Writing a Marketing Plan

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Learn How to Write a Marketing Plan

Marketing plans can be an important tool in launching or growing any business or even website. Yet marketing plans are often neglected, sometimes for the following reasons:

1. The business owner simply doesn't know how to write a marketing plan.

2. They don't want to spend time on market research and planning.

3. They don't understand the importance.

The resources below will teach you how to write a  marketing plan, from abbreviated one page marketing plans to full marketing plan outlines and books filles with sample marketing plans. Resources to help with your market research and planning process are also included. 

One Page Marketing Plan 

Learn How to Write an Abbreviated Marketing Plan

Even if you're not willing to put the time and effort into a full marketing plan for your business or website, an abbreviated one page marketing plan might be a viable alternative. The following article details how to fill in each component of a custom one page marketing plan that I designed. You can find the link to the .pdf version of the template to print out below the instructions (you'll need Adobe's free reader to open the file - download it now if you don't already have it).
One Page Marketing Plan Template
Instructions and a free one page marketing plan template.

Books on Writing a Marketing Plan 

The following books will help you write a marketing plan, or provide sample marketing plans or marketing plan templates.

Sample Marketing Plan Templates and Outlines 

The following links are to various marketing plan templates and outlines, as well as some sample marketing plans.
Outline of Marketing Plan
A free marketing plan outline from Mplans.com.
Marketing Plan Outline
A free marketing plan outline from QuickMBA.
Sample Marketing Plan Template
A blank sample marketing plan from About.com.
Sample Marketing Plan: E-commerce Retailer
A sample marketing plan for an online retail shop, from Mplans.com
Sample Marketing Plan: Computer Consulting Business
A sample marketing plan for a computer consulting business, from Mplans.com.
Sample Marketing Plan: Seminars
A sample marketing plan to market seminars, from Mplans.com

Marketing Plan Software 

If you don't want to write your marketing plan from scratch, several pieces of marketing plan software are available to help you.

Palo Alto Marketing Plan Pro 9.0

Palo Alto Marketing Plan Pro 9.0

Marketing Plan Pro 9 is the easiest way to create more...0 points

Smart Business and Marketing Plan

Smart Business and Marketing Plan

Smart Business & Marketing Plan 8.0, Jewel Cas more...0 points

Market Research Resources 

Market research is often the most intimidating and time-consuming aspect of writing a marketing plan. The following sites offer market research information and tips to help make the market research process easier.
Market Research Guides
Market research guides and articles from Inc.com.
Market Research Portal
A portal for market research information from KnowThis.com.
Marketing Research Information
Market research information from ManagementHelp.org.

by jhmattern

I run a small PR firm, on top of working as a professional freelance writer and editor.

I manage several of my own individual and collaborative website...

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