Your Online Marketing Plan

To develop an online marketing plan of your own, I would tell you to first think about the end product or your goal, then figure out steps required to reach that goal and in the process set a marketing budget that helps you to achieve the goal.

1.Setting Your Goal

A smart Goal would be whatever your business needs to grow but it should be

•   Few in number 
•   Measurable
•   Actionable 
•   Realistic 
•  Time bound 

Examples of a goal can be

• To make more people find your website. 
• To boost sales by spreading news about your company. 
• Promoting a discount. 

A more specific goal set for a time frame by a medical management representative would be

• Sign up 200 new customers for a free consultation by August. 
• Sell 500 units of a particular medicine by September. 
• Collect 100 Qualified sales leads from 400 existing customers by April.
•  Drive 1000 unique visitors to the site by the end of the month. 

2. Steps to reach the goal

•   Identify where the customers are-Try asking yourself ‘Where are my customers most likely to look for me?’ Different ways to get noticed online would be

 
   a) A Website-A website would be right for you if your goal is to increase sales.

  b) A Blog or social networking site- if your goal is to build stronger relationship with your existing customers.
             




c) Local Online Listings-If your goal is to make sure that potential customers in your  local area can find you easily.

     
Whatever route you choose, existing and potential customers must be able find you.

•  Point customers in the right direction                                                                                                Once you have identified where you customers are point them in the right direction by

              a) Creating an appealing look to your  website suited for customer needs.
               b) Creating ads that link to your website and promote special offers.
               c) Including your business on Google’s local listings to drive local sales.
               d) Creating a social networking site and sharing updates, coupons and more with followers.
               e) Listing your deals on coupons site. 
                f) Listing your business on review sites and ask happy customers for referrals. 

3. Set a marketing budget that works for you

• Think how much you want to put in by analyzing how much a new sale or referral is worth to you. 
• Also factor in any cost associated with your action steps including hosting website, listing your deals ,running ads online and more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1.    Think about final goal and steps to reach that goal when setting a marketing plan for your business and assign marketing budget for each step

2.    Goals should be few and realistic, time bound, measurable and actionable.

3.    Website, Blog or Social Media and Local Listings are some ways to get noticed online. Whatever route you choose, existing and potential customers must be able find you.

4.    Set a marketing strategy that works for you. There is no "one" correct strategy.