Summary:

In this article, the author uses the analogy of receiving a new bike (and not knowing how to ride it) – with developing a new website and not knowing how to use it effectively. Given are three tips for optimizing your website for profits, including Search engine submission, Email Marketing, and Link exchanges.

iProspect estimates that about 85% of Internet users use search engines to find solutions and vendors. That said, targeting your prospective customers becomes the goal and to do that you need to produce a relevant and useful website.

The most important email marketing strategy to remember is it is only effective if the prospect asked for the information, otherwise it is perceived as spam and will only serve to annoy the recipient. Finally, link exchange programs, a relatively new way to market your website online, delivers on two fronts:  a better ranking in the search engines if your site is perceived as “popular,” and when exchanges are set up correctly, you get targeted traffic from the websites linked to you.

Article Quote:

“When the research shows such market potential it is hard to imagine that a web site could fail to meet its objectives. However, without marketing your website to really compete online and offline, your site will not meet your company goals and objectives.”

Link: http://fix-email-errors.com/featured/your-strategic-web-plan

Creating a website will not, by itself, bring in the customers. Successful online marketing involves a strategy that must include targeting and communicating to your ideal customer. Finding your ideal customer requires a complete understanding of what they need/want and that they are willing to purchase.

For more on strategic planning, see http://www.performancesolutionstech.com/category/strategicplanning/

Summary:

The first tip offered in this article and the one highlighted as the most important step, is to straighten out your mindset. By celebrating the past and our baby steps taken to get us where we are, we can look positively towards the future.  A plan is a declaration of a future event with a roadmap on how to get there. Coming from the right frame of mind allows a plan process that is not impeded by fear of catastrophe.

Working backwards from the desired goal, using a calendar to schedule  progress, and creating visual displays to keep motivated are other tips offered. One example of using visual displays is taping a list of goals to your desktop to have a visual reminder.

Article Quote:

“Without knowing where we want to go and what the end result looks like, it’s pointless to make a plan to get there. Once we have determined where we want to be, we can work backward to build the steps.”

Link: http://xmyz.com.ru/2009/12/11/top-five-tips-for-strategic-planning/

Coming from the right frame of mind is much like creating a self-fulfilling prophesy. If you believe you will fail, then you probably will.  Working backward from your goal can be useful in planning the next step and when it needs to be accomplished. The calendar and visual tips are great tools to assist in reaching your goals. These are a daily reminder of the next step. Performance software can provide these tools by having the goal in front of you, a calendar and to-do list to keep working towards, and most importantly – the ability to track progress. Tracking progress lets you know exactly where you are in accomplishing your objectives.

For more on strategic planning, see http://www.performancesolutionstech.com/category/strategicplanning/

Summary:

It is not an issue of strategic planning vs. strategic thinking, according to this author; it is a matter of doing both simultaneously. Previously, strategic plans forecasted 5-7 years into the future. Today’s strategic plans only look 2-3 years ahead. Furthermore, strategic plans were nicely packed into binders that sat collecting dust until the next planning meeting between leadership.

Strategic planning should be updated and regarded as a work in progress, not a static document that no one in the organization thinks about – that is until the next planning session.

Article Quote:

“The common sentiment—“you don’t plan to fail, you fail to plan” embodies the reasons behind a strategic plan. But Boards and management, who spend countless hours and dollars on a plan and then don’t continually use it, cannot say that “the plan on the shelf” is truly planning.”

Link: http://centerfornonprofitmanagement.blogspot.com/2009/12/strategic-planning-vs-strategic.html

The economic turmoil felt by organizations and the changing global business environment has changed the way we think of strategic planning. No longer can we create the plan only to “shelve” it until the next planning session. Today we really do need to “think strategically”, and not only at the leadership level. I recently read an article by Keith Coats titled “Back to the Future: Rethinking Strategy,“ in which he writes that a good strategic planning process is one that involves a wider group within the organization, a group of diverse individuals that can generate different perspectives,  thoughts, and ideas.

While I agree that diversity provides fresh ideas and will most likely add value, it still doesn’t address the issue of getting the strategic plan into action – and off the shelf. To be successful at implementing any strategic plan, everyone in the organization needs to be working toward objectives on a daily basis. The use of performance technology puts the plan, projects, and goals in front of the eyes and minds of the group, providing a daily reminder of what needs to be done next.

For more on strategic planning, see http://www.performancesolutionstech.com/category/strategicplanning/

Summary:

The importance of understanding competitors and how this understanding may facilitate successful planning of marketing activities is what this article is about. The purpose is to give the researcher wide knowledge over strategic marketing planning and apply this knowledge in assessing the strategic marketing planning of McDonald’s Corporation in particular context with its competitors. An in-depth analysis of fast food industry is required as to facilitate the researcher in its aims for the paper.

Article Quote:

“Strategy is very important for any organization as it offers the direction the organization would like to pursue to attain its objectives. In the recent years, the integration of strategic planning and functional marketing has been perhaps the most relevant development in the field of marketing management as marketing managers have all the more realized that tactical marketing decisions must be made within a wider strategic framework.”

Link: http://ivythesis.typepad.com/term_paper_topics/2009/12/strategic-marketing-planning.html

Strategic planning is important for all businesses. At the core of the strategic plan should be the mission and vision of the company. Scenario planning and SWOT analysis enhance the plan, while providing the benefits of a clearer understanding of the business environment. McDonalds has been successful in their strategic planning, but equally important is implementing the plan and following up on objectives. A strategic management system that provides all of these features will save time and increase productivity.

For more information on strategic planning, seehttp://www.performancesolutionstech.com/category/strategicplanning/

Summary:

Many companies employ strategists while many do not. The trick is getting leadership to want strategy, otherwise they will eliminate it, or worse -’shelve’ the strategy’, thereby having the plan fail. So what is the trick to getting management to like and want strategy? Gerald Nanninga believes the key is to make it into a hobby for leadership. To do this, Nanninga advices supplying them with (1) boost to their egos, (2) let their imagination escape, and (3) be fun.

Strategic planning should not be thought of as a tedious chore, instead it should be thought of as an escape from the tedious – an escape where imaginations are set loose and where possibilities are explored.

Article Quote:

“Since strategic planning is often viewed as an optional activity, executives can opt not to do it. Instead, they can fill their time with the pressing issues of today. If you want to make strategic planning a priority, you need to make it appear like a hobby—something people always seem to find time for.”

Link: http://planninga-from-nanninga.blogspot.com/2009/12/strategic-planning-analogy-297.html

The idea of taking strategic planning and turning it into a creative and fun experience is fascinating. Rarely do we think of it as a fun task, and why not? Exploring possibilities by working through scenarios should be a process that involves more than just executives. It should be broadened to include a wider range of ideas and perspectives where fresh outlooks can be explored, and perhaps – a ‘gem’ found.

However you come to develop your strategic plan, it will inevitably perform poorly if it is not put into action and reviewed often to see if changes need to be made. Having the plan, the people assigned to complete objectives, and a solid strategic management system in place will enable management to have instant access to performance measurements.

For more on strategic planning, see http://www.performancesolutionstech.com/category/strategicplanning/