The Marketing Plan: How to Prepare and Implement It (Fourth Edition)

AMACOM, 2011. - 292 p. Even if you've created marketing plans before it doesn't matter. The rules have changed. With the advent of Web 2.0 business strategies like Search Engine Optimization, Social Networking, Pay-Per-Click, and dozens more, it may seem like you need to start from scratch. But with the brand new and completely updated fourth edition of Bill Luther's classic "The Marketing Plan", you'll learn how to navigate this perilous new landscape while actually generating a working marketing plan for your business. By answering questions in each chapter, readers will identify their marketing objectives and deploy specific strategies for every stage of the marketing cycle, from competitive and market analysis to planning, budgeting, brand development, and management. Featuring case studies and examples from major brand successes of the last ten years, the newest edition of "The Marketing Plan" is undoubtedly the most practical and the most up-to-the-minute - marketing strategy resource available. Complete with access to online software to aid in decision making, pricing, budget calculations, sales projections, and more, this one-of-a-kind guide provides everything you need to produce an impressive and professional marketing plan. No, last year's marketing plan can't be recycled just one more time! For most companies, it's time to completely overhaul their plans, throw out old assumptions, and factor in the new realities of a rapidly changing marketplace.Packed with recent case history thumbnails, all-new information on Internet marketing, and a thorough updating throughout, the third edition of The Marketing Plan outlines a comprehensive, systematic approach that guarantees results. This essential guide leads readers through every key stage, including:Analyzing a company's market, competition, business, and customers-- selecting profitable markets-- isolating critical business strengths-- developing a brand personality-- creating a marketing plan-- acting on the strategies-- gathering feedback using measurable objectives and market research.At the heart of the book is hard-hitting information on how to use a full array of effective marketing tools, including "what if" sales models, pricing strategy, advertising, direct mail, telemarketing, trade shows, merchandising, coupons, premiums, sweepstakes, shoppertainment, public relations, the Internet, sales management, and customer service. Properly used, these are tools that every company can use to dramatically increase sales and boost profits. The rules for creating a knock-out marketing plan have completely changed. With the advent of digital business strategies, it may seem like you need to start from scratch. In his trusted classic, now completely updated to reflect the latest changes in digital marketing, Bill Luther shows readers how to navigate this perilous landscape while staying true to your current marketing strategy and the tools that work best for your business. With answers to important marketing questions in each chapter, readers will identify their marketing objectives and deploy specific strategies for every stage of the marketing cycle--from competitive and market analysis to planning, budgeting, brand development, and management. The up-to-the-minute fourth edition of The Marketing Plan pairs case studies and examples from major brand successes of the last ten years with access to online software that aids in decision-making, pricing, budget calculations, and sales projections--providing everything you need to produce an impressive and professional marketing plan. The planning process Marketing management Market analysis Customer analysis Brand development Product/service plan Marketing communications budget Competitive analysis Promotion plan-advertising Promotion plan-sales promotion Promotion plan-public relations Sales plan-pricing Customer service plan Sales plan-future sales Obtaining equal market share of the high potential customers Internet Research Your complete marketing plan Appendix A: marketing plan format Appendix B: advertising agencies Appendix C: sample businesses plan. Now Fully Updated, The Fourth Edition Of Luther's Classic Text Will Help Businesses Navigate The Perilous New Landscape Of Web 2.0 Business Strategies, And Guide Them To Develop A Working Marketing Plan. Search-engine optimization, social networking, and pay-per-click have revolutionized the marketing game. Learn how to navigate this new landscape and generate a winning plan to market your business.