How to Use this Marketing Plan Template

There are many different ways to write a marketing plan and lots and lots of online resources to help you do so. As such, there is not one single “right way” to write the plan.

This marketing plan template is intended to provide a framework for you as you prepare your marketing plan in MBA5012. As mentioned above, there are many ways to write the plan. However, the elements of this template align with the scoring guide, so it is recommended that you use this template.

To use the template, read the information that is in [brackets]. This information tells you what you need to address within each section of the marketing plan. After you have completed the required information, delete the [brackets], delete this page, and submit your completed marketing plan.

Marketing Plan

[Team Name]

[Team Members]

[Date Prepared]

(title page)

Executive Summary

[The Executive Summary is a condensed and concise summary of your entire marketing plan. The Executive Summary is the first section of your marketing plan and should provide the key points of each section of the marketing plan. The Executive Summary is generally the last section you write, because until the rest of the plan is finalized, you really do not know what the contents of this section will be. Another way to think about the Executive Summary is that this might be the only section of the plan that is actually read by your intended audience​​—so it needs to be strong and compelling. Here’s a resource that might help form your thinking about the Executive Summary:

· Leonard, K. (n.d.). How to write an executive summary on a marketing plan . Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/write-executive-summary-marketing-plan-43199.html]

(a paragraph on a separate page)

Business Context

Describe the new product to be featured. What are the features and benefits? What is the company reason for bringing this to market? What are the corporate objectives for it?

( ¾ of a page)

Situation Analysis

How will this new product complement the existing product portfolio or product line? Who is the target market? Who are the competitors?

[The Situation Analysis describes the current state of affairs in terms of the environment of your marketing activities. The Situation Analysis should address your products, sales, competitors, the marketplace for your products, et cetera. You will generally include a SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, and other analyses, as appropriate, to frame the current context of your market. Here are some resources that might help you develop your Situation Analysis:

· English, D. (n.d.). Key elements of a marketing plan situation analysis . Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/key-elements-marketing-plan-situation-analysis-65457.html

· Lorette, K. (n.d.). A situational analysis of a strategic marketing plan . Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/situational-analysis-strategic-marketing-plan-1474.html

· Schieltz, M. (n.d.). How will a situational analysis help create the SWOT analysis? Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/situational-analysis-create-swot-analysis-13204.html ]

(2 pages)

Marketing Strategy

What is the overall marketing strategy to support the achievement of the corporate objectives? What is the product positioning statement?

[In this section of your marketing plan, you should describe the overall marketing strategy for your product. This discussion should include a description of your competitive positioning and other factors relevant to your overall marketing approach. Among the factors you should consider in this section are your overall strategy (for example, cost leadership, differentiation) and other higher-level considerations about how you plan to be successful in the marketplace.]

( ¾ of a page)

Marketing Tactics

What is the promotional strategy to support the achievement of the corporate objectives?

What is the pricing strategy to support the achievement of the corporate objectives?

What is the distribution strategy to support the achievement of the corporate objectives?

What is the advertising strategy to support the achievement of the corporate objectives?

[Marketing tactics are the specific approaches you will take to implement your marketing strategy. Consider, for example, pricing, channels, communications, and specific things you will do to make your product successful in the marketplace.]

( 1.5 pages)

Effectiveness

How will you measure the effectiveness of this marketing plan?

[No marketing plan is complete without identified controls to determine the effectiveness of the marketing tactics. This section will generally include metrics such as the following:

· Increase sales by 15% by Period 6.

· Increase salesforce by 10% by Period 4.

The general approach to marketing controls is that the controls need to be specific and measurable. As you move from your draft marketing plan to your final marketing plan, you will develop a much better grasp of the controls that are important for measuring the effectiveness of your marketing plan. Remember, your final marketing plan will be developed as you hand off your brand to the new brand management team. As such, you need to be as specific as possible in providing appropriate metrics—that have worked for you—to guide future management of the brand.]

( 1 page)

Summary

[The summary should include a 3–4 paragraph summary of the plan that highlights the key point of the plan. While a summary is general backward-looking, you should also include some forward-looking statements that are compelling and supportive of the future success of the product.]

( ¾ of a page)

There should be at least 7 full pages of content, plus the title page, Table of Content, references, and appendices.

References (subheading not bolded)

Include at least 3 references, formatting per APA

(on a separate page)

If you follow these APA key examples you will be in good shape.

Published Book

Knowles, M. (1975). Self-directed learning: A guide for learners and teachers. New York, NY: Association Press.

Szostek, L., Szostek, J., & Graves, L. (2011). Essentials of finance (5th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Chapter in an Edited Book

Nakata, C., & Antalis, E. P. (2018). In L. C. Leonidou, C. S. Katsikeas, S. Samiee, & B. Aykol (Eds.), Advances in global marketing: A research antholology (pp. 147–168). Cham, Switzerland: Spring International Publishing.

Chapter in an e-book:

Author, A. (date). Title of chapter. In E. Editor (Ed.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). Retrieved from http://xxxxxxxxx

Author, A. (date). Title of chapter. In E. Editor (Ed.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). doi:xxxxxxxxxx

Journal Article

Kotter, J. P. (2007). Leading change: Why transformation efforts fail. Harvard Business Review, 85(1), 96–103.

85(1) is volume 85 issue 1

Szostek, L. (2012). Applying performance methodology to reducing medication errors in healthcare settings. Journal of Six Sigma, 23(2), 215-267. doi:10.23456.abcd/x

Szostek, L. (2012). Applying performance methodology to reducing medication errors in healthcare settings. Journal of Six Sigma, 23(2), 215-267. Retrieved from http://jss.html

There are two DOI formats, as per the APA 6th edition manual and additional supplement.  These are: doi:10.1999/12345 and http://dx.doi.org/10.1999/12345

Newspaper Article

Elder, K. (2017, December 19). At least we still agree on one thing: Bacon makes everything better. The Washington Post, p. A12.

Online Magazine or Newspaper Article, including articles on websites

Grossman, L. (2009, June 17). Iran protests: Twitter, the medium of the movement. Time. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1905125,00.html

Online Government Report

U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Education, NetDay. (2005, August). Visions 2020.2: Student views on transforming education and training through advanced technologies. Retrieved from http://www.technology.gov/reports/2005/Visions2020-2.pdf

Government or Corporate Websites

American Hospital Association. (2013). American Hospital Association guide to the health care field. Retrieved from http://AHA.org/hcfield1234.html

· If there is no author, the article title comes first.

· If there is no date, use the abbreviation n.d.

Websites

Author, A. (date). Title of document [Format description]. Retrieved from http://xxxxxxxxx

Format description example: Blog post.

Video

Author, A. A. [Screen name]. (year, month day). Title of video [Video file]. Retrieved from http://xxxxxxxxx

Video file example: YouTube.

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