Great question.  Let us pose a question back, when you buy a plane ticket do you really need to specify a destination?  Seems like a silly question right!  Truth is, no matter the size of your company, a marketing plan is essential to have an end destination in mind and actually get there.  Akin to buying a plane ticket to Rivera Maya beach in Mexico, versus just saying I want to go to a beach!

However, many companies believe you must be a marketing guru to execute a successful marketing plan. The good news is an effective marketing plan can be done without the marketing guru; you just need a good strategy and to take the time up front to develop the plan.

So why is it so important?

  1. Begin with the end in mind: By having a realistic, comprehensive plan, marketing goes from tossing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks; to real, tangible execution you implement daily. Knowing where you are going ensures effective execution of your plan and increases your odds of success substantially at the end of the year. 
  2. Assists in attracting your IDEAL client, not just anybody: By understanding and knowing your ideal clients, you can target the right people, at the right place, at the right time. Knowing your audience is key to any successful marketing strategy. 
  3. Improves your data collection and allows you to define success: Collecting data and knowing how to use it, can help your company figure out what is working and what to kick to the curb. Data is everywhere, in your sales and revenue numbers, your social media page and website, your search engine analytics, and even in your current customer database, you just have to know where to find it and how to utilize it to your advantage. It’s a fantastic way to determine also how to collect better data in the future so you can understand where you stand in your market.  How great would it be to know when something is working or not right away instead of 6 months later when you have no result sand have spent a fortune! 
  4. Get a better picture of your business’s current marketing situation: What are your company’s current marketing efforts? What gaps do you need to address? Is your message attracting your ideal client(s) or pushing them away? Are you putting your marketing efforts in the right place or are you wasting money on that web banner?   By looking at the overall marketing picture instead of just bits and pieces, you can see realistically where you stand and the direction you need to go. Think of a marketing plan as a clear and concise step-by-step map to your destination – the land of more clients and more revenue.

Still need some help building an annual marketing plan. We’ve got a few people to get that done!   
Check out our Marketing Playbook – designed to develop your plan and efficiently execute your marketing so you can finally “get it done!” Start driving the results you need to increase business and revenue! Call us at (303) 607-9424 – ask for Shara.