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Marketing Plan Tips

Guest post by: Karen McNulty

Article Overview: Before you get to either the end of the calendar year, or perhaps the end of your financial year it's a good idea to be thinking about your marketing plan for the year ahead. You might even be reviewing your marketing for the next six months or a quarter - it doesn't matter really - the point is that you're planning at all.

Marketing Plan Tips

Before you get to either the end of the calendar year, or perhaps the end of your financial year it's a good idea to be thinking about your marketing plan for the next year ahead. You might even be reviewing your marketing for the next six months or a quarter - it doesn't matter really - the point is that you're planning at all. So first of all well done for planning! Second of all, here are some tips for getting ready to create your marketing plan:

• Think about what your budget is going to be now, and then your mind will automatically be geared to the marketing mix to suit when you come to pick your marketing mix.

• What worked best last year? Make a note or check back and analyse what got you the best results

• What resource will you need to deliver your marketing in the next period? Have you got to find some help?

• Decide your likely objectives for the time ahead, now.

• Your USP (unique selling point) may have changed or even developed if you weren't sure before. Define what this is now and remember how important it is to differentiate your business from the competition

• Make a list of who your competition are today - it may have changed from last year and you should include that in your plan too.

Planning is always a good opportunity to take time out and discuss or think about where you're going, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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Article Tags: marketing mix, marketing plan, marketing planning, USP



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