Sometimes, the best way to wrap your head around your own marketing plan project is to look at sample marketing plans. Marketing plan development is not one-size-fits all, as you will see when you look at a few sites that offer inspiration:
communications.ksu.edu: This is a sample marketing plan for Kansas State University Research & Extension. This sample is fairly stripped-down and can also serve as a template. A highlight is a clear listing of SWOT, or strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
mplans.com: This site has sample marketing plans organized by business type. The impressive part of the site is that it covers so many types of businesses, including a bowling alley and a regional theatre.
smallbiztrends.com: This site offers two versions of a one-page marketing plan that can help you organize your ideas. Each marketing plan follows a different marketing theory, one more academic than the other.
lexisnexis.com: Although this sample marketing plan is targeted toward law firms, it is full of questions that anyone writing a marketing plan should be able to answer, especially in the marketing strategy section.
quickmba.com: An easy-to-read outline that can be useful as you are just getting started.
For an inspirational story of a big company that changed its marketing plan, not to mention its own structure, take a look at this story about Staples and its creation of the Easy Button.
Beyond samples of marketing plans, two invaluable resources for advice on your marketing plan ideas include the Marketing section of the United States Small Business Administration and the Learning Center of SCORE, a nonprofit that advises small businesses.
 | Finding the most effective marketing methods for your individual business may come down to trial and error. Drafting a well-researched marketing plan can help you choose those trials more wisely and see better where you succeed and where you err. |
 | By writing a mission statement, you can help keep the purpose of your company in the forefront of every employee's mind, while also informing customers of what goods and services you provide. |
 | You could create a marketing plan that is absolutely brilliant. But you won't be able to tell if your hard work paid off unless you set goals and benchmarks to gauge your success. |
Writing your marketing plan is one of the most important things you will ever do for your business. It outlines the structure of your company as well as presents your goals and objectives in a clear and concise matter. |
Whether you have a formal written plan for your business or just a bunch of great ideas in your head, there are always going to be goals you set out to achieve. You will often think in terms of what do I want to accomplish in the next six months, as well as where do I want to be in five years. |
