Marketing is not always the easiest thing to do. However, there is one key to
effective Marketing that far too many people overlook. So, what is it that they
do not do? They do not make a plan. To be fair, a lot of Marketers think they
have a plan but saying “I’m going to make some money” is not a plan.
Perhaps that is one of the primary reasons why franchises are so popular.
They present a very detailed plan for just about every aspect of running a
business. But we are talking about Marketing, not a traditional brick and
mortar business. So, what you really need for effective Marketing is a
Business Plan or Strategy.
Let’s be blunt, creating a Business Plan is going to take time and effort. Without one,
however, you will be wandering aimlessly through your business and bringing in money
in a way that is too hit or miss. You may do okay without one, but you will not see your
full profit potential unless you have a Business Plan in place. Think of it as the difference
between having a hobby and having a real business that makes you money. If you want it
to be a hobby, then that’s up to you; maybe you don’t really need a plan.
Your plan is a sort of road map to help you define and reach your goals. A good way
to start your Business Plan is to think of where you want to end up, then start working
backwards from there.
What steps will you have to take?
How much will you make?
How will you make it?
How much will you invest?
What Marketing methods (or Tactics) will you use?
Answering questions like these will help you make a good plan.
The questions you ask are important. Try to think of as many aspects of your business
as you can. And when answering, be as detailed and specific as you can. In fact, if
you find you are giving vague answers, take that as a sign that you need to give your
Business Plan for effective Marketing more thought.
Once you have asked and answered the necessary questions, it’s about time to start
organizing your plan. Try to arrange things in a logical way so they make more sense.
Be as linear as possible. You should also divide your plan into short, medium- and
long-term goals. This will help you to stay on track as your business grows. Also, if
you don’t know what questions you can or should be asking, that is when you get
help from someone who does … It will pay off …
You should be ready to make revisions to your plan as needed, but don’t make those
changes lightly. However, your business is going to grow, and you will not be able to
predict how things turn out with 100% accuracy. So, you need to be able to alter your
plan if the situation warrants it. Remember, your business plan isn’t written in stone
and is there to work for you, not against you.
As you can see, one of the keys to effective Marketing is to have a business plan.
It could be argued that if you do not have such a plan, then you may not really
have a business. If you are only doing this for a hobby, that is fine, but if you want
to make money like a real business, then you need to treat it like one. And that
means, a fantastic Marketing Strategy, or seek the help to create one …
