The Basics of a Solid Marketing Plan

By Michael Fleischner

In order to succeed with a basic marketing plan you need to concentrate on some core elements of a plan that targets the right audience and produces a specific result including lead generation or sales. For your marketing to produce results you should consider using multiple media formats.

There is so much competition today that the messages you use need to be one-of-a-kind. The effectiveness of any campaign is directly correlated to the quality of your list and the effectiveness of your offer. Before you even begin planning for your marketing campaign, think about your product and what motivates people to buy.

Over the past twelve years I have found that marketing results are relatively consistent when sound marketing techniques are applied. These techniques can be effective in virtually any industry and with any type of campaign you have. Consider developing your marketing campaign using these strategies:

Set specific marketing goals. Before you start, think about what you want your marketing campaign to accomplish. Most marketers focus on conversion but you need to define what that means for you and your campaign. Some marketers are looking for a sale while others are looking for a download. Before you get started, consider what action you want your respondents or visitors to take and how you are going to measure the result.

Segment your market carefully. Do not try to market to everyone. Choose a specific segment and focus your energies there. If you do, your campaign will be more successful. Considering the specific audience you are looking to attract and focusing on them, you can increase your chances of success tremendously. Review your current customer and find others like them if you wish to generate a positive return on investment.

Identify key messages points. What are the messages that resonate with your audience? Have you used headlines or email subject lines that have performed extremely well in the past? If so, use them to create a baseline and try to improve in later campaigns. You need to speak in the language that resonates with your customers if you are going to grab their attention and gain their trust.

Test your offers. The only way to run a successful marketing campaign is by testing various offers. Your offer is an essential component for driving results. Your best bet is to test multiple offers simultaneously by splitting your list or testing offers. Once you find and offer that works, try to beat its results during the next campaign.

Leverage an integrated marketing approach. Use more than one type of media if you wish to enhance your results. Do not settle for a single email, post card, or advertisement. Rather, discover the media that your segment uses to get their information and buy their products or services. This can help you determine the best way to reach them. Once you develop a campaign, utilize as many of these media types to convey your message and offer.

I have found that using these techniques are paramount to producing a favorable return on your marketing investment. In addition be mindful of campaign timing. Even if all of the above criteria are met, your campaign may still fall flat if you have not exposed your audience to the right message at the right time.

Be sure to review each of the aforementioned steps before creating your next marketing campaign. Your marketing is only going to be successful if you set specific goals, segment your market, focus on key messages, and create a compelling offer. I encourage you to experiment with different media to get your message across. - 33377

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