The Marketing Plan Allows for Top-Level Reflection: (It's Not Optional, Part 5)

The Marketing Plan Allows for Top-Level Reflection:

It is leadership’s job to paint the big picture so that everyone in the organization sees the destination.  It is essential that you question whether you are getting all you can out of your products and services, your sales staff, support staff and your markets. Writing the marketing plan is the best time to do this high-level thinking.  Go away to a retreat, go to the home of a principal, or plan at a local hotel so that you can devote yourself to thinking hard about the immediate future of your organization.  (To be continued.)

The Marketing Plan Gives Your Team Purpose and Something to Rally Behind: (It's Not Optional Part 4)

The Marketing Plan Gives Your Team Purpose and Something to Rally Behind:

Companies often undervalue the internal impact of a “marketing plan”. All employees from the most senior to the most junior want to feel they are a valued part of a team engaged in an exciting endeavor. If you want your employees to feel committed to your organization, it’s important to share with them your vision of where the organization is headed. 

A great marketing plan needs input and feedback of your full organization.  Finance, manufacturing, personnel and marketing need to be considered because it will take all aspects of your organization to make your marketing plan work. When it is completed, consider releasing a summary version so that every employee feels involves. (To be continued.)

The Marketing Plan Documents Your Game Plan: (It's Not Optional, Part 3)

The Marketing Plan Documents Your Game Plan:

Sports teams have a game plan so that they stay on course when challenges occur.  In making the game plan they spend many hours and days researching the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.  One reason they do this is so that in the heat of battle, when confusion sets in, they can refer to the plan for steady direction.  (To be continued.)