Reference no: EM131985598 , Length: word count:4000

TASK: Develop a Marketing Plan

For the requirements of this assignment, you assume the role of a marketing consultant. You have to develop a detailed Marketing Plan for a company of your choice or the company you currently work for. As they need to increase their revenue generation and position their organization within the industry to gain competitive advantage, you have been asked to produce a detailed marketing plan for one-year plan.

In the report you will need to demonstrate an understanding of all the aspects of marketing planning. You should therefore include credible SMART corporate and marketing objectives, clear segmentation, targeting and positioning and other marketing strategies. The revenue projections and recommendation on marketing activities using marketing mix. This can also be used to show the financial implications by way of stating clear revenue projections and costs of individual proposed marketing activities. You are also expected to demonstrate your knowledge of how theory can be utilized in practice i.e. all stages of a marketing plan. The presentation and structure of the marketing plan must have a professional outlook.

The Report should cover the following sections:

1  Executive Summary

Does this provide a good summary of the report and encourage further reading? You need to think about the audience, creativity, and competitive advantage. Find away to make sure that your marketing plan stands out from the crowd.

2 Introduction

This should set the scene for the reader. Clear & succinct, it lays out what is to come, and could make reference to your own research findings. (Do not include the description and information of the organization here. But make sure they are included in the Appendices for tutors).

3 Situation Analysis

Quality and relevance of audit (internal & external)

Clear headings and only relevant information is needed here. Remember, when you are doing your analysis, you need to discuss this in relation to the organization or business and the target market. There is no point just writing PEST factors. Therefore you need to discuss how they influence the business, their current and potential customers. Porter's five forces industry analysis need to conduct in order to ascertain the current competitive position of the business. What way the analysis is helping you in this process. Now do the SWOT analysis.

4 Aims and Objectives

Both corporate and marketing objectives must meet SMART criteria. These should be listed and clearly identified, and linked to the controls.

5 Appropriateness of segmentation, targeting and positioning.

Who is your target market? You need to explain why? Explain the chosen segmentation criteria with justification. Who are the competitors? What is your organization's current positioning in relation to the competitors? Is it unique enough to give you competitive advantage? If not, what are you suggesting? Why? You need to show current and future positioning using perceptual maps.
What is the communication theme?

6 Implementation

The 4P or 7P framework is a good starting point. What specifically are you going to do in terms of promotion, price, distribution & product?
These should be used to achieve the objectives that you have set earlier. Also you need to consider the costs, and time constraints. Here, you need to be creative. You must also think of how to use digital technologies and media, effectively.

All the marketing activities schedule should be included with the anticipated costs.

7 Appendices

Background of the firm Any research evidence Reference list Other appendices