spending money is wasteful? Maybe you believe that direct marketing does not work? At networking events, do you hang out with your friends and acquaintances and ignore meeting new potential customers?
These attitudes are the outward expression of your inner beliefs. To help increase your marketing effectiveness may also demand that you assess your attitudes toward marketing.
Finally, do you have the self leadership skills necessary for marketing success. Marketing messages must communicate your unique selling proposition within the market place. How are your written communication skills?
Marketing also demands critical thinking skills as to where should I place the next marketing advertisement for the greatest return on my investment. Time management is another necessary strong interpersonal skill especially as you run from networking event to sales meeting to trade show.
When Goals, Attitudes and Self leadership elements are leveraged together, your marketing program will be flying fast and generating the results that you need.
Author: Leanne Hoagland-Smith
Small Businesses Need Business Plans in Recession
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Tags: Business Marketing Plans, GAS Up Your Business Marketing Plans, Marketing plans
