I don’t know what it is, but for some reason, people hate building marketing calendars and plans.
Whenever the idea of a marketing plan comes up, it is typically met with good intentions and a “That’s a great idea, we really should get ahead” comment. However, that idea is often lost as we get back into our day-to-day activities we want to make sure get done.
Having a true marketing plan is one of the best things you can do for your business. Not only is it a good idea for the sake of planning ahead, but the plan can also help you get into a rhythm with your marketing. They say it takes 3 weeks to create a habit and having a plan can help you create that good habit.
So what should you consider when creating a marketing calendar? Well, you need to make sure you are thinking about these things to make sure it is as effective as possible.
Tips For Creating A Marketing Calendar
1. Start with the things you do every week
Picture a calendar where you need to fill in all the days with your plan. Where should you start? Well, start with what you know. Maybe every Monday you like to do a #mondaymotivation post or every Thursday you send an email to your client list. Fill in your calendar with those items first so you get a good idea of where you need to fill things in.
2. Move to major events and holidays
This is another easy way to start to add things to your calendar. Think about any major events that you have planned for the upcoming month or two, and begin to add items to your calendar to prepare for those events. In addition, make sure you take note of any holidays that are going on over that month. Things like Thanksgiving and Christmas can be recognized, but you need to go one layer deeper. Check out a website like this and see if there are any other goofy holidays to take advantage of.
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3. Now add in some fun and experimentation
That’s right, marketing is actually meant to be fun! Build in some fun things that you have always wanted to do into your calendar. Give yourself room to experiment with new things and test new markets. Things like promotions, giveaways, free trials, etc. Only by doing this can you reach new customers, grow your business, and again, have a little fun in the process!
4. Leave some space to be flexible
Something random is going to happen every month. Some celebrity is going to talk about their new fancy drink or some olympian is going to talk about some miracle treatment they discovered while training. These types of things could be the perfect topics for your business to discuss in a blog, email or social post. In order to be relevant, however, you need SPEED. Building in this flexibility to your plan allows you to quickly address the news of the day without compromising your overall plan.
Using these steps you can build a true marketing plan that you can be proud of. However, the tough part is not making the plan, but holding yourself to the plan. Marketing plans are made to help you stay organized and keep you on track, but the plan is only as good as your execution. Stay the course, and you will soon see the benefits that a plan brings to the table!