Careful business and marketing planning will mean a better chance at success. A lack of planning can waste time, energy and money. Time spent researching and planning can help with clear thinking and provide focus.

Write it all down!

Formalise all your findings and thoughts. It may seem obvious but many businesses don’t have a formal plan. Or, they do but it was just for the bank manager.

Create a plan that you love and want to keep revisiting.

Start by explaining why you’re in business in the first place, describing what problems you are solving for your customers.

Why are you better placed to do this than your competitors?

Set some clear measurable objectives for existing and new customers.

How do you need to change to keep on satisfying them?

What about geographic coverage? Local or global?

Develop your message

What’s your wow factor and can you make it into a 30 second commercial?

Then decide the best way to reach your customers.

Website, networking, advertising, PR, workshops, shows.

Decide your budget

How many times have you been reluctant to spend on marketing?

What can you afford? How much are you prepared to invest?

Spending £5,000 on a web site? Think about how it can earn you £5,001.

Who does what?

Allocate tasks and set deadlines.