Framework for Basic Marketing and Promotions Plan

(including plans for public and media relations, sales, advertising and promoting, and customer service)

© Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC.

Description
The following framework will guide you through the completion of a basic marketing and promotions plan. Associated plans include public and media relations plans, sales plans, and advertising and promotions plans.

NOTE: The framework depicts a useful format, but should be duplicated into an editable version, for example, into Microsoft Word.

Guidelines are provided to fill in the section and links to additional resources are provided.

Readers are encouraged to work with a planning team in their organization to fill in this framework. After completing this framework, readers can move information from the framework to a more suitable document to be the final version of the plan document, if desired.

NOTE: You can download a Microsoft Word version of this

Also, consider
Related Library Topics

[NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION!!]

MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS PLAN

[date!!]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MARKETING AND PROMOTION OF ORGANIZATION

Public Relations Plan

Media Plan

MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS OF EACH PRODUCT/SERVICE

Description of Product/Service

Target Markets and Customer Profiles

Competitor Analysis

Collaborator/Partner Analysis

Pricing Analysis

Sales Plan

Advertising and Promotions Plan

Production Planning

Distribution Planning

Customer Service Plan

EVALUATION OF PLAN

GOALS, RESPONSIBILITIES, TIMELINES AND BUDGET

======= MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS OF ORGANIZATION
=======

Public Relations Plan
(For additional assistance, see Managing Your Public Image (Public Relations).)

Mission Statement

Portrays the basic purpose of our organization and the groups of customers that it serves. The mission statement should be referenced when designing and implementing the marketing and promotions plan. (For assistance, see Basics in Developing a Mission Statement.)

Positioning Statement

Portrays the unique role of our organization and how it fills that role. The statement depicts how we want others to view our organization. This statement is the essence of how we want the media, and others, to recognize our organization. The statement is the basis for wording used in ads and other methods of promotion. (For assistance, see Positioning.)

Script for Representing Our Organization to External Stakeholders

Portrays key points to make when representing the organization to external groups. The script is referenced by key personnel (board members, chief executive, etc.) to represent the organization to external stakeholders, for example, funders/investors, reporters, etc.

Stakeholders, Messages, and Methods (Media Plan and Calendar)
Consider the major stakeholders for your organization, for example, employees, board members, funders/investors, reporters, collaborators, associations, etc. Consider what you’d like each stakeholder to think of your organization. What media do they read and listen to and when? What media is most practical for you to use in terms of access and affordability? The following link might be useful to you in this activity: Major Methods of Advertising and Promotion.

Additional thoughts/comments and any actions we should take:
What do we need to do to make the above happen? What major steps must occur? What must be developed? Who should be contacted? What resources might you need?

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion, and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

Media Relations
(For assistance, see Managing Media Relations.)

Procedure for Managing Media Contacts

The following procedure and/or talking points will be used for all calls from and to reporters, or other contacts with the media, including, for example: newspapers, magazines, television, radio, etc.

Preferred Media and Contacts

The following media and contacts are preferred when promoting our organization. These media (newspapers, television, radio, etc.) and contacts have been used in the past, to understand our organization and our marketplace, etc.

What do we need to do to make the above happen? What major steps must occur? What must be developed? Who should be contacted? What resources might you need?

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion, and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

=======MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS OF SERVICES
=======

You should consider addressing the following subsections in this overall section for each of your products and/or services.

Description of Product / Service
The overall goals of the organization very much determine what you want to do with each of your products/services. For example, strategic goals might be to expand the number of customers that you have now, expand the number of products that you have, etc.

Describe your product/service. The description should be written as if your customers are the readers. In the description, include the specific groups of customers served by the product/service, nature of the method(s) in the product/service, outcomes for customers and any other benefits to them, and where they should go next if they are interested in using the product/service. Be careful to describe the product/service in terms of benefits to customers, not to you. For example, address pricing, convenience, location, quality, service, atmosphere, etc.

Any additional thoughts/comments about the product/service description:

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion, and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

Target Markets and Customer Profiles

(For assistance, see How to Identify a Target Market and Prepare a Customer Profile.)

Target markets are the specific groups of people whom you want to benefit from your product/service. The target markets are determined by your strategic goals and strategies.

Your Target Markets and Primary Benefits of Your Products/Services to Them

Profiles of Your Target Markets (Customer Profiles)
The more you know about your customers, the better you might be at serving them. At this point, write down a customer profile, or description of each of the groups of customers (or target markets). Consider, for example, their major needs, how they prefer to have their needs met, where they are and where they prefer to have their needs met, and demographics information (their age ranges, family arrangement, education levels, income levels, typical occupations, major interested, etc).

Target Market #1: ____
Make copies of this section as needed for your number of target markets

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion, and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

Competitor Analysis
(For assistance, see Competitive Analysis.)

Name of competitor’s organization

Name of their service

Common markets that we serve

Benefits of their product/service

Comparison of their pricing and ours

Strengths of their product/service

Weaknesses product/service

How our product/service compares

Additional thoughts/comments and any resulting actions we should take:
How do you plan to compete, for example, offer better quality products/services, lower prices, more support, easier access, etc?

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

Collaborator/Partner Analysis
(For assistance, see Organizational Alliances.)

Name of potential collaborator’s organization

Name of their product/service

Common markets that we serve

Similarities between our product/service

Potential areas of collaboration

Advantages of collaboration

Disadvantages of collaboration

Additional thoughts/comments and any resulting actions we should take:
What can you do next to initiate consideration of collaboration with other organizations? What needs to happen next? Who needs to be involved? What resources do you need?

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion, and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

Pricing Analysis
(For assistance, see Pricing.)

What’s the current fee for the product/service?

How much is it costing us to provide this product/service?

Are we recovering our costs to produce and provide the product/service?

Is the current price affordable to customers?

Is our pricing competitive?

What should be the pricing structure that we use for this product/service (for example, deferred payments, installment payments, etc.)?

Additional thoughts/comments and any resulting actions we should take:
What do we need to do to make that happen? What major steps must occur? What must be developed? Who should be contacted? What resources might you need?

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion, and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

Sales Plan
(For assistance, see Sales.)

Sales Plan (Cont.)

Additional thoughts/comments and any resulting actions we should take:
Consider: What do we need to do to make the sales methods and goals happen? What major steps must occur? What must be developed? Who should be contacted? What resources might you need? Should staff attend sales training?

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion, and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

Advertising and Promotions Plan
The plan includes what target markets you want to reach, what features and benefits you want to convey to each of them, what methods and media you will use to convey it to them, who is responsible to implement the methods, and how much money is budgeted for this effort. The plan often includes plans for a promotional campaign, including an advertising calendar and media plan. The goals of the plans should depend very much on the overall goals and strategies of the organization, and the results of the marketing analysis, including the positioning statement.

When selecting methods, consider what communications methods and media will be most effective in reaching target markets (groups of customers) and when. What are their preferences for media and when do they use them? (The link Basic Methods to Get Customer Feedback might be helpful now.) Consider, for example, radio, newsletters, classifieds, displays/signs, posters, word of mouth, press releases, direct mail, special events, brochures, neighborhood newsletters, etc. What media is most practical for you to use in terms of access and affordability? (The link Major Methods of Advertising and Promotion might be helpful now.)

(For additional assistance, see Advertising and Promotion and Planning your Advertising.

Markets, Messages, and Methods (Media Plan and Calendar)

What do you want your target markets to think about your service? What media do they read and listen to and when? What media is most practical for you to use in terms of access and affordability? The following link may be helpful to you when completing the following table: Major Methods of Advertising and Promotion.

Additional thoughts/comments and any resulting actions we should take:
What do you need to do to make the above happen? What resources are needed to accomplish the methods? Who is responsible to implement the methods?

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion, and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

Production Planning
Production includes the resources and processes needed to continue to develop the service to meet the demands of the customers. Note that the development and implementation of various production methods do not have to be addressed in detail in a marketing plan — these topics are usually included in the operations or management planning for the product. However, production should be generally considered during the marketing analysis to ensure the eventual detailed production planning takes into consideration the needs of target markets and having their needs met on time.

Will the product/service be produced in time to meet the current needs of the target markets?

Will the product/service be produced in time to meet the future needs of the target markets (for example, over the next three years)? What’s needed to ensure that future needs are met?

What major resources and activities will be needed in the near future?

Additional thoughts/comments and any resulting actions we should take:
What do we need to do to make the above happen? What major steps must occur? What must be developed? Who should be contacted? What resources might you need?

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion, and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

Distribution Planning
(For assistance, see Distribution Channels.)
Distribution includes the resources and activities required to bring your product/service together with the customer in order to benefit from it. Matters of distribution of the product/service can be critical for organizations, especially if they are providing critically needed products/services to specific groups of customers. (The link Distribution may help you.)

What is the best means to distribute the product/service to customers?
(Consider, for example, should customers come to your facility. Do you go to them? Are there other means, for example, services over the phone?)

Additional thoughts/comments and any resulting actions we should take:
What do we need to do to make the above happen? What major steps must occur? What must be developed? Who should be contacted? What resources might you need?

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion, and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

Customer Service Plan
(For assistance, see Customer Service.)

When considering how you will ensure strong services to customers, consider: Are customers very satisfied with your services? How do you know? If not, what can you do to improve customer service? How can you do that? What policies and procedures are needed to ensure strong customer service? Include training in your considerations, including developing skills in interpersonal relations, such as questioning, listening, handling difficult people, handling interpersonal conflicts, and negotiating. (For assistance, see Customer Service, Basic Methods to Get Customer Feedback, Questioning, Listening, Handling Interpersonal Conflict, Handling Difficult People, and Negotiating.)

Are customers highly satisfied with the product/service and how do you know?
(This section might include references to other reports, eg., product evaluations, etc.)

What should we be doing to ensure that customers are highly satisfied?
(Consider policies and procedures, staff training, scheduled evaluations, basic forms of market research, etc.)

Additional thoughts/comments and any resulting actions we should take:
What do we need to do to make the above happen? What major steps must occur? What must be developed? Who should be contacted? What resources might you need?

Actions in this area should be worded as specific goals and organized into the section “Goals, Responsibilities …” later in this plan. That section includes goals, responsibilities, dates for completion, and the budgeted amount to achieve the goals.

======= MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF PLAN ============
Responsibilities and Frequencies for Monitoring and Evaluation

Key Questions While Monitoring Implementation of the Plan

The following questions should be modified to suit the nature and needs of the organization.

Monitoring and evaluation activities will consider the following questions:

1. Are goals and objectives being achieved or not? If they are, then acknowledge, reward, and communicate the progress. If not, then consider the following questions.

2. Will the goals be achieved according to the timelines specified in the plan? If not, then why?

3. Should the deadlines for completion be changed (be careful about making these changes — know why efforts are behind schedule before times are changed)?

4. Do personnel have adequate resources (money, equipment, facilities, training, etc.) to achieve the goals?

5. Are the goals and objectives still realistic?

6. Should priorities be changed to put more focus on achieving the goals?

7. Should the goals be changed (be careful about making these changes — know why efforts are not achieving the goals before changing the goals)?

8. What can be learned from our monitoring and evaluation in order to improve future planning activities and also improve future monitoring and evaluation efforts?

Additional questions:

Reporting Status of Implementation

Results of monitoring and evaluation will be in writing and will include:

1. Answers to the “Key Questions While Monitoring Implementation of the Plan”

2. Trends regarding the progress (or lack thereof) toward goals, including which goals and objectives

3. Recommendations about the status

4. Any actions needed by management

Procedure for Changing the Plan

Regarding any changes to the plan, write down answers to the questions:

1. What is causing changes to be made?

2. Why the changes should be made (the “why” is often different than “what is causing” the changes).

3. What specific changes should be made, including to goals, objectives, responsibilities, and timelines?

Reminders:
Manage the various versions of the plan (including by putting a new date on each new version of the plan).

Always keep old copies of the plan.

===== GOALS, RESPONSIBILITIES, TIMELINES AND BUDGETS ======

As much as possible, goals should be specified to be “SMARTER”, that is, specific, measurable, acceptable to those people working to achieve the goal, realistic, timely, extending the capabilities of those working to achieve the goals, and rewarding to them, as well.

For the Category of Marketing:

To round out your knowledge of this Library topic, you may want to review some related topics, available from the link below. Each of the related topics includes free, online resources.

Also, scan the Recommended Books listed below. They have been selected for their relevance and highly practical nature.

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