Marketing plans have become the groundwork for how you are going to sell your product. Failing to plan is planning to fail.A marketing plan is an essential part of any business. 89% of small business owners consider marketing their first or second priority, yet 74% do not have a marketing plan. At eLink Design, we believe there are 5 tools to keep your company on course. You must first set goals, then develop SWOT analysis which includes: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; know your entire competition; maintain consistent branding; and utilize your communication vehicles.

This plan can become the map to success for your company. You must understand your customers and know what you want to accomplish in your business before beginning to write out your plan. Specificity is important from the beginning in order to be successful in completing your marketing plan. When creating this plan think about potential problem spots along the way and areas where you definitely think you will succeed. Once the marketing plan is in place, you can use it as a reference point to keep your company on track towards its goals.