What are the 7 steps of marketing?

Developing a strategic marketing plan is akin to constructing a roadmap for your business's growth and success. Plaky's guide offers a succinct, seven-step approach to creating a marketing plan that aligns with your company's broader objectives. Let's delve into these steps.

1. Align Your Marketing Goals with Overall Company Objectives:The first step is to ensure that your marketing goals complement your company's overall aims. This alignment ensures that your marketing efforts contribute directly to the broader aspirations of your business, such as increasing market share or enhancing brand reputation.
2. Research the Market:Market research is indispensable. It involves gathering information about your industry, competitors, and customers. This step helps you understand the market dynamics, consumer behaviour, and emerging trends, enabling you to make informed decisions.
3. Do the SWOT Analysis:SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis is a cornerstone of strategic planning. It helps you identify internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats, providing a comprehensive view of your business landscape.
4. Determine Your “Marketing Mix”:The marketing mix is a tool used to consider the different elements that can influence a customer's decision to purchase a product or service. Typically, it includes product, price, place, and promotion. Determining your marketing mix involves deciding how these elements can be used to best market your products or services.
5. Set a Budget:Setting a realistic budget is crucial. It should cover all aspects of your marketing plan, from advertising to promotions, without overstretching your company's financial resources. A well-planned budget ensures your marketing activities are sustainable and effective.
6. Pick a Project Management (PM) Tool:Choosing the right project management tool can streamline the implementation of your marketing plan. A good PM tool helps in organizing, tracking, and managing all the tasks and activities involved in your marketing efforts.
7. Review and Update:Finally, continually review and update your marketing plan. The business environment is dynamic, so it’s important to regularly assess the effectiveness of your marketing strategies and tactics, and make adjustments as needed.