![\"Marketing](\"https:\/\/www.marketingforsuccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Marketing-Strategy1.jpg\" "\\"Marketing")
<\/a>Without a plan, the result could easily be a post-colonial, modern, victorian mish-mash that would make a trailer home look stylish in comparison. Most likely it wouldn\u2019t meet your needs and you\u2019d have wasted a lot of time and money.<\/p>\nEveryday I get calls from frustrated business owners like you. Their marketing isn\u2019t helping them generate the steady stream of new clients they want so badly. It\u2019s just not bringing in the revenue that they think they should be making.<\/p>\n
My conversation with Ken, from Toronto, was typical. I asked Ken to describe his business and his business goals. I asked him to tell me about his target market and what he is doing attract new clients.<\/p>\n
He easily described his technological and design expertise, his Web services and the ads and mailings he was using to promote his business. Then I asked the question that stumps almost everyone who calls me for advice: I asked Ken if he had a marketing plan and what it was. He didn\u2019t have one.<\/p>\n
Do you?<\/p>\n
You know what your goals are and where you want to take your business. You also know that marketing involves activities such as a website, mailings, advertising and phone calls to prospects. But without a plan tying these efforts together, these activities by themselves may do little to help you achieve your goals.<\/p>\n
You need a well thought out blueprint for your marketing, just as you would for your dream home. Here\u2019s how to start putting it together.<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Identify Your Marketing Goals What are your marketing goals?<\/p>\n 2. Define Your Marketing Strategy<\/strong> What is your small business marketing strategy?<\/p>\n 3. Set Up Your Marketing System<\/strong> What is your marketing system?<\/p>\n 4. Map Out Your Marketing Activities<\/strong> Who will be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining your marketing?<\/p>\n 5. Sharpen Your Marketing Tools<\/strong> Could you sharpen your marketing tools?<\/p>\n Sound intimidating? It\u2019s not when you have help.<\/p>\n As a member of my Insider\u2019s Club I\u2019ll guide you through the marketing maze. You\u2019ll discover how to create a blueprint for success.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong> What specifically does your marketing need to achieve for your business to grow? You can state this in terms of the number of qualified leads generated each week, the percentage of leads converted to sales, total revenue, and profit.<\/p>\n
\nThis is your overall approach and positioning relative to your goals and your competition. My marketing strategy is an educational one. It is based on giving people ideas and information they can use as a means of getting their attention and demonstrating the value I provide.<\/p>\n
\nDevelop a plan of action. To increase sales, your marketing activities and the media you use need to reflect your marketing strategy and work together as one.<\/p>\n
\nNow flesh out the details. You\u2019ve decided what your marketing activities will be; now for each marketing activity you\u2019ll need to determine who will create and implement it and when.<\/p>\n
\nEach marketing activity involves using one or more marketing tools. These include everything from your web site to your phone scripts to your marketing messages. To cut through the information clutter and get your prospect\u2019s attention you\u2019ll want finely honed tools.<\/p>\n