Marketing Plan?

Question

Does anyone know of any helpful resources to help me make an individual marketing plan for the credit union I work for. I have to put the whole plan together for a Marketing class and am having a lot of trouble. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Marketing plan is real easy to put together. You basically what to describe what your selling/offering, to whom (clients), how (online...), and what you are going to do to promote it (ads...). ultimately, you want to set goals, costs associated with those goals, and expected results.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I don't know what to tell you. Whats your marketing goal? Get more customers? Launch a new product? Building relationships?. Talk to your teacher or peers at school for additional help. There's more to marketing than most people think and there's tons of webpages for particular marketing sectors.

Some webpages I use are www.about.com. They just have general information, but can lead you on the right direction. Use there "search" window about specific topics.

I also like going to microsoft.com for business/marketing templates. Search for "marketing" or "Business" and check them out. Link below for a marketing plan template.

Answer 4

To get started with the outline, you could start the information search inside the company. Look for details within the company that will be of help in your marketing plan. Remember that the amount of information depends on the size of your company. Sample information you could get within the company could be: (1) business strategies and plans; (2) company marketing plans; (3) pricing; (4) income statements; (5) and employee knowledge.

As you already have gathered all details found internally, you could now extend your research on your external resources. I know that the availability of outside data is enormous, thus, do not be misled to other topics unnecessary in your plan. In order to avoid going around the bushes, ask yourself the following specifics:

• Who are your target audience?
• What are the available marketing strategies?
• What is the current state of online marketing?
• What are the trends in marketing?
• Who are your competitors?
• What are the current studies regarding marketing?

From these questions, a lot of possible sub-topics will come out and in this way, it will probably have your mind set on what are the things to consider in your marketing plan. A thorough research will help generate lots of ideas in the marketing plan. But then you also have to know where to search valuable information. Below is a list for you to choose on:

• Online resources
Just by searching online, there are a lot of possible data you could gather. What is hard to do in online searching is that you have a volume of information but is confused on what things to consider in the marketing plan. Here are some tips when you search online: (1) organize the information you find by topic; (2) and bookmark/file each resource. These steps will further help you in the organization of your marketing plan.

Suggested Online Search:

1. Message Boards and Newsgroups- This is a great way to conduct research picking not only specific link exchanges but as well as the various point-of-views of experts in business and marketing.
2. Search Engines and Directories- This could help fast-paced your research offering specific sites that cater to the information you are looking.
3. Research Sites- Often these kind of sites offer a complete and up-to-date data from relevant sources.

• Books
Even though you have gathered ample resources via the Internet, it is still best to search other marketing data on books. Books could offer valuable information, specifically analysis, which you cannot find elsewhere.

• Newsletters
Sometimes, subscribing newsletters of a competitor’s could have view of their current promotional tactics and other ongoing activities.

• Annual Reports
These hold current and complete analysis, statistics and information regarding the industry.

• News Articles
This is an updated data on the business environment that could hold clues regarding your marketing plan.

Mary
http://gbwatch.com/

Answer 5

Online Marketing Plan

A typical marketing plan is based on;

1. Where are we now...
2. Where do we want to go...
3. How can we go there...
4. How can we control it...


The contents of a very basic marketing plan are;

1. Executive Summary
2. Situational Analysis
3. Opportunities / Issue Analysis - SWOT Analysis
4. Objectives
5. Strategy
6. Action Programme
7. Financial Forecast
8. Controls


In detail it would be

1. Title page
2. Executive Summary
3. Current Situation - Macroenvironment
* economy
* legal
* government
* technology
* ecological
* sociocultural
* supply chain
4. Current Situation - Market Analysis
* market definition
* market size
* market segmentation
* industry structure and strategic groupings
* Porter 5 forces analysis
* competition and market share
* competitors' strengths and weaknesses
* market trends
5. Current Situation - Consumer Analysis
* nature of the buying decision
* participants
* demographics
* psychographics
* buyer motivation and expectations
* loyalty segments
6. Current Situation - Internal
* company resources
o financial
o people
o time
o skills
* objectives
o mission statement and vision statement
o corporate objectives
o financial objective
o marketing objectives
o long term objectives
* corporate culture
7. Summary of Situation Analysis
* external threats
* external opportunities
* internal strengths
* internal weaknesses
* key success factors in the industry
* our sustainable competitive advantage
8. Marketing research
* information requirements
* research methodology
* research results
9. Marketing Strategy - Product
* product mix
* product strengths and weaknesses
o perceptual mapping
* product life cycle management and new product development
* Brand name, brand image, and brand equity
* the augmented product
* product portfolio analysis
o B.C.G. Analysis
o contribution margin analysis
o G.E. Multi Factoral analysis
o Quality Function Deployment
10. Marketing Strategy - Market share objectives
* by products,
* by customer segments,
* by geographical markets
11. Marketing Strategy - Price
* pricing objectives
* pricing method (eg.: cost plus, demand based, or competitor indexing)
* pricing strategy (eg.: skimming, or penetration)
* discounts and allowances
* price elasticity and customer sensitivity
* price zoning
* break even analysis at various prices
12. Marketing Strategy - promotion
* promotional goals
* promotional mix
* advertising reach, frequency, flights, theme, and media
* sales force requirements, techniques, and management
* sales promotion
* publicity and public relations
* electronic promotion (eg.: Web, or telephone)
13. Marketing Strategy - Distribution
* geographical coverage
* distribution channels
* physical distribution and logistics
* electronic distribution
14. Implementation
* personnel requirements
o assign responsibilities
o give incentives
o training on selling methods
* financial requirements
* management information systems requirements
* month-by-month agenda
o PERT or critical path analysis
* monitoring results and benchmarks
* adjustment mechanism
* contingencies (What if's)
15. Financial Summary
* assumptions
* pro-forma monthly income statement
* contribution margin analysis
* breakeven analysis
* Monte Carlo method
* ISI: Internet Strategic Intelligence
16. Scenarios
* Prediction of Future Scenarios
* Plan of Action for each Scenario
17. Appendix
* pictures and specifications of the new product
* results from research already completed

Answer 6

I have just done my marketing plan assignment yesterday. Hope these sites can help you.

http://www.gunnmarketingpartners.com/articles_marketingplans.cfm

http://www.mplans.com/sample_marketing_plans/

http://www.knowthis.com/tutorials/marketing/marketingplan1/0.htm

http://www.business.vic.gov.au/BUSVIC/STANDARD/1001/PC_60229.html

Answer 7

Check out ( http://www.salesandmarketinghelp.com )
They have a lot of great information that should help you.

Good luck.