One of the best things about the start of the year is the goal setting that comes along with it. Creating a marketing plan is one of the things that excites us at Pepper Virtual Assistants. Having a tabula rasa for fresh ideas gives us a lot of room for new things we’d like to explore with our brand and share with our customers.
As much as it is thrilling to have a long list of campaigns and strategies you want to execute, you have to factor in feasibility in your plan. If it’s not doable, then it’s a complete waste of your time. Let’s look at some practical tips to help you get started with your marketing plan!
Take a look back
A quick review of what you’ve done last year will help you achieve two things: build on your successes and learn from your failures. Incorporate what you did right in your new marketing plan and take note of the things you did wrong to avoid repeating them.
Identify your goals
What do you want to achieve this year? More sales? Increased brand awareness? Your marketing plan depends heavily on your goals. Make sure that your goals are S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). Be as specific as possible.
Break your plan into segments
Now that you have your goals in place, map out how you will achieve them through different channels. Segment your marketing plan into different categories such as social media, email marketing, video marketing, SEO, content marketing, and more.
Determine the resources you need
When it comes to crafting an achievable marketing plan, it’s important to budget for success. Will you outsource video editors, graphic designers, social media virtual assistants, or copywriters? Will you invest on quality directory listings to improve your SEO? When you know what you need, you can better manage your marketing budget.
Document everything.
Make sure that your marketing plan is fully documented. This will help you be on track with your goals for the year. It will also serve as your accountability sheet where you can check if you’re covering all bases and if the people in charge are working on their assignments.
Put metrics in place
Based on your goals, set metrics that will determine the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Review your progress regularly and make changes along the way. Remember that your marketing plan is not set in stone, it is a series of steps that lead to the accomplishment of your goals.
Creating an achievable marketing plan is all about knowing what you want to attain and how you will get there. With actionable and measurable steps in place, you can get to where you want to be!
Need an extra set of hands to help you implement your marketing plan? Sign up for our free five-hour trial!
Check out the other parts of our Marketing Planning 2017 series:
- How to Create an Achievable Marketing Plan this 2017
- Digital Channels You Need to Include in Your Marketing Plan
- Infographics Fridays: Marketing Planning 2017
Pepper Virtual Assistants is a business solutions firm that specializes in virtual administrative and personal assistance, online marketing, customer support, and copywriting. We are known for reliability through our managed services, responsive client handling backed by extensive training, and rockstar virtual assistants hired for their skills and expertise.
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