Marketing Strategies | How To Start Your Marketing Action Plan – Part 1, Marketing Strategy

While I search for a full-time position in this next phase of my career, a former client of mine asked me to plan and produce a professional Podcast along with social media integration. We are having so much fun — and the team is FABULOUS!

As I have many times over my career, I am partnering with my long-time friend and videographer extraordinaire, Jim Webb with The Webb Works. You may also recognize the whit and talent of my longtime copywriting partner, Lou Schuyler. He always makes my copy — POP!! I thoroughly LOVE what I do and the wonderful people I get to work with.

In anticipation of the launch of the Podcast on October 2, I thought it would be fun to pull out of my archive a series of teaching videos The Webb Works and I did several years ago. Although I closed GrassRoots Marketing Group, Inc. several years ago, the series of videos truly does help a company think through important marketing tools and tactics that can result in a Marketing Action Plan (MAP) — or the improvement of an existing marketing plan. I hope you enjoy the series as much as Jim, Lou and I enjoyed filming it.

Learn how to start building your Marketing Action Plan with time-tested and proven tips by Laura Woodard. Here we explore what traits make your ideal clients.

Quick! Off The Top of Your Head!

Write down the names of your top-five FAVORITE customers or clients.
Next to their names write down the reasons that each is your favorite. They don’t have to be the same reasons for each one. Just write them down as quickly as you can think of them. Write whatever pops into your mind. For one, it could be the way he is always smiling when he walks into your office. For another, it could be her promptness for appointments. Another reason could be that the business is interesting. There are no right or wrong answers. List as many attributes as you can for each of your favorite customers.

Once you’ve finished…look for a common thread. Is there one? Maybe more than one?

Write down the names of your top-five BEST customers or clients.
Now, on another sheet of paper, write down the names of your five BEST customers.

Next to their names, write down five reasons why you consider them your best customers. It could be the prompt way that they pay their invoices, the size of their orders, or their loyalty to your business. Look for a common thread with this group, too.

Put the two lists side by side. Do any of the names match? Are some of the reasons the same on each list?

If you could combine the best qualities from each list, what would they be?

This exercise should give you some food for thought. Now you are beginning to develop the characteristics of your ideal clients and prospects. Put these lists in a safe place. They’ll come in handy for the next step.