We’re already thinking ahead to 2019 and all the things we want to achieve over the next year. Have you thought about your business goals for 2019?
Now’s the time when businesses typically start to plan how their marketing activities will achieve business goals, and budget for the year ahead. It’s a process than can bring even the most seasoned marketing professional out in a cold sweat, but we’re here to take the pain out of planning.
Should old plans be forgot?
When welcoming a new marketing year, there’s often a temptation to simply ‘do more of the same’. While it makes sense to keep doing the things that work well for you, if you don’t revisit your marketing strategy, you might be missing out on exciting new opportunities.
That’s why, instead of cutting-and-pasting your 2018 marketing strategy, we recommend completely reviewing and refreshing your strategy in the run-up to New Year. And if your marketing activity is a little more ad hoc, lacking an overall plan, now is the perfect time to create a strategy from scratch.
Going back to basics
When thinking about your key marketing activities for the year ahead, it’s worth going back to basics. This may mean asking yourself some pretty obvious questions, things you might not have considered for a long time:
- Who are our customers?
- What do they struggle with?
- How do we help them solve their problem/make life easier for them?
- How do we communicate with them?
To answer these questions, you may need to invest in some market research. Only once you know the answers can you start to plan your time, effort and spend for 2019.
Importantly, this process is not just about planning or unearthing new opportunities. Giving your marketing strategy a thorough refresh helps to breathe new life into the team, bringing a sense of excitement and fostering a laser-like focus on the business’s goals. What better way to start 2019?
At OCTOPUS, we work with businesses of all shapes and sizes to proactively define and manage their marketing campaigns. Talk to us about your business – together, we’ll create and deliver a marketing strategy that helps you achieve your 2019 goals.
