Sunday, February 15, 2009

The Basics of a Solid Marketing Plan
by Michael Fleischner

In order to succeed with a basic marketing plan you need to focus on some important 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 unique. The effectiveness of any marketing campaign is directly correlated to the quality of your list and offer. Before you even begin, think about your product and what motivates people to buy.



After years of trial and error, I have found that marketing results are relatively consistent when you apply the same techniques. These techniques apply to any industry and any type of campaign you may be running. Consider building your marketing campaign based on the following strategies:



Set targeted goals. Before you get started think about the specific goals you wish to achieve. Many marketers focus on generating some type of conversion but you need to define what conversion means to you. Some individuals are just looking for a sale while others are seeking a lead or download. Before you begin your marketing campaign, identify what action you want respondents to take and how you are going to measure it.



Focus on segmentation. Do not attempt to market to everyone. Choose a specific segment and focus your energies there. If you do, your campaign will be more successful. You can increase your chances of success tremendously when you focus on a specific market or niche. Review your current customer and find others like them if you wish to generate a positive ROI.



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.



Determine which offers you are going to test. The only way to ensure a successful marketing campaign is by testing various offers. The offer is a key component for driving results and can always be improved. Your best bet is to test multiple offers by splitting your list, your web visitors, or viewable audience. 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.



Using these marketing techniques are important for producing a positive ROI. In addition, be aware of your campaign timing. Even if all of the above criteria are met, your campaign could still fall short if you havent exposed your audience to the right message at the right time.



Review each of these steps before creating your next marketing campaign. Your marketing is only going to be successful if you set specific goals, segment your market, use key messages that resonate with your audience and create a compelling offer. I encourage you to experiment with different media to get your message across and deliver a winning campaign.


About the Author:

Michael Fleischner is an Internet marketing expert, author, and website owner who helps small and medium sized businesses improve their marketing results. Discover powerful marketing tips at The Marketing Blog. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

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