Sales & Marketing Authority, Bestselling Author & Business Motivational Speaker

Bestselling author and sales authority Sean McPheat is regarded as a thought leader on modern day selling. If you are looking for sales and marketing help or a speaker to ignite your event with real world, practical insights then Sean is your man.

Do You Have a Marketing Plan?

Have your say: Leave a comment!December 12, 2008

To be completely honest, you have absolutely no business attempting to sell or market your products or services if you haven’t taken the time to sit down and form a marketing plan.

Without one, you’re simply wasting your time and money. Most businesses without a formal marketing plan are simply grasping for straws and some happen to get lucky enough to formulate a campaign that actually works.

A marketing plan is important because it allows you to do a number of things:

Research and identify your target market,
Identify your marketing budget,
Determine what promotional strategies will work best,
Discuss the cost effectiveness of each marketing strategy,
Identify your competition,
And much more.

We’ll take some time in the future to discuss the different elements of a strong marketing plan, but for now let’s focus on whether or not you know what your target market is.

You’ve been told that the most effective marketing strategy is one in which you know your customers. Which do you think is the most effective approach for a video game company? Sending out 1,000 postcards to random people or sending out 1,000 postcards to those who have subscriptions to gaming magazines or customer cards at gaming stores? Do you know what your customers like, what they expect to see in the future, and what they hope to see from you?

A marketing strategy is your plan for finding, attracting, and ultimately retaining a strong customer base. Knowing your customers well will give you the tools necessary to anticipate any changes in the market or what they’re looking for.

The most successful businesses have strong marketing plans. Putting a plan in writing doesn’t set it in stone. We all recognize the need for change. It does, however, prove to your employees, investors, and potential business partners that you do know what you are doing and what you expect to achieve.

Do you have a written marketing plan right now? If not, why?

Get ready to take your marketing skills to the next level,

Sean

Sean McPheat

Telephone 0800 849 6732