Planning a wedding can be a process that takes months, or even years. It could involve hiring a professional planner, caterers, florists, and numerous other professionals. On the other hand, a wedding CAN be just two people and a Justice of the Peace in a city courthouse. Your marketing plan is much the same. If you are just getting started, you can probably put your marketing strategy together yourself on a piece of scratch paper. However, a more in-depth marketing plan can involve many participants and long-term development—just like a big, huge wedding.
- A Planner is a Must – Whether you are acting as the “official” in charge of the marketing plan, or you outsource the job to someone else, someone must step in and lead. This is the marketing equivalent of the wedding planner. This is a big job! If you cannot get Jennifer Lopez to take the role, make sure you have someone who understands the overall marketing picture.
- Stay Ahead of the Competition – Just like when you plan a wedding and need to book a venue before some other couple does, you need to think about what other website owners may be doing too. It is a tough job, but staying ahead of the competition is more important in marketing than ever before.
- Keep Up with the Trends – A bride-to-be would not be caught in an outdated dress, and planning for the reception means trying to figure out if red velvet cake is “in” or “totally gross.” The same is true of your marketing program—trends are everything. Spend time reading and keeping up with what is happening in the world of content marketing, and you will never be behind the times.
- Remember the Purpose – When you’re running ragged dealing with cakes, flowers and out of control guest lists, it’s easy to lose track of the fact that a wedding is about bringing two people who love one another together. The same is true of your content marketing program. Do not get so caught up in the little details that you lose focus on your goal of connecting with customers and getting the word out about your business. The details are important, but the big picture is VITAL.
- Keep Detailed Records – After the wedding, photographs and videos are a great way to relive the memories. You may not want to relive your content marketing efforts, but you do want to learn from them and use them in your planning. Make sure you keep accurate records and analyze them regularly. These records are an excellent tool for future planning.
So, before you commit to a content marketing plan, make sure it is the right one—just like when you choose a spouse. Do your research, start planning and don’t forget to call the florist!
Writer Bio: Tracy S is a full-time writer specializing in the home improvement field. She also enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and she don’t play around with the Funky Cold Medina.
