Marketing Plan – A Guide to Success
February 8th, 2010 Filed under: Uncategorized — Marketing Ideas Author
Many people confuse a business plan and marketing plan, imagining that they are the same document. It is true that a marketing plan may fall under one specific category of an overall business plan. Your company’s marketing plan details the manner in which your business will present its products, services, and value proposition to potential clients. Individual marketing plans are usually reworked every few years, depending on the situation.
Boosting your company’s sales depends on much more than simply offering a high quality product. You have to get information about your products and services to the people who will be most interested in them. This is the responsibility of your marketing team. After the initial contact and sale is made, they must then make an effort to keep that customer. How to do so is outlined in the marketing plan.
The persuasion techniques your company will use on potential clients can be found in your marketing plan. Consider the following topics that should be found within it.
•Descriptions of products and services – Give details about how your customers will be benefited by purchasing either a product or service that you provide. Use this section to explain why your business and its offerings are superior to your competitors.
•Pricing and positioning – You will have to take time to do market research and calculate overhead costs to set prices for your products. Present information on how you have arrived at your prices here. Emphasize how you have been able to beat your competitors’ prices.
•Sales and distribution – Explain what methods your business plans on utilizing to get other companies to buy from you. Give a description of how you will deliver your products as well.
•Marketing strategies – Present the way in which your company will be employing its marketing strategies. Describe what those strategies are as well. Direct marketing, trade shows, publicity, personal selling, and websites are all commonly used by B2B companies.
Ray Perry is an Internet marketing executive with more than 25 years of experience. He is the Chief Marketing Officer at Market Blazer, a small business marketing company and authorized Duct Tape Marketing coach. You can get more information about marketing plan at www.MarketBlazer.com.
