How to Develop a Marketing Strategy in 5 Easy Steps

You need to market your business or product in order to succeed. There's no need to spend countless hours developing a marketing strategy. Condense your plan into manageable chunks. You can develop a marketing strategy in 5 easy steps.

Things You'll Need

• Brochures
• Fliers
• Computer and printer
• Email

Instructions

1. Research your target clients. Your clients are your most important concern. You need to know customers' needs, wants, likes and dislikes. Once you know their needs, you can market your product or service to meet those needs. Also find out their ages and where they live. All this information helps you understand your customers.

2. Create marketing materials. Design brochures and fliers to hand out to potential customers. Create them with desktop publishing software and print them with your own printer. You can get copies made at a local copy shop or print shop. Or hire a desktop publisher or graphic designer if you want something professionally made.

3. Develop a plan of action. Outline your steps. Know who you are marketing to and how you will market your material. Be realistic. Only a percentage of marketing material brings in new business. Your marketing plan needs to be ongoing to reach the most people. Marketing is not a one-time event.

4. Put your plan into action. Designate time for cold calling and emailing. Flier's and brochures will bring in customers at random. Calling and emailing reaches clients directly. Make calling, emailing and sending out marketing material all part of your marketing strategy.

5. Test your strategy. Find out how well your plan is working by looking at your new customers and clients. Re-evaluate your plan. Find your strengths and weaknesses. Change your plan to suit your needs. Know what your competitors are doing and change your plan accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a sales pitch to catch people's attention.

• Develop a catchy slogan or memorable logo to use on all your marketing material.

• Know your main objective and make sure all your marketing enhances your objective.

• Don't forget the obvious. Describe your product and service to potential customers.

Resources

• Tips from a marketing consultant.
• Marketing solutions.