The best time to plan was 20 years ago. The second best time is right now. If you have goals that you really want to achieve, you’ll need a plan to reach them. Creating a marketing calendar will help keep you on schedule.
What are your goals for the New Year? Growth? New Product introductions? Service improvements? Compete more effectively? New ways to help your customers? New marketing tactics to launch?
I find it best to write my goals down on legal pad. Why? They say:
A Dream Written Down is a Goal.
A Goal Broken into Steps is a Plan.
Writing lets me go back and edit, add more, cross out others, and come up with a list that I can be committed to. It also gives me something to look at later (to revise again) and measure my success by.
Be Specific
As you make progress, set goals that are clear, well defined, and specific. They’re achievable if the steps you need to take are completely under your control. Next decide on when you’ll start and your deadline for results. That’s the first step in developing a marketing calendar.
Marketing Calendar
Marketing is business’ way to communicate with the world. The most effective marketing communications deliver “the right message to the right people at the right time.” That’s how you get the right results. Since we’re talking about planning, a marketing calendar is the efficient way to plan your long term marketing communications. Pick your time horizon: the beginning of a New Year to plan for 12 months.
A marketing calendar is a simple graphic way to lay out your marketing plans for the year. Fill your marketing calendar in with your goals and deadlines, and then add in the steps you’ll take to achieve them. Fill a marketing calendar with SMART Goals and you’re on your way.
Marketing Calendar events depend on the customer
Plans for success can’t be made “in a vacuum.” Your customers are the most important factor. When will they be ready? We all know that homeowners invest in their gardens in the Spring. In August they go on vacation. In the Fall they buy rakes. And in the winter they buy shovels and salt. Timing is important. So your marketing calendar deadlines have to be based on consumer needs. Then fill in each step you’ll take, from trying to reach potential customers to closing the sale: include every tool you’ll use, and when you’ll use it: advertising, PR, Social Media, Website, Email, Newsletters, Mobile Apps, Blogging, White papers, Messages on hold, Videos, etc.
Try creating a Marketing Calendar
It’s easier that you might think. Try it with one goal. Think about your customers and their timing. Is there a specific time they’ll be interested in buying? Then write down all the tools you’ll use to reach your customers, and when you’ll use them. You’ll be amazed by how a marketing calendar can help make your plan easier to put into action. Interested in feedback on your plan? Call for a Free 15-minute Discovery Session and we’ll guarantee to make your marketing calendar better!