![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.completemarketingsystems.com\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/marketing-plan1.jpg\" "\\"marketing")
<\/a>age your business.<\/p>\nIf you have staff, whether it’s large or small, if everybody’s pulling in the same direction you’ll get there faster, better and with less effort.<\/p>\n
It would be similar to the Budweiser horses all tied up to the wagon but pulling in different directions.\u00a0 You see, if the path is mapped out and plotted in advance, everyone knows which way to go.\u00a0 If they hit a road block, an educated choice can be made to get to the destination.\u00a0 Simple, right?<\/p>\n
A simple wall calendar, outlining activities and deadlines and can be a great start and a huge help to your staff.\u00a0 If everyone knows the tasks and the sub-tasks, then the major tasks will be completed. \u00a0And remember, they have to be measurable and checked up on.\u00a0 What gets measured gets done!<\/p>\n
Let me simplify all this and give you an example.\u00a0 Every major task, or activity, has multiple mini-tasks that have to be accomplished to finish the major task.<\/p>\n
So let\u2019s start with a large blank wall calendar for 2008.\u00a0 Put it on the wall somewhere everyone can see it.<\/p>\n
This is what to do next on the calendar:<\/p>\n
Identify the proposed dates for all major company events.\u00a0 Think about workshops, teleseminars, product launches, speaking engagements, and whatever else you have going on. \u00a0Color code the major events so they\u2019re easily identified on the calendar.<\/p>\n
Using backward planning concepts, identify the marketing plan for each event such as:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Direct Mail Projects<\/li>\n
- Email Marketing<\/li>\n
- Voice Blasts<\/li>\n
- Teleseminars<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Color code your major marketing steps for each of the above events accordingly.<\/p>\n
Once your road map is visual, you\u2019ll easily see all the steps it will take to get the jobs done, and then you can determine if you can get more accomplished, or if you\u2019ve been too aggressive with your plan.<\/p>\n
Adjust your plan as you see fit.\u00a0 Remember, aggressiveness is OK \u2013 but craziness is just crazy!\u00a0 Can you implement and execute your plan within the personnel and budget requirements you have?<\/p>\n
This is the basis of your executable marketing plan for this year and beyond.<\/p>\n
Think about it, you\u2019ll know how many emails to write, how many voice blasts to do, what your direct mail program is going to look like, how many times you can mail in the time frames provided, can you add addition
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.completemarketingsystems.com\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/strategic-planning.jpg\" "\\"strategic")
<\/a>al teleseminars or webinars to your plan, and list goes on and on.\u00a0 Just by thinking this out, you\u2019ll be able to estimate your income for that year and beyond.\u00a0 And, your staff will have direction, whether you\u2019re in the office or not.<\/p>\nStart with the overall strategic plan and take it to the next level – your marketing plan.\u00a0 Keep in mind that you\u2019re not bound to stick to the plan if something isn\u2019t working or not profitable.\u00a0 Just adjust your plan and market on!<\/p>\n
You don’t have to be an expert in planning.\u00a0 You can be the idea person.\u00a0 The key is being able to convey the ideas. Your staff can participate in this process.\u00a0 It can be fun and a learning experience for all. \u00a0So, if planning is your weakness, make sure you surround yourself with the right people who can do that with you, not for you, with your goals and objectives in mind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The bottom line is if your business\/strategic\/marketing plan isn\u2019t written down, your staff isn\u2019t going to know what to do. People don\u2019t pick things up through \u201cOsmosis\u201d. I’ve been in situations, where the business owner was not reachable.\u00a0 Staff members had decisions that had to be made, but because there wasn\u2019t a written plan, the…<\/p>\n