Let's be honest. This isn't the first place you've looked for a marketing plan example or template, and it won't be the last.
Before you start scrolling to get a glimpse of the highlights, let's talk about what you don't want: a cookie-cutter approach.
Creating a marketing plan for a business doesn’t have to be difficult. However, when you're trying to develop a method yourself, you will run into one of two problems.
The 2 Main Problems with a DIY Marketing Plan
You're either just starting your new business venture, or you've been at it for a while— and nothing seems to be working.
Sales are down, you haven't had a new lead in months, your marketing is ad hoc, and you are burnt out from trying to create content for social etc.
This is Problem #1 with building a marketing plan for yourself. You don’t have the time to execute all your ideas effectively.
Problem #2 is that you or your team is probably trying to model a very generic marketing plan example that you found online. It probably looks like this:
- Step 1: Define your product or service
- Step 2: Identify Your Target Audience
- Step 3: Create Content for promotion and for your sales team
- Step 4: Promote via social media
We know the basics because we've written tips for solid marketing strategies. And while we hope these articles get you started; they won't bring the ROI of a holistic marketing roadmap (like these successful businesses and their marketing plans).
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A Marketing Plan Example Shouldn't Be One-Size-Fits-All
The purpose of a marketing plan is to drive results. But when you're doing what everyone else is doing, it's unlikely that you'll stick out from your competitors.
You might be asking, isn’t this what the nitty-gritty details of your marketing strategy are for? A marketing plan example will always tell you to:
- Define your ideal client
- Analyze your competitors
- Developing a unique market positioning and a clear brand voice.
But here’s the thing: these are also a part of everyone's marketing direction. It's Marketing 101 but often expertise and objectivity is the key.
The key to developing an effective marketing plan is to find one that is bespoke and delivered by experts.
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3 Things You'll Get from a Bespoke Marketing Approach
Think of your marketing plan as a roadmap for your business.
A customized marketing plan should give you directions based on where your business is
currently financially, strategically, competitively, socially, and creatively.
If you're toying with the idea of hiring a marketing team to give you an actionable plan, here are three things you should expect from them:
1. One-on-One Time
If you find an expert or agency that offers a marketing plan for hundreds or thousands of dollars, but you don't get one-on-one time on a regular basis to see it through — that's a red flag.
At the very least, it's packaging up a generic marketing plan and leaving you to fend for yourself.
You should expect to get substantial one-on-one time with these established experts. For example, with our BEAM Roadmap, we discuss your current brand and marketing married with future goals. We'll go over what’s working and what isn’t based on your competitors, the market, your digital footprint, and our extensive 50+ years’ experience.
2. Destination Markers
A bespoke marketing plan will map out how long it will take to hit your goals and what budget is needed to get there.
With BEAM, you'll learn short-term tactics and longer-term strategies to get a competitive advantage and increase marketing performance.
3. Directions
A roadmap is useless without step-by-step directions to your destination but to determine the marketing plan, we need to know the goals and work backwards; with revenue KPI’s, marketing benchmarks, audiences and their pain points, your product, and services and how they solve your customer’s problems, market sectors and opportunities, your competitors and gaps and opportunities.
Our BEAM approach directs you on how to leverage these benchmarks and how to include branding, website, lead nurturing, PR, media, and social media. We customize each of these with a strategy that only works for your company to achieve your business goals.
And don't worry— marketing overload is not part of the plan.
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BEAM Creative: Your New Marketing Partner
Our head office is located at United Co. 425 Smith St, Fitzroy MELB VIC 3065
SYDNEY Office: Suite 3846, 903/50 Clarence Street Sydney NSW 2000
BRISBANE Office: Suite 4819, 9/204 Alice Street Brisbane QLD 4000
Call us at Tel: 1300 099 795 or schedule an appointment.
Need a custom roadmap? Book this No-Obligation 15-minute strategy chat with our marketing experts!