Summary:

In the arena of Non-Profit Organizations, a strategic marketing plan provides the foundation needed for the organization’s influence on it’s members and potential members. The goal is to have a compelling enough message for your audience to align themselves with and “buy into” with donations or memberships.

The six steps to follow in creating a marketing plan, as highlighted by Marla Cooper from Bloom Consulting, Inc. follows:

1. Form a Marketing Committee

2. Set the Goals of your Committee

3. Do your research

4. Establish your Mission and Vision

5. Develop your strategic marketing plan

6. Execute your strategic marketing plan

Article Quote:

“Why is it that I’m often met with those glazed stares when I’m brought in as a Strategic Marketing Consultant and I ask to see an organization’s “Communications Plan”. This should be as basic to any organization as an Operating Budget and yet it seldom exists as a comprehensive, integrated and well thought out document. Why is this so often neglected by organizations when it is clearly so key to success in today’s competitive and dynamic marketplace? Possibly because there are many misconceptions about what a Strategic Marketing Plan is and what is should do.”

Link: http://www.howsescandy.com/marketing-plan/taking-on-the-“battle”-of-strategic-marketing-6-steps-to-developing-a-strategic-marketing-plan-that-works

Although not necessarily in the right order, the steps and advice given in this article are relevant. Begin by knowing what your mission and vision statements are as these will provide a foundation to work from. Next, conduct market research, set your goals, and develop an action plan to achieve these goals.

Developing a strategic plan asks these questions: “Where do we want to be?”; “How are we going to get there?”; “What kind of environment do we expect to face along the way?”

After these questions are answered and a plan is in place, implementing the plan is the next step. Make sure the goals/initiatives are translatable into daily tasks. As long as they are integrated into daily operations, the plan will be “worked” and results can be measured.

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/