| If you are an owner of a small business and do not | | | | 3) Competition - Just as it's important to figure out who |
| have a marketing plan, you are destined to fail. And I'm | | | | you're selling to, it's also important to figure out who is |
| not necessarily talking about a business plan with all the | | | | already selling to them. Once you narrow down who |
| financials and stuff. Those are important too, but if you | | | | your competition is, you can determine what they do |
| choose not to have a concrete plan for your | | | | that works and what they do that doesn't and craft |
| marketing, all you're going to accomplish is to become | | | | your own campaigns accordingly. |
| one of the 90% of small business failure stories. | | | | 4) Goals - Just like you've gotta have vision, you also |
| Planning is integral. You won't even go to the | | | | gotta have goals. Set a reachable one year goal and |
| supermarket without some sort of plan. How do you | | | | this will help you in deciding which actions to take along |
| expect to run a successful business without one? As | | | | the way. Your goal can be financial, or in terms of |
| you read through every one of these tips you'll realize | | | | customers or market share, or all of the above. Just |
| that your small business marketing success depends | | | | be sure to make it lofty enough for a challenge, but |
| on having a great marketing plan. 5 crucial elements of | | | | realistic enough to stay focused. |
| a small business marketing plan are as follows: | | | | 5) The Strategy - Once you've figured out all of the |
| 1) Vision - It's important that you create a vision | | | | above elements, it's time for the strategies themselves. |
| statement for your small business. Something that can | | | | What marketing actions are you going to take over |
| always be there to let you know what it is your | | | | the coming year that will enable you to reach your |
| business is all about and where you want to go. Here's | | | | goals? Will you be doing radio spots? Print ads? Web |
| an example from Microsoft: "a personal computer in | | | | marketing? A combination of the three? There are |
| every home running Microsoft software." | | | | countless tactics you can use. If you can't decide |
| 2) Your Clients - Your small business marketing plan | | | | which way to go you can always hire an agency to |
| should also include who your ideal clients are. Those | | | | help you out. They aren't always as expensive as you |
| people you want to open their wallets and give you | | | | think. |
| their money. If you can determine the age, gender, | | | | If you can follow these 5 crucial elements of a small |
| income, habits, likes and dislikes of your ideal client you'll | | | | business marketing plan you'll be well on your way to |
| be far ahead of the game when it comes time to | | | | small business success. |
| strategize. | | | | |