Branding Marketing Plan

Here's how to get a blank stare by business owners, managers and executives branding, marketing. Ask them: "What is your marketing plan?"

It is likely to get a response like this: "Well, actually not one of them exactly, but I'm doing a little 'corporate branding, direct mail, update my website and considering search engine optimization".

The fact is, the mere thought of a "marketing plan" overwhelms many. Mention of projections, studies, demographics and segmentation are returned with blank stares space.

However, you should not let the idea of ​​a marketing plan to scare. Think, rather, as a marketing recipe - a blend of ingredients that pull together to create an incredibly tasty result, as increased sales, improved profits and market share more.

But before you start, throw the ingredients together, like a mad chef, brainstorming ideas of what you'd like to do eventually with the recipe and to educate themselves about the characteristics of the ingredients that you can use - what each brings to the final product?

And you know what's cool? After finding a recipe that marketing will be successful, you can use over and over again - as every recipe.

I have many recipes in my repertoire of marketing. I have them for networking, getting commitments speaking, the addition of names to my e-newsletter list, the creation of an online sales letter and follow-up with prospects and turn them into customers on the phone.

None of these recipes have been lackluster. They were simply the result of brainstorming, research and experimentation. Many came from other, which is one of the best sources of marketing for winning recipes. Everything I did was add my personal touch to make it suitable for my business and market.

I continually tested and optimized my recipes until I finally with something I liked ... and that some of my peers liked. Now, I have an arsenal of marketing techniques ready to tackle any marketing problem I may have. Here's a look at how I put it all together:

Marketing Activities: What measures will it take to reach a goal? Focus on a recipe for, such as engine optimization networking, language or research.

Purpose: What is your goal for this marketing activity? What is the perfect result?

Expected Results: What do you want to happen as a result of achieving your goal?

Target Market: Who is and how you can best get their attention?

Plan: What tactics will work your research show? What ingredients are needed and how they can work better?

Message / Warning: What's your key message? It must capture attention and be memorable.

Marketing Materials: You need a web page or a printed piece? Maybe a combination ...

Main activity: What is the main line of communication, and how you can best use to achieve your perspective?

Offer and Call to Action: How will ask them to act? What can you say or write that is interesting enough?

Follow-up: How will you get back in touch? Whatever you do, do not forget to do this ... is what separates marketing to sell.

Time: Give yourself deadlines, and carefully put them on the calendar so you can realistically achieve.

If results of marketing is really important to you, you must have a recipe like this. Just start with an ingredient, and take it slow. Before you know it, you'll be preparing a feast of business wins....