How to Create a Basic Marketing Plan That Works
Marketing is what gets your product or service in front of people. It’s what makes them want to buy from you, trust what you’re offering, and eventually tell their friends about it. That’s why it plays such a big role in whether or not your business succeeds. But for marketing to actually work, you need a clear, specific plan, and you have to stick with it. In this article, we’ll break down simple steps to build a plan that’s easy to follow and actually helps your business grow.
Step 1: Start With a Quick Business Audit
Before you jump into a marketing plan, take a step back and figure out what’s already going on with your business. The goal here is to understand your starting point.
Ask yourself:
- Who’s reaching out to me about my product or service?
- Where are most of these people located?
- What do they like (or not like) about what I’m offering?
You don’t have to guess the answers. You can:
- Make a quick Google Form and share it on social media
- Ask a few honest friends or family members for feedback
Getting real input will help you create a marketing plan based on facts, not assumptions.
Step 2: Write Your Marketing Goals
Now that you have a better idea of where your business stands, it’s time to set some clear marketing goals. Try using the SMART method, which stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
For example, a SMART goal might be, “Get 20 new email sign-ups in the next 30 days.” Write down two or three goals you want to reach. You might ask, “Why bother with goal-setting?” Well, studies have shown that having specific goals can actually increase your motivation and help you stick with your marketing plan.
Step 3: Create a Simple Brand Message
Before you post anything online, it’s important to be specific about what you want people to know about your business. Ask yourself questions like, “What problem do I solve?” and “What do I want my company to be known for?”
You can use a simple formula to shape your message: “I help [who] solve [what problem] with [what you offer].” For example, “I help high school students stay organized with handmade planners designed for teens.”
Once you’ve figured out your message, stick with it. Keep it consistent across everything, including your social media bios, posts, physical flyers, and even how you talk about your business in person.
Step 4: Choose Your Channels and Posting Schedule
Keep in mind, you don’t need to be on every social media platform. Just pick two that make the most sense for your audience. If your customers are mainly on TikTok and love short videos, focus there. If your business is more visual or creative, Instagram might be a better fit.
When it comes to posting, keep it simple. You might decide to do three TikToks a week, two Instagram posts, and daily stories or updates. A great way to stay on track is to batch your content—take one day, like Saturday or Sunday, to create and schedule all your posts for the week. You can use something like Google Calendar to plan it out. Whatever you choose, just be consistent.
Step 5: Test, Tweak, Repeat
If one of your posts doesn’t get as many views or likes as you hoped, don’t stress; it’s completely normal. Start paying attention to what gets the most engagement. Ask yourself:
- Which posts get the most likes or comments?
- Are certain times of day or days of the week better than others?
You can keep track of this manually or use free social media scheduling tools, which will show you stats automatically. Try changing one thing at a time, like your caption style or the type of content you create (photo, video, poll, etc.), and adjust based on what gets better results.
Ready to Put It Into Action?
Marketing is really about showing up, learning as you go, and improving over time. Even if you only start by posting on one platform, that’s okay. Just stay consistent and see what happens. Once you get the hang of it, you can always add more platforms later. The key is to just start!
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