6 Ways to Prep Your Marketing Plan for 2019 – Is Your Business Ready?

If you are working through the holiday season, you can utilize the quiet time and space for these next two weeks to set up your marketing plan for 2019. Here are some of the things you should handle in this free time to ease things for you as you head into the New Year so that you can start ahead of others.

Build an editorial calendar

Content is the driving force of your marketing program, so you have to ensure it gets created and the best way to do so in your marketing plan for 2019 is to plan ahead. Reflect on 2018 to get inspiration for your plan. Allocate different themes for different months and divide your work into research, creation, and distribution, assigning deadlines for each.

Compile and clean your marketing lists

Managing lists can be a bit of stress, but it is always important. Ensure you have a single database that is centralized and up to date. Put together any different lists you might have across different technologies. When you have a master list, make sure it is cleaned for duplicates and undeliverable addresses

Optimize your lists

When creating your marketing plan for 2019, segmenting your lists is an extremely powerful tool. Trends in your lists by analyzing them and find out ways to categorize your customers so that you can create targeted messages for them. Separating prospective customers from current customers can be important if you want to create strong campaigns that will resonate.

Create a list of partnerships you are under-utilizing

Organize your list and think about businesses you can work with and leverage for growth, like your suppliers.  By doing this, you can work on reaching out to create great partnerships that are beyond business transactions and are mutually beneficial.

Create a list of partnerships you want to pursue

As part of your 2019 marketing plan, you should have a list of beneficial partnerships you wish to pursue. As soon as you have developed a list of partnerships you have already, you can look for holes and gaps. Begin developing a wish list of partnerships and good contacts that you will like to pursue in the new year.

Design your referral program

The most powerful marketing technique is word of mouth referral. It is also one of the best ways to grow. This is because it is more credible and personal than other forms. In the new year, take advantage of this power. Do this by creating a referral program that is well suited for your business with a combination of digital opportunities, reviews, and referral initiatives. By doing this, you give your customers the power to become unofficial members of your sales team.

If you get started on creating your marketing tools and tactics using this gracious free time available to you now, you will be able to kick off your marketing plans as early as possible in the first week of January. Get your ducks in a row today, for that is the best gift you can hand to your business this holiday season.