Globalization, technological obsolescence, and social, political, legal, and regulatory changes occur on timescales that were inconceivable in the past. The result is that every business, even ones in traditionally slow-changing sectors such as manufacturing or transportation, has to adapt much faster than before. So the idea of creating a five or 10-year marketing plan that only needs minor tweaks every few years is unworkable. Most businesses require a quarterly review with minor adjustments, with a significant review (and possibly significant adjustments) once a year.

Benefits of a Solid Marketing Plan

• Higher marketing ROI — your marketing dollars go much further
• Increased customer retention — which also leads to lower marketing and sales costs
• Lower management costs — less time spent chasing “new opportunities,” more time spent on sustainable business growth
• Improved business intelligence — you understand your competitors and your customers better, so you make better decisions
• Higher profits — and better positioning within the market as leaders rather than followers

Our Process

Our marketing planning process consists of 4 stages (or nine steps):

Market Research

Accurate, current market research makes a difference. Without it, you risk wasting money and time delivering the wrong products at the incorrect price with the wrong message to the bad customers.

Analysis and Planning

We’ll develop a marketing strategy that differentiates your business from your competitors. We’ll synthesize and analyze findings; differentiate your company from competitors in meaningful ways to customers. We’ll determine your target markets through data mining; define (or refine) your company’s value proposition; align your organization to close performance gaps, and help your organization deliver the value you promise.

Once the marketing strategy is in place, we’ll develop a detailed tactical plan for executing the strategy. That includes marketing channel selection, customer segmentation, product/service mix, price, promotion, processes, and customer service.

Implementation

Then, we’ll help you execute by translating your marketing plan into action through all aspects of the marketing mix: Search Engine Marketing (SEM, Direct marketing, Pricing, Advertising and promotions, Public relations initiatives, Sales support materials, and Event planning).

Measuring Results

To be successful in the long run, you need to establish metrics to track results and continually refine the approach. Your tracking system can be as simple as one or two Excel spreadsheets or elaborate as a complete executive marketing dashboard. Our marketing planning process can be tailored to your specific needs. Generally, the larger the business, the more involved the marketing plan. But even if your company is small or in the earliest stages of development, we can help you increase revenues and profits.

Our marketing planning process can be tailored to your specific needs—generally, the larger the business, the more involved the marketing plan. But even if your company is small or in the earliest stages of development, we can help you increase revenues and profits.