What goes into an effective Marketing Plan Format?

Why do you need an effective marketing plan format? Success in marketing does not happen accidentally. The best results are a result of careful planning and consideration.

Anyone can cook a burger. But there is a big difference between Burger King and the average Joe barbeque king. And the answer does not lie in the cow. A strong marketing plan, even if it's a basic marketing plan, needs to have the right ingredients to implement a solid marketing strategy.

Here's what an effective marketing plan format should include as a minimum...

1. Marketing Vision: what you expect as the outcome of your marketing efforts
2. Ideal customer: a detailed profile of your target buyer/user
3. Your unique advantage: why buyers should select your product or service instead of the competition's
4. Innovation: What's better, newer, faster or more effective about your product or service than your competitors?
5. Lead Generation: How will you find potential buyers, or how will they find you?
6. Sales Conversion: How will you convert leads into sales?
7. Loyalty: How will you build loyalty and keep customers from leaving? How will you get them to buy from you again and again?
8. Implementation: How will you implement your plan? What steps or actions are required? Who will be responsible for what
9. Financials: What will implementing your marketing plan cost? How much will it generate in revenue?

It goes without saying that clear and effective marketing goals alongside relevant metrics and creativity are essential to a winning marketing plan. Add to that the ability to relate to and attract your target market to believe in and use your products, and you've got a winning strategy. But not having a good format to structure your marketing and business plan is like firing a bullet in the dark. You might hit your target, but there's a higher chance you'll miss.

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