Marketing Plans Template
Effective Marketing Plans Template - Every marketing plan has to fit
the needs and situation. Even so, there are standard components you just can't
do without. A marketing plan should always have a situation analysis, marketing
strategy, sales forecast, and expense budget.
Marketing Plans Template - Situation Analysis
Normally this will include a market analysis, a SWOT analysis (strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), and a competitive analysis. The market
analysis will include market forecast, segmentation, customer information, and
market needs analysis.
Marketing Plans Template - Marketing Strategy
Marketing Strategy: This should include at least a mission
statement, objectives, and focused strategy including market segment focus and
product positioning.
Marketing Plans Template - Sales Forecast
This would include enough detail to track sales month by month
and follow up on plan-vs.-actual analysis. Normally a plan will also include
specific sales by product, by region or market segment, by channels, by manager
responsibilities, and other elements. The forecast alone is a bare minimum.
Marketing Plans Template - Expense Budget
This ought to include enough detail to track expenses month by
month and follow up on plan-vs.-actual analysis. Normally a plan will also
include specific sales tactics, programs, management responsibilities,
promotion, and other elements. The expense budget is a bare minimum.
Are They Enough?
These minimum requirements above are not the ideal, just the
minimum. In most cases you'll begin a marketing plan with an Executive Summary,
and you'll also follow those essentials just described with a review of
organizational impact, risks and contingencies, and pending issues. Include a
Specific Action Plan
You should also remember that planning is about the results, not
the plan itself. A marketing plan must be measured by the results it produces.
The implementation of your plan is much more important than its brilliant ideas
or massive market research. You can influence implementation by building a plan
full of specific, measurable and concrete plans that can be tracked and followed
up. Plan-vs.-actual analysis is critical to the eventual results, and you should
build it into your plan.
Sample Marketing Plans Template
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