How to Create a Sales Promotion Plan

Simply starting a business does not guarantee that you will make money. You first must lure in customers and find a market niche. That's what a sales promotion is for. Sales promotion plans outline what your business must do to advertise, attract customers, and sell products. With your sales plan in hand, you will be one step closer to launching a successful marketing campaign and generating some much needed revenue.

Things You'll Need

• Word processor

Instructions

1. Research your market, your target customers, and your competition. Be thorough in your research.

2. Open a new document in your word processor and title it "Sales Promotion Plan." Title the first section of your plan "Summary" or "Introduction." Leave this section blank until you create the plan; that is, write this section last even though it comes first.

3. Discuss your marketing objectives. Set measurable and realistic goals and describe what you intend to do to achieve those goals. For example, a goal could be "sell 1,000 widgets in the first month." Under this goal, write how you intend to do that.

4. Explain your promotional strategies. Think about coupons, advertising campaigns, and other promotional activities to generate exposure and interest in your product.

5. Explain your rationale for using the tactics listed above. This section could be titled "Market Analysis."

6. Explain how you intend to fund the promotional plan and list any time tables (for securing loans or meeting returns on investments).

7. Return to the first section and type up a summary. Keep it short and include the main ideas of your plan.

References

• Arizona Office of Tourism: Successful Marketing Plan
• Small Business Notes: Promotion Plan
• Small Business: Marketing Plans